Together@Home - Brush with Death - Alenea Hanali - 13/04
Jun 14, 2020 17:21:44 GMT
andycd, Igrainne (RETIRED), and 2 more like this
Post by Alenea Hanali on Jun 14, 2020 17:21:44 GMT
13th of Tarsakh 1497
----
Alenea's hand passes over the small brass bowl in front of her, a blue flame leaping down from her palm to ignite the mixture inside. She begins to murmur under her breath as the scent of lemongrass fills the room, her eyes closed and a picture of her friend Keri fixed in her mind. As she chants a cramp begins to form in her leg. She tries to flex the muscle without losing focus. It passes and she reaches the end of the ritual, her eyes opening to look around. She sighs, a wisp of smoke rising from the embers in front of her.
----
Reading over the poster she starts to smile, her eyes moving back and forth. A moment later she reaches the hosts name and the smile drops. A voices calls up to her, "What's this then?" Beside her is a Goblin, fur draped over his shoulders and a battleaxe slung across his back.
A Gnome follows, his bald head shining, "It's a fair! What are you? Wildborne?" he says laughing.
"Now now, there's no need for any rudeness like that," a tall half-orc says behind them, his hands patting the air
A shadow falls across them as a bipedal bear steps through the gate of the fair, "Yes! There's no place for anything but fun today! Come on in!" The bear turns, waving to them to follow.
They step through the gate and the sound of revelry hits them. Before them stands the bear, arms wide, a large square lined with stalls behind her. "Welcome! We are here to celebrate the alliance between my people and yours, the bear-folk of Neuyeya and the people of the Dawnlands. What are all your names?"
The half-orc bows his head, "My name is Livingstone, pleased to meet you."
"I'm Garesue, new to Port Ffirst and the Dawnlands," says the Gnome.
The Goblins battleaxe waves around on his back as he turns to look around at the bear-folk filling the square, his eyes excited, "You can call me Zoinks!"
"And I'm Alenea, I'm here from Daring Heights for a while."
"Oh it's so nice to have you all here! I'm Elyu! You must visit my husband, over there," she turns and waves at a large bear manning the taps at a bar across the square, "He makes the best mead you've ever tasted."
----
An hour later the group sways away from Hill Farm Honey, the taste of mead lingering in their mouths. A cheer raises up from a crowd gathered in the middle of the square, above them a banner challenges the visitors to arm-wrestle the Champion of Neuyeya. Zoinks bounces forwards towards the crowd, his arms flexing. Alenea drifts away from the group and heads towards a stall emblazoned with the words Sylvan Silver, a pair of High Elf women sitting underneath it surrounded by gems and necklaces. The two watch her approach, smiling.
"Hello Sisters," she says, the Sylvan flowing like water from her lips, "It is nice to see someone from home."
"Oh it's so nice to see you too. Are you looking for anything in particular,? the taller of the pair asks, her hands passing over an array of silvery-blue necklaces. "Or perhaps, in the spirit of the day, a game of chance?" the other says, a silken purse held in one hand, "A hundred gold pieces for a chance at a prize!"
A cheer raises up behind her as Alenea eyes the bag greedily. She glances around and sees Zoinks sitting astride Livingstone's shoulders, the crowd cheering up at him as a bear-cub sits on a stump rubbing his shoulder.
A hundred gold pieces later and the purse opens, Alenea's hand slipping into the bag, an assortment of rings and necklaces brushing against her fingers. She pulls her hand out and holds it in front of the stall-owners. A thin platinum band sits on her index finger, the aquamarine gemstone embedded in the center glinting in the sunlight.
The elves at the counter clap with excitement, "So elegant!" says one.
"And touched by the Feywilds! If you are ever hurt, this will help you," says the other.
"Thank you, it really is beautiful," she says, looking at it closely in the light, "I'll keep it close." She turns and walks away, waving over her shoulder.
----
A drum beat starts up as the party regroups and a bear begins to cry out over the crowd, "Attention everyone, the Snuggle Bear show will shortly begin. If everyone would please head to the seating area!" The crowd begins to flow out of the square.
