Post by Wren Lunaboult on Apr 20, 2020 16:27:53 GMT
The last, retreating pirate is felled and for a moment silence seems to reign over Za’Suul. Uncaring of the carnage around her, Augustine uproots her feet and walks over to Ziarae where she’s landed amongst the bodies and the pools of blood.
They come eye to eye and take each other in, Ziarae looking curiously at Augustine who returns her gaze with a shocked, almost hungry stare. Moments later, Ziarae’s pink glow diminishes until only hints of it are visible in the whites of her eyes. The leaves in Augustine’s wings fall slowly to the ground, disappearing just before they would land in the blood and dirt.
As she returns to her usual, slightly more mundane appearance, Augustine cocks her head to the side.
“I think we might have some things to talk about, you and I.”
“Interesting. I'd love to.”
Wren appears silently in the street, stepping out from where they’d been hiding to pick off pirates with their crossbow.
“Yeah, I’m feeling a bit out-glowed here. Didn’t realise there were so many of us on this trip.”
Augustine turns her head to look at them, eyes wide.
“Us? You mean you’re like us too?”
Wren gives her a very unconcerned nod and a shrug as they bend down to pull a crossbow bolt from a felled pirate, and Augustine just about loses it.
“You mean to tell me that I have walked this goddamn earth for 65 years and never found someone else like me, only to find two of you on the same mission?! Tree Daddy help me, I need a drink.”
“65 years?!” Ziarae exclaims.”Yeah, a drink sounds about right. Tavern?”
They get their payment and return voyage settled with Kiadané, and Augustine’s offer to remain in Za’Suul for another few days to help with the rebuilding efforts is gladly accepted. While the rest of the party wait for their ship back to Kantas to be made ready, Augustine marches Wren and Ziarae into one of the few open establishments in the Market.
“I have questions. If you would answer them.”
Suddenly a maroon imp wearing a tiny suit appears and nudges Ziarae’s shoulder with a grin. “She’d love to.”
“Shut up, Crow, go cause some trouble elsewhere for a bit,” Ziarae retorts. “But yes, I'd love to.”
The imp salutes and vanishes as Wren raises an eyebrow at Ziarae.
“Sorry about my new familiar. I meant to get a raven, but the little devil tricked me. He’s not so bad if you treat him to cheap gifts though.”
Ziarae turns back toward Augustine and Wren, gazing with an endearing fascination into their eyes.
“So, I know I’m bursting with questions for both of you, but you can go first,” Ziarae says.
“Well one of you start then. First round’s on me.” Wren states, leaning back to catch someone’s attention for drinks.
Augustine meets Ziarae’s gaze with eyes brimming with emotion - frustration, sadness, loneliness and more warring within her.
“I was told I was born for a reason. That I had a destiny and a purpose. That I was put on this earth to serve and to do a job. And then I was left to walk aimlessly in the dark for years. I only recently got any kind of confirmation that I was on the right path.”
She clutches the glass-encased oak leaf around her neck tightly.
“It took me 65 years to earn my wings. By the looks of it, you didn’t have to wait nearly as long.”
She closes her mouth with a click, biting down on the questions that want to spill out but the other two hear them anyway. Did I do something wrong? What did you do that I didn’t? Why wasn’t I worthy until now?
There’s a heavy silence between the three for a moment, interrupted suddenly by a barmaid bringing a round of drinks over to their table. Wren takes one and leans on the table to look at Augustine, frustration also evident on their face.
“Sounds like your guide is as much as dick as mine. Mine never seemed to care that their guidance put my squad in perilous situations half the time, to them mortal lives cut short is just a necessity for the apparent greater good. It’s only recently that they’ve even approved of my efforts. But painfully aloof seems to be a shared trait, unless... ”
Wren turns an expectant look at Ziarae but before she can reply, Augustine speaks up again.
“Your… your what? Your Guide? I take it this isn’t a mercenary you hired to take you on a tour of Faerûn.” She turns to Ziarae. “Do you also have one of these Guides?”
“I guess you could say I have a guide, It's the reason I came to Kantas and the reason for some of my magic. In it’s own words, it ‘guides those who can help others, but never those in need.’ sounds dumb, right? Just to set the scene, this was coming from a giant celestial goat made of stars. I was ready to write that whole thing off.”
Ziarae downs her drink. Augustine watches her empty her pint sceptically.
