Astvanor Session 173 (10/24)

[cinaed]

Session 173: Day 28 of Saedan (10/24)

As Diana composes herself, Galowen partially skins Rezod, removing enough scales that if he can get these into the hands of a craftsperson they will make at least two pieces of armor and some jewelry for Hava.

Yolov takes Diana aside and says he doesn’t know what the traditions are here, if they wish to leave Rezod’s body to rot. If they want him completely gone, however, he has a spell that can turn the body to ash. Diana looks back at the other survivors and says she wants Rezod to be ash but she wants his head.

After Galowen separates the head from the body, Yolov points a finger and casts Disintegrate on Rezod’s corpse, dissolving it into ash. Diana, watching the body collapse and dissolve, feels a sigh of relief that goes through the other survivors like the one someone breathes after the first touch of spring.

The magical effect that was keeping Rezod’s lair’s undergrowth begins to fade, the veil lifting off the ravine. Everything is a little bit brighter even though it’s night, everything is warmer. There is something almost holy now in the way that graveyards are holy, something deep and fundamental as the final resting place behind temples or in villages or in cities. It’s like that sense of peace that comes after the laying of something to rest.

Not only is this the final moment of the survivors exhaling but it’s also the relieved sigh from those who did not survive. For all the people and bodies that they saw, and the spirits and souls that Diana saw in the Ethereal Plane, there is a tangible relief of spirits finally reaching a sense of revenge or closure.

The Hooligans lead the survivors from the lair and back to the Grove like they are escorting broken husks of people back from water. They walk silently, some of them having lived their entire lives in the lair, some of them having been victims so long that they don’t remember who they were or who they are.

It doesn’t take them very long to reach familiar roads. Galowen’s newfound ability to traverse the woods based on Caletras’ guidance helps him bring them all back to the Grove just in time for the morning sky to turn a pink and fading blue.

But no one in the Grove has slept. As soon as they enter the Grove, there is a weight and almost grief to everyone assembled. They hastily move Cal’travor up to the front, battered and bruised, blood crusted on his shirt and his fur.

They hear a slight gasp ripple through the crowd before they hear a sob of half-relief and half-horror.

Adraetha rushes forward in the same clothing as the night before, throwing herself at her son. His sister and Viallo follow, a tight knot of family there in the center. The Grove is very quiet as Galowen spies his mother waiting patiently near where Adraetha and Viallo had been waiting.

Adraetha is touching Cal’travor in reassurance, touching his cheek, his horns. Then she looks at the group and says that they found him and brought him home.

Hava steps forward and nods, saying they did promise.

Adraetha says that no one he’s ever taken has come back. She looks past Hava towards the survivors behind the Hooligans, squinting and softly saying a name, and then another, exclaiming that some of these people have been missing for centuries.

Audacity nods, helping one of the weakest remain standing, before he nods towards Diana and Adrin and says that Rezod is dead.

Adraetha says that these people were there in his lair. They were alive this whole time?

As Audacity blinks, Diana says these are the survivors. That can’t be said for the others.

Adraetha is clearly shocked and then says that they’ll bring everyone inside, they’ll get everyone fed and clothed. The healers will help those who need medical assistance. She’ll make sure that they’re tended to.

She leads Cal’travor towards the middle of the Grove that holds a great religious and ceremonial significance. As she does, Viallo puts his hand on Audacity’s shoulder and says thank you for bringing them home.

Audacity says it was mostly Hava and Diana.

Viallo says that there are no words to show their gratitude. Tomorrow they will meet and talk about the future of Kelfemma. With that terror dead, there is nothing stopping them from moving forward with the ceremony with the twins. As Adraetha has expressed and as he agreed, there’s great concern that this will be the final beacon that draws him back.

Yolov says they all agree that he will return, and they will share everything they’ve learned about him and his people and the threats he will bring.

Viallo explains that they will meet at dawn the next morning. He and his family need some time with each other before they have the meeting. Then his gaze snags on Diana and the shortsword she has from her father. He asks where she got it and she says that she found it in the lair.

After she passes it to him when he asks, he looks at it and then calls for Mae in Sylvan. Mae comes from the crowd, turning the sword over in her hands. Her grip tightens on it for a sliver of a moment before she looks at Diana and asks where she found it.

