IC V Against the Current

[Admiral]

Miriam and Kurt

"In all but the coldest, most northern villages in Eldgar, gloves are generally taboo. Someone who wears gloves would be treated much like someone who wears a mask would in your home country- with suspicion and distrust."

"Most of Eldgar is a warm or mild climate, so only the northernmost villages are cold enough to merit such garments. Of those, many are Firm mining operations, where those from other guilds are banned from entry, and others are small villages that everyone knows each other anyway. In any case, such regions are the smallest exception, and they handle it in their own ways."

[achinca]

Miriam looks at her hand, imagine the mark on it and closes her eyes. "If it is what the gods decided for me, let it be. Think of it as an arranged marriage."

She nods as Arden, resigned to be marked as a member of the Church.

[Cavelcade]

Kurt understands the tension running through Miriam, seeing how the eloquent monk has deftly taken apart her structure, her base. As the music swells, he leans in to quietly whisper, just loud enough for her to hear. "You are still a good person, Miriam. Don't forget that, either." Then he looks over at Arden.

"Where do we go to get the brand...and what does need doing around here, anyway? I want to be able to use whatever skills I have..." Though he doesn't forget the reason they're here, a chance to help has been put in front of him. "I have felt the call of my God, lately, to protect the weak with the graces he's giving me. I don't want to let him down."

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Please...Show, can I see?" She waits to see wherever she should go next. Natalia's gleeful with the possibilities opened to her, her opportunities. Now she remembers what Torin and Karik mentioned about the Institute, things that she dismissed, as a place she'd never go and so wasn't worth thinking about. As it would just be painful--but here it is. She's worried about the mark, but...

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Natalia's tutors, Torin and Karik, were a halfling raised by gnomes, and a kobold. One was a trapsmith, the other a combat trapsmith. In your homebrew, I guess that they were both part of the Institute. Take Natalia wherever she needs to go, and thank you for talking this out with me.

[Admiral]

"Where do we go to get the brand...and what does need doing around here, anyway? I want to be able to use whatever skills I have..." Though he doesn't forget the reason they're here, a chance to help has been put in front of him. "I have felt the call of my God, lately, to protect the weak with the graces he's giving me. I don't want to let him down."

When the orchestra finishes, Arden turns to Kurt and claps him on the shoulder warmly. "A wise impulse, for which you deserve credit. All our gods have their plans and designs for us, but not all choose to listen."

"Those who join the Church can follow two paths. Some, like myself, take on a full position in the guild's ranks- our preachers, soldiers, healers, and so on. But not all wish to devote their lives to the guild in that way, so they live as Church citizens, generally free to serve their deity as they see fit- they need not even attend services unless they desire to do so."

"But those who serve as citizens can still take on jobs and missions for the Church. There are always people to be helped, often in the country or outer-lands where our clergy are few and our influence is weak. Any time you are interested in such work, just find a Guild office. We need all kinds of workers, but healers and warriors most of all."

When Miriam agrees to join, he similarly smiles at her. "Come with me." He leads them back down the stairs. As he climbs, he turns to Miriam with a sympathetic expression. "Please don't be alarmed- the marking is painless and simple, but the process around it is a bit dramatic. It is simply for the sake of security- as I mentioned, the possibility of forging guildmarks is too dangerous to contemplate."

He calls for a pair of paladins, who lead Kurt and Miriam down into the catacombs below the church. As they descend, the beauty of the upper levels transforms into a more utilitarian atmosphere, one built around security and secrecy. The guards open a gate, and they find themselves in a subdued basement, with a few paladins stationed around under flickering lamps.

At the center of the chamber is a hooded figure; he might be human but it is impossible to tell for sure. He beckons the two newcomers over, and draws out a device that is chained to the floor.

[achinca]

Miriam follows Arden, holding onto Kurt and her quarterstaff. As more paladins join then, she feels less and less comfortable but keep on walking.

When they enter the room with the hooded man, she starts trembling and shaking and extends her right hand. She wishes she had her hood to hide her face and her tears.

