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Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:02 pm
by blackdove
She sits alone this night thinking, and sad. then writes.
I did it again. I Will miss the living saint being gone. I have so much I want to say but my shame is again plaint be seen. I need someone like her to talk to. Someone wise and kind and fair.. I see why she is a saint, I see why she is so loved.
I need to remember these are mens organizations. There is bound to be huffing and puffing. Why is it so hard to trust another of your faith, a paladin as you are ? I do not know and don't care right now. all I know is they have not lived by what they said in their code. Keeping secrets and distrusting is not freely sharing information. And debating whether to defend the weaker of the two or not, because there may be a lie is .. its is immorral to me.
If one of us saw an orc about to stomp a child of cleave him, there would be an attempt to stop the orc first. If a lady was being assaulted by a huge man, most would stop the huge man first then talk. They would first ensure no violence came from the one who could do more damage. Yet when it is a huge nation against a city, suddenly its a different story?
They have burned my trust in them. they lie in their code. But.. it should not surprise me. After all, even one blessed of 3 gods, marked by them even, can fall to evil. But I cannot work with those who refuse to adamantly say they will work to stop the bigger aggressor first, and refuse to defend the weaker , then talk after..that is wrong.
On the good side, I met a lady who is perfect for the clinic. I need to get her scrolls.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:35 pm
by blackdove
Althea rises shamefully late this day. She automatically begins to first tend to her wounded hands before remembering they are fully healed now, thanks to Saint Meris extreme skill in healing.she smiles, an she smiles at the words she had spoke. her exhortation not to needlessly suffer still rings in her ears. Also, her words to remember by writing down ring too.She writes.
I am so glad i will not be totally cut of form her wisdom. Her short visit has created in me a sincere adoration for her that the words of others could not quite spark.Watching her wisely navigate situations and sooth and heal strife was amazing!Also amazing are her healing skills . My hands have healed now! Thanks to her.
Hopefully, after things settle with my friends, the pain caused by my leaving the Order of the Silver Rose can also be healed. I intend to Take the blessed saint up on her offer to write and seek advice. Before I do anything else of extreme importance in the future I will do this. I shall write her in a few days, when i have more than one question to ask. I also believe I can talk to lance some, if it is over urgent.Most important now is...
I have, inspired by the old lady helen, decided to take up knitting clothes for the orphans, and homeless too maybe.. hats and mittens maybe. I hope she does not mind if I sneak some socks in with hers , when she has them sent off to the orphanage. If I can ever learn how not to stab myself with the needles I mean.
I need to get more scrolls to.I wonder if I can get people to bring the wounded a bit north of the campfire? there is a good spot to tend to people , below the shrine. Maybe not to close, but its away from people at the campfire.I see that a continued presence of healers at the campfire has had the effect of many coming to seek aid there, but it also seems to distress, understandably so, the people there to dance and make merry. That should be tended to maybe.
Feeling well rested , she prays quietly that no war come, for all of her friends, for wisdom to know how to heal, not just the body but also the soul, and souls of all distressed near her.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:57 am
by blackdove
Finding herself at the gates for translation needs , Althea goes to the orphanage first to donate the money given her for the orphans. Then she goes to the shine, and helps to cook. later she writes.
I met an interesting woman today. She only spoke celestial. She is a paladin of Sune, and she is a beautiful woman,. So beautiful she quickly, upon her appearance, had a group of men surrounding, despite the language barrier.
She is a very pure strong woman.Also she is loyal. It will be interesting to see how she interacts with everyone. She has a strong sense of who she is, and is not likely to change much. I can see this becoming interesting indeed.
I finished my first knitted hat! I will give the next one to the orphans though, as this one is taken. Also , inspired by the living saint.. I am going to try baking goodies. I did learn more than dancing growing up. Pleasure comes in many forms.
she then goes to do so, since there is a oven at the shrine.She has a very nice joyful quite time.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 6:46 pm
by blackdove
]as the weather grows cooler, and days shorter, Althea spends more time baking and knitting. She also spends time with a certain young man, not overmuch but more than with other people.She also gives him her fist completed knit hat.One day she writes a letter and sends it on its way, and also decides to write in her journal some.
Even as war looms i cannot find myself to be anymore concerned past the fact that many will be hurt, and I must be ready to heal.Also though I must be ready for life to resume after. I am not sure I should be pursuing what I do also. I will think some more on that.