Diana says from Rezod’s lair and Mae demands to know if there were any more identifying armors or leathers. She wants to go to the lair. Mae asks if she knows where she got the sword. When Diana tells her that the sword was her father’s, Mae demands her name again.

Diana says that her name is Diana Whiteleaf. Mae demands her parents’ names and a description of their faces, and when Diana says her mother’s name, Alaris, Mae grabs her.

Hava and Audacity immediately interject themselves, telling Mae to step back and let go of Diana. Mae says she won’t until they explain why Diana has her little brother’s sword.

Yolov, seeing the rising tension, has brought Clearbell over as the elder who was there in the lair when Diana was young. Clearbell calls Mae’s name and Mae recognizes her instantly, distracted by Clearbell telling her gently that no one knew Alaris was pregnant, even Olarian didn’t know until a month or two into his captivity.

Mae looks at Diana, gripping Olarian’s sword, and asks how long she was with that terror. When Diana tells her sixty or seventy years, Mae says she grew up with that beast. Diana says yes, and Mae says they had no idea.

Diana says a soft yes of acknowledgement.

Mae repeats Diana’s name, like she’s committing the shape of it to memory.

Diana says that Adrin chose her name, and she chose Adrin’s.

Mae says she likes it. Diana Whiteleaf suits her. She shoves the sword back at Diana and says that Olarian wanted to pass the sword down one day. He talked about it a lot.

Diana says it’s in good hands.

Mae agrees.

Diana says if it helps, she says she’s never had an aunt before today.

Mae tells her that she has two now, gesturing towards Tiffen in the crowd. She stutters for a moment and says that Diana should rest and get cleaned up. Mae will be around here. She looks visibly stiff as she nods her head towards Diana and says to get cleaned up and they can talk if or when Diana wants.

Mae leaves, hands clenched into fists, and Tiffen lays an arm over her shoulder and leads her out of the clearing. Other people are quietly taking their leave as well as people lead the other survivors away to rest and get cleaned up.

Diana exhales deeply. She says that’s a lot.

Audacity says she’s had a day.

Hava asks if there’s a place they can go to rest.

Galowen’s mom embraces him and says she was worried even as she leads them towards her resting place. Galowen tells her he’s really tired, and she ruffles his hair and tucks him into bed, giving him a blanket and hot chocolate.

Before they go to sleep, Hava brings out her brush and hair oil and silently oils and brushes Diana’s hair and plaits it into a single long braid. Then she kisses the top of Diana’s head and tucks her to bed. Diana sleeps the soundest she can remember sleeping.

They all sleep until the late afternoon. The entire Grove is slowed by the events and the quiet horror of the survivors’ return and Cal’travor’s abduction. They awaken to the smell of food as a few people have cooked fish and venison, many sitting with some of the survivors. A few were adventurers who don’t know what to do with themselves, but villagers are taking care of them.

The Hooligans eat and wash, get a little bit of rest. There is a broader quiet that seems to stick around even as they relax. Yolov spends some of his time identifying the items they found in the lair: an elven chain shirt, a magical studded leather armor, a ring of spell turning, and five potions. There are two potions of oil of slipperiness, two potions of hill giant strength, and a potion of polychromy.

They divide it among themselves.

Az goes in search of Mae and tells her about the person that they couldn’t save in front of the lair. She listens with her arms crossed, her brow lightly furrowed, and then asks if he’s okay. He says he’s sorry it happened and he’s glad that they stopped Rezod and could save the ones they could.

Mae says that’s good, that’s healthy. Going in with the expectation of saving everyone will wear them out. They should remember that without them everyone would be dead, not just the person they couldn’t save. They lost that person but they kept fighting. That’s all they can do.

Az says he supposes she’s right, it just feels like they should be doing more. How, he doesn’t know.

Mae says when they are giving everything they’ve got, they can’t do more. If they focus on the bigger issues, who gets left behind.

Az says that with everything, they’ve been getting so much stronger and they still can’t save everyone. They know that Elathias is going to find everyone, at which point Mae says people will die. Az says what if they find Elathias first.