“That was, until it mentioned my sister, who went missing when my village was attacked as a kid. So I did what any heroic sister would do and made a pact with it. I'd help others in need and it would grant me useful abilities and eventually guide me to my sister. Done deal. It's the only lead I have.”
Ziarae looks expectantly at Wren. “Do you know the celestial goat, too? Did it give you pink wings like mine?”
Augustine holds up a hand to forestall the answer, Wren looking very concerned as their eyes flit between Augustine and Zirae, their mouth silently forming around the word goat.
“Now hold on just a hot second. A goat... Gave you, what? All of it? The wings and the magic? You were a regular old human before that?”
Ziarae shrugs. “Who knows. I was born to human parents, but have always healed quickly. I learned some basic healing magic from a Lizardfolk, long story.” Ziarae spins her cup in thought.
“But the wings came shortly after the first time I met the Celestial Goat, so I assumed it was related. It was like I could just tap into this celestial power all of a sudden. Madame Augustine, how did you get your wings?”
The older woman’s lips quirk in a small smile. “Aggy. Please.” She takes a small sip of her drink and gathers her thoughts before speaking.
“I was born like this. From the day I was old enough to understand words, my folks were telling me that I was different, that I had come to them in their old age, for a reason. They were Silvanites, like me. Devoted followers. Thought they were too old to have any children, but suddenly, there I was. I’ve always been able to do magic and it was my duty to use it in the name of the Forest Father. If I served him well and did good in his name, my powers would grow. He would give me more of his strength - his likeness even.”
She turns her head to display the right side of her shaved head where the tattooed vines stand out starkly against her skull.
“But it took a long time, like I said. I was never in the right place apparently. There was always something telling me to pack up and go, time and time again, without warning. Something calling me onwards. It called me to Kantas and this is where it finally bid me to stay. And a few months back I was trying to cast a spell when I felt this surge within me and then...” She smiles again, brighter this time, and proud. “Suddenly, I was flying.”
She turns to Wren.
“Most of the time, it’s the wind. But sometimes, it’s a voice. In my heart I’ve always hoped that it was Silvanus himself but… maybe it’s- could it be a Guide? Like the one you have?”
Wren scrunches their face in deep thought for a moment before replying.
“Errr, maybe? My Guide visits me in my dreams, not through the wind, but I have no idea what they actually look like. It’s all searingly bright lights and disjointed words, visions almost. It's intense when they visit me. Very intense.” They quickly glance at Ziarae. “Don’t think it’s a goat either. But then again I don’t get the wings and stuff like you two. My powers are painful. It feels like my insides are gonna melt and then spill out as light. You can even see the shadow of my ribcage and skull through my skin when it happens, shit’s insane.”
Wren taps the side of their head as they say this. Augustine looks slightly horrified.
“As for getting my powers, it happened just as I went to stab some oversized wolf straight through the heart. Then, boom, I was glowing, nearly took out my squad leader at the same time though. My mum says it runs in our family, the whole celestial blood thing.”
With drink in hand, Wren takes a hearty chug before continuing.
“But if I’m being perfectly honest here, it sounds like none of us share any common ground on how or why we got these powers. I don’t know if that’s the answer you two were looking for. I’m just glad it’s not only me who’s confused by all this celestial stuff.”
Augustine nods in reluctant agreement and drinks deeply from her pint, drowning her disappointment.
“I agree,” Ziarae says. “But know this: you both have my respect and my support if we quest together again. Also, if you see any devils, give me a call - I have a, shall we say, personal vendetta against them.”
“Certainly. If you return the favor when it comes to things that ought to have stayed dead when they died,” Augustine replies. Wren merely nods and raises their drink in agreement.
She turns her piercing, green eyes to Wren, considering for a moment before she speaks.
“I don’t know exactly what you meant by Honest Work, but tell me this, please; is it good work?”
Wren meets her gaze, unflinching in their answer.
“Does the city watch count as good to you? If so, then yes. I only say honest to mean something other than adventuring yah know.”
There’s an odd quirk to her coral lips, like Augustine finds the answer both satisfactory and amusing. She nods and drains her pint, before waving down the barmaid again.
“Another? In the name of the whole.. Celestial Blood Thing?”
“Well,” Ziarae shrugs. “I think that fate brought us together to save lives today… And that's worth drinking to.”
