[Uthaldria] Here we go again

[Varlum]

16th Ymiden, 719

"You know, when all of this is over" Varlum said, a small and weak chuckle leaving his mouth. It was almost weird to think about this war ending, the end goal seeming so impossibly hard to reach. Yet here they were, working towards that very thing. Ending the war, or at least Ellasin, once and for all. It was Varlum's sole focus right now. Nothing else in the world mattered or had his attention. Not Auya, not his own missions. None of them. What would the point be? If he didn't help end this war and then they lost, everything he was focusing on would be gone if Ellasin got her way. He had to put his priorities right, as much as he wanted the grasp of his former lover now more than ever.

"Once this is over, we'll have to go somewhere quiet. Just for a trial. Make sure our last time spent together isn't this before we go back to whatever we were doing before" he said as he recollected his thoughts, trying to think about many things at once. Whatever this artifact ended up being, Varlum knew it would be critical. Ralaith was one of a few Immortals Varlum trusted and respected, even after one meeting. He had offered more help than every other present Immortal combined. So the Ithecal readied himself, the three of them out in the woods at Varlum's usual training spot so that they could meet with Ralaith undisturbed. Everything around was beautiful and natural. It was part of the reason why Varlum trained here, why he loved the place so much.

"If you can hear me, Ralaith, we're ready" he said, summoning his Tome forward and placing it on the ground in front of him as he kneeled. Varlum had no idea if it would change anything, maybe get Ralaith's attention, but prayer had never much been his thing. When he had focused on praying to Aeva an Arc or so ago, Varlum had done it after smithing a new weapon. When he prayed to Ethelynda it would be with his weapon in hand, as if he was ready for a fight. There was always something to focus on. For Ralaith, perhaps, that would become his tome. Or maybe Varlum would have to start collecting books. It would be a good way to learn, though it had never been something Varlum had considered. It was always better, he thought, to learn from your own experiences.

Quietly, Varlum kept himself praying, allowing the others to talk if they wanted while he focused forward silently.

[Faith Augustin]

Faith looked at Varlum as he talked about what they should do once this was over and she smiled. "That sounds absolutely fantastic to me. I'll cook us a meal, the three of us. " Faith gave a rather cheeky, if somewhat tired, grin, "I'm told I cook quite well." Her restaurant had been a roaring success and she often considered that it had been a great springboard for Isonomia, and all the work which they - and the Order of the Adunih - continued to do. She wished she could say that it had been a simpler time but, truth was, there had never really been a simple time for Faith and Padraig. She couldn't exactly say that they liked it that way, because she thought they'd both rather it, now and then. But, Faith had to admit - it was her which caused the complications, usually. With the odd notable exception, like expeditions off the edge of the world, she was the driving force behind change.

She cast her gaze to both of them, both Varlum and Vivian and she said, most genuinely, "I did not expect to make friends in this endeavour and, yet, I have. Two of them. I understand duty," she said, and never was there a truer word spoken, "and I understand above and beyond the call of duty, too. I am in your debt, enormously so." She didn't mean for the war effort - she meant for all the extra effort, support and the simple fact that they had, as she said, become her friends. "I sincerely hope that, once this is done, we keep in touch. Wardens, all three, after all."

Which, she supposed, meant that she had something else in common with them. How odd that the three of them had been thrown together in this situation. Life was peculiar indeed. She kept quiet then, as Varlum began his prayer to Ralaith, and she sent a silent prayer to Famula, to Vri, Moseke, Ymiden, Pier and Pre. They had a job to do here, and she thanked each Immortal for their support, their help, and the strength of her will to do their bidding. She added in another prayer to Vri, hoping that he was well and feeling more himself. She had nothing negative in her heart for him, far from it. Faith was a forgiving individual who did the best she could, always.

So, she was quiet and she waited to see what - if anything - would happen here. She very much got the feeling that things were about to - once again - get interesting.

