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((The description of the mental display says that it can affect people within a 15 foot radius of either the manifester or the subject of the power. Whether or not anyone is within that range of *you*, using the latter option would alert Atora; that's all I was saying. More surface thoughts:))
Spoiler
"I'd better finish up with this hole and get back quick before the midafternoon prayer begins. I don't want to be late again. I was so close to being late this morning and I think Brother Sederrin noticed it. I hope he doesn't let it get back to Mother Hapatha. She's so strict. I know the commands of our Lord are exacting but the Mother herself could be a little more lenient sometimes."
Atora doesn't seem to hear Byron, but when he gets within a short distance of her, she makes a quarter-turn to pat down the earth over her hole and spots him out of the corner of her eye. "Oh!" she exclaims. "I didn't know we were expecting anyone today. You can go on ahead, Byron. I'm nearly done."
((Sorry about the late reply, this didn't pop up in my control panel for some reason.))
Results of more mindreading:
Spoiler
"Oh, this could be very bad. I wonder who he's here to replace. Mother Hapatha didn't even wait for me to return for the ceremony before calling for a new follower! Oh, dear, oh dear."
"Oh, I'm just filling in this hole. I'll be along in a minute. You can go on ahead if you like; there's no reason to wait for me," says Atora.
Circe watches the situation passively, petting her owl gently while Byron talks.
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Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.
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"I don't need any help. I'm filling it in because the Mother told me I ought to, obviously. You really ought to hurry. She won't like it if you keep her waiting - and she might be upset with me if she thinks I had something to do with it. It really doesn't matter if you like company or not. You'll have to get used to that."
Atora laughs. "Don't be ridiculous, Byron. You wouldn't be here at all unless she'd called you and that tells you everything you need to know. Look, it's sweet of you to try to cheer me up, but it's not going to do you any good in the long run to ingratiate yourself with me. I'm only a layfolk servant, not anyone important in the sanctum."
I'm not sure why, maybe because I live in the temple, but when I got the call, it was unclear. Maybe I only got half of the message. I really don't know where to go from here, I was just told to head south.
"I... guess the temple might have interfered," says Atora, furrowing her brow. "But you're out in the woods now, so that shouldn't still be happening. I expect Mother Hapatha will know. Well, just let me finish with this real quick," she says, shoveling a little more earth over the hole and stomping on it. "That should take care of it. Goodness, it's lucky you found me. If you'd been late because of having been in Kord's temple I don't think the Mother would have been pleased with you at all."
Atora strikes off into the woods for several steps before she stops and snaps her fingers. "You know what it probably is? You've still got that silly holy symbol. Just take it off and drop it somewhere and I'm sure the call will get clearer. The Mother will make you give it up anyway. When Litin got here she made him give up that little sun necklace - he wasn't even very religious, he just got it from his cousin at the temple of Pelor, but it was still a graven image! I mean, it's not so crucial that you hear it perfectly since I can show you where the sanctum is, but if we had to move for some reason, you would need to know how to find the Mother."
Atora stares at him. "What? You can't do that. It's not allowed. Why would I tell you lies about what the Mother wants from us? I don't want you to get in trouble. You have to get rid of it completely." She glances uneasily at the filled-in hole several paces back.
"I! I hardly think my behavior is at issue! You were supposed to get rid of that, not..." She blinks at him. "You weren't called at all, were you! You just want me to show you where the sanctum is so you can stop our work!"
But there are women in Onitka who need you, Atora. My sister Trella is pregnant again. And we were sent to find you and the others, and bring you back to Onitka. We can make arrangements for your work here after that.
"Mother Hapatha doesn't want us to go back to Onitka. Eventually everyone will be one of us and then perhaps I can be a midwife again but until then I have to do as I'm told. And I am not taking you to the sanctum or helping you find anyone else! Mother Hapatha told us this would happen! Oh, you wicked, evil, horrible person, trying to stymie us because you don't understand what we're working towards - it will be glorious -" Atora wrings her hands.
"No, you won't, don't you see? You're too blinded by the little things, it's only visible when they're all wiped away and there's just the glory. That's what the call does, but we haven't gathered enough strength to expand beyond those the Mother can call directly and - and - and I ought not to be telling you anything!"
"No! You won't! You have an agenda and a false god and you won't give them up for our glory, they'll obstruct your vision and you will not be open-minded or fair, you'll only think you will be, and then when your unfairness makes you think we're all wrong you'll think that you were careful and thoughtful but you're just blind, we're all of us blind and only the Mother can see clearly! Go, go away, go back to Onitka, go back to your safe small little life, you'll find out what we're about soon enough!" shouts Atora.
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Re: Selberath I: Calling