I have gotten the art of baking and knitting down well now, soon I will make hats and scarves for the soldiers. Its going to be cold out there.Mr lance will be especially.I hope boots does not mind if i knit one for him. maybe I can have her give it to him?I will give her time to knit first.
In any case I have been able to acquire other colors aside from plain brown, so I will be using them .Maybe the yellowish and white colors for scarves?Anyway, right now,every bit of normal we can find is important.
There was a dance here recently! and some drinking. I still maintain abstinence though. I would have liked to have danced but I came late, and he was a bit tipsy. I settled for a few moments time talking on the roof,and firmly establishing my insistence of also abstaining from something else now.
Do not misunderstand. I do have a past, a now long ago time , a time before innocence died,when I worshiped another,and a time before I discovered even good men can fall to evil. But that does not mean I cannot now choose to wait before ever again. I do not need to ever again give that outside of proper place.He agreed to honor that, and we did have a nice breakfast.
See? war looms and winter comes, but life goes on. Surely this is good, and the hope my friend sir haeman once spoke of still is possible.. I will prove also I do not need a code to offer hope and normalcy.As if I have to prove anything to any but my god.
She smiles,shakes her head, closes her book , and goes about life again as normal"
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:51 pm
by blackdove
Althea returns to the small tent Vanira had promised. She is not as tired as she was. As more people arrived , she was able to relax some, not that she did.
As she often does, she forgets to eat much, and when she does, she refuses more than the barest bit of food,sneaking any extra she is given to the recovering, believing they need food to heal.
Now she sits, in that point of fatigue where you cannot sleep, but your body demands rest. while she waits , she prays , she looks around at all the bustle outside, the occasional loud yell rising above the bustle. she smiles at how many people showed.Then she writes.
So many people have shown up, so much aid also. I briefly saw some from the Order of the Silver Rose, I saw many from the radiant heart also. I have not had much time to write until now. So much to say, I shall see what i can say before i fall flat asleep.
It was a shocking event. Clan Ironfarr.. totally destroyed!! The relations of candlekeep strained because they had to actually deal the blow that likely saved many lives! Some lessons seen immediately.. the danger of being' neutral' the danger of pride, the danger of ignoring warnings and not preparing for the worst.
But others.. the power of compassion that cause some who proclaims' all i care about are my books' to rush to the aid of those who fight valiantly to save, among other things, the holy keg of unending ale. The way people put aside their pride and with extreme compassion give every minute for days to tend to those who are hurt. No cares they are dwarves, no cares they are elves or druids, no cares the be broken or not. No care even that humans help. Old friends , now not, with broken relationships paling beside the common decency shown in the tending to those wounded and now without a home.
There is hope for the races. They may bicker, and fight, and slander and hate, but when disaster strikes.. to see what i see now.. there is hope for any one. Also, there is hope for what is to come. For all my fretting, for all our fretting, i can see, when we are threatened, most will do the right ting, in spite of 'official' stands.
I need to remember to take time to knit a hat. I gave one away, still have 4,..and a quarter. I will go do errands soon too. about this place...
I am amazed at the beauty of this place! Evergreens and a waterfall,and pixies! The air crisp and somehow fresher than near the city, or even the inn.The smell of she smoke from so many here is even refreshing some how. No wonder elves live so long!
I received back word from the saint, and so much of what she said has encouraged me. Most important is, she has put some concerns to rest, and offered me also some hope in a couple of decisipons, and also , she has told me who to speak with for recipes and healing lore.
Lillith also gave me some recipes, and lance is amazing at his healing skill, humbling me as he works. It was a pleasure to work with lance also. he is very skilled at healing.
On sadder note, sister louise was attacked! The other elf,laitae, was so terrified, I let her use my still rented rooms. I need to seek out Scarlett for more lessons...ooh.. sleep finds me.
She quickly prepares for bed, and takes a final look out at the scene. Though sad they were all hurt, she feels very much at home tonight. Then she curls, and sleeps.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:26 pm
by blackdove
It is morning, and althea camps by the field of the dead. she has been her a couple days now, intensely training. She write before going into the field.
I have been training hard since the trip to the underdark.At first it was because I felt so useless on that journey that I began to seriously train. I have learned alot in the last few days too. Tactics that help against the undead are not always as tactics against fleshy living creatures.
