Auromar: Light and Dark (IC 3)

[Lochar]

Your flute ability draws something of a crowd for a moment, if only to laugh.

[Toliudar]

Reid

Reid nods sympathetically, thinking of his self-imposed separation from his own "spirit" bride.

Clearly, the curse weighs heavily on the entire continent. But, aside from more fertile ground and more settlers, you are content? What of those who did not choose this life, but had it imposed on them?

[Greyen]

Dothen

Dothen seeing that he is playing off key and out of tune, getting jeers and laughter will modify his little show to be a musically accompanied tumbling and sleight of hand show. More to entertain himself than anything, bu tupping the laughter in this dreery place is worth while too.

[Lochar]

The innkeep shrugs. "From what I know, some wanted to just find a new home, some wanted to continue exploring. No one's left though."

"We can't, actually. They won't speak of it, but with a body, they can leave the town, but the further away we get, the weaker we get. Doesn't matter who, either. Guards, us, any of the others."

[Greymist]

Kjapp

The spirits....well. For me, it happened like this; most nights when I fell asleep I would awake as a spirit, I could see my body lying in the cot with a whispy thread connecting it to my spirit self.

The first night I was visited by a young boy who's thread looked to be broken and he told me not to leave my body, I'm damn glad that I lisitened to him. In the last two weeks I've been both visited and attacked by other spirits, some of them attacked me directly, others went straight for the life cord

Kjapp raises a hand and taps on his chest above his heart

Last night though was the worst so far, three spirits who I had seen before appeared before me, they said they were sick of waiting and that they would take my body whether I resist or not.

His eyes unfocus for a moment

At least they set a gauntlet for me rather than attacking all at once, I knocked out two of them at which point their bodies seemed to fall apart and vanish. The third one, who called himself Hsin, after seeing that I could at least stand against his initial flurry left me and said he would be the first one to face me the next time I appeared in the spirit.


The spirits were strangely honourable for ones wanting to take my body, Hsin spoke of a need to defend the town from others who would take what they have, he said As it always was before, it shall always be now. We who protect the town must be able to do so


He offers a hand to pull the panting Hist to his feet

[Toliudar]

Reid

The priest leans forward, concerned.

That's very generous of you, Kalamar. To give up your explorations to stay with Boz - Boris. A tribute to the kind-heartedness of all the new explorers, I'm sure. Blessings to you all.

He pauses to think.

I take it that, regardless of which of you is speaking, both of you are seeing and hearing this conversation? But only one of you can respond at a time. Are there any that have tried to more completely merge their consciousnesses, to make one person of the two personalities?

Also, are there any in the town who have chosen to stay, but who have declined to take on a spirit?

Spoiler

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Just in case, Sense Motive (1d20+13)[15] to confirm that there's no further evasion or deception in their answers.

[Lochar]

The innkeep thinks for a moment, then shrugs. "I don't think anyone thinks alike enough to make one person outta two. But yeah, we can both hear you regardless of who's talking."

"As for not having a spirit, I don't think anyone here doesn't have one. The guards probably make sure of that. Minus you all, of course. But I wouldn't put it past the guards to try to keep you here until you do."

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He's being honest.

[Toliudar]

Reid

Reid nods.

Duly noted, Boris. I will hope that the guards are more patient and circumspect, then. The four of us have business that would be inconsistent with remaining here - noble though the work you do here is.

If all goes well, I will no doubt see you again later today. I may then be able to provide further provisions, Pelor willing.

Briefly grasping the man's hand, Reid walks back out into the main chamber of the inn, where he shakes his head appreciatively at Dothen's one-man variety show. He tries to catch the soldier's eye, glancing upwards towards their room, and then returns to their assigned chamber.

[Greyen]

Dothen

Dothen catches the jugs he was juggling and sets them down on the tables near by before bowing to his audience of two. He then follows Reid up the stairs into their shared rooms.

[Toliudar]

Reid

Nodding to Dothen as he enters, Reid shrugs and gestures to another bed.