Settling down into their chairs the crowd chatters. Food sellers patrolling the aisles and hawking their wares. Alenea calls for a snack and deftly catches it as it soars towards her over the heads of a pair of Halflings. She munches on her nuts and watches stagehands hurriedly jogging back and forth in front of the audience. Their faces growing more panicked as the crowd starts to pass from eager anticipation to bored impatience. Eventually Livingstone gestures towards backstage and gets up. Alenea glances around to check for ushers before getting up and following.
The group heads back stage and sneaks forward, a pair of arguing voices drifting towards them. Putting a hand out Alenea gestures to the group to stop before heading forward to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"We can't have a show without the Snuggle Bears! They are the show!" says a voice she recognises.
"Well then we need to pay the ransom, its may be only option. These pirates won't negotiate."
"Maybe you're right... How much money is in the coffers?"
A weight settles in her stomach as Alenea realises who it is stood a few inches away from her. She takes a deep breath before swinging around the corner and stepping forwards towards the two men, "Perhaps my compatriots and I can be of assistance."
Leocanto the Magnificant steps back before composing himself, "What are you doing here?" his eyes narrowing.
"We heard you were having some problems and we wanted to offer you our services. For the right price of course."
----
Clutching her cloak around her, Alenea looks up at the darkening sky, her stomach roiling as the boat rocks back and forth. The smell of seaweed and salt fills her nose and makes her want to retch. "This wasn't worth it!" she calls out to the man standing at the front of the boat.
"Just think of the adventure! And the gold!" says Garesue, turning his head towards her.
"I wish you'd sit down Sir," comes a voice from between them, "you're going to rock us all into the water." The deckhand rows, drawing the small boat towards the ship in the distance, its red banners growing clearer by the minute.
---
A minotaur strides to the edge of the ship's deck and looks down at the approaching boat, "Have you brought the ransom?" he yells.
"We are adrift, we need assistance! Please!" Livingstone cries up.
The minotaur scoffs and turns away, gesturing to the Aerotour beside him.
Moments later a flaming arrow fires from the ship and strikes the wood between Alenea's legs. She batters the flames down with her foot as they begin to spread.
"Ah shit," cries Zoinks, unhooking his battleaxe and pointing with it towards a ladder on the side of the ship, "Get us closer!"
A second arrow raises up into the sky and Alenea turns towards the grey water below her, a plan forming. As the second arrow buries itself in Livingstone's arm she leaps backwards from the boat and plunges into the icy water. The cloak Leocanto leant her wraps itself close to her sides as she passes underwater, her lungs filling with air and a wave of energy flowing through her. She looks through the depths towards the ship, searching for the ship's anchor. She spots it and darts forwards, grasping the iron chain and starting to climb, the cold air hitting her as she rises above the water.
She stops half way up, her and looks down at the little boat pressed up against the ship, a silvery glowing Minotaur swinging its broadsword over Livingstone's head. The boatsman cowers in the corner, a knife clutched to his chest.
Turning back to the chain in front of her, she resumes climbing, hand over over hand, panting as the chain passes in front of here. Eventually she reaches a window and clambers inside, landing on her feet. She leans over hands on her knees and gaps for air. "I hate climbing," she wheezes to herself. Standing up she retrieves her daggers from within her cloak and heads upwards to the main deck.
The clouded sky sneaks through an edge of the trap-door at the top of the stairs as Alenea pushes it open. The minotaur captain stands on the deck facing away from her, the corded muscles of his arms tensed as he grips his great-axe in his hands. Alenea surges upwards and drives her daggers into the captain's back as he begins to yell an order. He stops and roars, spinning around and catching her in the thigh with his axe. Alenea slashes upwards, opening up a river of red across his chest, dropping him to one knee. She looks down at the blood pouring from her leg and pushes herself away from the captain, heading back below deck.
She finds herself back where she started, head light from blood loss and the sound of approaching hooves filling her ears. With nowhere to go she turns and looks at the approaching Minotaur, his nostrils flaring as he runs towards her. She cries out as his axe buries itself in her side, her legs crumpling below her.
