• PM To Join • A ferret friend's lost love

[Winston]

Lost love compels us!

Winston was excited and either really bad at hiding it or simply not trying. Kisiak might notice that as the little fellow's feet hit the floor of Saiore's Dream, he seemed to be incapable of expressing anything short of ecstatic joy. Truth was, being so close to Saiore made him feel utterly and unconditionally safe.

If they were able to get

Chest

down without an enormous amount of effort, then he would request they do, siting that "Et wud be gud tuh 'ave our stuff an' me tink Faith wud like tuh see Chest again. Dem gat an well last time."

Angela

climbed out of Chest, looking around at the new surroundings. "OK, you boys be safe, I'm off to say hello to the Thunderbustles." She said as she dropped to the floor. "Ragar dat bass." Replied Winston.

After this, whether they got Chest down or not, he skipped along the corridors as they made their way towards Faith's office. "C'mon. Et's dis way!" He called, skipping backwards for a brief moment.

He waved at everyone they passed, whether he knew them or not and

one fellow even seemed to recognise him

, gushing over the cooking competition, wishing him the best of luck and then rushing off about his business. Winston was expecting that people must also know who Kisaik was, as Saiore's Storyteller.

This was the beginning of something. Something big and important and amazing, he could feel it in his tail and as far as he was concerned, that was a guarantee!

As soon as they reached the door, that Winston assured Kisiak was the right door, he gave it a solid nock.

A voice called out from within, bidding they enter.

He gave Kisiak a reassuring grin and entered, allowing Kisiak to go first and with Chest following in tow behind them both.

Chest waddled into the room and settled by Faith's desk and Winston gave Faith a fantastic smile. "Lady Faith! Tank yuh suh much far seein' us." Winston was positively effervescent as he waved at har. "Dis es my very gud friend Sir Kisaik Dark Bark, Orange Knight af the Fairy Court, Hand-Slayer, Warden af the First Tree, Saoire's Brave Storyteller, Freer of Flame, Kin af Creede, an' Father of Sweetstone..." His tone was not so much formal, but jovial. He was announcing Kisiak as if he was entering a grand ball, clearly for enjoyable and fanciful affect. "...bot me call 'im Chep. An' Chep, dis es General Augustin, 'ead af de Order af de Adunih, Grand Warden af de Wardens af de lake, Founder af de Institute af Innovation, Chamion af Vri, Moseke and Famula ... en-no-particular-orda ...

'eala

, Slayer af Liches, Philanthropist and Chef Extraordinaire... Bot most call 'er Faith." Throughout the entire introduction, he attempted, sometimes failing, to take the breaths he needed to continue without pause.

He gave deliberate paused for them to complete introductions of their own. Having completed his totally unnecessarily over flourished ones.

Plot-line Facts

So! I'm really looking forward to threading with you both, first and foremost!

I hope no one minds that I moved us along to the meat of it quickly.

So the main goal of this thread is to leave with some kind of lead as to where we can find (or go to look FOR) Kisiak's True Love. To this end, there's really no defined or even desired plot set out beyond, let's succeed in doing that, so to allow us all to make up something fun as we go, here's a list of accepted story facts that can be used/explode/expanded upon by anyone wishing to.

Some IC things:

• The last place Rabu was known to be was Melrath.
• Kisiak has a kindred bracelet that allows him to sense Rabu, though it has been dormant for a long time, since Rabu was 'lost'.
• Rabu was in the Order of the Aduniih, and someone of his description might be known to Faith
• Rabu has a ring of reversal that Kisaik gave him as a wedding gift
• There is a evil clone of Rabu, called ubar, who stalks them and tries to make them miserable. Kisiak has not used him yet, but he looks like Rabu, only more evil and he might throw a wrench in the works?

Some OOC things:

• From a system perspective, we are using a mechanic that allows Rabu to create clones of himself. IC we plan to roll with it perhaps being undetermined whether we are finding a clone or the 'real' Rabu. By all accounts, they are actually identical.
• The clone is designed to be whatever is needed by the relationship that triggered its creation and so by virtue of this, we have a pretty broad artistic licence.
• We are currently PSF'ing the Clone Rabu NPC.
• Note: We have spoken a lot about going to Yaralon, but this is not set in stone. Anywhere and anything that makes sense with what we improvise is perfect.