I spoke with Boris downstairs. I feel that most of the paired townsfolk are at least content with their lot. The guards are different, but I continue to mull over what to do about those - especially since there's no indication that, even if we were able to force a guard's spirit out of its host body, that the other spirit remains to regain control of its life.

Boris also mentioned that any of the joined townsfolk get weak as they leave the town boundaries. This means that we'd be safe spending the nights well out of town, I think. But it also means that the guards won't be happy to see us leave.

If Hist has gotten Kjapp out of town, and returns, perhaps we should wait for word from Hist and all think of some inobtrusive manner to explore further outside. I'd like to see, first, how the guards respond if we simply try to walk out.

Your thoughts?

[Greyen]

Dothen

Dothen sits on his bunk thinking, Hmm. Dunno really. The curse in this area needs to be broken so these folks can live a decent life. The land won't support them with out the curse being broken. I think we need to break the curse on these folks, sending the other spirits on to their judgement so that the living breathing people can get on with their lives. Sharing a life sounds like a tiny perpetual hell to me. These folks made it out here whole enough through the cursed forest, I think that they will be fine with out the spirits of the guards possessing them. Dothen pauses taking out his mug, he taps the side and it fills with ale. Sipping it he says All of this I get from listening to you and Grazys chatting with Hist. I really think that these spirits need ta pass on. They may have been cut short once, but that does not entitle them to finsish their lives by walking in another's skin.

[Toliudar]

Reid

Reid nods, a bit sadly.

"A tiny perpetual hell?" Clearly, my friend, you are not the marrying kind.

There's wisdom in your words, Dothen. At the same time "entitlement" is a difficult concept. I carry the dagger of a Battlefield healer.

He puts a hand to...an empty boot sheath.

Oh, right. Hist. Well, I usually do. Anyway, one of their guiding principles is to start any healing by ensuring that their actions do no additional harm. Seems like not a bad place for us to start as well.

I'm not sure I feel comfortable in the role of judge of these spirits - to say that they have no right to whatever life they can negotiate for themselves. Certainly, I would be happy to help those who wish to pass on do so - Matthew, one of the four spirits we, um, befriended last night.

There is a blush of guilt, and he continues.

He was ready to pass on. There might be other conjoined spirits who would do the same, if they had a choice. But for others...do we have the right to dictate their lives, or their hosts?

Even the guards. They have done what I would consider an appalling thing - to take away the body and spirit of another. But they did so in order to fulfill their role as guardians. In the same situation, you as a soldier might have done the same thing. Can I say with confidence that I wouldn't? Pfffffff.


He releases his breath slowly.

And if we can't find a way to lift their curse? At the very least, we can send word back to Anura in Eras, get lines of trade and supplies coming through. Then, anyone else who comes, comes with foreknowledge of the town's curse, and they enter the town only with foreknowledge of the dangers.

[Greyen]

Dothen

Dothen looks at his friend On this I think we may never agree. Once a person is killed, not dead of natural causes mind you, but killed. What happens to their spirits?

[Toliudar]

Reid

Reid purses his lips.

Well, tradition holds that creatures whose spirits have self-knowledge transcend this place. There is significant difference of opinion as to two possibilities: either that they ascend to a place where they become a purer version of themselves, ultimately merging with the energy of that place, or else that they go there for a period of reflection, after which they return in a new form. Unless of course, as we have done with both Siriphae and Freeman, that cycle is broken and a spirit is directly returned to earth - either to its original body, or to a new form.

As far as I can tell, these people's lives were cut short by an act of evil, and not by any of their own doing. They were prevented from passing on to a spirit realm, and have made the best of a bad situation. In this, they are not at all dissimilar to the choices that Freeman and Siriphae have made.

I ask only to understand, my friend: you seem to think that once someone's body no longer works, they lose the right to live. Does this mean that, if you die in the course of our rather perilous activities, you do not wish to be revived?

There is no trace of malice in Reid's voice, only intense interest.

[Greyen]

Dothen

No, no, no. Bring me back I'm not done kicking and screaming yet.