Visions of cattle being branded flesh through her mind and is the image of a evil griming Calric tattooing "C" all over her body.

[Admiral]

Mithril walked into the room slowly, spinning around to view the vast array of books. She slowly stepped up to the closest bookshelf, cautiously reaching out as though it would disappear as she touched it. She stood that way for a little before turning back to Quart. Tears of joy running down her face she smiled, her face saying all that she felt.

Quart smiles widely at the wizard's expression. "I've been serving as Librarian for 20 years, and it still amazes me every day. I'm glad you feel the same way."

Quart beckons. "Technically, I'm breaking the rules by letting you in her before you're a member. If you do decide to join, please come back and I'll show you around."

As the two depart the library, Quart continues telling her about the library. "Along with the vast quantity of research, history, theory, and the like, the Library contains a catalog of thousands of spells gathered from around the world. Any Institute member can copy any of them, for only a small fee."

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Fee is 50gp per spell level. I go back and forth on whether distinct spell levels exist in game- didn't ZMan have some approach to that?

[Admiral]

Miriam and Kurt

The figure takes Miriam's hand gently, and applies the device to it, then
mutters a few arcane words. There is a flash of light, but no pain or even
discomfort on her hand, such that Miriam is sure the branding somehow
failed. But when the device is removed, she looks at her hand and sees the
crossed lines of the Threadmyr Church, reflecting the dim light in a
thousand colors that somehow seems flat and deep at the same time.

From behind her she hears Arden's voice, in a comforting tone. "Welcome to the Threadmyr Church, Miriam Sunfollower of St. Cuthbert."

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In terms of what the insignias look like, think of a 2D hologram, like those foil baseball cards.

Kurt will get marked afterwards- Cavelcade's welcome to summarize it as he wants.

[achinca]

Miriam looks at the mark, not understanding how he did not work. But the mark is there, sign that she is owned by something greater than her own free will.

Her first reaction is to hide it with the other hand but then changes her mind, given the company. She takes a step back and lowers her head, looking at Kurt.

"I hate it. I simply hate it."

She turns around at the sound of Arden's voice and just nods.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Looking at the mark on the dwarf's hand, Natalia has another question. "Why mark? Why brand? Saw Torin and Karik, far away with none."

[Athedia]

Mithril reluctantly left the library. "Where do I join?" There was no doubt or worry in her mind. A mark in exchange for access to the most knowledge she had ever seen, there was no bargain like it.

[Cavelcade]

Kurt doesn't hesitate when his turn comes along, thrusting his hand forward. The mark he's about to receive means something more hopeful to him than it obviously does to Miriam. For him, it's an affirmation of what he just said, a growing sense of connection to his god, and dedication to his own ideals. He must never fail himself again - try to never give in to his temptations for wealth and power. He couldn't remember what happened when he had died, but he knew why and he had felt the loss when he woke up, a regression to an earlier stage, when he'd had only his own rage to lean on to drive him forward.

He smiles upon seeing the mark standing out on his skin, peace filling him for the first time since he'd left his homeland. If he couldn't go back there, he'd have to carry his home with him, and this sign would help him.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Torin and Karik, they left just a couple months after meeting her, and if not for her, they would have moved on sooner, Natalia muses. Where did they go? Have they returned here by now? Would she see them again? Her mind then wanders to Mithril and Shiny. She hopes they're doing well here, and wonders how their interviews are going.

[Admiral]

Kurt and Miriam

Kurt and Miriam are escorted from the basement. Once they are back in the main hall, with services continuing at the front, Arden bids them farewell.

"Kurt, I hope you find peace in your new devotion to Kord, however you choose to honor him- in sport, in battle, in heroic action, or simply in prayer. If you have questions along your journey, we will always be here. And Miriam," he clasps her hand with his own in a goodbye gesture, with a sympathetic expression- "I know today has not been easy for you. I hope you take what I told you about the Church to heart. The Church does not own its citizens- we serve only our deities, and the Church exists only to help us do so. Perhaps one day you will view your guildmark with pride, as I do."

