Astvanor Session 163 (4/18)

[cinaed]

Session 163: Day 23 of Saedan (4/18)

It’s a long night. It feels kind of numbing by the time it’s finished and by the time they all get to sleep. That feeling doesn’t go away by the time Hava wakes up. It’s like there is a heavy, insistent weight laid over her, but they all wake, Hava feeling numb to the sunshine and heat that seeps into her skin as she wakes earlier and goes to her home.

Earlier in the night before they had all drunk too much of the wine, Yolov casts Sending to Zorash to let him know that they’ll be at the magic house the next day. Zorash asks for a menu and how many people will be coming to the house.

Yolov also sends to his father, a quiet-voiced Sending, “Hello. Kasi’s well. Today’s been– I wanted to say how grateful I am to have you and our family in my life. The longer I travel, the more things I see, the more I realize how lucky I am for you all and the Blue Bell. Give everyone my love.” There is a pause before his father responds that he hopes everything is all right but that they’re all grateful for him too.

After a little wine, he also Sends to Asa: “Hello, Asa. Are you well? It’s been…difficult, here, but we’ll be in Little Nest tomorrow. We’ve found two ghosts to send to Tessvar and are trying to rescue trapped souls from Elathias. I’d like to see you if you’re home. If you aren’t, I’ll see you soon. I miss you.”

She responds almost instantly and says she misses him too. She’s not at home but she’s actually closer to him than she would be if she was. She’ll see him tomorrow.

In the morning, Hava takes the longbow and goes in search of her mother. She finds her at the little pool where they all had eaten the meal together.

Fala asks if she slept well and Hava says no, but she can pretend that she did. Fala says that she thinks they will all have to pretend that they slept well.

She invites Hava to sit with her and asks if she’s leaving soon with her friends. When Hava tells her that they’re leaving today, Fala says she hopes her trip will be safe and meaningful. Hava says she thinks so.

Fala takes her hand off the water. By the time it lands on her leg it is almost entirely dry. She stares down at the water and says that she’s in no position to ask things of Hava or to make demands of her. That being said, she feels as though she must.

Hava encourages her to go on.

Fala says under no circumstances is Hava to not return from this.

Hava chuckles and asks if she’s forbidding Hava to die.

Fala says she is, both as the high priestess and as her mother. If she dies, so help her, she doesn’t know what she would do with herself.

Hava says she’ll do her best.

“You’re,” Fala says. She stops. Then she asks for Hava to write to them this time, even if she’s still mad.

Hava says it’s not that. She’s just not sure if she can make promises she might not be able to keep.

Fala smooths a hand down her skirt and tells Hava to be safe. She knows she’s asking the impossible, nothing Hava is doing is safe.

Hava says it’s not, but she’ll do her best for her.

Fala says that’s all she can ask.

Hava is quiet for a moment. Then she says she’s sorry about Junius. She’s sorry that she lied to her mother.

Fala glances over at her and says that all she had to say was that she didn’t want to marry Junius. Hava counters that she’s really hard to talk to, making Fala squeeze her eyes shut and apologize.

Hava says she doesn’t want to be impossible, but Fala is difficult to talk to. Why didn’t she tell her what she needed to do? Why did she make Hava think she was meant to be the healer? Why did she let Hava think that she had a different purpose?

Fala says because it would have made it true that Maeve was never coming back. Hava says that was always true, and Fala says that she never wanted it to be true. Hava can say it was wrong and believe it was wrong, but every day that she didn’t tell Hava Fala could live with the facsimile of hope that her daughter would come home.

Hava struggles with this. She says she’s not angry, then corrects herself, not wanting to lie, but she wants to make everything right. When this is over, she wants to come home and she wants to learn what she’s supposed to do.

Fala says all right.

Hava adds brightly that she also met someone.

Fala warily asks if she’s married and Hava says that’s insane. She’s not married, but she met an elf named Taion. He’s from a clan in Malvatore in Valnore. Fala doesn’t know where that is, and Hava admits she didn’t know where it was until she was there.

Fala says she hopes Hava will bring him home to visit.

Hava says he’ll love her and Fala says she’s sure she’ll find him tolerable.

Fala asks what sea he’s from, and Hava says he doesn’t live near a sea. Her mother demands how a sea elf can’t live near the sea and Hava explains that he isn’t a sea elf, he’s a wild elf. Fala demands to know if he can even swim and Hava says she’s pretty sure he can.

Fala makes a noise of disgust when Hava says he learned how to swim in rivers and lakes near his home. Hava tells her that they’re not so bad, she just thinks everyone has bad taste, and Fala says that they do all have bad taste.