[Kisaik]

Winter Theme

Kisaik wasn't arriving at Faldrass a stranger. Far from it. He was well known here, and the place itself was well known to him in turn. But even so, the fame of some people went far beyond even the Mortalborn whose domain was Glory, among other things. Kisaik knew of Faith, of course, as anyone would know their next door neighbor, if their next door neighbor happened to be a Lich-Slaying, slave emancipating, holy priestess of amazing power. But all the same, Kisaik was determined despite himself to present as grounded a version of himself as possible to Professor Augustin, without ignoring any of the ordinary protocol that he was rather inclined to still observe

So with that, after helping Chest down to the ground, by growing a ramp of vines from the very earth, (and they were sturdy enough for the heavy-set Chest, well woven for his little feets.) he followed along with Winston, as he seemed to know the way to Professor Augustin's office. "Well, we shoud visit Naficula Adanu before we leave here... In fact, I believe we may have to. Saoire has offered its use to me, when I have need. And despite my dereliction with regards to the turtle quest, I think she'll understand my detour."

This said, he followed along with WInston. He entered first, and was promptly announced by his friend, in common speech, giving his titles in common. He wasn't embarassed by his friend's enthusiasm. Far from it. Nor was he intimidated by Faith's many titles and accolades, most of which he'd heard of in some measure. He stood in awe, and looked up at the person in question. "You're much taller than they led me to believe!" Kisaik said, rather artlessly. But he soon righted his manners, and extended a hand to shake hers, by growing his arm to the length of several feet. "It's wonderful to finally meet you Professor Augustin. I've heard much about your adventures and deeds. Truly you must be beloved by Ashan, particularly for outlawing slavery in this land."

Kisaik was surprised she didn't appear to bear the mark of Loshova, or he was sure he'd sense the heavy spiritual emanations. At least, she wasn't marked much if at all. But he chose not to make an assumption either way. But he did assume that Ashan approved of her. How could he do any other?

"As my good friend Winston said, I'm Kisaik, or you can call me Chip if you like. Most of my friends do." He tilted his head, wondering if he'd make friends with Faith Augustin today. "I must apologize for the unannounced visit. Although I'll admit it's quite like me to recklessly barrel forward into a situation, usually it's to render aid, not to ask for it..."

"You see," He wrung his little hands, "I've lost my best buddy, my husband Rabu some time ago. We simply got separated somehow while travelling, and have never found each other again. I have a kindred bracelet that I share with him, but it returns no feeling. I think he must have taken it off, or it's not working properly for another reason..." Kisaik refused to think the worst.

"But first, I must apologize as I've heard of the terrible actions my father Aelig has taken against your family these many years. I would gladly offer whatever service I can in order to make up for his misdeeds. And it would be my honor to begin to repay the damage he has done." For as much as Kisaik disagreed and was at odds with Aelig while he was alive, he'd not gone without some good done. Chaos was like that. "Aelig once told me, the secret to defeating evil, and that was to never give up. And I choose to believe that he told me that for a reason, however random it was. But I do believe it, down to my bark and sap."

"So, would you accept my apology, on his behalf, or at least give me a chance to attone for him?" Kisaik looked up at her, hopeful.

[Faith Augustin]

A ferret friend's lost love.....

Faith was sitting in her office - a courtesy which she was very grateful for - and she was marking papers.

She knew that, for many of her profession, grading the piles of parchment and scrolls which students submitted was a chore, but she very much enjoyed that part of the job. It was an opportunity for her to give them individual feedback and help them to become better medics. It was something which helped them and, so, she enjoyed it. However, when a knock came on the door she called out "Come in!" and put her quill down. She stood up and moved over to greet the people who had arrived.

"Winston, and Chest, how lovely to see you again," she said with a smile. He introduced his friend - who had accumulated titles quite significantly, it seemed - and Faith smiled in pleasure at meeting him. She had heard of Kisaik, the brave knight, and she prepared to say hello, except Winston then introduced her to him. She couldn't help but chuckle slightly. "Well, I sound like I've been busy," she said, with a soft laugh. "I've heard of you Sir Kisaik, it's a pleasure to meet you. The tree you brought here brings enormous pleasure, it's so beautiful. Please, call me Faith." She said and she gestured for them to sit.

"How have you been, Winston? Doing well in the ScalvChef competition, I hear?" And to Chest, "And how about you, Chest? Are you well and happy?".

Kisaik spoke then, and explained what they were doing. Faith listened intently and watched Kisaik as he spoke, first of his husband, Rabu, and then of Aelig. Faith looked at him with a calm and serious gaze and she responded to the last bit, first. "I think it's important that you know that his actions are not yours to atone for. You have no atonement to make, Sir Kisaik." Faith utterly believed that. "But I agree entirely with the philosophy of never giving up. It is the philosophy I have, absolutely." It was how she had done so many of the things which people told her were impossible, which couldn't be done.