Mithril

Quart grins with delight when Mithril agrees to join the Institute. "Right this way."

Quart takes the young wizard to a clerk, then says his goodbye. The clerk takes some information from Mithril, including her name and some basic questions about her spellcasting abilities. Once complete, he writes something down on a pad similar to the one Mithril had seen on Izzik's desk, and after a few moments a hooded figure appears out of midair behind him. Mithril recognizes the effect from when the mage reinforcements arrived at the outpost. The hooded, cloaked figure carries a large device inscribed with runes that Mithril cannot recognize, and he beckons for her hand to inscribe the Institute's mark.

Once Mithril leaves the Institute, she recognizes Shiny in the middle of the courtyard, talking to some young men and women she doesn't recognize. Even from a distance she spots the five pointed star on the back of his hand. She then notices he's gesturing towards various sectors of the university, and describing them in an authoritatitive tone. One snippet floats to her- "Over there are the freshman dormitories, which were the site of the great Amateur's Duel of 843 that left eleven people stranded on the astral plane-" and it becomes clear he has someone decided to pose as a tour guide.

Natalia

The dwarven professor writes down an office number and a time on a bit of parchment and pushes it across the table. "Stop by this afternoon- I'll let him know you're coming. You should go back to admissions to join officially first, though."

"In answer to your question- the guildmarks vanish when someone leaves Eldgar, though they can reappear when the person returns."

Spoiler

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Sorry, don't have time to write more. In general, unless you have any questions you can each assume the process of guildmarking is done and rejoin the others. Natalia can write her own guildmarking scene- it's not particularly different from the others. Of course you can still attend to any business you need to, or post a summary post.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Thank you," Natalia says with a nod.

The walls seem to close in around Natalia as she prepares to be marked. She squeezes her eyes shut as the stamp is pressed against her hand, cool and firm. She cracks one eyelid open as she sees the brand, the five-pointed star, shimmering on her hand. Part wonder, part fear, part numbness as she tilts her hand back and forth, watching the colors dance and change. Natalia runs her fingers along the mark but it feels the same, the same color as the res of her hand. She's marked now, part of the guild.

As Natalia goes to meet up with her friends, catch up, maybe get some lunch, something coils in her stomach. Have I made a mistake?

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It's okay, you tend to have very thorough and long posts. I take it you had errands to run today?

[achinca]

Miriam nods at Arden "Time will tell, Father Arden."

She follows Kurt "Hulburg citizens did not have to wear a mark. Just the soldiers. I do not care what that monk said. I am branded. We are all branded. I guess it is just another test in front of me. How much am I willing to sacrifice in my search for good."

She keeps looking at the mark, hating it but knowing that it is the laws of the land she decided to go and she must respect them.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia approaches Shiny and Mithril in the courtyard. She rubs the back of her hand self-consciously, still wondering how she can't feel the difference, and asks Mithril, "Appointment for later. How...Did yours go?" She looks around, and snickers at Shiny's antics. "Find Miriam and Kurt?" Natalia's a bit worried about Miriam, who seemed to have taken the prospect worse than she did. At least, that's what the rogue thinks; she was kinda out of it yesterday.

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How's everyone doing? So, uh, what benefits does everyone get from their guilds? Since Mithril gets cheaper spells, but Shiny's a spontaneous spellcaster, Natalia can't cast spells, and Miriam and Kurt are in a different guild.

I'm really excited for the appointment but I don't want to bog everyone down.

[Cavelcade]

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How does Natalia know how Miriam took the process?

Kurt just nods too, caught up in his own thoughts and emotions, before he turns to Miriam. "We will be okay Miriam. Even if we are branded for now...just a mark of my faith." Kurt seems completely earnest in his belief at least.

[CoffeeIncluded]

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How does Natalia know how Miriam took the process?

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By process, Natalia meant the idea of being marked. I should have said prospect; I'll go change that now. She saw yesterday that Miriam really didn't like the idea.