Wren chuckles and shakes their head slightly, still baffled by the whole conversation.
“Blood and fate it is then.”
Written with glow squadmates Madame Augustine (Deceased) and ziarae
They come eye to eye and take each other in, Ziarae looking curiously at Augustine who returns her gaze with a shocked, almost hungry stare. Moments later, Ziarae’s pink glow diminishes until only hints of it are visible in the whites of her eyes. The leaves in Augustine’s wings fall slowly to the ground, disappearing just before they would land in the blood and dirt.
As she returns to her usual, slightly more mundane appearance, Augustine cocks her head to the side.
“I think we might have some things to talk about, you and I.”
“Interesting. I'd love to.”
Wren appears silently in the street, stepping out from where they’d been hiding to pick off pirates with their crossbow.
“Yeah, I’m feeling a bit out-glowed here. Didn’t realise there were so many of us on this trip.”
Augustine turns her head to look at them, eyes wide.
“Us? You mean you’re like us too?”
Wren gives her a very unconcerned nod and a shrug as they bend down to pull a crossbow bolt from a felled pirate, and Augustine just about loses it.
“You mean to tell me that I have walked this goddamn earth for 65 years and never found someone else like me, only to find two of you on the same mission?! Tree Daddy help me, I need a drink.”
“65 years?!” Ziarae exclaims.”Yeah, a drink sounds about right. Tavern?”
They get their payment and return voyage settled with Kiadané, and Augustine’s offer to remain in Za’Suul for another few days to help with the rebuilding efforts is gladly accepted. While the rest of the party wait for their ship back to Kantas to be made ready, Augustine marches Wren and Ziarae into one of the few open establishments in the Market.
“I have questions. If you would answer them.”
Suddenly a maroon imp wearing a tiny suit appears and nudges Ziarae’s shoulder with a grin. “She’d love to.”
“Shut up, Crow, go cause some trouble elsewhere for a bit,” Ziarae retorts. “But yes, I'd love to.”
The imp salutes and vanishes as Wren raises an eyebrow at Ziarae.
“Sorry about my new familiar. I meant to get a raven, but the little devil tricked me. He’s not so bad if you treat him to cheap gifts though.”
Ziarae turns back toward Augustine and Wren, gazing with an endearing fascination into their eyes.
“So, I know I’m bursting with questions for both of you, but you can go first,” Ziarae says.
“Well one of you start then. First round’s on me.” Wren states, leaning back to catch someone’s attention for drinks.
Augustine meets Ziarae’s gaze with eyes brimming with emotion - frustration, sadness, loneliness and more warring within her.
“I was told I was born for a reason. That I had a destiny and a purpose. That I was put on this earth to serve and to do a job. And then I was left to walk aimlessly in the dark for years. I only recently got any kind of confirmation that I was on the right path.”
She clutches the glass-encased oak leaf around her neck tightly.
“It took me 65 years to earn my wings. By the looks of it, you didn’t have to wait nearly as long.”
She closes her mouth with a click, biting down on the questions that want to spill out but the other two hear them anyway. Did I do something wrong? What did you do that I didn’t? Why wasn’t I worthy until now?
There’s a heavy silence between the three for a moment, interrupted suddenly by a barmaid bringing a round of drinks over to their table. Wren takes one and leans on the table to look at Augustine, frustration also evident on their face.
“Sounds like your guide is as much as dick as mine. Mine never seemed to care that their guidance put my squad in perilous situations half the time, to them mortal lives cut short is just a necessity for the apparent greater good. It’s only recently that they’ve even approved of my efforts. But painfully aloof seems to be a shared trait, unless... ”
Wren turns an expectant look at Ziarae but before she can reply, Augustine speaks up again.
“Your… your what? Your Guide? I take it this isn’t a mercenary you hired to take you on a tour of Faerûn.” She turns to Ziarae. “Do you also have one of these Guides?”
“I guess you could say I have a guide, It's the reason I came to Kantas and the reason for some of my magic. In it’s own words, it ‘guides those who can help others, but never those in need.’ sounds dumb, right? Just to set the scene, this was coming from a giant celestial goat made of stars. I was ready to write that whole thing off.”
Ziarae downs her drink. Augustine watches her empty her pint sceptically.
“That was, until it mentioned my sister, who went missing when my village was attacked as a kid. So I did what any heroic sister would do and made a pact with it. I'd help others in need and it would grant me useful abilities and eventually guide me to my sister. Done deal. It's the only lead I have.”