Fala kisses Hava’s hand and Hava says she’s sorry this all happened. Fala says she’s sorry too.

Hava takes a deep breath as her mother kisses the top of her head and says that she will miss her while she’s gone. Hava tells her that she’ll miss her too. Fala reminds her to go see Luna before she goes, and Hava says she will and asks Fala to see them off.

Fala looks mildly offended by the implication she wouldn’t.

Audacity is staring at the water, trying to will himself to do something.

Yolov goes to speak with Fala. He finds her in the same place where Hava spoke to her. He clears his throat nervously and asks if he might have a moment of her time before they go.

Fala glances sideways at him before she says she doesn’t see why not.

Yolov first expresses his condolences and then quietly says that he knows he’s speaking as an outsider and as Hava’s friend. Her relationship with Maeve is her own, but he asks her to reconsider letting Hava speak about Maeve when she returns.

Fala stares at him for a long moment, and he can feel the air chill. She says that he has known her daughter for quite some time and he says yes. She tells him that his request has been noted and he’s dismissed.

When he nods and starts to say he and his friends will keep Hava safe, she interrupts with a pointed reminder that she said he’s dismissed. He retreats and spends some time in the library, leaving parchment there for Luna that has sketches and dates and a sentence or two of detail of creatures and allies the party has encountered together, such as the ice roc and the hippogrif.

Galowen goes in search of mangos, finding several mango trees on the island. He manages to harvest a basket of thirteen mangoes, an embarrassment of mangoes as he leaves behind the other harvesters. He knows that mangoes don’t last very long once they’re harvested and begins to eat as many as he can.

Audacity chickens out on what he was going to do and goes in search of Galowen. He finds him in the middle of eating the mangoes, his fur sticky with juice. Galowen chucks a mango at him.

Audacity catches it and asks if he can ask him a question. When Galowen says sure, Audacity glances sideways at him and takes a bite of his mango before he asks if Galowen met Caletras.

Galowen says yes.

Audacity grins and asks what she was like.

Galowen thinks for a moment. He says she was kind but not nice. She said that he wasn’t allowed to die, which is comforting but also it doesn’t feel like he has a choice.

Audacity says that it feels both comforting and invasive. He supposes it depends on who’s controlling things.

Galowen says it’s not something he wants to do, so he thinks it’s fine if their end goals are aligned.

Audacity points out that they do know someone who has been alive for a long time and is a little crazy about it. He adds that dying isn’t on his list of things to do. Galowen agrees and says there are people who should die and stay dead.

Audacity says he has something for Galowen. With sticky fingers he offers the keychain to a baffled Galowen. Audacity says he found it in the Night Market. Galowen disbelieves this since he’s never seen his name spelled right anywhere. Audacity admits he found a nice piece of wood and got it made.

Galowen says that kind of takes the magic out of it and he doesn’t even have keys.

Audacity says that he can put it on his things and Galowen says to identify him when he dies again. He quickly says it’s a joke, making Audacity smirk.

Galowen studies it for a moment before he puts it with his belongings. He says thank you, even though doing it intentionally does take the magic out of it.

Audacity says he’s sorry, next time he’ll keep it to himself.

Galowen asks if he wants another mango.

Audacity says he will since they’ll be at the magic house soon, they’ll just have the runs from all the mangoes there. Galowen is baffled and Audacity explains it’s a lot of fiber to eat at once. Galowen is still confused and then says they can save some of the mangoes for a mango chutney.

Audacity says that Zorash would like that. He says he’s going to wash off the mango juice.

Galowen says he’s going to keep eating his mangoes.

Az, meanwhile, is trying not to get in anyone’s way. He’s eating a good breakfast, commandeered into helping with the meal, but otherwise he’s just relaxing and enjoying the ocean while they’re still near it.

He sits on the beach, letting the waves lap over his legs. Eventually he sees Audacity wander past, strip down to his underthings, and dive into the ocean.

Finally it is time for them to leave. Usually Fala stands at the docks to see off the important guests on their ships, but now she’s waiting impatiently for them to leave via the Staff of the Arctic Fox. Luna is beside her, bouncing in place.

Hava pulls out the knick knacks she’s collected for Luna during her travels and gives them to her. She studies Luna’s ceremonial mace before she pulls the bow she’s been using off her back and gives it to Luna, telling her to have Junius help her learn how to use it. She should learn how to defend herself, just like Hava did.

Luna says Hava’s really good at it.