"So, I accept your apology, though it is not needed, and I accept your wish to act in a way which negates what Aelig did. All I would ask of anyone is to do good, and I have heard of your bravery, so I believe you are already doing exactly what you hope to. Being a force for good." Life was sometimes, Faith thought, dreadfully complicated. In this case, though, it seemed straightforward to her. Besides, there was another thing to consider. "So, lets talk about Rabu. I can try and help you, if I am able."

Thinking for a moment, Faith asked "May I see the kindred bracelet, please?" When he handed it over, Faith took the tiny item and held it in her hands. Standing up, she moved over to her desk and took out a bag from the drawer. The bag was drawn closed, but there were small labels attached to different coloured strings hanging out of there and she found one string in particular, and followed it down to pull out a small box. Placing the box on her desk, she opened it. As she did, she looked at the three of them. "I think that there's a possibility that Rabu has been somewhere where there is no ambient ether," she said. "That happens in a few places, one of which is behind the barriers at the edge of the world. When Padraig first went behind them, everything like this, and all the links we had because of the connection due to marks and so on, they just stopped." She smiled slightly at Kisaik. "It was very worrying, but he was just fine. I then worked out a means of testing the ether in things." She shrugged slightly. "Lets have a look," she said.

She put small amount of liquid in a small bowl and then dropped the bracelet in to it. Faith smiled, then, and nodded. "So, yes. This bracelet's twin stopped working. It isn't that it's still sending information, and there's no information to send, it's twin is not sending." She looked at Kisaik, making sure that he understood. "Rabu's bracelet isn't working. That's all. If he was dead, for example, the connection would have been broken but the bracelet would still work and be working." So, while it wasn't a guarantee that Rabu was alive -it certainly suggested that the issue was his bracelet.

"So, the next question that I can answer for you is whether Rabu is still alive," she said. Holding the bracelet, she closed her eyes just for a moment and then she smiled. "The soul of someone who has passed can not resist the call I just sent. Rabu is alive." Those were good things, she knew. Looking up, she looked beyond Kisaik and Winston and she smiled at the ghost she saw there.

Then, she looked at the pair of them and moved back to sit with them, first drying and then handing back the bracelet to Kisaik. "There is a Rabu in the Order of the Adunih. Is this your husband?" It wasn't a common name, after all. Faith quietly pictured in her mind the filing cabinet with all the staff records and she recalled the details. "A tunawa called Rabu, in fact. Rabbit-ears?" Faith's Vri-granted perfect memory never had stopped her from making notes, because she felt that it was rude to rely on it. Still, she prayed a prayer of thanks to Vri for it. "He was in Melrath," she said. Then, she put the pads of her fingers together as she considered.

"I can get a message to Melrath order now, and get a response back quickly," she said. "There is a ghost here, and she helps me out with things like that. I do not want to be invasive to privacy, though - would you like me to proceed?" It had to be, at the end of the day, his decision and she knew that some people would feel uncomfortable using ghosts as messengers. But, Faith had a wide network of informants and she knew that her ghostly friends were by far and away the quickest travelling

[Winston]

There's only so much news one ferret can take...

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: OOoooo, what's Naficula Adanu?
Winston: Skippady dooooh-daaaah. Skippady-aaaaaaaaayyyy! Myyy.....
Curiosity: Waoh! Hold! Wait! STOOOOOOOP!
Winston: Wat, mun? Jeeze!
Curiosity: Kisiak just said he has a quest.
Winston: Yeah, 'im es a knight. 'im always 'as quests.
Curiosity: For Saiore!
Winston: Oh...
Curiosity: And turtles!
Winston: Oh!
Curiosity: And he's not doing it!
Winston: OH!
Curiosity: OutRAAAAAAAGouse?! Actually, don't worry, it's OK. If Saiore minds, she will blow him up or somthing... Aaaaannnnyyyy trrrriiiiiiillllll....
Winston: Me 'ope nat.
Curiosity: ...NOW!

"Yuh wat naw? The Cadouri stopped in his tracks for a moment. "Yuh 'ave a quest fram Saiore an' et's about TURTLES an' we are nat doin' et?" He adopted a somewhat questioning, if still light-hearted expression, but was genuinely not enormously impressed. "We will 'ave tuh talk about dat lata, an' yuh will shar as monkeys like bananas be findin' out ef Saiore minds while yuh 'ere." He said, as if it was very possible Kisiak might burst into flames the moment he stepped over some threshold in Saiore's Dream.