I also had a conversation with an elf who has lived so long it almost confuses me to think of it. That he was once a teacher of some men I respect led me to confide in hi my frustration ad not being able to fight well. I had made comment that i was useless in a fight, and he said something that makes alot of sense.
"I think it is...unfortunate that people often measure the strength of the individual..by the individual alone . One who has many friends has much more strength than I will even know alone.
The problem for me , in groups, has been to fold. Inexperience, and also feeling useless. I cannot fight well,and half the realm are healers, and generally there are 3 or four in a group, and I end up not needed.it is much easier to wait by the fire and tend to those bought to me, and a LOT less walking.
But maybe I should look at it as Arcane Master Narindir shows me. maybe it is better to focus on being strength for others in a group, and let them be my strength, and not worry if I am needed in a battle much or not.Maybe just being there is good enough.
Then again... It is good to know if I rush though a portal while my defenders give me retreat, and into the face first conflict of 3 shadows.. I will be able to at least react with some chance to survive. although it is nice to know they will always get me too, if possible.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:03 am
by blackdove
Althea spends a few days recuperating from recent intense training and also from working as a healer at doran amar. She prays, she sews, she reads, she recharges. Then runner goes up and down road announcing a ducal announcement. she attends. As war is announced. althea goes back to training again, then later, returns to her room, and sews a cloth suit, then writes.
So it is here. war is unavoidable yet people still resist he reality, still hope to stop it. It says something abound people, that so many would shake their head and be horrified at the concept of war. It gives hope for the races. I do find it confusing though, that the people here seem so peaceful, given how they often try to kill each other over simple words.I guess we just need time.
As i write, Our ships sail now, and within a week our military will be at amns door, backed by allies. The radiant heart will still be neutral, and i will soon be again working in a hospital.though the circumstances are not good , it still is fulfilling to be useful.
Soon I will also have another task too. That will be exciting. well , time to rest. I have errands tomorrow.
It is soon she sleeps.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:27 am
by blackdove
As the fist begin to move out,althea packs her belongings, and returns her room keys. She makes a quick stop to the alter of those who gave their all , lighting a candle in remembrance as the saint desired. Then she prays for the troops, and follows.
Once in beregost, after ascertaining that there is not yet a field hospital, she and another member of the order rent two rooms. here she unpacks, and for now, arranges it so that she has a small shrine to pray at, and cleans up herself from traveling. She then goes to visit some. later she returns, and pulls out her diary, and writes.
The duke has arrived, the war begins. I intend to keep this room for the duration. I do not know if the men have considered, a woman needs some privacy.I most certainly am not staying in a tent full of men, even if they are the best and holiest kind. it does not look proper. besides I have grown soft, I like beds now.
Not much is going on. which is good.. no crisis is perfectly ok to me. well.. no personal crisis.I thought by now I would have been on my mission by now. I did get to go train with the elves. That was fun, and I learned things too. But the other mission seems to have been reassigned.
This night is not so restful to her, as the sound of preparations echo late, and activity fill the air with tension. She prays, until her candle burns low. Then she finally is at peace, or just tired, and snuffs the candle and goes to sleep.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:13 am
by blackdove
The moon is bright and the night is warm. Althea sits alone, atop the compound , stilling her mind as she was taught to do.
In her lap is her journal, opened to a new page. Finally, as hr ind stills , she casts some light, and she begins to write./i]
This is the first time since arriving home I have had time to ponder alone. So much is going on still. Life is like that. It is never boring.
The journey the saint sent me on has been very good for my soul. From the house of healing in kelter to the monastery of the yellow rose in Damara.
I have seen so many exciting days since I last wrote. Goblins and orcs attacking ,giants too. lots of running and screaming and fighting and healing and praying. Much deliverance when death was surely a breath away, blessed be Ilmater for his grace. But In all the raging ocean that is my thoughts right now, One thing stands out. Something that has shaped who I will be now.
"It is one thing to die a martyr's death; it is another to be slain for herb lore and coppers or by wild beasts' St.Dionysus.
These were the words that sent me from a path that was leading me to way of non- violence, to the way of the yellow rose .He taught that While it was important to care for the downtrodden and sick, it is also okay to defend against those who wish to harm those we aid, and ourselves.
I am still a healer first and foremost.I will ever remember his command to embrace those that perish, but reject the evil. T o pull even from the fire and at pain to myself in need be.But now, I will fight to protect also.
