Post by Markas Virnala on Jan 11, 2020 18:12:23 GMT
Markas stops writing and chucks the journal onto his bed with an exasperated huff, leaning back in his chair, frustrated with the exercise.
"Wow that was fast. You always spend AGES writing your journal"
"I know… I'm just not in the mood for it right now."
"(sighs) this again? You just got over this!"
"I know. I need to take my mind off it…"
"ooo are you going to play with the strong one again? Blaine?"
"Haha no. My ribs are still feeling a little tender from the last time"
"hmmm…. Well as long as it's not more running. You run far too much. That cat lady isn't even around anymore"
"Yeah…. I don't know, I need something different to do. I can't keep hurting myself"
"Let's go see your bird friend again. He always says the nicest things"
Markas gives Hoop a look before smiling and shaking his head. "He does seem to have taken a shine to you…"
He thinks back over the last couple days and the fight in the barren fields. He felt useless unable to reach the Harpy and is still feeling pretty angry about the visions. As he absently rubs at the burn on his neck, an idea takes root in his head, something he hasn't tried in a long time. Maybe he can finally do it?
"Ok, I have an idea"
The clearing in the trees lays still for a moment, the quiet broken only by Markas' breathing, coming in deep exhausted gulps. The thin layer of frost makes the grass crunch as he shifts his weight, rolling onto his back and stares into the bleak, grey sky.
Augustine had done a pretty good job patching him up but the fresh scars on his back still feel tight as he stretches out on the grass, watching his breath form and disappear above him in the frigid air. His training wasn't helping distract him much from the latest reminder of Aila and he was still pretty angry at the Harpy for bringing it up again, not to mention the thoughts of Sunday that had now taken root in his head. It was all very conflicting....Then he had ended up lashing out at that scholar too. That was disappointing. The man had been trying to attack Sheryl, but the danger was over and she was safe already. He's never let himself act out in such a petty, vengeful manner before and it has left him with a dark, sickly feeling inside. The face of his team flash through his mind as he scolds himself, BB looking disappointed, Sheryl's grim acknowledgement and Augustine, her hands to his face, telling him to deal with this already.
His wandering thoughts are brought crashing back to him as a voice calls out over the clearing.
"Are you sure about this? I like to watch you work out and all but it's not working"
"It will.... I told you, ....Meelkee could do it"
"Yeah, I don't know about that.... maybe you're doing it wrong?"
He sighs heavily and crawls over next to where Hoop is propped up on his cloak to protect them from the frost on the ground.
"Yeah... this... this isn't doing it...."
"Why dont you just climb the tree?"
"Its not about... climbing tree.... it's how..."
Something is really off, he can feel it. Maybe he is going about this wrong? He sits up and closes his eyes, feels the cold starting to seep into his bones again as he tries to meditate, tries to find the answer. Feeling inward, his usual 'self' is different. The tiny storm still roils around, but everything else feels hazy again. As much as he tries, he just cant seem to find a way through the noise and scrambling thoughts. After finally giving up on trying to rebalance his energy, He opens his eyes… to see the sun is setting.
Standing, scooping up his tiny friend in the process. "Ok... we'll try something different tomorrow."
"Well, all you've done so far is fall out the tree"
He laughs "That's fair... Fine, let's go back, see if we can't find that barmaid at Leo's place you like flirting with'
"Ooo now THAT sounds like fun!"
One day of frustration and pain had been swapped for another. Coming downstairs into the Mirror on his way out to train, there was an odd level of chatter going on. He was going to ignore it until he heard a familiar name being mentioned. Probably talking about their latest adventure and spreading the gossip so he stopped to hear the details..... But it wasn't. Instead it was news about two of his friends not coming home. The details are sketchy but one thing is clear, Gegrun and Stedd aren't coming back...
Back in his room, Rifling through the pack of scrolls, he finds the one he is looking for, laying it out and making a note of what he will need. He's not sure if it will serve any purpose or be appreciated by anyone else but at least he can say his own goodbye.