In Faith's office, Winston looked on as they shook hands. He in turn shook his head a little, rather jealous of the ability to so easily shake hands with someone 30+ time his size. This quickly turned to admiration, of course as he got over himself.

As Kisiak mentioned the slavery, the ferret let out a little sigh. "Ahhhh biscuits. Me knew me missed sometin'. Freer af Slaves." He winked. "Me will add et en next time." He asserted with a smile.

He decided that Faith had either not learn her lesson after last time or was genuinely interested in Winston's stories and so he smiled and replied promptly. "Oh yus! Angela as around somewhere as well ef yuh wanted tuh say 'ello later. Bot me 'ave been very busy plannin' de final menu. Et's TAP secret." He said with a wink, tapping his nose.

Chest shuffled slightly in reply to her query and produced, on the end of its long tongue, a small, delicately, but not terribly skilfully wrapped,

parcel of something warm

. Winston let out a little gasp. "Aww mun, dat was a PARTING gift. Dats da time we leave, Chest." Chest simply stretched its tongue a little closer to Faith in defiance.

He shook his head, before saying. "Please accept dis an' don't eat et befar any important meetin's... An' keep et hush-hush until de finals." He gave her a conspiratorial wink, very certain that she was a mutual fan of the culinary arts and would enjoy the gift.

As Kisiak began to set out his plight, Winston's heart sank and his face became doleful. He felt for his friend's plight on levels he could not express with words, but as luck would have it, he was so bad at hiding his emotions most days, words were rarely required.

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: Oh! MY! GAWD!
Winston: Oh me word, mun.
Curiosity: Chip's father did evil things to Faith's family? How did we not find this out before right the nows?
Winston: Me don't know. Et's naturally quite a private ting, I'm shar.
Curiosity: Yeah, sure, but you know what? When was said 'Hay, we are going to see Faith, you know her? And he says, I know OF her yes. I kinda didn't think he meant because his father had harassed her family!
Winston: Look, 'im es trying tuh make ammens. An Faith es lofely. She will forgive 'im cas et was 'is father, nat 'im.
Curiosity: Fingers crossed. HAY! Use your lucky charm necklace thingy. Chip might need it.
Winston: Shush!

The new revelations continued and Winston's surprise was for once, thinly veiled behind an effort NOT to make a scene over the subject. He did, however, join in with Kisiak's hopeful expression and he was not ashamed to use the eyes of the puppies.

As Faith accepted Kisiak's apology, the Cadouri let a little glee in the form of a "Yay!"

His expression quickly transformed to captivation and wonder as Faith started about her work. He mouthed the word "WOW" as she explained the behaviours of the places beyond the barrier and unless Faith suggested it was a problem, Winston climbed up to get a better look at what she was doing.

Winston looked at the water into which the bracelet had been placed and then at the woman again, with an expression of marvellous curiosity. Despite being totally unnecessary, he nodded in agreement of Faith's assessment of the sate of Rabu's life.

"Oh-OH! Yes. Me knew yuh cud 'elp. Yuh es so cleva." He proclaimed with nothing short of total conviction. He was now nervously hopping from one foot to the other, as if it was a mere formality to finalise before the celebrations could begin.

Then she announced that Rabu was indeed alive and he exploded, letting out a yell of triumph and attempting a rather clumsy backflip. "Hat potato bread an' butta bicuits! Me knew et!" He was now doing a merry little jig.

As she dried the bracelet, Winston hopped down and started patting his friend on the back. If Kisiak suggested he needed some space, then he would have it, but if not, he would have much jubilation coming his way. "Dis es fantastic news Chep! An' don't yuh worry. No barrier cun 'old us back. We will travers de land an' sea till we find em." It had to be said, that even Winston in hind-sight would probably describe himself in the stories he will tell of this moment as 'over the top', but this was possibly the best possible news they could have expected.

As their host posed her final question, Winston tried not to answer for his friend, but only managed to avoid doing so verbally, as he furiously nodded his head in reply while waiting for Kisaik to do the same.

As she spoke of a ghost, Winston looked around,

focusing his senses

as best he could to try and see who or what it was. This was not his choice though and as such, he sat, as if to silence his inner temptations with the physical action, and stared at Kisiak.