These hands are still hands of healing, but for those who would pursue evil with malicious intent, they will become fists that fight back.Well, unless I can get those in my care safely behind a follower of helm first. I will not seek conflict, but I will defend if I must.
She closes the book, and she spends much time in meditation and prayer the rest of the night
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 3:59 pm
by blackdove
Every morning The still extremely thing Althea goes to the roof of the compound. She finds it nice to have quiet time there, to pray write and practice the art shes been taught. This morning, after excising, she writes.
It has been hard readjusting now. The city streets re all changed. I had an embarrassing moment the other day when I tried to enter a home I thought belonged to a certain wizard, only to find a somewhat irritated owner that was not a wizard. Very embarrassing. at least now i know where the wizard lives.
I Find it sad that the work I had been trying to establish has all but died. But also encouraging that I have now found a kindred spirit in sister Araula. I need to begin gathering scrolls and we will need to find more people, but the idea mobile temples seems like a worthy goal.
I can be too stubborn sometimes. Th e other day Sister araula and I were at the graveyard talking , the one beside the orphanage. There was a man come to go there and tame the undead . He saw us and drew his weapon. I only did not laugh because he was agitated.
Here are to Ilmatri, with cloaks of the faith, and unarmed, and women, and he got scared of us? That was too funny. Later he came out and was more agitated the sister tried to heal him. He said' you need to ask before trying to heal someone." I replied that Healing is our worship and I will NEVER ask permission to aid someone. I then invited him to go along with us, in case he should fall we could aid him.
He did go. I kept his wish not to heal him. Until he was knocked out and dying. Its fine to stand strong and prove yourself , but its another to despise those who may be the only people who care if you actually live or not..I know I need to let people decide to live or die. But I cannot abide asking for permission to worship my god. If they hate it the can say, but if they do fall when i am there I WILL heal them . At least once anyway..I was told to go forth and heal and I will.And if they wish to kill me at least I'll die doing as I was commanded, by the only one who could touch me when I was so broken I wanted to die.
Later the sister and I were protecting an elven archer. she had made a promise we would not die on her watch. I really like her.. she kept hr word too. I think our friendship is going to be strong. Her brother is nice. he passed the gentleman test. I still don't want to ever open up though to the emotions such can stir. It is one thing to endure pain another to seek it out.
having poured out her thoughts, she cleans and begins her day.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:59 am
by blackdove
Althea heads back to te4h compound tonight, to write a report. Finding a quiet place she does so by candle light. Then, before retiring she writes in her journal.
I am filled with emotion tonight, most good some sad. I met a young elf, Aloril, and he seems nice enough. but I worry for his safety. I was almost killed 3 times tonight . He feels a need to prove himself perhaps. We managed to get one wagon to its destination. but it was a harrowing event.The grace of the gods alone delivered us, and Ilmater more than once kept me safe.
The sad thing is a giant came to help us for a meal and some cookies,And he died defending us. Total strangers, and, actually, to him, potential food.Imagine a bunch of deer , being saved by a mighty hunter who likes to eat deer, but accepts some grass and such, then goes to his dearth defending them. That's what this giant did. he gave his life, and that was so sad , yet, oddly, so noble.
Later, Sister alaura and I and a nice old master wizard named azar , and a decent fighter named celegorm went into the mines. We also had with us another young man eager to prove himself. He helped us worship alot. sister Alauras record still holds but just barely. that man used most the resources with his charging.
There is a lesson here maybe, and definitely a trial of faith. I see a pattern of people being so in need of recognition that they risk all, not just their life but the life of those with them, or their charges,to get it. I need to figure out how to not use every resource on one person while also not harming them and their need.
On a more exciting note, I spoke with brother juez, and he will be getting a price list for the endeavor of Sister Alaura And I. Soon we will have a plan for mobile clinics.Also I saw Katlya,And shes allowed in the inn now! I was so exciting to see her. She brought pie and shared and I managed not to eat it so fast I could not taste it. Sister Alaura, really enjoyed hers also.