----
Alenea lies on her back staring up at the ceiling as a crack of eldritch energy shoots across the room above her and the muffled bellows of the minotaur reach her ears. She coughs and the metallic taste of her own blood fills her mouth, the edges of her vision starting to fade. Livingstone's face passes over her and she feels his hands pressing against her side. He says something to her but she can't make out what it is. The world goes dark.
----
Alenea drifts in a sea of fog, tendrils of mist wrapping themselves around her. She calls out into the expanse. The only response is a distant caw.
Time passes. The fog swirls around her as she moves through it, nothing but the eddies and currents to differentiate one point from another. A movement in the distance catches her attention and she follows for a while before giving up. She drifts in space.
Eventually she falls into a trance, watching her life play out over again. Her first steps away from home as she leaves for the academy. Years on the street after being kicked out. Her mind slips over each moment, passing inevitably to a vision of her hands grasping her mentor's spellbook and leaping with it from the tower window. Her blank eyes stare through the fog as she remembers.
A raven flaps its wings silently as it passes through the fog. It lands on her knee and digs its claws into her skin. She doesn't react. It stares up at her with an unblinking black eye.
Time passes as they drift together.
----
She becomes aware of a soft chiming as a sense of gravity returns to her. Cold stone presses against the skin of her back and the chiming grows louder.
Her eyes open and look up at stone ceiling above her. Vines carved into the rock form the image of a harp. She goes to move and winces as a pain shoots through her side.
"Please do not move, your body is not yet ready."
The voice is joined by a face leaning over her. The face of a minotaur, expression peaceful and welcoming. Alenea's eyes flare wide with fear, visions of the minotaur captain looming over her in the ship's underbelly coming back to her. She shakes her head, afraid and confused.
"Do not worry, you are safe here. This is the Temple of the Two Faiths at Port Ffirst."
Alenea's face relaxes as she drifts back to sleep.
----
An unknown time later she awakens in a bed, the light of the sun pushing its way into the room. She winces as she sits up, side flaring with pain. The room is small, the bed and a small table covered with her belongings fill the space. She reaches over from the bed and grabs up her clothes.
A few minutes later she is fully dressed, stretching carefully in the middle of the room. A knock on the door interrupts her. Before she can answer it begins to open. As the minotaur from earlier enters the room Alenea's heart begins to pound, her feet carrying her backwards towards the bed.
"Hello. I hope you are feeling okay this morning," he says kindly, looking down at Alenea, "My name is Zogot Soothhoof, I serve Milil at this temple."
"I...," Alenea's throat catches as she speaks. Her eyes flick around the room, the dagger on the table, the small window, a gap between the wall and the intruder that she could slip between, "I'm okay."
"I don't know if you remember, but you died. You were very lucky to have companions so kind and convincing to settle on a special treatment to bring you back, and thanks be to Milil who was gracious enough to intercede on your behalf," Zogot gestures towards the Harp engraved on the ceiling, the light from the sun catching the platinum band on his left index finger. "However..." his face grows stoney as he looks down at her, "you still need to play your part."
Alenea looks down from the ceiling at him, eyes narrowing, "What do you mean?"
"You must come on the tenth day from today exactly 3 minutes after midnight to help with a ritual prayer. You must bring at least three more people with you. Otherwise..." Zogot reaches into his robes and pulls out a small vial, shaking it in front of her. A lock of hair rests inside. "Let's just say best not to anger our God."
----
A few days later Alenea is back in her room with her red robes draped around her shoulders, cross-legged on the floor and her spellbook open on her knees. She stares entranced by the blue glow emanating from the runes before her. On the floor sits a brass bowl filled with incense. She begins to murmur as she closes her eyes and passes her hand over the bowl, a blue flame flicks down from her palm and once again ignites the mixture. Breathing in the lemongrass scent she focuses, a deep thrum passing through her.
As she chants a caw jolts through her and her eyes shoot open. A raven sits in front of her, head tilted.
Her eyes fill with tears as she sees her friend, "Keri! It's been so long!"