He pays Milo a visit then spends that day walking back and forth across town, collecting the odd list of parts he needs before heading back home to start his preparations. It's not until the next night he that he heads out of the city, away from the roads to a small clearing, away from prying eyes, where he sets out his gatherings along with the scroll he picked out earlier. Carefully, in the fading light, he follows the instructions, combining the materials into two tightly bound paper cylinders. Placing them to one side, he starts collecting and building two small pyres, leaving the cylinders in the middle.
"So what exactly is this?"
"we're saying goodbye"
"so whats with all the stuff?"
"You'll see.... I think you'll like it"
"But your just burning things?"
"Just wait, you'll see", he says, taking out two sheets of paper, spending a moment to write out messages in small neat handwriting.
The sheets are rolled up and slipped into the cylinders and the edge of the pyres lit. He sits next to Hoop, a little ways off and watches them slowly burn. A few long moments pass in silence, broke only by the crackling fire.
"....I don't ge", Hoop is cut off abruptly as the cylinders erupt with a bang and two large bursts of colourful smoke and sparks erupt into the air, lighting the clearing in Orange and Green light.
"OOOOH!"
"Haha that was a lot quicker than I thought it would be!"
"that was big! ... why havent we done this before!?"
"Well... it's kind of dangerous. And to be honest, it's not really what it's for... the idea is, we'd carry out this ceremony to send the dead on in peace. I can't remember all of it properly but I dont think that matters really... people would write a message like that to go with them, usually something to protect them wherever they go. As for the fireworks.... its normally for celebrations rather than a funeral but I thought they might like it"
"So what did you write on the paper?"
"...Just a goodbye. They can look after them selves, where ever they are"
Watching the fires burn the previous night had proven very therapeutic for the grey monk. Some of the hazy feeling was gone after managing to stay focused on a single goal for the day and in his own way, he had attained his own closure on the news of his friends untimely deaths. Short as the time was he had spent with them, that's what they were for him still. Maybe thats what she meant when she said he was too trusting?
Deciding on a change of pace, Markas gives the trees a rest and found a different location to train. An hour or so of asking around the Mirror and the Ettin finally purposed him with directions to a small lake South West of Daring Heights. There was supposed to be an odd race of people out here somewhere he'd never heard of before but that was something that could be looked at later. For now, he had set up a makeshift camp on the banks, looking out a short stretch to another bank where the lake narrowed.
".... over there?"
"Yep"
"Without getting wet?"
"Well, I'm gonna try"
"This is gonna be sooo much fun to watch"
"Really?", genuinely surprised at Hoops sudden interest in his training
"Yeah! Your gonna fall in!"
He throws the plate a scolding look but Hoop is undeterred in pointing out the flaw in this plan as he gets ready, trying to find his balance. Feeling confident, he stands and breaks off....
A minute or two later hes back on the bank, trying not to hear Hoops catcalls and laughter as the water pools around him. As frustrating as it is, he knows he has made progress. Only once, only just, but he felt it. That first step on the water where it was almost like it wouldnt give... The haze needed to go.
He meditates again, looking inward again to the tiny storm at his centre, crackling softly as it tumbles on itself amid the haze. Only this time, instead of looking through the haze, he focuses on it, brings it close and watches as figures form, shadows and sounds start to come forward, twisting and folding on themselves until finally he can see them. And she is there, again and again.... spectral, looming....
Slowly, methodically, he approaches each rendering and finally addresses them, letting them wash over him in waves of Joy and Pain, sifting through the feelings they bring until he can break them down internally. One by one, each of the ghosts dissipates as mist until nothing is left in the cavernous space but himself and the storm. And he begins rebuilding his temple.
When the monk opens his eyes again, hours have gone by. Markas stands up again, knees cracking, hands numb from sitting out in the cold while wet for so long and faces the water. He takes a few deep breathes as he focuses, then tries again.