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian grinned slightly at the Varlum's comment about how they should spend a quiet trial together once all this wrapped up, her grin widening slightly when Faith offered to cook. "I've heard you're a good cook, Doctor. And it will be nice to relax when all this is done with." she said, reaching up to push her glasses back up her nose. She still wasn't quite used to the spectacles Ralaith had given her, but as she hadn't been near a forge once since Aeva cursed her, she hadn't been able to get the hammer made. "Honestly though, at this point, just going back to chasing down criminals is something I'd consider a break." she said, letting out a slight chuckle.

When Faith mentioned she hadn't expected to make friends, Vivian smiled slightly and put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder. "It's my experience that you find friends and family in the oddest places and situations." she said, before letting out a bark of laughter when Faith mentioned she hope they kept in touch. "Well, you'll always know where to find me at least. Rharne's my home and my duty, I've got neither reason nor desire to take myself elsewhere." before pausing in thought slightly. "Though I might ask to lead an expodition into the area that Faldrun blighted once I'm a stronger Warden. I think, with enough digging tools and the right Warden powers, we can reclaim those territories." she said, her mind drifting slightly before she shook her head. "But that's for later." she said, as Varlum began to pray to Vri.

Vivian's list of Immortals that she worshiped was rather small, really just Ilaren, sort of Pier and Pre, and sort of Ralaith, though she still had an interest in Aeva. She doubted that praying to Aeva right now would be wise, so she instead prayed to Ilaren, her foremost patron and the Immortal who she followed most closely, asking her lieges blessing and guidance for this mission, that they may finally begin to bring this war to its close.

[Pig Boy]

As Varlum knelt over the book, he felt no Immortal presence, nothing save for the presence of Ralaith's will, which rested in him. For better or worse, until he proved himself unworthy or forgotten by the Bear, he was chosen for this task.

If Varlum's eyes would open, he would note words being scrawled without a pen upon the page he'd opened to. He saw an etched picture of Ralaith in man's form, leaning over a railing and talking to an unfamiliar, yet well-dressed man. Varlum would recognize it as the last place they'd seen the young Ellasin.

Beneath the image, the words being scrawled were visible to Varlum's eyes alone.

"It is far from here, above Uthaldria, past the Frozen North and into the dark of the sea there. The journey will be perilous, but the device should work one last time before it falls into disrepair. You must go this way by foot, by your own efforts. Once there, you will understand what to do."

Perhaps it was Ralaith's grim, bitter humor shining through the boldness of the 'By your own efforts' within the text. Yet the statement was made.

Likewise, Faith would feel little in the way of connection to her patron Immortals presence, as she invoked them. However, when she thought of Vri, she felt a sudden pang of sadness that didn't come from her, as if an acknowledgement from the Immortal of Sorrow. He at least didn't fear what lay ahead of them, although perhaps he should.

Vivian received less by way of acknowledgment from her patron, Ilaren. Yet from Aeva, she'd feel the skin or surface of her hands tingling slightly. Oddly enough, she'd hear the familiar, proud tones of the Immortal of the Forge in hear ear, "Bring me back something interesting, and maybe I'll even let your dusty old Forgemaster join us for a gathering of craftsmen."

The promise of lifting the curse, with whatever lay at the end of this path, was made, cryptic as it was. What could lie near to this device where Jyvran died?

The three companions were gathered where it began, and they only had to plan how to proceed, but proceed without direction from the Immortals. This was a path that they would not follow them on. One, perhaps, that they even feared.

[Faith Augustin]

Interesting was exactly how it got - and it got that way quickly. Faith looked down at the book as saw what was written - she saw nothing, but Varlum read it to her. Faith raised an eyebrow and she thought about it. Past the Frozen North? "Well that sounds cold. You're not good with cold are you?" She looked at Varlum and considered. He was an Ithecal and once - a long time ago, she'd given a gift to an ithecal who felt the cold. Atashi, his name had been. Faith considered it and then nodded her head. "Alright. I need a half-a-break. I'll make you something to wear." She then rummaged in her Domain Bag and got two of the sets of clothes she'd made, using the "Careful Layering" technique which allowed her to make clothes which protected their wearer from the cold. Then, with a frown, she looked at Varlum and sighed, then changed her own clothes, removing her set, too. Then, she sat on the floor and re-worked the clothing into something which would fit Varlum.