----
Alenea's hand passes over the small brass bowl in front of her, a blue flame leaping down from her palm to ignite the mixture inside. She begins to murmur under her breath as the scent of lemongrass fills the room, her eyes closed and a picture of her friend Keri fixed in her mind. As she chants a cramp begins to form in her leg. She tries to flex the muscle without losing focus. It passes and she reaches the end of the ritual, her eyes opening to look around. She sighs, a wisp of smoke rising from the embers in front of her.
----
Its midday as Alenea strolls through Port Ffirst towards the docks, the warmth of the sun pressing against her cheek and the smell of fish making her wrinkle her nose. Nailed up every ten feet along the path is a bright poster. Alenea stops to take a closer look as she reaches a gate leading through the wall:
Reading over the poster she starts to smile, her eyes moving back and forth. A moment later she reaches the hosts name and the smile drops. A voices calls up to her, "What's this then?" Beside her is a Goblin, fur draped over his shoulders and a battleaxe slung across his back.
A Gnome follows, his bald head shining, "It's a fair! What are you? Wildborne?" he says laughing.
"Now now, there's no need for any rudeness like that," a tall half-orc says behind them, his hands patting the air
A shadow falls across them as a bipedal bear steps through the gate of the fair, "Yes! There's no place for anything but fun today! Come on in!" The bear turns, waving to them to follow.
They step through the gate and the sound of revelry hits them. Before them stands the bear, arms wide, a large square lined with stalls behind her. "Welcome! We are here to celebrate the alliance between my people and yours, the bear-folk of Neuyeya and the people of the Dawnlands. What are all your names?"
The half-orc bows his head, "My name is Livingstone, pleased to meet you."
"I'm Garesue, new to Port Ffirst and the Dawnlands," says the Gnome.
The Goblins battleaxe waves around on his back as he turns to look around at the bear-folk filling the square, his eyes excited, "You can call me Zoinks!"
"And I'm Alenea, I'm here from Daring Heights for a while."
"Oh it's so nice to have you all here! I'm Elyu! You must visit my husband, over there," she turns and waves at a large bear manning the taps at a bar across the square, "He makes the best mead you've ever tasted."
----
An hour later the group sways away from Hill Farm Honey, the taste of mead lingering in their mouths. A cheer raises up from a crowd gathered in the middle of the square, above them a banner challenges the visitors to arm-wrestle the Champion of Neuyeya. Zoinks bounces forwards towards the crowd, his arms flexing. Alenea drifts away from the group and heads towards a stall emblazoned with the words Sylvan Silver, a pair of High Elf women sitting underneath it surrounded by gems and necklaces. The two watch her approach, smiling.
"Hello Sisters," she says, the Sylvan flowing like water from her lips, "It is nice to see someone from home."
"Oh it's so nice to see you too. Are you looking for anything in particular,? the taller of the pair asks, her hands passing over an array of silvery-blue necklaces. "Or perhaps, in the spirit of the day, a game of chance?" the other says, a silken purse held in one hand, "A hundred gold pieces for a chance at a prize!"
A cheer raises up behind her as Alenea eyes the bag greedily. She glances around and sees Zoinks sitting astride Livingstone's shoulders, the crowd cheering up at him as a bear-cub sits on a stump rubbing his shoulder.
A hundred gold pieces later and the purse opens, Alenea's hand slipping into the bag, an assortment of rings and necklaces brushing against her fingers. She pulls her hand out and holds it in front of the stall-owners. A thin platinum band sits on her index finger, the aquamarine gemstone embedded in the center glinting in the sunlight.
The elves at the counter clap with excitement, "So elegant!" says one.
"And touched by the Feywilds! If you are ever hurt, this will help you," says the other.
"Thank you, it really is beautiful," she says, looking at it closely in the light, "I'll keep it close." She turns and walks away, waving over her shoulder.
----
A drum beat starts up as the party regroups and a bear begins to cry out over the crowd, "Attention everyone, the Snuggle Bear show will shortly begin. If everyone would please head to the seating area!" The crowd begins to flow out of the square.