When someone is brought back, they get to use their old body right? Or a new one? Not someone elses correct? Thats my big catching point here Reid. Two folks, one set of legs is no good for either of them. Sooner or later one of them is going to want to go and get married to a nice girl or something and the other likes boys. Two spirits were not meant to sit in one body.

I remember stories as a child, of Malikar the Body Thief. A body snatcher wizard who traded bodies as he went. Only those of the purest heart were able to resist being thrown from their own body. Eventually he went to burn in the deepest part of the Abyss.

This whole bit about making the best of what's happened is wrong to me. They are dead. End of story. Sorry they were cut short. Too bad. Their time is past, time for new folks to walk. Time for the dead to move on to their well deserved rest. What does your Pelor say about it? Are two souls supposed to inhabit one body?

Aren't you all supposed to exorcise one if a child has an extra spirit that making her talk and behave funny?

[Toliudar]

Reid

Reid grins.

I believe that's with the assumption that the spirit is that of a fiend of some kind.

I understand what you're saying, Dothen, but can you really say that you'd have done anything different, given the choice? To have spent years, a timeless time, trapped as a spirit...what would you give for another chance to breathe? To laugh? To love? Even if the love is tainted, confusing, complicated? I may not admire the spirits for the choices they've made - but I can certainly understand them.

I suppose all of this is moot, at least until we come up with some way to at least have a chance to put the spirits to rest. If we are able to lift the curse entirely, they may indeed all go on to the next place. Or, perhaps, enough of them will choose to let go of this life that there will be enough unclaimed forms for the rest.

[Greyen]

Dothen

So no matter what we are back to square one here. How is the curse to be broken in this town? Especially if all of the bits of it are tied up in the spirits. Is there a way to bring the light of Pelor to the spirits to give them a doorway to go through?

[Toliudar]

Reid

Reid nodded sadly.

There are many ways to bring Pelor's light, literally, to this place. I suspect, however, that none will have the same effect as his own sunrays. And even if they did, they would only cause the spirits to dissipate for a short time.

There are things to be tried, although I suspect that the priests here have already tried some fo them. The removal of curses and diseases is pretty standard fare for those of my training - perhaps something of that sort will assist. Grazys had said something about a spirit dissipating oddly, before dawn this morning. That may have a clue. Conversations with Kjapp may reveal something of how he evaded the spirits for so long.

He shrugged.

The light will come.

[Greyen]

Dothen

Dothen shakes his head sadly I dunno at this point Reid. All I know is that the only way for me to help relieve the curse here is to murder all of the poeple. And that is not an option. But someone like the Scolar may just do that to scoop up the curse energy that binds them here. We need to prevent that from happening. Maybe Hist will have an idea when he gets back from escorting Kjapp.

[Moral Wiz]

Hist

meanwhile, the warlock nods, whirlst rising, accepting Kjapp's hand greatfully.

That explains somthing Grazys said

I'll confess though, that I'm more curious about the boy. Can you discribe him at all better than that? Was it usual for the spirits' cords to be broken in that way?

After an answer, Hist looks back at the town.

I should be returning. There is still much to do. I should be back again before nightfall. Hopefully, I can answer any questions then

Oh, and if you want to be useful..

Hist turned, and winked at the newly free Kjapp

The spirits we talked to referenced the fact that the Priests of Pyg... I mean, the One, who were here before the curse, left the town before it fell. They seemed to know what was going to happen.

They probably didn't rome far before they died. It's a bit of a streatch, but you might be able to locate their bodies. That might help us learn how to break this spirit effect.

with that, Hist gestured, and disappeared, before he departed on his unseen wings, and headed back to the town.

Spoiler

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Sorry about the delay in posting. I've been up since midnight (my time). I'll join you guys in the inn after an answer from Greymist.

[Greymist]

Kjapp

Thinking back on it actually I would call him more of a young man than young boy, unfortunately I don't recall many details of him other than the warning, he ran off through a wall shortly after.

He lowers his head for a moment thinking.

Only the young man who gave the warning had the cord exiting over their heart. Everyone else, including those who attacked me last night did not.