To Vivian, she glanced and smiled slightly. "This cloak, it will keep you warm. No matter what. Don't worry, before you argue," she was sure that Vivian would argue. "Thanks to my blessing from Famula, I can control my own temperature. Take my cloak, it will keep you warm." She looked between them, then, and nodded. "I have food. I won't get cold. But you need to be know that I have no sense of direction." Faith knew that Padraig or Kura would understand, but these two people saw her as competent and so she had to be clear. "And when I say I have no sense of direction, I mean I have the opposite of one. I can get lost anywhere." She couldn't over-exaggerate this and so she just looked at them with a sense of earnestness. "I'll need your help. With that, I will. Padraig and I have zero survival skills, and I have no sense of direction. But I can keep us warm and fed."

Looking at the two of them, Faith considered and then she felt a pang of sorrow which wasn't hers. She gave a slight smile. "Vri, Famula, Pier and Pre, Ymiden and mother Moseke. Unto my final breath." Faith whispered. Then she looked at Varlum, biting off the last of the thread as she handed him the clothes. "Here you go. Right. Varlum - can you guide us, and Vivian, can you keep us safe?" Clear demarcation of duties made sense to her. She fed them, Vivian protected them and Varlum got them where they needed to go.

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian hadn't expected to get much from her prayer to Ilaren, most prayers didn't get a personal response from the Immortal of Lightning. However, she did get a response from Aeva, who had apparently been watching her, perhaps to see when she made that hammer. She nodded at the Immortal of the Forge's request, and when all the prayers were done, she stood up. When Varlum read their instructions, she nodded. "Time for a road trip, then? Might be nice to do some travelling." she said, as Faith set out to make Varlum something to keep him warm. When Faith tossed Vivian the cloak, the little healer had been correct, Vivian had been about to protest before Faith made it clear she didn't cold. Vivian paused for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you, Doctor. Cold is nothing to take lightly." she said, putting the cloak about her own shoulders.

When Faith suggested the roles the group should take, Vivian nodded her agreement. "That sounds good to me, Doctor. My sense of direction is sound enough, but I don't know where we're going, so it's only somewhat helpful. And I'm an abysmal cook. But I can handle making sure we're safe comfortably enough." she said, before sitting down next to Faith. "And while you're making Varlum's clothes, I'll do some prep work of my own." she said, closing her eyes for a moment to gather her focus before she held up one finger against her shield arm and began to draw the Rune of Strength, the electric blue sword-like slashes that marked her runes glowing for the three bits it took to finish the rune, before fading as she essentially put the Rune on standby until she triggered it.

As soon as she finished the first rune, she set about setting an identical rune on her sword arm, then one on her chest, then one on each of her legs. The runes sank in through her armor and clothes, which was convenient, and there they would stay until she triggered them or drew the ether she had given them back into herself. The whole process took 15 bits, and when she was done, she stood back up and faced the other two. "There's a bit more, as well. I wasn't sure how to say it, but there's no point in beating around the bush. Aeva spoke to me, while we were praying. She wants me to bring her back something "interesting". I don't know what that means, but...I'm not entirely in a position to refuse what, on the surface, seems like a fairly reasonable assignment." she said, pushing the spectacles Ralaith had given her back up her nose. "It shouldn't be a distraction from our mission, but when we get there, I'd like to take a look around, see if I find anything." she said, twitching one hand slightly. In order to avoid risking damage to her hands, Vivian had taken to sleeping while holding Shiryu's blade to ensure her hand took on the properties of the Bloodsteel the sword was forged from. It worked, but she'd like to be uncursed.