[The weeks activities reflecting a level up, shopping, dealing with his past and hearing of the recent PC deaths]
"Wow that was fast. You always spend AGES writing your journal"
"I know… I'm just not in the mood for it right now."
"(sighs) this again? You just got over this!"
"I know. I need to take my mind off it…"
"ooo are you going to play with the strong one again? Blaine?"
"Haha no. My ribs are still feeling a little tender from the last time"
"hmmm…. Well as long as it's not more running. You run far too much. That cat lady isn't even around anymore"
"Yeah…. I don't know, I need something different to do. I can't keep hurting myself"
"Let's go see your bird friend again. He always says the nicest things"
Markas gives Hoop a look before smiling and shaking his head. "He does seem to have taken a shine to you…"
He thinks back over the last couple days and the fight in the barren fields. He felt useless unable to reach the Harpy and is still feeling pretty angry about the visions. As he absently rubs at the burn on his neck, an idea takes root in his head, something he hasn't tried in a long time. Maybe he can finally do it?
"Ok, I have an idea"
The clearing in the trees lays still for a moment, the quiet broken only by Markas' breathing, coming in deep exhausted gulps. The thin layer of frost makes the grass crunch as he shifts his weight, rolling onto his back and stares into the bleak, grey sky.
Augustine had done a pretty good job patching him up but the fresh scars on his back still feel tight as he stretches out on the grass, watching his breath form and disappear above him in the frigid air. His training wasn't helping distract him much from the latest reminder of Aila and he was still pretty angry at the Harpy for bringing it up again, not to mention the thoughts of Sunday that had now taken root in his head. It was all very conflicting....Then he had ended up lashing out at that scholar too. That was disappointing. The man had been trying to attack Sheryl, but the danger was over and she was safe already. He's never let himself act out in such a petty, vengeful manner before and it has left him with a dark, sickly feeling inside. The face of his team flash through his mind as he scolds himself, BB looking disappointed, Sheryl's grim acknowledgement and Augustine, her hands to his face, telling him to deal with this already.
His wandering thoughts are brought crashing back to him as a voice calls out over the clearing.
"Are you sure about this? I like to watch you work out and all but it's not working"
"It will.... I told you, ....Meelkee could do it"
"Yeah, I don't know about that.... maybe you're doing it wrong?"
He sighs heavily and crawls over next to where Hoop is propped up on his cloak to protect them from the frost on the ground.
"Yeah... this... this isn't doing it...."
"Why dont you just climb the tree?"
"Its not about... climbing tree.... it's how..."
Something is really off, he can feel it. Maybe he is going about this wrong? He sits up and closes his eyes, feels the cold starting to seep into his bones again as he tries to meditate, tries to find the answer. Feeling inward, his usual 'self' is different. The tiny storm still roils around, but everything else feels hazy again. As much as he tries, he just cant seem to find a way through the noise and scrambling thoughts. After finally giving up on trying to rebalance his energy, He opens his eyes… to see the sun is setting.
Standing, scooping up his tiny friend in the process. "Ok... we'll try something different tomorrow."
"Well, all you've done so far is fall out the tree"
He laughs "That's fair... Fine, let's go back, see if we can't find that barmaid at Leo's place you like flirting with'
"Ooo now THAT sounds like fun!"
One day of frustration and pain had been swapped for another. Coming downstairs into the Mirror on his way out to train, there was an odd level of chatter going on. He was going to ignore it until he heard a familiar name being mentioned. Probably talking about their latest adventure and spreading the gossip so he stopped to hear the details..... But it wasn't. Instead it was news about two of his friends not coming home. The details are sketchy but one thing is clear, Gegrun and Stedd aren't coming back...
Back in his room, Rifling through the pack of scrolls, he finds the one he is looking for, laying it out and making a note of what he will need. He's not sure if it will serve any purpose or be appreciated by anyone else but at least he can say his own goodbye.