I'll definitely have a look around the outskirts of the town, it's the least I can do, where and when should I meet with you again though?

As Hist vanishes Kjapp sets off examining the ground for long dead corpses though also keeping an eye on the town for guards.

Spoiler

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Since Hist asked me to do it, after any conversation he'll do a circle of the town I'll roll the checks a few times to notice any bodies.

Spot: (1d20+12)[31]
(1d20+12)[30]
(1d20+12)[25]
(1d20+12)[18]
(1d20+12)[23]

Survival: (1d20+14)[25]
(1d20+14)[17]
(1d20+14)[31]
(1d20+14)[32]
(1d20+14)[20]

BTW, cause I'm bored, what's the weather like for the next few days :P (1d20+14)[27]

Lochar:

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Is there any more information I should remember and let Hist know?

[Lochar]

Kjapp:

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Only the one person that warned you had the broken thread. The rest of the spirits, like those who attacked you, did not.

Weather will be rainy for the next few days.

You don't find any bodies. Then again, a thousand years have passed since the curse struck. Anything biological would have decomposed and blown away on the wind since then.

[Moral Wiz]

Kjapp

Thinking back on it actually I would call him more of a young man than young boy, unfortunately I don't recall many details of him other than the warning, he ran off through a wall shortly after.

He lowers his head for a moment thinking.

Only the young man who gave the warning had the cord exiting over their heart. Everyone else, including those who attacked me last night did not.

I'll definitely have a look around the outskirts of the town, it's the least I can do, where and when should I meet with you again though?

As Hist vanishes Kjapp sets off examining the ground for long dead corpses though also keeping an eye on the town for guards.

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Since Hist asked me to do it, after any conversation he'll do a circle of the town I'll roll the checks a few times to notice any bodies.

Spot: [roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

Survival: [roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]
[roll8]
[roll9]

BTW, cause I'm bored, what's the weather like for the next few days :P [roll10]

Lochar:

Spoiler

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Is there any more information I should remember and let Hist know?

Hist

Interesting.

Don't worry. The guards won't be searching, and I'll have time to kill. I can find you.

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The bodies is a longshot, but still.... if the curse killed everything, it should hopefully kill most6 of the bacteria responcible for decomposition, right? (I'm not a biologist, so I don't know, but still

After a while, the assembled group can hear a light knocking on the window. Upon opening it, Hist entered.

Kjapp's safe and sound. He's outside the town by quite a long margin, and he's one damn good runner. Even if they could leave, the guards wouldn't be able to keep up with him. I know I couldn't.

He laughed, and paused for a moment, remembering the incident. Then his smile faded, as he remembered the situation.

So..

he leans back against one of the walls, putting most of his weight on it.

What do we do now?

[GimliFett]

Grazys Senneker

"Party? Everyone needs a good party now and then. We get the whole town drunk and then see what we can find out!" Entering right as Hist asks his question, the binder offers with his characteristic grin. Grazys closes the door behind him and slips his haversack off his shoulders and around in front of him.

He rummages through it for a moment and pulls out a sack. Tossing it to Reid he nods. "Pretty good deal there. Got seven." He also pulls out his darkwood shield and sets it on an empty bed then places his rapier next to it. He draws two crystals from his belt pouch. The first is a blue sapphire cut into a large cabachon. A small flint arrowhead can be seen within it. "This'll help against ranged stuff somewhat," he says as he affixes it to his shield and replaces it in his pack. The second crystal is a perfect sphere that seems to emit a faint white glow. He affixes this one to the pomel of his rapier. "Got a nice little surprise for our friend tha summoner's friends next we meet! Fiendslayer crystal." A sly smile creeps across his face as he replaces the rapier on his belt.

Setting his haversack on the floor next to the bed, Grazys leans back against the wall and folds his arms across his chest. "Well, ya two're here, so I assume things went pretty well, eh?"

[Toliudar]

Reid

After waiting for Dothen and Hist to share their tales of derring-do, Reid beams.

