Lucius Cypher

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Pylia nods as she goes to gear up. Outside the Silver Stag was still empty, though there were a few people out. A masked elf was setting up chairs while a strange looking elf with scales was in the kitchen, warming up ovens and stoves. Shortfang was sitting on a stool by the bar sipping some orange juice when he spots you and waves. Behind the bar, a large muscular orc wearing a chef’s hat and apron was writing something down.

“Roight, so’z we gots us a twin trio boss custom onna raft, four-by-four, animal-style, extra tiles wifa shimmy an squeeze, light grease, crying, burnin, and drownin.” The orc tore the sheet off and handed it to the elf in the kitchen as he wrote down another order. “As fee da udda one, ye wants a quad smash, sprinklin of snow mountain, smoked paprika, and mini greens, be-cheesed howuda, ta go, ye?” Shortfang just slid five gold coins forward and smiles as if he’s pretending to know what the or just said. “Yeah!”

The orc tore the order off and handed it away once more before glancing up at you. “Howdy! Welcome to da Surf-n-Turf Sea Cow, wot can Aye get fer ya? I can make but anything cept da booze, yer wanna see me wife get dat.”

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

The clothes were stiff but dry now, and soon after Pylia awoken. She awkwardly climbed down from the top bunk with some difficulty due to her morning grogginess, mumbling something about calling bottom bunk before she too washed up and changed into her travel outfit. She craned her neck and tried to massage he aches and pain. “Ugh, neck hurts. That’s what I get for bending over doing the laundry. Anyways we should hurry and head back to the sewers. Where’s Shortfang? Did he go get food?”

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Aside from the flickering g flames, nothing happened that night as you and Buddy kept watch. Hours would pass in silence until you could make out the barest of light from the closed window, and you could hear doors and windows opening before the sun even rose as businesses started their day. The fire was now reduced to cold em Evers and the morning was somewhat chilly, but all in all you and everyone else would awaken fully rested. If you choose not to go back to your body, Shortfang would be the first up as he does his morning business and leaves with a handful of coin.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

”An... Eclipse? Buddy thought more about it and grew silentl for a longtime. Pylia added a few more logs to the fireplace to slowly warm up and brighten the room as she went to sleep on the top bunk, cursing quietly that Shortfang took her spot. Soon Buddy would respond. ”I remember an eclipse, but I don’t remember the significance. There was a lot of magic rituals happen during an eclipse. Perhaps Pylia was involved in one.”

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Pylia seemed to be done smoking and was finishing off the last of the clothes. She seemed to be wringing them dry now and hanging them on a string. Finally Pylia was starting to wash herself, lathering her body with soap before rinsing off with the now cold water, shivering and sneezing. Though it was dimly lit, you could notice something that you couldn't have before due to the smoke. Scars on Pylia's back, very faded but notable due to the water changing their colors. They weren't normal scars like what you might expect from a weapon or whip. They seem to resemble something more... Ritualistic. At first it looked like a just a rash, but as Pylia poured more water on herself, you could see the outline of a perfect circle, surrounded by some sort of scarring that created a very particular shape. After one final rinse, Pylia stood up and dried herself, walking towards you unknowingly as she put on her robe and left the water closet with a string of laundry.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

You turn to leave, your vision going black before the dim light of the room returned. There was barely any fire in the fireplace now, with only dull embers providing small orange dots in the darkness. Without the moon around, it was pragmatically pitch black. Buddy remains unmoved as he looks over towards the water closet. You both could still hear the splashing of water in there. "I do wonder how long Pylia intends to stay in there. It is already getting late and she needs to rest." Buddy says trying to convey a sense of concern. "Hmm... This is a risky gamble. But perhaps you could try and possess Pylia? Make some sort of appearance in the smoke? No... Nevermind. She did not react well when you did that last time."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

As you go into Buddy and open your eyes, you find yourself back at the graveyard, though only a certain area around you appeared to exist. Everything beyond was nothing but blackness. Buddy was standing right beside you and looked towards the scene. It was just Pylia walking through the graveyard before the smoke and skeleton appeared and they began to speak. As they spoke, Buddy commented about what he could decipher. "She is answering yes or no questions. It seems as if the skeleton is some sort of messenger. And Pylia used no magic to banish the skeleton, though she might have threaten to do so. The black skeleotn is familiar with her, likely met her yesterday. The skeleton seems reluctant to leave but submissive. It is a servant of some sort." Buddy told you right before Pylia touches her holy symbol and causes the skeleton to leave. Soon the scene would repeat again. You both could try and move closer, but no matter how hard or fast you move, you stay in place, exactly where you were when you were watching Pylia. "I believe we've seen everything we can here, Sylvia."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Buddy shrugged. ”You may try, but I cannot guarantee success. I do not understand the language that Pylia uses for her incantation any more than you do. But at the very least I will do my best to record what they said, and perhaps you may find someone who is capable of translating what they said. Buddy walked back to stand by the door and waited for you to try and possess him. It was going to be a strange process considering it will be your first time doing something like this specifically, but it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"That sounds unusual and profane." Buddy says plainly. "Nothing about her magic indicates she channels negative energy but... Skeletons, smoke, skulls.... Sounds as if Pylia dabbled in necromancy. I do not wish to accuse her of anything of course, but I do believe there are questions which need answers. Have you spoken to her about any of this yet?" By now Shortfang was done making his arrows, telling Buddy goodnight as he went over to the other bottom bunkbed, curling up underneath the sheets and looking like a small bun. Buddy went to prod the fire, spreading the wood so that it would slowly fizzle out and minimize any sparks or embers escaping. "You should speak to her and find out if this entity intends to continue meeting her. The undead are not positive creatures. Their very existence is an anathema to life and death itself, feeding off the living and stealing from the dead. I would hope that her intent is against them, and not aligned with them."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

You see Pylia haunches over on a stool, her robe hanging off a hook on the side. In front of her was the wash basin filled with water and soap, dirty from the blood and grime from today’s adventure. You see Pylia grasping what looked like a white pipe in her hands, lighting it with her magic before taking a puff. Smoke soon filled the air but it didn’t vanish; it lingered for a while. Pylia continued to do the laundry as the smoke lingered, but looking closer you could see shapes in the smoke. The details were hard to make out due to the dimlight, but you could see images of Pylia in the smoke, but younger. She seemed happy. You see images of her playing in an open field or around a temple, with other girls her age. They dressed simply, likely a time where Pylia grew up at the temple.

As time would pass the images would change and show the same repeating images, most of them of Pylia’s whimsical childhood. One stood out to you though. Pylia walking through a field, kneeling down, and picking up what looked like a skull. And then another girl around Pylia’s age approaching her from the other side, kneeling down in front of Pylia and holding the skull with her. They smiled, and then the image would fade and repeat.