Mae asks what he’s thinking.

When he asks if Cal’travor can see the future, she says he can see paths of possibility. Az says they could spring a trap on Elathias. They could take a chance and maybe people don’t have to die.

Mae looks at him and tells him to keep talking.

Az says instead of sitting here waiting for him to attack people, they have enough power and people to plot tonight and they could think of some way to take Elathias by surprise. Mae says she does have some ideas. Az says they can start there and narrow it down.

Mae glances around as if a little conspiratorially when Audacity approaches them. She says for him to convince their friends and then they’ll talk.

Audacity has been filling up pages of character sketches of Diana and Adrin since they’ve met and then a much more detailed picture of Diana cutting off Rezod’s wing. He feels a little guilty about being so territorial of Diana earlier.

When he gives her the art, Mae freezes up. She’s clearly struggling with her emotions in this moment as she looks at him and says that the worst part is there’s a knowledge that obviously everything she went through is worse than not being able to save her, and also that she knows she couldn’t have known. Is Diana happy?

Audacity is quiet for a moment before he says sometimes. He thinks she’s becoming more happy and he thinks Rezod being dead will help. He’d never seen anyone so terrified as she was going to face him. Mae says that she killed him. Audacity says Adrin ripped his throat out but Diana cut off his wing.

Mae says her brother was the biggest scardy-cat she ever met in her life. He was a good fighter, but he went into every fight terrified that something would happen, not to him but that if something happened to him that Alaris and his family would be alone.

Audacity says he can understand that.

Mae says she was glad that he was there for her. Audacity says he is too. She thanks him for the art. She asks if he’s sure and he says he drew them for her so she could see a little of who Diana is. Mae looks at the art with a slightly uncomfortable tenderness before she folds them up and puts them away before she thanks him again.

Audacity wanders off. He goes to climb and finds a kid climbing there already before Az finds him to tell him the idea of confronting Elathias that he suggested to Mae. Audacity asks if they have thoughts of where Elathias is other than north. Az says he was hoping Cal’travor could assist.

Az sees a combination of Audacity looking heartened that Az came to him with this idea and also legitimately contemplating this plan.

Audacity muses that it could be a matter of hunting him down or seeing if the Grove is happy with being bait. Elathias is showing up no matter what.

Az says he wants to get to Elathias before he can get to the Grove.

Audacity says if Cal’travor can get a bead on him, it makes sense.

When Az says that they should talk to everyone else, Audacity remarks that is supposing Adraetha will let anyone anywhere near him.

Yolov goes in search of Hava, who has been spending time with Cal’travor. Cal’travor has been recovering in his family’s lean-to, similar to the others built around the community. It’s not large. He’s resting in his bed, Adraetha looking exhausted as she hovers next to his bed, and Cal’antala is sticking to his side as well.

As Hava is sitting with him, Cal’travor looks at her and says that he did tell her it would be okay. Hava says he did say that. He asks if she’s okay. She says that she’s fine. Cal’travor says that they did really good, it was really fast. Hava says that they’re really efficient.

Cal’travor agrees. When she asks how he’s feeling, he says it’s weird growing his arm back. He didn’t see it growing back. Hava says she supposes there are some things that even the most talented diviners can’t predict. He says that it was probably really scary for her and apologizes.

Hava says it was really scary but honestly, what he said before, it made her think it was going to be okay. He says that it was, though he’s sorry that it was scary. She says it’s not the scariest thing that’s ever happened to her, and he says he’s sorry for that too. She says it’s okay and tells him he’s very loved and very lucky. She tells him to be very careful with that.

Cal’travor says he will. He wouldn’t have done it if he hadn’t been so sure.

Hava says she knows. She saw how afraid Cal’antala was.

Cal’travor says they’ll never let him live this down. Hava agrees and says sometimes they have to scare the people they love, just a little. He agrees, wincing a little as he tips his head back and says he thinks either way it’ll be okay.

Hava asks what the fuck that means. He says he doesn’t know. Hava says it’s fine, she thinks she’ll just let life happen to her. He agrees that’s probably a good idea. She tells him to get some rest.