Beautifully done, both of you. And Hist, you know roughly where to find Kjapp again? Oh, and I don't suppose I could get the fly back. It's become something of a constant companion.

I'd suggest that our next step will be to try to walk out of town, perhaps talking about trying to do some looking about for a source of fresh water or some such.

He shrugs apologetically.

Or perhaps I'll leave that to all of you more, um, creative types. In any case, I want to see whether the guards would actually prevent us from leaving. If so, it may at least lead to a potentially illuminating conversation with some of the guards. And if not, it means that we may be able to sleep outside at nights safely.

He fills Grazys and Hist in on the major points of his chat with Boris and Kalamar.

Plus, we can then meet up with this Kjapp, and perhaps share our wisdom with him as well. I am eager to learn how he has managed to fend off the guards' spirits for two weeks.

[Moral Wiz]

Hist

Of course, Reid. And the Dagger of course.

Hist was holding the fly in his hand, and passed it over as soon as he was asked, taking out the dagger with the other hand, and handing it over too.

But... well, do you like jail food? Because, if the guards don't let us out, they'll probably lock us up. And do it a little better this time. Perhaps they'd even guard us. We could probably escape, but the whole "killing guards" thing...

I say whatever we do, we'd better not tip our hand just yet. A foe that doesn't know you are fighting him is far easier prey.

I'd personally go with Grazys' idea. A party sounds good.

Hist smiles, and winks at the group.

And we might just be able to use it as a useful excuse to gather the community. There are a few people it might be an idea to talk to. See if we can find a mage for a start. And that girl Dothen mentioned

Oh, and Kjapp mentioned a spirit that was unlike the rest. A boy, or young man, with a broken cord, who was running when he met our new friend. Any ideas about who he could be?

[Greyen]

Dothen

Dothen looks at the gathered heroes Walking in and out of that place was pretty easy, I could do it again. No worries there. I like the party idea but then again I just like the idea of a party anyway. he says with a sly grin.

[Toliudar]

Reid

Not entirely grasping the humour...all right, completely missing the humour in the party suggestion, Reid frowns.

I am pleased to provide the bounty of Pelor if there is some cause for celebration, but I'm fairly certain he won't answer a request for, ah, the refreshments that I think you're speaking of.

It would seem likely that the young woman Dothen described simply shifted from the control by the guest spirit to the host. If there are wizards among the community, couldn't we simply ask? Surely, in a group so small, isolated and interdependent, they would be well aware of each others' abilities.

[Moral Wiz]

Hist

Hist nods at Dothen

Fair enough, but we wouldn't be able to operate as freely as we're now doing.

He smiles slightly as Reid speaks.

Well, that'll make the party a little less fun, certainly. But the best thing is to relax. Everything else is essentially a luxury.

And as to the girl... well, that's possible. But it seems odd. There wasn't any reason to, and, well, have any of the others the others done that in casual conversation?

And we could indeed probably find a mage just by asking. But.... well, the last mage I encountered on this continent didn't like the idea of talking to anyone. I had to pay five hundred gold just for a few minuets of his time. Personally, I'd prefer a somewhat less expensive conversation. Whilst he's a little distracted, perhaps.

Besides.. well, how can you resist an excuse for a celebration? We've just seen a man brought to safety, and this whole curse question is depressing.

Hist laughs at the end, and he is obviously just joking there.

[Toliudar]

Reid

Reid sighed.

If a party is what you want...but if you're celebrating Kjapp's freedom, wouldn't it be better to, you know, wait till he was present? I am no expert in such things, however. I suppose I could help make, er, decorations or something.

If a wizard is what you want, I would suggest two expedient routes. Boris downstairs has seemed reliable and helpful, and as owner of a place of gathering and lodging - if anyone knows of any with magical skills, it would be him. You could ask. Or, failing that, I could send to Anura, and ask her to look in on us, then travel to us, if we haven't gone too far for her forms of transportation.

In the meantime, I'd appreciate an opportunity to chat again with the priests, to see if they have any further insights that they might be willing to share, especially now that we have found a way to help with Rico.