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: What is going on?
Winston: Me don't know...
Curiosity: How did she DO that?
Winston: Me don't know...
Curiosity: What is Kisiak going to say?
Winston: Me don't know...
Curiosity: He MUST say yes, surely?
Winston: Me...
Curiosity: Yeah-yeah, don't know. OK.

[Kisaik]

Kisaik felt safe under Saoire's roof, and so it didn't occur to him that Saoire would take aggressively destructive action against him for his truancy on the part of the turtle quest. "Well.. You know Peter the Panhandler? That's one of the turtles I retrieved for Saoire. He has a clutch here on Faldrass. I just have to find a breeding pair of each of the other kinds of turtles in Sweetwine." Kisaik turned to face forward as they made their way through the halls, and then said soberly, "Would you lend your aid to finding the turtles? I have certain tools that can help, like a turtle whistle, and Saoire's whistle that lets me retrieve the turtles to Faldrass. But I've had a devil of a time finding Peter, I haven't yet found any of the other kinds."

That said, they made their way into Faith's office, and from there everything happened.



Faith accepted his apology, and he was almost dismayed to see her dismiss his culpability. Kisaik didn't quite see it that way. "They say in Magani the fruit often doesn't fall far from the branch." He insisted, "And even if I don't share my father's intent in his actions, I've made it my mission to bring more good into the world than he has bad, and thus making his existence a net good for the world!"

Kisaik felt justified in that, "Even if Aelig was an evil wizard, nobody's legacy should be so tarnished by their own extinction. The opportunity to attone was taken from him, so I will carry on in his stead."

The tunawa shrugged, "But I thank your forgiveness of me personally."

Then she was given the kindred bracelet, and did her divine magics which were a wonder to Kisaik, who only knew of Loshova, Rupturing, and Song-Forged magics. "No ambient ether? Beyond the Barriers? Never been there myself. How would one get there? Do you think Rabu might be there still, if he is there?"

Then she went on to call up Rabu's soul. The moment of truth, where they'd find out Rabu's fate, or if it was still uncertain. She returned with good news, that Rabu wasn't dead.

"Joy! That's good news!" Kisaik nodded emphatically and danced with WInston as the ferret hopped about. "Oh yes, Rabu, with the rabbit-like ears! He smells of dusty sandalwood and a nice, sweet woody scent. He was in Melrath... Was? Do you know where he might be now? Please I must know... The last place I saw him personally was in Yaralon..."

"Yes, if you would send a message to Melrath, and we could learn his last destination..." Kisakk looked at the ghost, and nodded to it as it appeared. "Thank you, fair ghost. Please find my precious flower, Rabu."

Sappy tears formed at Kisaik's eyes, as he was so close, he could almost feel Rabu. As he fitted the bracelet back on his wrist, he felt a sudden inflection of feeling from it. He jolted, and said, "I felt something, from the bracelet! What does that mean?"

[Faith Augustin]

A ferret friend's lost love.....

Winston spoke of his exploits and Faith smiled. "I hope that it will be a marvellous success," she said. "Whether you win or not, I hope that you're as proud of yourself as you would be of someone else - anyone else, I suspect - who had come as far as you." Her instinct was that Winston was the sort to celebrate others while brushing his own achievements under the rug. Chest offered her a small parcel, though, and Winston explained. "Thank you so much, Chest, that's so kind," she said. Winston told her not to eat it before any important meetings and to keep it "hush hush" and Faith nodded. "Not before meetings, keep it quite. Got it. Thank you, both of you," she said to Winston and Chest. "You're very kind and I very much appreciate it."

When Kisaik explained further, about his desire to improve his father's legacy, Faith nodded her head. "TI'm sorry," she said softly. "My parents sold me to slavery at ten breaks old. I was raised to believe that I was less than human - an item to be bought and sold. The idea of what I do being their legacy when I was a slave would have been an insult to them. As a free woman, I believe that," she paused, trying to find the right words. "That no matter how near or far this fruit has fallen from the tree, I've fallen from it." She looked at Kisaik with pale eyes which shone with emotion. "I can't see the world the way you do, but I fully recognise that it is how you see it. Any way that you seek to atone for his actions by your own free will and because it is what you wish, is absolutely fine with me. It isn't a requirement from me, but I accept and respect it from you." It was the best she could give and she hoped, sincerely, that it was enough.

Then, they got on with what needed doing.