[Varlum]

Varlum couldn't help but give a small grin as he looked down at the book, as perilous as he was sure it would be. "By my own efforts? Got it" he said, with a sarcastic but playful undertone. He knew Ralaith's statement wasn't likely a serious jab, but perhaps a playful warning that no Immortals would get them out of here this time. At the very least, that would mean no more spontaneous cursing. Wasn't that a release. The group had been cursed and threatened by Immortals in one day more than most would be in their lives. Varlum would be lying if he said he'd miss his time spent with Pier, Pre and Vri.

After explaining to the two others what they would need to do, Varlum gave a nod to Faith's offer. "I don't get on well with cold, no. Hurts quite a lot" he said with a nod, giving the woman a thankful smile when she offered to make him an outfit in just half a break. Varlum watched for a moment, seeing her take two pieces of clothing. Before he could comment on his size potentially needing a little more than two coats, she glanced to him and removed her own coat, adding it to the mix. Admittedly, the Ithecal felt bad for not being more prepared. Yet when he was told he would be scouting in Uthaldria he hadn't expected to be here so long, or to be climbing mountains on the regular. Perhaps he would have to take hiking up as a hobby once this was over, just in case he wanted to relive the trauma of it all.

Or perhaps not.

When Faith explained her poor sense of direction, Varlum was designated as their guide. Did books come with build in maps? "I'll do my best, if the book makes my directions clear - or if it gives me any at all. But I'm just a soldier. I travel where I'm told, how I'm told to do it. Killing is all I'm good at" he said with a small grimace, not wanting to lead the group astray. "Just...if we end up back in Rharne, it's not my fault" he said, trying to shake the slightly worried look on his face with a smile.

Varlum glanced down to the book, praying quietly. "Ethelynda, keep your shield over us. Ralaith...don't let me freeze to death on a mountain. At least let a bandit take me" he said, his prayer only half joking. Praying wasn't common for him, the man preferred action over it. Telling Ethelynda he would protect people meant nothing if he didn't do it. That was a little harder with Ralaith, however. Every time he wanted to pray he couldn't start reading a book, or find a bear to go and cuddle. So, he would have to act in a different way. Fortunately, he already had a clear task this time. Let's just hope he wasn't about to completely fuck it up.

"Let's go, I'll guide" he said with a nod once they were all ready, starting their journey.

[Pig Boy]

And so they got underway, headed roughly North of Uthaldria, if at any time Varlum consulted his book, his tome from Ralaith's blessing, he would note thereon a dot, or rather three small ones to start. These icons slowly melded together more and more as they made distance toward the north. The features of the surrounding fields and other terrain as they passed by, became visible on the page as they went along.

At times in their journey, as they made headway through the foot hills North of Uthaldria, there were times when the icon on the page began moving in a direction that deviated from their ordained path. In those cases, the features of the map would cease to draw themselves on the page, and instead show a blank mass of parchment. And each step, each league, each mile they got along on their journey, the map became smaller somehow, as if they were getting a higher bird's eye view of the terrain.

They made their trip by night and day, and through whatever they shared it would be between themselves. Faith as provisioner, cook, and support, Vivian as protector, and Varlum as their guide.

On the third night, they made camp for the last time. Before night had fallen, they could spot an impressive stand of gates in the distance, carved into the mountains, timbers, and earth itself. Should Varlum go to consult the scribbling that was forming on the page, he'd see it labeled "Melrath, Land of the Spirits".

The night was dark, and starless. Whether they chose to make camp or forge ahead toward those distant gates, was entirely their prerogative. And for them to decide each on their own.

[Varlum]

Trials went by, Varlum focusing forward, examining the "map" as best as he could. It was difficult, to say the least, but he was starting to get to grips with it. As far as the Ithecal could tell, he was leading them in the right direction. Then again, he wouldn't know until it was too late if he made it to the wrong place or not. At the very least, he had warned the others. If he got lost it was only partially his fault, it wasn't as if he had volunteered with excitement to lead their way.