Hava sighs and says she’ll miss her.

Luna says she’ll be back soon.

Hava says she’ll be back as soon as she can. When Luna asks if she promises, Hava says she does. Luna hugs her very tightly and Hava adds that she has a lot to do. Luna agrees that she’ll be really busy, and Hava says she knows Luna will do great things and she can’t wait to see it.

Luna hugs her even more tightly than before.

Hava tells her to be really careful.

Luna tells her to be careful too. She makes Hava pinky-promise to tell her all the exciting things she sees while she’s gone and to write her at least one letter and tell her about every interesting person she meets. Luna runs out of things to make her promise to do and just hugs her again.

Hava tells her not to worry, she’ll be back before she knows it.

Luna hugs her one more time.

Hava hugs Junius, who gives her a hair tussle, and his new partner, the latter of whom kisses Hava’s cheek.

She hugs her mother as well.

Fala gives her one last firm hug and then says she doesn’t know what Hava is waiting for but go on. The world needs her more than they do right now.

Hava nods for Yolov to teleport them to the house.

It’s as jarring as any other teleportation. At once the heat of the island is gone, replaced by a freezing cold that seems almost painful in comparison. Galowen and Yolov both take deep, appreciative breaths as Audacity shivers. It’s cold.

They are in the top most room in Nestling, crowded into the space with Kasi.

Hava bursts into tears. Audacity and Galowen comfort her as Yolov quickly teleports Kasi down to the garden and then returns to join the rest before they go downstairs.

They step down the stairs and can hear music, like someone has some kind of arcane set-up that is playing music. Taion is there, Zorash is there, cooking. There’s the smell of fresh baked bread and other food, sausages and eggs. There’s cheerful conversation as Taion makes his way through the crowd to sweep Hava up into his arms.

She’s sobbing as she tells him that she’s had a really bad day. He asks if she wants to lie down and she says yes. He takes her to their bedroom.

Galowen approaches Zorash with the remaining mangoes, which excites Zorash.

Zorash launches into a list of things he can make with the mangoes. He says he can make a mango salsa, unless they’re leaving soon. Yolov gives him the claw tips and recipe book, which excites him even more. He’s been making tons of bread. He wonders if he can put sweet things into bread and Yolov promises to get some recipes from his sister for Zorash.

Yolov also finds Jasani, who has been reunited with Flick. The children are still in Fishbone with Kaspian, but Jasani takes Cicle from Yolov and promises to give him to Rial and explain his options.

Before Audacity goes to speak with Alex at the temple, he catches Yolov and asks if he can send a Sending to Mastery. Yolov assures him he can and sends to Mastery: “Hello, Audacity says he has something to send to you and Ambition. Where would be a good place to send it?”

Fifteen minutes later, Mastery says, “Hey, Yolov. We’re at a place in Cae’s Reach. Let me give you the address. We’ll be here for a bit. Tell bro said hi.” Yolov receives instructions for Cae’s Reach, north of Bridge Cross City, at the very edge of Kastvar.

Audacity goes into the town, mailing the Sending Stones to Mastery and Ambition before he seeks Alex out. Alex greets him at the door, and his girlfriend slips past him, kissing Alex and darting away, clearly not supposed to be here.

If Alex could blush he would, fixing his jacket before he says he didn’t know they were back in town.

Audacity says they’re in town for a day or two.

Alex says Miss Aimee was just leaving, amusing Audacity. He invites Audacity inside, where there is more color than there was before: knitting projects and handmade doilies, decorative things draped across different things in the house.

Alex offers him water or tea or coffee before fixing him some tea and asking what he can do for Audacity.

Audacity says depending on the time it was either three days ago or more, since there was some Feywild weirdness happening, he had a conversation with Arayla, which he wasn’t expecting.

Alex says first of all, congratulations. It’s not often that someone gets to speak with the Tempered One.

Audacity says thanks. That’s mostly all he knows about her, that she’s picky. But apparently she and Asalor had been talking about him, a strange thing to contemplate, and now they’re sharing him. He said yes, even after she offered to back off, but he thinks there’s a lot to know that he doesn’t, so he came here.

Alex says that sounds like a lot to process and that he had a lot dumped on him. It doesn’t sound like an enjoyable experience. What he can tell Audacity is that while everyone says she’s picky, Alex never thought she was choosy. She was just careful. She doesn’t just take or accept clerics or paladins or other faithful based on just their faith. People have to do more than believe in Arayla to earn her trust. He thinks that’s why they have to go through trials. It’s about proving that there isn’t anything that could break their faith. That they believe in her.