Ziarae looks expectantly at Wren. “Do you know the celestial goat, too? Did it give you pink wings like mine?”
Augustine holds up a hand to forestall the answer, Wren looking very concerned as their eyes flit between Augustine and Zirae, their mouth silently forming around the word goat.
“Now hold on just a hot second. A goat... Gave you, what? All of it? The wings and the magic? You were a regular old human before that?”
Ziarae shrugs. “Who knows. I was born to human parents, but have always healed quickly. I learned some basic healing magic from a Lizardfolk, long story.” Ziarae spins her cup in thought.
“But the wings came shortly after the first time I met the Celestial Goat, so I assumed it was related. It was like I could just tap into this celestial power all of a sudden. Madame Augustine, how did you get your wings?”
The older woman’s lips quirk in a small smile. “Aggy. Please.” She takes a small sip of her drink and gathers her thoughts before speaking.
“I was born like this. From the day I was old enough to understand words, my folks were telling me that I was different, that I had come to them in their old age, for a reason. They were Silvanites, like me. Devoted followers. Thought they were too old to have any children, but suddenly, there I was. I’ve always been able to do magic and it was my duty to use it in the name of the Forest Father. If I served him well and did good in his name, my powers would grow. He would give me more of his strength - his likeness even.”
She turns her head to display the right side of her shaved head where the tattooed vines stand out starkly against her skull.
“But it took a long time, like I said. I was never in the right place apparently. There was always something telling me to pack up and go, time and time again, without warning. Something calling me onwards. It called me to Kantas and this is where it finally bid me to stay. And a few months back I was trying to cast a spell when I felt this surge within me and then...” She smiles again, brighter this time, and proud. “Suddenly, I was flying.”
She turns to Wren.
“Most of the time, it’s the wind. But sometimes, it’s a voice. In my heart I’ve always hoped that it was Silvanus himself but… maybe it’s- could it be a Guide? Like the one you have?”
Wren scrunches their face in deep thought for a moment before replying.
“Errr, maybe? My Guide visits me in my dreams, not through the wind, but I have no idea what they actually look like. It’s all searingly bright lights and disjointed words, visions almost. It's intense when they visit me. Very intense.” They quickly glance at Ziarae. “Don’t think it’s a goat either. But then again I don’t get the wings and stuff like you two. My powers are painful. It feels like my insides are gonna melt and then spill out as light. You can even see the shadow of my ribcage and skull through my skin when it happens, shit’s insane.”
Wren taps the side of their head as they say this. Augustine looks slightly horrified.
“As for getting my powers, it happened just as I went to stab some oversized wolf straight through the heart. Then, boom, I was glowing, nearly took out my squad leader at the same time though. My mum says it runs in our family, the whole celestial blood thing.”
With drink in hand, Wren takes a hearty chug before continuing.
“But if I’m being perfectly honest here, it sounds like none of us share any common ground on how or why we got these powers. I don’t know if that’s the answer you two were looking for. I’m just glad it’s not only me who’s confused by all this celestial stuff.”
Augustine nods in reluctant agreement and drinks deeply from her pint, drowning her disappointment.
“I agree,” Ziarae says. “But know this: you both have my respect and my support if we quest together again. Also, if you see any devils, give me a call - I have a, shall we say, personal vendetta against them.”
“Certainly. If you return the favor when it comes to things that ought to have stayed dead when they died,” Augustine replies. Wren merely nods and raises their drink in agreement.
She turns her piercing, green eyes to Wren, considering for a moment before she speaks.
“I don’t know exactly what you meant by Honest Work, but tell me this, please; is it good work?”
Wren meets her gaze, unflinching in their answer.
“Does the city watch count as good to you? If so, then yes. I only say honest to mean something other than adventuring yah know.”
There’s an odd quirk to her coral lips, like Augustine finds the answer both satisfactory and amusing. She nods and drains her pint, before waving down the barmaid again.
“Another? In the name of the whole.. Celestial Blood Thing?”
“Well,” Ziarae shrugs. “I think that fate brought us together to save lives today… And that's worth drinking to.”
Wren chuckles and shakes their head slightly, still baffled by the whole conversation.
“Blood and fate it is then.”
Written with glow squadmates Madame Augustine (Deceased) and ziarae