So it was a good day , but sad some too
After she is dine she goes to the chapel and prays to Ilmater for wisdom on her issue, and gives thanks for his del8verance.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 1:18 pm
by blackdove
For many days she works o her issue, and trains, and does small duties around either the compound or the temple. Finally she gets out again to train.Later, after several days and much adventure she returns to the compound, and writes a bit
such excitement but i am getting stronger. Soon I hope to actually be of use again. It was disconcerting to be attacked by a bhaalist. I though Loviatar was more an enemy of our kind, but it seems theya re scarce her. I have to thank to wizard teleseus and the fighter Dagon for rescuing me at the moment. Had i been alone I would surely have died. Dagan is known as a hero to me now. Our friend Celegram tried to later convince me that he would be a fair mate. Of that I said no. I have been hurt enough and its still distracting to consider.
The order of the silver rose delivered the body to the flaming fist. They also let me spend time with them for a bit. I find i have less patience with people who do not show honor to those who selfishly defend others. I may not be of their order now, but I have traveled with them. They fight undead not for treasure but becasue some child may see their undead parents. or some innocent may be hurt. They do not ask for gold to heal, or raise. They travel the roads patrolling and wishing to aid any that need it, regardless of who they are, not even being cruel to their enemies,asking nothing in return. And yet somehow their honor is in question? I think not.
Later i met a paladin of helm and he must have run from home as his wisdom seems to still developing.That paladin nearly got us killed a few times.. I think he will be fine though,if he ever figures out helm is a god of protection not the frenzied berzerkers. One of his friends defended me from someone who somehow concluded was a woman for sale. I have never been such. I felt like an imposter then, as my newly met friend defended me. I remember where i was raised. At one time ... anyway, thats past. and to be left there.
I need to get stronger though. I shall return to training with some haste.
she prays a prayer of gratefulness for deliverance, for the orders of the land, and the goodly paladins of the radiant heart and order of the silver rose. and for men so hurt they think women need to be bought if they
want love.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 9:36 am
by blackdove
Althea fights in a cave, trying to work though recent events. There are images in her mind.when she sees a group of adventures come down, and she hesitates to heal them or help, for fear they may be bandits also, She pauses, and takes time to write out things.
At this moment as I sit and write i find it hard to want to continue on my journey. How can you reach out to people who hurt, when they will not even take what you can offer? I actually faltered today, becasue of fear they may be ther also to do me , a woman alone fighting monsters, harm.
I guess thats the burden. its why I train.I am not of tyr, or of torm or of helm.I wish they that were were more available.I do not want to spend my time fighting people i should be trying to heal. Hmm. funny how a few written words can help.
she prays...
Ilmater, it is a pleasant burden to heal those who are in need. It is a harder one that requires to love the unlovely, and to fear that the one you meet may be a fire starter, as many seem to be these days. Give me strength to endure, and send me those that can defend, as I train to defend against those flames. and help me to heal the ones that are my enemies.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:02 am
by blackdove
Althea jogged lightly along the road. She did that alot these days. One needed strong legs when you were trying to kick some monsters brain out. Also it helped when one needed to run to have her lungs recognize it as normal and not go into panic. It would be a distinct disaster to begin running and find you had a pair of rebellious and lazy lungs that refused to work causing yo to pass out and get eaten.
The air was warm, hot rather, and dry too. There was a drought now, and everything was dry and dusty. Still the scent of the grass and trees , the sound of birds, and the clarity that comes from blood pumping fast and strong in her body set her into a fairly good mood. These days, it seemed her mood was only good when running.
As she ran she looked about. Danger lurked everywhere these days. Bandits, big bugs, big spiders..pretty much big everything was always lurking ready to eat you. There was a famine too.her long ago fears of what war would bring had borne out.People were starving, and bandits were more active everywhere.Even the beasts in the woods were starving now.
As she rounded a bend , one nearing beregost ,she ran into a crowd. Slowing to a walk she continued to the group. Most people found it off that people might actually enjoy running, and some actually might get worried at seeing a pretty, albeit overly thin monk, come running up. Especially as here, seemed to be trouble.
" whats going on?*" She asked keegan, the Paladin she had just recently met. He was handsome enough , with dark hair bright blue eyes and all armored up and shiny like a proper paladin.Then again she found most paladins handsome, even the bald ones. Except Arkane. He was a rarity, a half orc paladin. Nice, strong, holy, yes, handsome, no.
"Sister Althea... mercenaries bringing cattle to trade in beregost for slaughter... were attacked by orcs along the road!' Keegan said in a deep strong,and loud, voice tinged with the hint of holy fervor that always preceded a fierce righteous reaction involving swords and yelling the name of gods and lots of blood.