He says he will and he says she should get some rest too. She says she doesn’t need to sleep and he says that she should sleep while she can. She says that was really ominous and he just gives her big eyes, acting innocent.

When she leaves, Yolov locates her.

He asks after Cal’travor, and she says he’s fine, regrowing an arm and being a little shit, but she likes him. She asks what’s up and he tells her that he was thinking about Elathias and his people being able to create portals and would like her to ask Evie to alert Hava if she notices any portals nearby.

Evie agrees. When Hava asks how she is, Evie says there is a sense of things being fragile, things more or less or not at all. Hava says like the world or like the Grove. Evie says in the cradle that she holds the realm, something is pressing, seeking. Hava says it’s probably Elathias, and Evie says no, it’s something else. It hasn’t broken through yet, Evie will warn her if it does.

Hava says her kindness is appreciated and Evie says she knows. Hava says that she’s her best friend who is a marble, and Evie says she isn’t a marble. Hava agrees, kissing the jar before she tucks it away.

Yolov is reassured that Evie will be keeping her attention out for portals. He quietly says that he has reached out to Asa and Professor Daveena about demiplanes. He knows they need to focus on Elathias and then the problems in Kastvar, but he will do everything he can to figure out a way to the demiplane and free her father and the others trapped by the soul steel and let them move on.

Hava thanks him.

Yolov opens his mouth then clearly decides not to say whatever else he meant to say. He just pats her shoulder awkwardly and agrees it’s a good idea when she says she’s going to go rest, she was told to rest while she still could.

Diana and Adrin race against each other through the woods near the Grove. For the first time Diana is untethered, flying thanks to her father’s sword. Still, Adrin has more experience in flight and roundly defeats her. Then they go in search of Mae.

They find many people training, preparing for the future battle. Hunters and people who are trained as warriors all train under Mae. She is running drills, with her braids tied back and a sheen of sweat on her face. Under a nearby tree Tiffen is weaving plant pieces together in her hands to make some sort of spellcasting foci.

Mae is in the middle of sparring when she spies Diana. She stops, telling the young man to find another partner. Then she nods to Diana and calls her by her full name. Diana awkwardly says hi, and Mae says hi back.

Diana tells her footing was off, and so was the person she was training with. Mae asks how she should have been standing and Diana says she doesn’t know, she’s just seen a lot of people fight.

Mae suggests that they should spar. Diana says she doesn’t want to do that, she’ll lose. Mae says she might not, Mae’s footing is off. There’s a slight twitch of her lips, a faint smile.

Diana asks if it’s usually this awkward. She points at these people and says that it’s always awkward, it was awkward when she first met her friends.

Mae agrees and says that she’s always been awkward too, she prefers fighting, she doesn’t have to talk or understand people then. Mae says her brother was also awkward. She never understood how he managed to marry Alaris.

Diana says that she gets her awkwardness from her dad then.

Mae says that she got her eyes from him too. Her hair is from her mom.

Diana repeats that to herself and says that their family is weird.

Mae says they’re not that weird.

Diana says they are. They’re normally weird. She’s seen several twins fight and that feels less weird than this. Mae says they’re straightforward, that’s what makes them good at being soldiers and giving orders and overseeing things.

Diana asks if she wants a hug. Mae asks if Diana wants a hug and Diana says she’s never turned one down. Mae gives her a powerful hug, her arms trembling just a little as Diana says at least she knows that they’re family and they have a long time to catch up.

Mae agrees that they do have a long time, provided. She snaps her mouth shut.

Diana says she was about to say something, but she won’t pry. That would be rude. She just shouldn’t do something like Diana did, that thing where she dies before they can talk.

Mae says that she doesn’t plan on dying, she just doesn’t want to tempt fate. She squeezes Diana’s arm and says that she and Tiffen usually sit with the soldiers. She asks Diana to join them. Diana says she can do that and asks if she needs to bring something. Mae says everything is communal. Diana says she does have to warn her that she eats awful.

Mae says that’s fine.

Diana says great.

Mae gives a little pat on Diana’s shoulder and then whistles for a recruit before she draws her shortsword and dives back into the training.

After dinner, Az gathers the Hooligans for his own plans against Elathias.