Natalia keeps poking at her mark, watching it change colors in the light but not by her touch.

[achinca]

Miriam looks at the dwarf and forces herself to smile. She puts her hand on his chest where his heart is "This is where the mark is. This where the sign of who you worship is. Your brand should be the actions you take. Anyone that can mark you owns you. But I know that the gods love to test us mortals."

The smile disappears "It is OK, my friend Kurt. As soon as what we need to do is Eldgar is done, I will have this brand removed and will never again put the feet in this land."

[Admiral]

Shiny grins as he sees Mithril and Natalia approaching, and walks with the two of them out of the university. "Originally they weren't going to let me in," he said. "But then I demonstrated a spell that guaranteed my entry: my spell for picking locks. Well, demonstrated is an exaggeration: I used the spell to sneak my way into their storage room, found their magical brand, and applied the guildmark to myself."

The three new Institute members walk out onto the guildsquare. As they do, they spot Miriam and Kurt approaching from the Church and walk to join them.

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All together again

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia grins as she hears Shiny's story. Frankly, she wouldn't be surprised if he actually had gone and done that. The rogue feels a bit better about her decision as she rejoins the others. She raises the back of her hand to show them and says, "They wanted me. Not just magic, machines too. All learning. Meeting later for me, but...they wanted me."

She tilts her head when she notices Miriam's drawn expression. "...You okay?"

[achinca]

Miriam forces herself to smile as she unconsciously put her hand behind her back. "I am fine. It is what it is."

She looks at the 4 heroes "They all seem fine with their brand. What is wrong with me? Is it like possessions? I cannot deal with them? Calric was right. I am strange. Everyone is this land is happy to be branded. Why am I so different?"

She nods at Natalia "Everything's good"

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Then why hide?" Natalia asks. "Not of shame, not a thief's brand...do you...talk about it? Want to? Please, no hiding, no shadows from sun."

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Natalia's not entirely thrilled with the mark either, though the excitement's outstripped her fears, at least for now. She's going to want to talk to Miriam later though, but not in public. Is that okay; can we do that?

[achinca]

Miriam forces herself to smile "No. Everything is good."

"Poor Natalia. After all she's gone through, she does not need my craziness. They all are fine with their brand. Look at Mithril and Kurt, so proud of them. Calric was right, I am a piece of work. I am crazy. The poor girl does not need my issues."

"I just don't ....... like markings on my body."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Ah. Natalia understands. "Mark means brand means own?" She nods her head. "Same fears for me. But don't own. Still myself. Tattoo your body, marks meant for you, special pictures, name of friends and family...owned by tattooer, or owned by you? Your choice." She steps out of the busy street, lifts her shirt to show the ugly red scar tissue cutting across her side. "Spiders marked me, but...don't own me. If anything...I own them, own their lives."

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I'm about to go, which is why I posted this now.

[achinca]

Miriam looks at Natalia and tries to mimic her speak "but marks ... choice not mine .... forced ..... accept or leave .... so yes owned" hoping to confirm she finally understood "Nutspeak".

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia nods. Miriam understood. "True, but...your choice there, or anywhere." She looks down at her mark with a frown. "You want it off? Guildless, protected by us?"

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Hey, Admiral, are there going to be guildwalkers here like in your other aborted campaign?

Also, see you all in several hours. I may be on OOC some time but don't count on it.

[achinca]

Miriam shakes her head. "Cannot. Must respect laws. If not ..... St. Cuthbert disrespected. Worse than brand."

She looks at Natalia hoping she will be convinced. "I need to do a better job at hiding my craziness. If I don't stop being so open, even them will get sick of it. I could not survive losing them. I got to stop showing how crazy I am."

[Cavelcade]

"Leave it be, Natalia. This isn't something we'll resolve here. We all have our own issues." Kurt's growing uncomfortable with this whole discussion, out here in the open. "We've all made our choice for this - now let's go on with what we're here for."