Althea blanched t. " more orcs?" she said with a bit of concern,looking around. catlle dead, and broken debris was everywhere. the day suddenly seemed stifling not invigoration, the heat was no longer something that warmed her bones but instead was as if distant,as the cold hand of fear clutched her heart,even as she clutched her holy symbol.
"Yes" said Sister Alaura."[ And it's good to have you here sister."
Sister Alaura was more a sister to Althea than she had ever had. Both were ilmatri, both had a vision of building hospitals. They had been through much together already. Fighting goblins ,and bandits,.Giant spiders almost eating alaura, Alarua bringing her back from the dead. whern spiders tried to eat her.
She was a pretty woman, just recently from home, and right now she looked very upset, and worried. It was no wonder. She had a very tender heart. This must be hard on her.
Suddenly a voice rang out, Drawing her attention away from her comrades.A man on a horse preparing to gallop away , was talking.
" Time is of the essence! If we DONT FIND THEM BY MORNING TOMORROW, THEY WILL LIKELY HAVE BEEN EATEN!!" he said his tone serious, and very loud. with that he turned and rode off, at full tilt, going for help.
Keegan , Now focused on the matter at hand watched them all. though his eyes were fierce in determination to move, his body was still, not yelling to hurry, but it was clear he wished to do so. Soon the group began to move.Cyrus the silver rose magician, was there , as were a few she did not know, , and one she had met the day before in a rather confrontational way,Aarren grey.
She tamped down her dislike of the man. He was to demanding and scary for her taste, a man of action with no real consideration for others way of feeling. At least thats how he impressed her. She had been wrong before but for now, she did not like him.she said nothing to him instead talking to alaura and cyrus about trying to convince to negotiate , a trade for a promise of minotaur rmeat, As shehad recently discovered orcs liked it, though it was tough and bitter.So she had heard.
As they entered the forest it was deadly still, and though cooler than direct sun, still hot and dusty. Suddenly with a terrifying howl worgs attacked. The next short time was spent in a whirlwind and she was glad her lungs were strong , and that she ran alot, because she found her self rushing and kicking and punching and dodging howling worgs and squeaky goblins. As the last one fell, , she looked around as was her habit after times like this,to see if any needed aid. many were ok, if covered in blood and animal parts. Only one had fallen, and alaura had her well covered. As she tended the wounded caline, a elven druidess, called out.
"Was it only me or did anyone else see that run away?
" I did not see it. where did he go" called back alaura , her hair now quite in a disarrayed state.
"I did not see...." said arren grey, as he snatched coin from the dead.
"I've seen a goblin run to the north East." said the druidess. " I tried to pin him but missed.'
" they may be waiting to ambush us" said avaeron , one of the others in the group.
" Good old mounted tactic. Run away then ambush.' Replied Calinde.
"Hmpf...are we not wasting time.' said Arren.
" Indeed? I would rather waste time than lives ." said averon.
Mean while Cyrus was moving to talk to a orc he had spotted,And Althea was telling him to speak out of bow shot.
As he spoke th eorc attacked. Cyrus came rushing back the orc hot on his tail and soon becoming a pin cushion as Cyrus nonchalantly said" he did not want to talk."
" nobody ever does ' sighed Althea.This was notgoing wll.
They moved forward and came upon a grisly scene. Before them,covered in blood and gore,a group of bloodthirsty orcs were feasting on the remains of a human who appeared to have been cooking in the pot. he was wearing armor similar to the one the guards wore. They were too late.
*pointing at the corpse, yelling with a loud voice , arren spoke."Filthy maggots! Were too late!"
althea froze in terror and horror at the scene, thus avoiding pointing out the obvious, they had been a bit delayed by some screaming worgs and yipping goblins.
Cyrus continued to try to talk. Most the orcs then froze. Not the leader. he was decisive ." ATTACK!!" suddenly there was again a fierce battle with spells being cast, fists and feet flying and kicking, swords decapitating as arrows peppered the orcs. In moment s it was over.
Forgotten was the escaped worg. Now, Althea and Aluara ,being healers as they were, and the druidess were trying to figure out how to possibly bring the man back to life while others talked about charging the cave. without warning, as they talked , the worgs returned. with help. After another bout of yelling screaming and blured of bloodletting, it was decided they should all enter the cave.