Settling down into their chairs the crowd chatters. Food sellers patrolling the aisles and hawking their wares. Alenea calls for a snack and deftly catches it as it soars towards her over the heads of a pair of Halflings. She munches on her nuts and watches stagehands hurriedly jogging back and forth in front of the audience. Their faces growing more panicked as the crowd starts to pass from eager anticipation to bored impatience. Eventually Livingstone gestures towards backstage and gets up. Alenea glances around to check for ushers before getting up and following.
The group heads back stage and sneaks forward, a pair of arguing voices drifting towards them. Putting a hand out Alenea gestures to the group to stop before heading forward to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"We can't have a show without the Snuggle Bears! They are the show!" says a voice she recognises.
"Well then we need to pay the ransom, its may be only option. These pirates won't negotiate."
"Maybe you're right... How much money is in the coffers?"
A weight settles in her stomach as Alenea realises who it is stood a few inches away from her. She takes a deep breath before swinging around the corner and stepping forwards towards the two men, "Perhaps my compatriots and I can be of assistance."
Leocanto the Magnificant steps back before composing himself, "What are you doing here?" his eyes narrowing.
"We heard you were having some problems and we wanted to offer you our services. For the right price of course."
----
Clutching her cloak around her, Alenea looks up at the darkening sky, her stomach roiling as the boat rocks back and forth. The smell of seaweed and salt fills her nose and makes her want to retch. "This wasn't worth it!" she calls out to the man standing at the front of the boat.
"Just think of the adventure! And the gold!" says Garesue, turning his head towards her.
"I wish you'd sit down Sir," comes a voice from between them, "you're going to rock us all into the water." The deckhand rows, drawing the small boat towards the ship in the distance, its red banners growing clearer by the minute.
---
A minotaur strides to the edge of the ship's deck and looks down at the approaching boat, "Have you brought the ransom?" he yells.
"We are adrift, we need assistance! Please!" Livingstone cries up.
The minotaur scoffs and turns away, gesturing to the Aerotour beside him.
Moments later a flaming arrow fires from the ship and strikes the wood between Alenea's legs. She batters the flames down with her foot as they begin to spread.
"Ah shit," cries Zoinks, unhooking his battleaxe and pointing with it towards a ladder on the side of the ship, "Get us closer!"
A second arrow raises up into the sky and Alenea turns towards the grey water below her, a plan forming. As the second arrow buries itself in Livingstone's arm she leaps backwards from the boat and plunges into the icy water. The cloak Leocanto leant her wraps itself close to her sides as she passes underwater, her lungs filling with air and a wave of energy flowing through her. She looks through the depths towards the ship, searching for the ship's anchor. She spots it and darts forwards, grasping the iron chain and starting to climb, the cold air hitting her as she rises above the water.
She stops half way up, her and looks down at the little boat pressed up against the ship, a silvery glowing Minotaur swinging its broadsword over Livingstone's head. The boatsman cowers in the corner, a knife clutched to his chest.
Turning back to the chain in front of her, she resumes climbing, hand over over hand, panting as the chain passes in front of here. Eventually she reaches a window and clambers inside, landing on her feet. She leans over hands on her knees and gaps for air. "I hate climbing," she wheezes to herself. Standing up she retrieves her daggers from within her cloak and heads upwards to the main deck.
The clouded sky sneaks through an edge of the trap-door at the top of the stairs as Alenea pushes it open. The minotaur captain stands on the deck facing away from her, the corded muscles of his arms tensed as he grips his great-axe in his hands. Alenea surges upwards and drives her daggers into the captain's back as he begins to yell an order. He stops and roars, spinning around and catching her in the thigh with his axe. Alenea slashes upwards, opening up a river of red across his chest, dropping him to one knee. She looks down at the blood pouring from her leg and pushes herself away from the captain, heading back below deck.
She finds herself back where she started, head light from blood loss and the sound of approaching hooves filling her ears. With nowhere to go she turns and looks at the approaching Minotaur, his nostrils flaring as he runs towards her. She cries out as his axe buries itself in her side, her legs crumpling below her.
