Pensive and Farron; Waiting for the Sunmaster
Subject: Re: Questions and Answers
Farron looks up at the stranger, Pensive, then looks away, quickly to Sa'id. It wasn't that he couldn't answer perfectly well himself, but he did not want to look at Pensive directly. "Asha Eradu", the word was strange to Farron. That this Pensive could feel emotions was something else, though. Could he feel the darkness in Farron's heart? What would he think?
The silence had lasted too long. Sa'id just looked blankly at Farron, apparently expecting him to answer. So Farron relates to Pensive all that they learned in Nesalin. (ooc- I know that's a cop out. I can't remember all the details and I haven't got time to search the archives - well, not and write this, too. ;-) )
As he relates the details of their research, Farron cannot bring himself to look Pensive in the eye. He knows this is silly, and sure to draw the attention of the elf, but nonetheless his eyes move from Sa'id to the walls to the top of Pensive's head, finally resting on the elf's chin, anywhere but his eyes. He finishes telling what he knows, then adds:
"Kor Garesh may not be omnipresent, but he sees far enough. His spies seem to be everywhere. He has committed murders in Nesalin so far with impunity. From what you've said, he's destroyed Overlook. And he grows more powerful with each soul he claims." Farron stops. His voice had risen. He wasn't raving, but he heard the other conversation in the room drop off. "It's just that it seems there is nowhere he can't get in, if he really wants to," he finishes quietly.
From: Ty
Subject: Waiting for the Sunmaster
Robert and Munch come in for breakfast, and Vincy and Osred take their places on watch. Munch simply grabs a hunk of bread and curls up by the fire. Robert takes his time putting together a plate. He is in the middle of neatly laying strips of bacon on a slice of bread, when he sees the Kalama scout. "Oh, hello." He looks confused.
Garyth nods. "Yes, he is new. No, he was not here last night. In fact, he walked up and knocked on the door an hour ago. How do you explain that, Falcon?"
Robert casts a panicky glance at Munch, but the other Falcon is doing his best to look asleep. "He must have snuck right past us." He hurries to add, "But those Halflings are ghosts in the forest! You know that! And it's dark as damnation out there!"
Garyth stands up. "Private, if this Kalama scout can sneak past you, then perhaps a Murrkat scout can do the same. Do you understand?" Robert nods. "Good. Then the two of you can go stand another watch with Osred and Vincy, and demonstrate to them that you have learned a new level of alertness."
Robert and Munch stuff their pockets with food and head for the door. Garyth says just as they are leaving, "Oh. And I might have Bartok here sneak out and have a look around. If he gets past you again, you may NEVER get off of patrol duty again for the rest of your life. Got me?" The two men nod, and head out.
Gully chuckles, and puts on a thick leather apron. Turning to Rennik he says, "Let's fire the forge, and see if we can't fix that fine weapon of yours. Would you mind putting those muscles to work for me on the bellows?" He and Rennik head outside, and an hour later the roar of the forge is heard, followed by occasional hammering sounds.
Farron and Sa'id sit at a table, poring over spellbooks and discussing magical strategies for the fight to come. Garyth sits nearby listening. At one point he interrupts. "You can pretty much guaranty that we won't be able to use the same secret passage. They know where that is. And we are going to have to get the Sunmaster, a man you say is old enough that walking is a struggle, up close enough to the pillar to do whatever it is he plans to do. And while he does it, we have to keep the demon's hordes from swarming and devouring him. How do we do that? My men are good, but we are talking about possibly hundreds of enemies, some undead, some not. There's no way we can do it with muscle and steel."
Pensive sits staring dreamily into the fire during this conversation. When he speaks, it is quiet and seems to come from far away. "No. The army is not at the mountain. They are off killing the town on the eastern shore of the island. I can feel the town dying..."
Garyth shudders. "Well enough then. But I doubt the demon is without defenses, even if the army is otherwise.... Occupied."
Bartok speaks up. "The Belneth sent me for a reason. He said you would need my skills. He specifically mentioned climbing. He is wise in many things that others do not see. The forest speaks to him."
Kasen has been sitting at another table polishing his greatsword. He says, "How long do we wait for the Sunmaster? And if he does not come, what do we do then?" The ambush by the wraiths still weighs on his mind.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Questions and Answers
OOC: Ty, so far Pensive's special ability has been more an RP thing, but if he can sense from Farron the despondency that Farron is feeling, it could make ripples in the game. What's your call on this? Can Pensive sense what Farron is feeling?
"It's just that it seems there is nowhere he can't get in, if he really wants to," Farron finishes quietly.
"No." Pensive looks sharply at the mage. "There was an old woman in the town who resisted it. I felt the Shadow try to influence her, but she pushed it away."
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Questions and Answers
Maybe the shadow didn't want her that badly, Farron thinks. Maybe he didn't think she was worth the struggle, knowing she'd never outrun his minions, so he'd have her in due time regardless. Or maybe the truth is that I'm weaker than a feeble old woman.
"Yes," he says to the Elf, still avoiding his eyes, but feeling them on him nonetheless. "You're probably right." He lowers his face back to his spellbook, wishing he could close himself up inside the rich leather cover.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Waiting for the Sunmaster
Garyth looks over at Kasen. The idea that the Sunmaster might not come hadn't occurred to him, and it's a sobering thought. This is not a battle that can be won by force of arms. Only the gods are strong enough to contain the demon. Without the Sunmaster, what hope did they have of sealing the demon's prison? What hope of victory? The only thing that remained was to choose how they die. They could turn back and try to fight the demon's armies, or go ahead to the mountain and try to fight the demon directly. But in the end, both paths lead to the same place.
He wipes a hand across his eyes. "I can't choose any man's path but my own, but I would go to the mountain, even without the Sunmaster. It's a path without hope, but there is no hope in any other direction either. If I'm to die, I would die facing my enemy. And who knows? If I've come to learn anything from what I've seen this far, it's that the ways of the gods are beyond my reckoning. Pelor may smile on us yet."
From: Scott
Subject: Re: Questions and Answers
Pensive catches his breath, and keeps his tongue.
Standing next to Farron is like breathing smoke. The Shadow had twined itself around the mage's heart-- his desperation burns Pensive's sinuses.
The elf takes a step back, collects himself. Wraps the memory of cameraderie around himself like a cloak. "I've felt his touch," he says quietly. "I know what he tempts men toward. Fear, rage, destruction. . . despondency. He is strong-- but there is a thing in men that is stronger than him. I've felt that as well. Perhaps we shall die-- perhaps we shall be devoured by the Shadow. But we tie our fates together, we bind ourselves by trust to a common vision. And that weakens the Shadow in a way that swords or magery or prayers may not be able to.
"I am not deluded into thinking that we can break the Shadow by. . . cameraderie. But we protect ourselves through it. I believe that with everything that I am."