"I don't know that it means he's gone behind the barriers," Faith said. "It could mean that he's been somewhere where there is an ether drain, something like that." She had seen similar things - come to that she could do similar things in a small area for a short time. The barriers were very difficult to get to and one small tunawa might well not survive the journey. However, he was alive and that was something. So, Faith asked the ghost to go to Melrath and speak to them there.

While they were waiting, Kisaik felt something from the bracelet. Faith nodded, pleased. "It's most peculiar," she said. "When Padraig, my husband, first went beyond the barriers, everything stopped. But when he came back, some things just spontaneously started working again, other things did not. I wonder if by doing what we've done with it, we've given it a bit of a kick-start?" Strange magic items were, indeed, odd and Faith was simply happy that he was feeling something.

Of course, as the bracelet seemed to be giving out multiple, duplicated signalsplot device! it was an odd experience for Kisaik. Faith might have noticed, but the ghost came back and Faith had a conversation - to them it seemed like she was speaking to thin air, but to her there was someone there.

"Thank you, that's very useful," she said. Then, after a pause. "And do you know when?" As the ghost answered, Faith nodded. "We don't have anyone there? Oh, yes, of course. Would you? Thank you." Then, a slight frown. "You're sure? That's a big ask." and finally, Faith nodded. "Thank you. Most genuinely."

Then, she turned to Kisaik and Winston. "The best information we can get tells us that Rabu has gone to Yaralon. We think he was looking for you." Faith said the last to Chip, of course. "I would like to help you, in the next step. So I have two offers to make. One is that my companion here, Shinwa, she has offered to go with you. Yaralon has a lot of ghostly activity, and she can physically manifest so she can talk to the other ghosts, and then manifest and speak to you. If you wish to take her up on that offer, then one of you will need to be made into an anchor for her, so that she can travel. I can do that, if you wish." That was the first bit.

"The second part is that I have the ability to put a mark on one of you - it's part of Famula's blessing. It will allow us to know where the other one is - and if it's a case of dire need, you can call me to you. Or I can pull you out, but only one of you. It allows us to hear snippets of each others thoughts, and I can heal you remotely, if needed." That said, she glanced between the two of them and waited to see what they thought.

OOC Note:
The ghost is currently a faceless NPC - you would need to dev her if you wanted to useher in any meaningful way.
The mark stuff is the "Servants Mark", "Moderate Servants Mark" and "Greater Servants Mark" from Zuuda mark .
The multiple signals on the bracelet I thought might be a way to make "clone Rabu" possible / likely?

[Winston]

Better off dead

Winston beamed again, restored instantly to his usual amiable self, not that he was really very far from it anyway. "Me? Af carse! Neva hunted turtles befar, bot me cun imagine a turtle whistle will come en very 'andy."

Back in the office

In reply to Faith's remark on pride, he waved his arm dismissively. "Me es delighted to be in a place to do such good. 'ave yuh seen wat 'as been done far de arphanage?" He chuckled did a little jig. "Oh is fabulous." Again he gestured kindly but dismissively of the compliment. Being called kind by someone like Faith rather felt like being called wet by the sea. "Tis a delight, 'anestly."

He became a little worried they were getting sidetracked though and turned back to the matters at hand.

Winston giggled at Kisaik's assessment of offspring, trees and apples. "Well, lucky far us, we ain't apples." He observed in what he hoped came of as reassurance that Kisaik was not like his father.

The suggestion that everyone deserved the opportunity to atone was one Winston decided not to challenge.

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: Really? Everyone?
Winston: Well, we shud forgive, right?
Curiosity: But reeeeaaally? I mean, SOME people... Not KISAIKS dad, no-no-no, of course not, but perhaps... just maaaaby, SOME people are better to be ded.
Winston: WAT! NO!
Curiosity: Woah-Woah-Woah! Hear me out! You decide to give a guy one last chance to prove they can redeem themselves... The MIGHT even really try... But then they decide to just be a killy stabby person and invent a gas that kills an entire continent of innocent kittens...
Winston: Well... Me can't help dem's choices.
Curiosity: Yeah, right, but you could stop them from making them right? And in choosing to LET them continue to make choice, when you KNOW they are bad at it... Well, you kinda become responsible right?
Winston: Ummmm, I suppose.
Curiosity: I choose the people they will kill. Not them.
Winston: No one has a crystal ball.
Curiosity: No, which is why there is a legal system.
Winston: Dat system does nat like me moch...

After all, it was his father and now did not feel like the right time to share whether or not Winston felt some people were just better being dead to protect others from their whimsy.

