[As One River to Another] Big Shadows in Little Garaia

[Revan Blackhand]

35 Saun 722

Kuvarakh. It was a good name. Good as any, Grimwald supposed. Who was he to judge? His real name was difficult to say and sounded strange to most.

There was something about the way that the dragon was looking at him which both unnerved Grimwald and made him feel a little bit more confident. He didn't like it. He wasn't sure which part he didn't like but he did not like it. He didn't feel like he was in control but he hadn't felt like he was in control for a while now. He'd been unnerved the moment he saw Faith near the prison and things hadn't exactly gotten much better since then- but nobody was looking at him too closely until the dragon. He didn't feel at risk of his secret getting out but the dragon displayed knowledge he didn't like. Nor did he like the claim that the dragon would be watching him. Did it already know what he was? It knew something. It knew he was not as cruel as the other guards but it didn't seem to know why.

He was building bridges with the criminals. Bridges that could be used by Revan, or Morton, or whatever face he chose to wear when he needed help. Brutalizing and terrifying prisoners wasn't a good way to get them to agree to work with people you 'knew.' Now it had earned him the gaze of a dragon and that was not the original intention. How was he going to twist this to his advantage? A dragon watching couldn't have been much worse than the Shadow Quarter watching? Well... it was probably just as bad if the dragon decided to chomp him at some point. Fortunately the dragon moved on to the others in the room shortly after addressing him.

The Shadow of Courage breathed darkness, not flames and Grimwald took an instinctual step away from everyone. That was odd. He didn't know why he expected fire but he was surprised when it was something different. Then came the digging dragonets and the mention of some form of power. Power was good. Grimwald liked things that could give him a little more power but it might not have been worth the risk of being exposed. Nothing seemed worth the risk with the dragon looming... and Faith. Better to be safe than to be exposed. In the name of protecting his cover and exploring his curiosity, he helped dig when they were asked to dig.

Things continued to transpire and with each new piece of information, the Yludih became more and more curious. He dug deeper in more ways than one.

"What will it do to someone who isn't 'of the shadow brood?'" Grimwald asked Kuvarakh. This was a type of strange he was not used to and he wanted to know more. The word 'bind' didn't make it seem like it would be a great thing. Faith seemed to know what the dragon was talking about but Grimwald didn't. Shadowcaine? Grimwald had no issue letting Faith touch it first when she managed to free it from the root. She certainly looked to know what she was doing. A strange glove formed over her hand and she went for the gem. Grimwald found himself instinctively reaching for the dagger hidden in his cloak.

What would happen if they just stabbed it?

Would it free the soul or not? Probably not. Better to leave it to Faith. Then again, she wasn't exactly sharing what she knew about the gem. He could respect that. There was plenty he wasn't sharing. He still wanted to dig though. "How did it get here?" He asked the dragon. Surely the warden would have- oh... he hadn't thought about his boss in a short while. Work was going to be a lot more complicated now.

[Sabine Devereaux]

Things were happening around her, and while the space was getting a bit crowded, the young woman felt a bit removed from the situation. Maybe that was because she had been unconscious or something more profound, but it was of no matter – Sabine was used to being on her own.

Beyond that, there was a palpable disappointment present. The redhead had misjudged the situation horribly with Vitria, or at least everything that didn’t have to do with putting herself between the spirit and the others. She didn’t regret that action, although it had been more instinct than anything. Perhaps her subconscious was trying to right the perceived wrong she had done in putting any measure of trust in Vitria. The truth was that she might never truly understand the why’s of the moment.

As she came to, presumably by the joint efforts of the Dr.Bubbles woman and the dragon that called himself Kuvarakh, Sabine managed to speak finally, considering them both and Faith. “Thank you. All of you.”

That’s as far as words would take her right then, unsure what more she could do in the situation. Thinking and talking only got someone so far, and she was more of a ‘doing’ kind of girl. Faith had mentioned digging, and Kuvarakh summoned some creatures to help in response.

