Remembrance and Return
The Massive congregation stood on the side of the Lake Lovalus. Faith's memorial in Rharne had attracted attention from key people in Idalos, whose lives were touched in one way or another by Faith Augustin. Whether her family attended was an open question, although the door was open to them. Otherwise, this memorial was meant to catch up to the one held last Cycle by Scalvoris, and a chance for those who weren't quite willing to make the trip to a place as remote as Scalvoris to pay their respects.
Speeches commenced, heartfelt accounts of Faith's actions. The defeat of Deabrutoa and salvation of the King of Quacia garnered some gasps and turned heads, as King Arkenstone himself deigned to travel as far as Lovalus to pay respects to his savior. He told the tale as only one who experienced it could, paying homage to the four heroes who stood against the evil that had infested the Undercrofts of Quacia.
Next, the leaders of the Order of the Adunih, the regional leaders from Desnind, Scalvoris, Ne'haer, and other locales stood to give their respcets, and add their offerings to the barge that would represent Faith's return to the waters of Lovalus.
Several others attended, of course most of the Councilors of Rharne were there. The Matriarch of the Thunder Priestesses, the commanders of the Lightning Knights, Iaren herself, and even Carter Frask was there, shifting his glances to and fro looking for signs of trouble in the crowd. Carter Frask pointedly crossed his arms at the appearance of King Arkenstone's involvement, but kept a respectful distance the rest of the time from the royal.
FInally, it was time after all had left their memorabilia or notes or well-wishes on the barge, along with trinkets or gifts that reminded them of the departed. The barge was pushed out by a throng of Thunder Priests, directed by the Matriarch herself.
With a bow in hand, she lit it with a spark of lightning, and once the barge was a comfortable distance into the water, put it to light. Thus after, it began sinking, drowning the notes and treasures that people had heaped onto Faiths' remembrance barge.
But then, something remarkable and unexpected perhaps began to happen. As the barge sank, afterward, a host of frogs began croaking from the depths. At first the crowd could be forgiven for thinking it was bullfrogs, but then, they saw they were much larger, the size of human beings in fact. With large bulging amphibian eyes, and colorful features. They emerged with the treasures left for Faith's remembrance, collecting the trinkets.
Soon enough, they were coming ashore, swimming. None of them made any aggressive moves toward the mourners, yet there was a sense of tension about the air, as the crowd was not quite sure what to make of these alien beings, or their intrusion on this ceremony.
The frog folk stood off to the shore, seeming to consider the mourners, before one of them came forward. They said simply, in good common speech, "I am Bran Tiller. We have come to remember Faith, who was among the people who freed our folk. in Changeling's Boneyard."
There was a moment of silence, as none of the mourners made a move to interact with these alien and unknown beings, who appeared so suddenly in such numbers.