There was joyous news afoot however and as Kisaik announced that the bracelet had done something, Winston gasped. "OOOOoooooohhhhh. Yay!" The words were not so much shouted as they were exclaimed in a high pitch that petered off into exclamation heaven.

Winston did the ping-pong thing, with Faith and the empty space she was talking to, holding his breath with anticipation of the answers that were coming from the silence.

He was about to fist-pump and run for the nearest portal to Yaralon when Faith bowled directly into an offer of even further assistance. The ferret thrust his hand into the air, holding it up there with the other free hand, as if it was heavy and waved it about furiously. "Oh-oh-oh-me-me, choose me, I can do it! I'm much heavier than I look!" He looked a Kisaik, a little like permission was being sought, which on Winston looked a little like a kind of pleading that makes people not want to kick small puppies.

The Devil on My Shoulder
Curiosity: WHHHAAAAAAT?!!
Winston: She cun mark peepal?
Curiosity: She's an Immortal!
Winston: WAT! NO!
Curiosity: Yes! It all makes sense now! I mean come on! Just look at the woman. She's practically a goddess in her daily life. Solves mysteries for lunch and offeres marks to people...
Winston: EEEEeeeeee.... Me es getting a ghost!
Curiosity: OH! Ask her for a dragon!
Winston: Far Immartal's sake...

In an attempt to get in there before Kisaik did (he might not) he'd point at his friend in response to the second offer. "Dat one es far 'im. Me gonna stay waaaaay outta trouble an' talk tuh ghosts. Dat's MY jab" He stated with a firm nod. "Anyway, me cun portal home at de nearest dar." He added, pragmatically, looking at the ceiling and giving a little prayer of thanks to Saiore.

If they had an accord, Winston would follow whatever ritual was involved in both of the procedures, if there were any and rather excitedly wait to meet the ghost that would be following them.

[Kisaik]

“You OWN parents?!” Kisaik couldn’t believe his ears when Faith explained about her past. Of course, with someone as famous as Faith you heard stories and some of it got lost in the transit from ear to ear. He knew she had been a slave, but to be sold into it by one’s own parents!? “Who would sell the sprout of their own branch? I cannot understand.” Kisaik murmured in agony, yet he couldn’t belabor the point that she was divorced from any sense of responsibility or connection to her parents’ legacy. He was speechless, more or less. Thankfully they got onto what was needing to be done, although Kisaik struggled to think of ways he could make her past better, or prevent the same evil from befalling another soul.

”Never give up.” Purple, or Aelig in Purple’s guise had said. And those were words, whether Aelig was a villain or not, that Kisaik took to heart.

Soon enough, as Faith explained how the transit beyond the borders worked, and how their ebb and flow could disrupt the communication of information from the bracelet, Kisaik nodded. He could understand, being somewhat versed in the magic of transport via Rupturing. There were quirks he’d yet to understand or even explore in that magic.

“Yaralon? Perhaps he’s gone to the last place we saw each other then? Hmm.”

Kisaik scratched his beard, and nodded. It stood to reason, and Kisaik even had some lingering contacts there. Although how his contacts considered him now was anyone’s guess. They might despise him for bucking Yaralon traditions or whatnot. And there was also the matter of the First Tree, and what had become of it. Kisaik was often curious…

Kisaik agreed with Winston, about being most suitable as an anchor, although the ferret seemed to misunderstand what that meant. “I think both offers should go to my friend Winston. I’m well capable of healing myself, and…” Here Kisaik’s voice lowered, so as not to shame Winston or make it seem he thought less of the ferret, “He may need the help of your mark more than I do, being slightly less used to the adventuring life. At any rate, I’d want to ensure his safety, as he undertakes this quest for my sake. I would hate for anything to happen to him.”

“As for the ghost, I can produce ephemera for the ghost to feed upon, should it have a need. So I shouldn’t be made it’s anchor, as that would preclude me as a source of sustenance.”

Kisaik nodded. And he was eager to get underway, but there was one last thing. “Is there anything I can do for you, while in Yaralon? Any task you might set me to. I’m much in your debt for these favors, and anything at all I can do I would happily see done.

[Faith Augustin]

A ferret friend's lost love.....

Winston's question about the orphanage prompted a nod from her. "I am aware of all you have done, yes. I am so grateful to you, Winston, I truly am." Kisaik's horror at the revelation of who sold her into slavery caused a pang of sympathy to hit Faith. She looked at him and said, simply and calmly, the truth. "I would change none of it," she said. "Because if I did, I would not be here, now. I would wish to be no one different, no one at all." So, it had happened, she was where she was and who she was. She simply hoped that it went some way to explaining to Kisaik why the idea of him bearing responsibility for his father's indiscretions was not how she saw things.

