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Post by redcoat on Jun 17, 2022 8:24:03 GMT -5
With promises to Jeanne that she would not, in fact, disappear into the jungle to face the Celestial Court alone as well as strict orders that she needed to prepare her allies to speak on her behalf, Alina would set out of the tent to get to work.
Her first stop was the Feared Necromancer Herself- Vanya. Though even as she thought the title Alina couldn't help but smile to herself. 'Feared' or even 'Necromancer' were never the first words she thought of when it came to Vanya. The fellow Gilnean woman was kind, and brave, and would likely tut over her blackened fingers like an older, smarter sister.
She'd make her way to where Vanya was standing.
"Privyet, Vanya." She gave a little wave with her blackened hand. "I was hoping to speak to you about a favor...."
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 17, 2022 9:06:09 GMT -5
There was much to do upon the party's return to camp, not least of which was what to do with the ghirallon carcasses they had... salvaged. That was not quite Vanya's area of expertise, though, so she would hang back and instruct her skeletons to help unload the giant beasts while the others tended to them. She did take a moment to collect some blood, however, and advised that she would like a horn or two to experiment with.
Speaking of experiments...
Vanya spoke to Stratus about switching her bond to Petal, something the cat was fine with, given the bright sun and rampant activity happening around them. Getting Petal's attention proved to be somewhat troublesome, as Vanya spent the next twenty minutes discovering. The cat enjoyed riding around in the cauldron, and it wasn't until Vanya had cut a switch from a tree and tired a string to the end, along with a few hard-shelled nuts at the end to clack against each other. With this, she attempted to persuade Petal into leaving the cauldron to rejoin their pack. (Persuasion: 21)
Entranced by the toy, Petal emerged, and after a few minutes of playing - and complaining that Vanya had abandoned them to the wilds, starved of entertainment and affection - they reconnected and Stratus slunk off to bask in the shadows and watch the camp. Vanya had then set up shop not far away from the ship, informing Verdi of her intentions in case Verdi wanted to join her, and had opened her pack to review her special materials, asking Petal if they had any experience handling fey mushrooms.
It was around then when Alina made her way over. Vanya looked up from her book and her ingredients, flashing a brief smile. "Alina! Of course, what is - why is your hand black? Don't you normally wear gloves?"
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Post by redcoat on Jun 17, 2022 9:36:09 GMT -5
"Sort of. But, this is not from dirt." Alina answered, handing over her hand for Vanya to inspect. "It is something more serious, I'm afraid."
Her heart hurt thinking about it, really, but. It was what it was, and there was no changing it now, beyond going on a killing spree that felt very wrong.
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 17, 2022 9:48:52 GMT -5
Vanya frowned and stood, reaching out to take Alina's preferred hand to inspect it. No, it didn't look dirty. So why... (Arcana: 18).
"Serious? Do you know where it comes from, then?"
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Post by opius on Jun 17, 2022 10:35:14 GMT -5
Petal had been loafed nearby Vanya for her study, mewling like the mouthiest of Siamese cats until Alina is arrived. With the focus turning to Alina's hand, the feyborn feline leaned in to give her exposed palm a sniff. Her eyes dilated as she recoiled.
A series of mewls and... Mouth sounds were directed at Vanya, noises that somehow made sense to the arcanist. "A curse is laid, a black mark made. This..." She pasused, searching for words. Specific ones. "... Is above my pay grade."
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Post by redcoat on Jun 17, 2022 11:33:00 GMT -5
Alina nodded. "Yes- I am cursed." It was offered matter of factly, as she let Vanya and Petal investigate her hand.
"I am oath-broken and cursed. The Raven Queen is... not happy with my recent actions, and she will be sending a celestial after me."
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 17, 2022 12:24:30 GMT -5
"A curse has been laid, a price must be paid," Vanya murmured, echoing Petal as she recited an old Gilnean rhyme. "Mn... the Raven Queen placed this?" Vanya looked skeptical as she released Alina's hand.
"What do you mean, oath broken? You are a smiter of evil and doer of deeds, yes? I could not speak of a braver paladin. Granted, you are the only paladin I know, but still."
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Post by redcoat on Jun 17, 2022 12:54:08 GMT -5
Alina nodded, tucking her hand close to her. "That.... is the tricky part." Alina said, grimacing- but it faded after a moment.
"There's three commandments with the Raven Queen. Which isn't much- I've head of gods having like ten, which seems like far too much. But, they are... very straight forward. I'm an unusual paladin of the Raven Queen- to be sure. I'm certain that if my mother was still alive she would be either very flustered or very confused by me." Alina gave a smile- but this too was fleeting. The thought of what Kate would think about all of this pained her in a way she wasn't ready to face yet.
"They go: 'Death is the natural end of life. Grieve the fallen, but do not pity them. Exult in the time that they were granted.'" She shrugged. "Easy enough, even if I exult more than average."