Digging was certainly something Sabine could help with, so quietly, without comment, she began to help using her hands. Had her backpack still been with her Evil mean guard kicked it away before she got pushed into the quicksand, there were things enclosed that could have helped, but one had to work with the available tools, and her hands were basically it.

There was talk between the others about roots and gems and something about shadow-brood. The traveler didn’t understand most of it. While she could have asked questions, anything she could have asked seemed trivial compared to what they were dealing with, so she remained silent – digging, listening, and observing.

Sabine cast a curious glance to the side, looking closer at a dragonet that had strayed close to her. It was a tiny little thing, and while she had minimal experience with animals in general, all the knowledge she did have was being around the untrained sort out in the wilderness, and that wasn’t much. Not approaching or provoking them was rule number one, so she stayed her ground, continuing to dig but keeping a loose eye on the creature, intrigued.

Once the roots were exposed, Faith got to work. There didn’t seem to be anything they could do to help her, but that didn’t stop Sabine from voicing the question, just in case. “Is there something we can do to help you?” It appeared to be a situation best left in the hands of those that knew best, but sometimes there were not-so-obvious things that could assist.

[Pig Boy]

Kuvarakh did indeed eye the signs of Frostvinndur's effigy on Faith, but whether he thought anything one way or another about their appearance on this champion of Rharne, he did not deign to say. He merely watched intently, along with Doctor Bubbles, as Faith released the Shadowcaine from its wooden prison, and then with ectoplasma gloved hand took it in her grip and brought it out.

Doctor Bubbles murmured to Kuvarakh, "Do you think this may have unintended consequences, supposing there are any of her marked within the Shadowcaine?" Bubbles looked up at Kuvarakh. His voice rumbled in his throat, "I would not be surprised if there were, but even in that case, she would only return in a weakened form. Hardly a threat to us anymore."

Before there was any further conversation between the two, the souls were released from the Shadowcaine well. The myriad of souls escaped through the fissure, and then went into the Lantern. Famula's Lantern lit the way for them to go, but then something unusual began happening within the lantern. It flickered, it's light beginning to shade over and become cloudy for a moment.

The fluttering shadow only lasted a second before the Lantern's light was restored, but there had definitely been something unusual going on inside of it.

Kuvarakh hummed curiously, and Doctor Bubbles gave a concernred look. Then Bubbles came forward, and bowed to Faith. "We had heard you were starting a hospital. I'd like to help. If you'll have me. I have some interesting methods of treating mental trauma, cultivated over a century of experience."

Kuvarakh spoke to Faith then, over Bubbles' offer, "We should meet again, this cavern will become a bit of a... Summer home for me I suspect. Will you consent to meet with me in the next Hot Cycle? I think we may have topics of mutual interest to explore then..."

This said, Kuvarakh turned to Sabine and Grimwald. "You two have served a valuable purpose here, though you felt lost through much of it. Your courage in the face of the unknown is commendable."

A loud thunder crack sounded from above them all, far over the layers of earth and stone that separated them from the overworld. Kuvarakh turned to Grimwald fully, "Your old boss, the Warden of this prison, has been slain. You are no friend to the Shadow Quarter, though you are not all you seem either. From now, you have your own choices to make, but in the meantime I would offer this... You may become the steward of the entrance to my Summer Home here. Should you accept, I will watch your path carefully."

"In the meantime, I grant you this companion," So saying, Kuvarakh summoned a dragonet from under his wing, two of which went to Sabine and Grimwald. A third, shy one edged toward Faith. Kuvarakh quirked an eyebrow. "It seems this dragonet wishes to go with you Faith, if you would have them?"

Bubbles smiled at Faith, "Kuvarakh's dragonets are very nice, and get along well with other animals if you have any pets... But if you don't want them, I can take it..."

The people beneath Little Garaia would likely have questions. If so, now was the time to ask, for the time was growing short.