Three trials went by until they sat by a camp, Varlum looking at the gates in the distance. "I don't assume any of you know where we are?" he said to his two travelling companions, eyes falling to Vivian and Faith as they settled down for the night, all of them likely exhausted from how far they had come. Initially, the thought hadn't occurred to him to check the book for answers. Yet as the others begun to talk, Varlum would flick through the pages of his tome, watching as the font began to spread across it with a simple inscription.

"Melrath. Land of the Spirits..." he read out to everyone around, before looking up to the gates. "Ivarn" he said simply, the Diri of Lake Lovalus coiling from nowhere around Varlum's body and resting his head on the Ithecal's shoulder. Ivarn was the only being Varlum knew that might have any idea about this place, if it was tied to Spirits like himself. "I don't suppose you know anything about this place, what it has, where it is?" he asked, watching the Diri float up a little and glance around. While it looked to them like Ivarn was just exploring with his eyes, Varlum knew there was more to it than that. He was, after all, a Diri of purity. Chances were both Faith and Vivian had one too.

"No. But there is plenty here. Purity, spirits of all kinds. As for what the city itself is? Mortals are strange. Who knows what they do with such power around them" the gruff voiced serpent said quietly, coiling back around Varlum's arm before dissipating in front of the group, Varlum looking forward. Admittedly, he was a little tired, but not tired enough he would need to rest yet. Marches and expeditions had been his life. This was no different to what he did back home in Rharne, and even prior in Ivorian.

"What do you guys think, should we stop for the night, or get moving?"

[Faith Augustin]

"Fer the love of Treid's warm socks, Faith - it's THAT way!"

So said PB, the death-diri in the shape of a chalk drawn bunny. Faith had just stepped outside of camp to wash up a pot and, had she turned around she'd be able to actually see their camp. Yet, she was about to set off in entirely the wrong direction. So, he pointed her back. Faith looked at him and smiled and he, for his part, rolled his chalky eyes and led her back. "I swear by Ilaren's pert nipples, she'd get lost in a box, you know." This, he said calmly to Vivian who he seemed to have pegged as someone who would appreciate his particular brand of crass humour. Faith glanced at Vivian apologetically and then frowned slightly as PB decided that now was a good time for another game of "Rock, Parchment, Stabby-Death" with Varlum.

"It's cold enough to freeze Treid's snowballs, innit?" He said, companionably to Varlum and grinned.

Faith, meanwhile, was happy to pack up and put out food for them for the next trial. She kept them fed in a manner which most people wouldn't be able to achieve in the best Inn or Tavern; but Faith was no stranger to campside cooking and she made sure that the army of three marched on their stomachs. So, for the last few nights, they'd eaten hot, good food. She'd made sure everyone was warm and well cared for - she could wander round in a vest-top and not be cold, thanks to her ability to control her own temperature, but Faith did not like the cold. Not at all. So, she'd spent the first evening, once they were done, quickly crocheting up another scarf for herself, to wrap around her face and hide, snugly, behind. She always had one and a spare, but that meant Vivian and Varlum first - since they actually felt the cold. Hers was for comfort, nothing more.

On this third, night, though, they'd seen what was ahead. Faith had been of a mind to charge ahead, but Varlum left it to the two of them, and Faith glanced at Vivian and knew that the soldier would want to be more cautious, to approach in dayslight and when they were well rested. So, she nodded her head. "As you choose, Vivian." Her own tendencies were far more of a charge in first kind, but she had to admit that she was (slowly) learning. Sometimes, it was better to hold back. They were fed, they were warm and it would do them no harm to have an evening of rest and approach the place in front of them in the bright of the trial.

So, she took her watch, made sure that everything was sorted and, before she fell asleep she prayed to the Immortals who had blessed her. Then, come the morning, they'd be ready to go. Glancing at Varlum, she asked - quite genuinely - "Any idea where we're going once we're there?"