Audacity asks about the trials.

Alex says there are the endurances. Her paladins and clerics have to endure something for her, something that they’re called to endure. For Alex it is standing in consecrated fields despite how badly it burns, knowing that she won’t let him fail, knowing that her faith in him is just as strong as his faith in her. There’s people he knows who serve her by standing on cliffs during storms, who have been asked to lie in the snow all night. There’s people who have been asked to walk eight hours in the desert with no water, no shoes.

Audacity winces at that last bit.

Alex says if people believe earnestly and wholly that Arayla will guide them to a better world or that she will protect them and to guide them without hurting them, then it won’t be painful.

Audacity says for a god who introduces herself to him by stabbing him in the chest, that seems like a lot.

Alex asks if she’s asked him to do his trials yet.

Audacity says no. He’s just been told not to kneel to anyone ever again.

Alex says that sounds reasonable. He says it makes it sound as though Audacity wasn’t sworn to her yet.

Audacity says he’s not sure, which probably means no. But he also accepted that he was working for her now.

Alex asks if when she stabbed him, he was sworn to her.

Audacity says that’s how he was able to come back.

Alex stretches out his hands and says he’s a cleric but he doesn’t pretend to understand all her machinations, how she works or what she thinks. All he knows is that if she went out of her way to offer him this, then there is something she sees in Audacity that is unshakable to her. Or something she sees in him that is unshakable to him.

Audacity says okay. He can work with that.

Alex sips his tea by accident and then spits it back into the cup. He makes a face and says he forgets sometimes. It just kind of sits there. Sometimes he thinks that if he feeds enough he might be able to eat something, but he doesn’t want to try to test out the theory. He’s sorry that he couldn’t give Audacity more guidance.

Audacity says that’s all right. He just doesn’t know anything except that she likes him being angry or something. She threw him the sword that he helped Asalor make for her, which is a strange thing, and Audacity has never used a sword like that but it felt right in his hand. He has this weird inclination to go find a sword and see if it feels the same way when he’s alive.

Alex says there’s nothing wrong with trying out a new weapon. He doesn’t have a sword to offer. He doesn’t know if being properly dead makes things different for his relationship with Arayla.

Audacity decides it’s time to change the subject. He asks what’s going on with Aimee.

Alex sighs and says it’s a whole thing. He’s got to smooth things over with her father and give them some gifts, just to get that yes he wants. Aimee has a huge family and they’ll all have to come into town for it. Lots of small town stuff.

Audacity tells him good luck.

Alex says thanks. Arayla knows he’ll need it. He says it was good to see him and to tell the others he said hello.

Back at the house, Az summons Medrash and Sabara and takes a nice walk throughout the gardens. He’s walking through the beautiful flowers when he hears the quiet rustling of someone announcing his presence.

When he turns, Marcus is there.

Az asks if they’re bothering him as Sabara dashes around the garden.

Marcus teeters a little closer. He says he hadn’t seen everyone in a while so he thought he’d see how Az was.

Az pauses, thinks about everything they’ve all gone through, and says it’s a lot, probably enough to run down at the dinner for everyone. Marcus says that he doesn’t have to tell him about it, but Az says they went to the Feywild.

Marcus brightens and asks if they saw any cool plants. Az says they brought back some interesting mushrooms, enough to split between Marcus and another friend. Marcus looks excited, and then watches Sabara, saying that he always wanted dogs as a kid. His mom was allergic.

Az gives him a stick to throw.

Marcus lights up even more, playing catch with Sabara for a while before he looks at him and says he likes how crowded the house is now. Valerie is nice and talks to him about plants, and Flick and Jasani are smart and talk about interesting things, but everyone who comes here is scared at first. They’re scared less now, but he wants to know what’s happening out there.

Az says there’s stuff happening. They can only stay a night or two here to deal with things. He says hopefully they won’t have to send anyone else here.

Marcus says he doesn’t mind having guests.

Az says hopefully they won’t send scared guests and that no one’s been a bother.

Marcus assures him they haven’t been a bother at all. It’s really nice that the house has space for everyone.

Az says it’s a relief to be able to keep some people safe.

Marcus says Az and his friends are good at that, keeping people safe.

Az looks uncomfortable, remembering Galowen in the Feywild and Hava’s father just the day before.

Marcus says he now enjoys a daily walk with Lily and Valerie, talking about the plants in the garden. They’re all really nice.

Az says he’ll leave them to it then, and retreats into the house with Medrash and Sabara.