"The path of Fate is sacrosanct. Those who pridefully cast off destiny must be punished. That one is my favorite- I've never shirked an opportunity to do what I should, or what I must." She paused a little, frowning deeply.
"Then there is the third." She paused, as if debating whether or not to continue.
"Undeath is an atrocity. Death is too good a punishment for those who pervert the rightful transition of the soul."
Alina shrugged. "I think that is the sticky one."
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 17, 2022 14:16:19 GMT -5
Vanya cocked her head to the side, confused. "It sounds fairly straightforward, if a bit stuffy. Why is it a sticky one? Liches deserve to be struck... down..."
She pursed her lips and then looked in Rorr's direction. "Hm. This is about Adhanu and Caolead, isn't it?"
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Post by CautionCat on Jun 17, 2022 17:32:38 GMT -5
Verdi quietly sat and inspected the items they gathered from the carcasses earlier that day, and made notes in his journal about the demon, what was being done to people, and roughly how long he assumed something like this was going on for. But, questions were how did he get to Te'Kaal? Who's summoning demons? Were there going to be more..?
He was left with a lot of questions, and they fell into their own head for a little bit, until Vanya started to prepare to make potions and the such. Verdi knew a little bit about herbalist kits, but anything alchemy was a bit beyond their understanding.
Alina had made her way over, and presented her blackened hand for Vanya to inspect. He simply watched on as they spoke, his ears falling some when Vanya pointed out that not slaying Adhanu and Caolead was the result of this... curse.
"They're not umn... evil like a lich... I would think there would be... an exception..."
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Post by redcoat on Jun 17, 2022 18:15:44 GMT -5
Alina looked to Verdi, shrugging helplessly. "When it comes to the Raven Queen, the act of undeath itself is evil. The road to the hells is paved with good intentions, and all that." She sighed a bit.
"If it was not them, it would have been something else. I have commanded undead, I count a necromancer- a very nice necromancer, but still a necromancer- amongst my friends."
"Jeanne is preparing now, for what I assume will be an attempt to reason with the Celestial who is after me. I am to try and gather anyone who might speak on my behalf, in my defense."
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 18, 2022 7:35:32 GMT -5
"Can you really be a necromancer if you have not raised undead?" Vanya said as she turned back to Alina. "Sure, you have ordered them ab out, but you have also ordered people about, yes? That doesn't make you their... their master, or some such thing."
Vanya put her hands on her hips, visibly bothered by the idea that Alina could even be considered an oathbreaker. "And Verdi is right, I know I called them liches, but they are... what was it? Baelnorn! There are no such things in Gilneas, so we could be forgiven for the misunderstanding, but I would expect more of a celestial entity." She sniffed with almost theatrical disdain.
She then sobered up, frowning as she studied Alina. "The people on this island have an... interesting... relationship with the undead. Surely this must be understood. I... I do not know what it is to speak to a celestial, but I will speak for you, if you would have me. I am far more a blasphemer in the eyes of the Raven Queen than you."
She bit her lip. "That... would not count against you, would it? Perhaps you could say you are trying to 'save' me..."
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Post by CautionCat on Jun 18, 2022 17:32:17 GMT -5
Verdi tightened his lips, listening, some sort of... plan being put together. "Is... it wise to lie?" He raised his brows to Vanya.
"Alina isn't... trying to save you- and there isn't anything to be saved from. You... have your interests, and Alina has her... ah... Oaths." He furrowed his brows some, closing his notebook and folding his arms. "If the Raven Queen was upset about Alina and allowing undead to... meander... wouldn't you have been cursed after finding all those skeletons in the refuse, and not slaying them? If she is... particular about what it is that you do... I would think... allowing many undead just... exist... without ah... well... Yeah. I think something else is going on."
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Post by redcoat on Jun 18, 2022 18:37:29 GMT -5
"Lying to the Raven Queen- or even splitting hairs about what is or isn't technically necromancy probably isn't the strongest defense." Alina said, shrugging her shoulders. "It is what it is. I have a habit of allowing undead to live, even if it is only good, or neutral undead."
Another shrug.
"I think that the best I can do is have people speak for me, who can attest to my character, and my good deeds. Verdi, you've seen me kill a demon and a chromatic dragon. Vanya, you've seen me kill something worse. I do think that will count for something... even if it is just leniency."
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Post by Ancelas on Jun 18, 2022 19:12:57 GMT -5
Vanya pouted. "Mm. You're right, I didn't mean to suggest you lie. Lies never get you far with Celestials and fey. Honesty is better. With celestials, at least."
She flashed a smile at Verdi and then looked at Alina. "Of course I would be happy to speak for you. You have done great things, and always in the service of others. Even the demon today, you - oh shoot, I still have that book Norixius gave me, I need to look that over..."
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