[Pig Boy]

Review

Kuvarakh rears his head back, and upon the offerings he made to the group, he added another. He looked to Faith, and said, "To you, I offer my effigy, should you wish it. You have shown remarkable courage in the face of terror and shadow. Should you wish to take my effigy, you will become a creature of toxins and shadow, fear and bravery. In any event, I grant all of you here who remain conscious the company of a dragonet, and a kutzeldaur, a dragonling companion.

So saying, each of the three left standing were joined by these creatures. A pair for Grimwald, a pair for Sabine, and a pair for Faith. Then, with a swift throw of his wing, he sent them back to safety, above the ground, where the carriage that had borne most of the passengers here had been readied for departure.


All Players

Knowledges

• Stealth: x3
• Detection: x4
• Discipline: x5

Rozkia

Rewards

• Points Bank: +10 - Participate in, and Complete, a City Event (Seasonal Events run by mods)
• Renown: 15
• XP: 15
• Shadow Quarter Faction Points: 4

Rewards

• Points Bank: +15 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 4 other PCs (not including your PC)

Vincent Steinitz

Rewards

• Points Bank: +10 - Participate in, and Complete, a City Event (Seasonal Events run by mods)
• Renown: 15
• XP: 15

Rewards

• Points Bank: +15 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 4 other PCs (not including your PC)

Sabine Devereaux

Rewards

• Points Bank: +10 - Participate in, and Complete, a City Event (Seasonal Events run by mods)
• Renown: 15
• XP: 15

Knowledges

• Discipline: Resisting natural impulses
• Detection: Doing a quick scan for immediate danger
• Investigation: Asking the obvious question
• Investigation: Recognizing you lack appropriate information
• Discipline: Continuing on despite suspicion and hesitation
• Etiquette: Returning an introduction
• Psychology: Unconscious actions can come from a variety of sources

Rewards

• Points Bank: +15 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 4 other PCs (not including your PC)

Loot

• 1 Dragonet of Kuvarakh
  1 Dragonling of Kuvarakh
  
  Both of these are assumed to have good-quality training.
  
  You may PSF a diri of courage or a ghost of a naerrik that joins you shortly after the adventure, as a companion. If a ghost, they will make Sabine an Anchor. If a diri, please develop up to 3 abilities related to courage for them.

Faith Augustin

Rewards

• Points Bank: +10 - Participate in, and Complete, a City Event (Seasonal Events run by mods)
• Renown: 15
• XP: 15
• Investigation (T2) XP: 3
• Adunih Faction Points: 4

Knowledges

• Medicine T2: Impact of Sleep Deprivation on a being
• Detection: Making out words in echoing caverns
• Tactics: Do not show your hand too early, in order to maintain an advantage
• Intelligence: Information sharing via your Diri to an Induk can be a useful means of ensuring all information is given
• Intelligence: Dragon titles can give information about dragon concepts / focus
• Gardening: x3

Rewards

• Points Bank: +15 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 4 other PCs (not including your PC)

Loot

• 1 Dragonet of Kuvarakh
  1 Dragonling of Kuvarakh
  
  Both of these are assumed to have good-quality training.
  
  Effigy of Kuvarakh if you wish it.
  
  You may PSF a diri of toxin or a ghost of a naerrik that joins you shortly after the adventure, as a companion. If a ghost, they will make Faith their anchor Anchor. If a diri, please develop up to 3 abilities related to toxins for them.
  
  You've earned a Champion power to develop for Vri, for guiding innumerable dead souls back to him.

Revan Blackhand

Rewards

• Points Bank: +10 - Participate in, and Complete, a City Event (Seasonal Events run by mods)
• Renown: 15
• XP: 15

Knowledges

• Larceny: x4

Rewards

• Points Bank: +15 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 4 other PCs (not including your PC)

Loot

• 1 Dragonet of Kuvarakh
  1 Dragonling of Kuvarakh
  
  Both of these are assumed to have good-quality training.
  
  You may PSF a diri of shadow or a ghost of a naerrik that joins you shortly after the adventure, as a companion. If a ghost, they will make Revan astheir anchor. If a diri, please develop up to 3 abilities related to shadow for them.