However, they had things to do and she focused on that. It was good news, for which she was pleased, and she offered suggestions to the two of them which they were both very happy with. Winston suggested that he take the anchor and Kisaik get the mark, but Kisaik spoke and explained his thinking. Faith considered it, just for a moment, then she nodded. "I agree with you, Sir Chip," she said. "If I put both on Winston that will also mean that I can help with anything regarding the ghost in question."

That said, she knelt on the floor, getting as close to eye-level as she could with Winston and Kisaik and she spoke softly but earnestly. "I'm going to put both of these on you, Winston. They are both abilities which Famula has granted me, so please remember to thank her in whatever way you deem appropriate." Kisaik then asked her if he could do something to repay her and Faith's instinct was to assure him that he did not need to worry. But, he had been very clear about his sense of responsibility and Faith understood that, while it was not important to her, it was important to him that she gave him a different answer than was her instinct.

"Yes," she said, to both of them. "In fact, there are two things. The first, I think, will be easy for you. But please, if you have the opportunity to pay it forward and do a good deed, please do so. " But that was a general thing and it would not appease Kisaik's need to balance the scales. And, in truth, there was something they could do. "I understand that there has been change in Yaralon, and I would like to know what that change is. Specifically, around the number of ghosts there. So, if you would, I'd appreciate it if you could find out what the situation is there, and let me know - especially regarding the Immortals. Are there any Immortals who are not worshipped, or worshipped more than others? Is worship of any of them banned or frowned upon, that kind of thing." She kept eye contact with them both as she spoke, and continued. "And I am hopeful that Shinwa will be able to find out about the ghostly situation there. So, she may well ask you to go to specific places - please do as she asks unless there is a reason not to, and that will help me enormously."

That said, she first of all used her Famula-granted ability to make Winston an anchor for Shinwa the Wisp. She most certainly would not have done so if Shinwa hadn't agreed, but she did and so Faith was happy to. "Being an anchor," Faith explained, "is not about weight in that sense. It's about being who she connects to here. Her anchor to this realm, if you would. It doesn't mean that you can see her, but she will materialise for you as often as she can and even though you can't see her - she can see and hear you. So call her if you need to."

That was the first thing and then, she reached out and touched Winston and, in doing so, she placed a "Greater Servants Mark" on him. It connected them in a very deep way and she would be able to hear snippets of his thoughts and feel his emotional state for the time they were linked.

There was no ceremony to it. It was merely a simple touch of her hand on him and both were done. "There we go," Faith said, nodding. "I hope you travel safely. Thank you, Sir Chip, for trusting me to help you with this quest. It's a pleasure to meet you. Winston, be well. Be safe!" That said, Faith thought she had probably done everything she could and she hoped that what she had done would, at least, help a little. She would keep them - and Rabu -in her prayers.

[Basilisk]

Review

Winston

Winston is a lot of fun to read, and I love his conversations with his inner curiosity. The little cheerful ferret-face was adorable.

• Points Bank: +5 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 2 other PCs (not including your PC)
• Renown: 5
• XP: 15
• Knowledges:
  • Acting: Learning Lines
  • Acting: Grand Introductions
  • Acting: Breathing during long sentences
  • Socialization: Encouraging people to make their own introductions
  • Storytelling: Dropping plot hints
  • Detection: Taking a closer look at magic investigations
  • Athletics: Standing Backflip
  • Etiquette: was one Winston decided not to challenge

Kisaik

The conversation about Rabu was nice to read, and I did enjoy the sequence where he apologizes for Aelig's actions. Poor Kis really lost the Immortal parent lottery.

• Points Bank: +5 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 2 other PCs (not including your PC)
• Renown: 5
• XP: 15
• Knowledges:
  • Discipline: Keeping a grounded demeanor, when confronting someone who was beyond famous and a heroic
  • Etiquette: Mannering yourself as you always do, if only to treat people equally

Faith Augustin

XD I kinda love the idea that people start thinking that Faith's an Immortal. Feel free to run with that rumor if you want.

• Points Bank: +5 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 2 other PCs (not including your PC)
• Renown: 5
• XP: 15
• Knowledges:
  • Intelligence: Using ghosts as information gatherers can lead to quicker results, but is uncomfortable for some