Quite bit later they arrived, and in the depths where the king was, they found... Nothing. Now Althea was totally concerned." no humans? ' she looked turnaround.. They had wasted time and lost the man in the pot forever, and now they had no clue where to go.
Fighting their way back out ,Althea lot patience with the druidess when she got upset about not letting her talk to the bear. In Altheas mind, it was stupid to think that a orc as not worth talking to and trying to help, but a bear was fine. The druid disagreed. Orcs were not worth any chances.
Outside, they found a bird eating the man int he pot. The druidess began talking to the bird. soon it flew off. After some time returned saying to go northeast., while someone else found tracks also going north east. they all went off , northeast, then south, then west then north again. Finally they found the trail again.
Soon they came to a diverging path. Some wanted to go after the cows first. some the humans. The reasons being things such as the cattle had a monetary reward attached to it, countered by others thinking human lives were more important. Soon they split up. Altheas group ,to her dismay, found the cows, and went looking for the others . They found them. Arren was out, two others also. One mercenary was shattered beyond repair. Alaura was soon at his side, lots of tears in her eyes now as she could not help him.
. Althea ran to the captain. he was alive, but he also was broken and shattered in mind. She tended him as best she could, and then tried to comfort him. All the rest began to get the cattle and alaura tended the fallen comrades. They were preparing to go when they hear d a loud sound in the distance. war drums. They had to run.
Althea was so concerned with the captain she did not see the wounded man on the ground. Nor did any other. As the orcs drew nearer,time to count all had fled and in a rush they ran all the way back to the inn. As they stood around talking to the roughrider Althea finally relaxed and her tight control of emotions slipped. Looking at the captain now totally shattered, her heart swelled allowing tears to weep out. They had succeeded, but also they had failed.
later she wrote in her journal, the fruit of the experience flowing to paper., bringing her some healing to raw emotions
"
" I have forgotten how I felt when I first saw katlya. How her teeth looked so huge, how scared I was.I had forgotten how horrid most orcs are.Until today.
I do not hate all orcs still.But I have arenewed respectful fear of them.
I find it more scary that elves can find more love for a cow and a bear than a human or orc. They are also quiet evil, as bad as any orc in that they tend to lack any real compassion.
I know humans do evil also, but humans are a short lived passionate race that must hurry to live.but you would think that A race where people live 900 years or so would eventually learn to actually care.
So I do not hate orcs driven by hunger to commit atrocious deeds anymore than I would a human bandit . they are still worth trying to rescue, Many may disagree, but I reckon that until they have walked the path of those who have lost all hope,and craved death,their opinion is skewed by ignorance.But I have to be realistic.
Offering orcs food is not going to fix anything. And trying to talk sense to a elf is by and large a fools errand.
Re: From there to here: the tale of Althea
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:12 pm
by blackdove
Althea sits down to catch her breath in the early morning just after dawn. She has just gone through her meditations, and exercises, and she is very alert . Birds can be heard chirping still, even this early, and some rooster crows somewhere. she pulls out her joural and writes.
I so love the cool of the morning when everything seems so new, and the trials of the day have not begun. The smell of the air, the sound of just a few animals, and the silence, the blessed quiet where one can actually hear thoughts work.
The days following the orc raid have been quiet for me. The old wizard is more alert now, and he has such a sad tale to tale. .I am disconcerted that he apparently did actually need a whack on the head to restart his thinking process. I guess giants have some uses.
I can now restore life again to fallen ones. I have finally learned,using the new techniques I learned at Damara, how to do this. It is a more effective technique.Now I can move on, along Sisiter alauras side, to begin to honor Ilmater by establishing mobile temples and perhaps a hospital. I think I will spend this week doing some worship . I have not served in the temple very diligently of late, and the orphans are so adorable .
I began life in a similar way. It is important to have someone to care, to talk to, to hug. And to keep out of trouble. I lost my parents before I was even aware of it. I never knew them. There was, and always will be , a small empty part left by their absence,by not knowing them, what they looked like, who my aunt or uncles, if I had any, were and what they were like.
However,it was , I believe, also what helped me to learn to care so much. Because those who cared for me and the others, really were there for us, and really wanted to help us grow up to be good people. So i am going to pend some time being such for the orphans here.
I think I will go help at the OSR keep also. it will be good to tend blisters only , and not gaping wounds caused by giants r orcs or goblins. Or adventurers.
with that he prays then heads to the temple first. She wants to be there to help serve the first meal.