----
Alenea lies on her back staring up at the ceiling as a crack of eldritch energy shoots across the room above her and the muffled bellows of the minotaur reach her ears. She coughs and the metallic taste of her own blood fills her mouth, the edges of her vision starting to fade. Livingstone's face passes over her and she feels his hands pressing against her side. He says something to her but she can't make out what it is. The world goes dark.
----
Alenea drifts in a sea of fog, tendrils of mist wrapping themselves around her. She calls out into the expanse. The only response is a distant caw.
Time passes. The fog swirls around her as she moves through it, nothing but the eddies and currents to differentiate one point from another. A movement in the distance catches her attention and she follows for a while before giving up. She drifts in space.
Eventually she falls into a trance, watching her life play out over again. Her first steps away from home as she leaves for the academy. Years on the street after being kicked out. Her mind slips over each moment, passing inevitably to a vision of her hands grasping her mentor's spellbook and leaping with it from the tower window. Her blank eyes stare through the fog as she remembers.
A raven flaps its wings silently as it passes through the fog. It lands on her knee and digs its claws into her skin. She doesn't react. It stares up at her with an unblinking black eye.
Time passes as they drift together.
----
She becomes aware of a soft chiming as a sense of gravity returns to her. Cold stone presses against the skin of her back and the chiming grows louder.
Her eyes open and look up at stone ceiling above her. Vines carved into the rock form the image of a harp. She goes to move and winces as a pain shoots through her side.
"Please do not move, your body is not yet ready."
The voice is joined by a face leaning over her. The face of a minotaur, expression peaceful and welcoming. Alenea's eyes flare wide with fear, visions of the minotaur captain looming over her in the ship's underbelly coming back to her. She shakes her head, afraid and confused.
"Do not worry, you are safe here. This is the Temple of the Two Faiths at Port Ffirst."
Alenea's face relaxes as she drifts back to sleep.
----
An unknown time later she awakens in a bed, the light of the sun pushing its way into the room. She winces as she sits up, side flaring with pain. The room is small, the bed and a small table covered with her belongings fill the space. She reaches over from the bed and grabs up her clothes.
A few minutes later she is fully dressed, stretching carefully in the middle of the room. A knock on the door interrupts her. Before she can answer it begins to open. As the minotaur from earlier enters the room Alenea's heart begins to pound, her feet carrying her backwards towards the bed.
"Hello. I hope you are feeling okay this morning," he says kindly, looking down at Alenea, "My name is Zogot Soothhoof, I serve Milil at this temple."
"I...," Alenea's throat catches as she speaks. Her eyes flick around the room, the dagger on the table, the small window, a gap between the wall and the intruder that she could slip between, "I'm okay."
"I don't know if you remember, but you died. You were very lucky to have companions so kind and convincing to settle on a special treatment to bring you back, and thanks be to Milil who was gracious enough to intercede on your behalf," Zogot gestures towards the Harp engraved on the ceiling, the light from the sun catching the platinum band on his left index finger. "However..." his face grows stoney as he looks down at her, "you still need to play your part."
Alenea looks down from the ceiling at him, eyes narrowing, "What do you mean?"
"You must come on the tenth day from today exactly 3 minutes after midnight to help with a ritual prayer. You must bring at least three more people with you. Otherwise..." Zogot reaches into his robes and pulls out a small vial, shaking it in front of her. A lock of hair rests inside. "Let's just say best not to anger our God."
----
A few days later Alenea is back in her room with her red robes draped around her shoulders, cross-legged on the floor and her spellbook open on her knees. She stares entranced by the blue glow emanating from the runes before her. On the floor sits a brass bowl filled with incense. She begins to murmur as she closes her eyes and passes her hand over the bowl, a blue flame flicks down from her palm and once again ignites the mixture. Breathing in the lemongrass scent she focuses, a deep thrum passing through her.
As she chants a caw jolts through her and her eyes shoot open. A raven sits in front of her, head tilted.
Her eyes fill with tears as she sees her friend, "Keri! It's been so long!"
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