He pays Milo a visit then spends that day walking back and forth across town, collecting the odd list of parts he needs before heading back home to start his preparations. It's not until the next night he that he heads out of the city, away from the roads to a small clearing, away from prying eyes, where he sets out his gatherings along with the scroll he picked out earlier. Carefully, in the fading light, he follows the instructions, combining the materials into two tightly bound paper cylinders. Placing them to one side, he starts collecting and building two small pyres, leaving the cylinders in the middle.
"So what exactly is this?"
"we're saying goodbye"
"so whats with all the stuff?"
"You'll see.... I think you'll like it"
"But your just burning things?"
"Just wait, you'll see", he says, taking out two sheets of paper, spending a moment to write out messages in small neat handwriting.
The sheets are rolled up and slipped into the cylinders and the edge of the pyres lit. He sits next to Hoop, a little ways off and watches them slowly burn. A few long moments pass in silence, broke only by the crackling fire.
"....I don't ge", Hoop is cut off abruptly as the cylinders erupt with a bang and two large bursts of colourful smoke and sparks erupt into the air, lighting the clearing in Orange and Green light.
"OOOOH!"
"Haha that was a lot quicker than I thought it would be!"
"that was big! ... why havent we done this before!?"
"Well... it's kind of dangerous. And to be honest, it's not really what it's for... the idea is, we'd carry out this ceremony to send the dead on in peace. I can't remember all of it properly but I dont think that matters really... people would write a message like that to go with them, usually something to protect them wherever they go. As for the fireworks.... its normally for celebrations rather than a funeral but I thought they might like it"
"So what did you write on the paper?"
"...Just a goodbye. They can look after them selves, where ever they are"
Watching the fires burn the previous night had proven very therapeutic for the grey monk. Some of the hazy feeling was gone after managing to stay focused on a single goal for the day and in his own way, he had attained his own closure on the news of his friends untimely deaths. Short as the time was he had spent with them, that's what they were for him still. Maybe thats what she meant when she said he was too trusting?
Deciding on a change of pace, Markas gives the trees a rest and found a different location to train. An hour or so of asking around the Mirror and the Ettin finally purposed him with directions to a small lake South West of Daring Heights. There was supposed to be an odd race of people out here somewhere he'd never heard of before but that was something that could be looked at later. For now, he had set up a makeshift camp on the banks, looking out a short stretch to another bank where the lake narrowed.
".... over there?"
"Yep"
"Without getting wet?"
"Well, I'm gonna try"
"This is gonna be sooo much fun to watch"
"Really?", genuinely surprised at Hoops sudden interest in his training
"Yeah! Your gonna fall in!"
He throws the plate a scolding look but Hoop is undeterred in pointing out the flaw in this plan as he gets ready, trying to find his balance. Feeling confident, he stands and breaks off....
A minute or two later hes back on the bank, trying not to hear Hoops catcalls and laughter as the water pools around him. As frustrating as it is, he knows he has made progress. Only once, only just, but he felt it. That first step on the water where it was almost like it wouldnt give... The haze needed to go.
He meditates again, looking inward again to the tiny storm at his centre, crackling softly as it tumbles on itself amid the haze. Only this time, instead of looking through the haze, he focuses on it, brings it close and watches as figures form, shadows and sounds start to come forward, twisting and folding on themselves until finally he can see them. And she is there, again and again.... spectral, looming....
Slowly, methodically, he approaches each rendering and finally addresses them, letting them wash over him in waves of Joy and Pain, sifting through the feelings they bring until he can break them down internally. One by one, each of the ghosts dissipates as mist until nothing is left in the cavernous space but himself and the storm. And he begins rebuilding his temple.
When the monk opens his eyes again, hours have gone by. Markas stands up again, knees cracking, hands numb from sitting out in the cold while wet for so long and faces the water. He takes a few deep breathes as he focuses, then tries again.
[The weeks activities reflecting a level up, shopping, dealing with his past and hearing of the recent PC deaths]
