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Post by opius on May 10, 2023 10:50:30 GMT -5
Vanya turned her gaze toward the bowl and the tar, searching for her allies both living and non. It wasn't hard to find Jackson- the tabaxi medium was seemingly walking the boney would-be-mage through a series of pep talks, sharing words of comfort and encouragement.
Frederick, clad in his armor and still wielding his shield, stood at attention facing a wall... Seemingly waiting for instructions, or movement, to follow.
((Vanya, you feel an inkling of understanding of this situation. You may make an Arcana[Cha] check to feel out the metaphysical situation, Insight to try to better understand the skeleton's 'state of mind', and/or roll investigation to piece together things as a whole.))
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Post by Ancelas on May 10, 2023 14:13:23 GMT -5
Vanya let out a small sigh of relief at seeing they were okay and led Verdi by the hand up the slope. "Frederick! Jackson! Come over to me, please!"
In a quieter voice, she said to Verdi, "Poor things... They've been so good at protecting me an others thus far, only for the presence here to force them to attack us..."
((Insight: Nat 20, for 25 ))
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Post by opius on May 10, 2023 14:20:02 GMT -5
((with a nat 20...))
Vanya felt something on the periphery of her understanding, a blend of intuition and instinct no doubt born from her blood. Jackson and Frederick were hard reads, but as they stood at attention and began their slow trudge toward her, she found their responses to be just as quick as they were before coming here. She could intuit their attentiveness, read their movements. Her undead attendants meant her no harm. Which lead her toward a unique kind of understanding.
She did not have to reassert her connection. It hadn't been broken during this altercation, it had always been there- persistent. Whatever influence had been in this place of death was simply stronger. The trinket she wore, though powerful, was smothered under the presence of that necrotic haze, overwhelmed by a more potent magic. To what end, what motivation, was hard to tell... but the more she thought back to her pursuers, the more it seemed...
They seemed hungry. Like the bloodlust she'd seen in man.
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Post by CautionCat on May 10, 2023 14:26:54 GMT -5
Verdi followed along, watching her hand on his for a moment, before his attention went to her skeletons. He watched Wisp a moment, the Tabaxi smiling and waving, moving along with the skeleton they were encouraging.
Wisp smiled, and wiped at their eye. "Oh, they were so torn! Their bond with you is very strong. But whatever that presence was, really took an emotional toll on your friends here."
Verdi frowned, and gave Vanya's hand a squeeze.
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Post by Ancelas on May 10, 2023 15:04:08 GMT -5
Vanya glanced at Verdi and flashed a brief smile, squeezing his hand back before turning to Wisp and the skeletons. "Thank you, Wisp. I know they did not mean to." She looked to the skeletons with a serious expression. "Are you both okay? You can nod your head for yes, or shake it for no. And by okay, I mean are you unharmed and back to being yourselves?"
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Post by opius on May 10, 2023 15:06:10 GMT -5
From Vanya's perspective, imagining an 'emotional toil' might have been difficult. Both skeletons stared back at her like unmoving statues. After several long moments, Jackson, followed by Frederick, lowered their heads briefly as instructed.
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Post by CautionCat on May 10, 2023 15:13:00 GMT -5
"They seem to be back to themselves. Do you know speak with dead?" Wisp blinked some, asking Vanya the question.
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Post by Ancelas on May 10, 2023 15:30:04 GMT -5
Vanya let out a sigh of relief and lifted her free hand to cup first Jack's cheekbone, then Fred's. "I do," she confessed, "and I tried utilizing it when I first took them in, but the magic that animates them seems to repel my attempts at giving them a voice. I've been meaning to ask my mentor about it, but I have not had the opportunity to."
She lowered her hand and leaned against Verdi. "I hope to find a way to give them both a voice. After all the good work they've done, I think they deserve a life for themselves. Even if it's somewhat blasphemous in the eyes of certain deities." Her smile was a tired, mischievous one.
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Post by CautionCat on May 10, 2023 15:36:45 GMT -5
"Ah, right, right! Theodore helps me speak to those who walk. Sometimes the undead are peaceful, and have quite a lot to say. But to give them a voice..."
Wisp rubbed their chin, brows furrowed. "I am sure there's something they could use. Haven't come across anything myself, however."
Verdi let Vanya lean into him, and they placed a hand on their shoulder. "There's trinkets to talk to animals, I don't see why there wouldn't be a way to speak to undead..."
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Post by Ancelas on May 10, 2023 15:52:40 GMT -5
Verdi's reception to her affection was a refreshing experience in a place that reeked of tar and undeath. "Mm... I think that would be an interesting idea. I've never created a magic item before, but perhaps Auntie would have some insight into how it would be done..."
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Post by CautionCat on May 10, 2023 18:37:48 GMT -5
"A magic item... Hmn..." Verdi pondered that for a moment.
"Oh! That would be delightful! We could use a lot more folks that can speak with the dead. Undead, dead dead."
Wisp smiled, and nodded. "I look forward to hearing of that. Now, I must assest others, make sure everyone is alright. You two be safe!" And Wisp, without much more notice, would turn on their heel and sprint off to see if their aid was needed elsewhere.
"Hmn... They're an interesting sort..." Verdi blinked some.
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Post by Ancelas on May 10, 2023 19:37:33 GMT -5
"Indeed - I'm not entirely sure what to think of them just yet..." Vanya watched Wisp go and then turned back to her skeletons. "Please go and assist the others. I am not angry - you were not able to control yourselves. I promise to look into a way to protect you from such manipulations in the future."
Her instructions delivered, she leaned against Verdi, tucking herself against the arm around her shoulders. "Ech... I could really use a nice bath. You too. We both stink."
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Post by CautionCat on May 10, 2023 19:42:16 GMT -5
Verdi blinked some, looking to Vanya. "Oh. Am I offensive? I don't think there's any safe waters for some miles. Ah... I'm sorry."
He rubbed her shoulder, and kissed the top of her head. "If it makes you feel better, you don't smell anywhere nearly as bad as most of the travelers I have been with."
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Post by Ancelas on May 11, 2023 9:18:34 GMT -5
Verdi's open affection made Vanya flush and feel a little light-headed. Her left hand twitched, and the air around them immediately began smelling more aromatic - like her apartment back in Nyanzaru, actually.
"Well, you travel with large cat, and I've smelled wet Natasha, so I'm glad I haven't gotten that bad yet." She looked over at him and smiled, then cocked her head to one side. "You've got something on your forehead." She lifted up a finger to try and smudge away a suspicious-looking mark.
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Post by opius on May 11, 2023 10:38:09 GMT -5
The suspicious looking mark felt oily at first. But as Vanya rubbed and withdrew her finger, she discovered it was only the oil from the tiefling's skin- they had been running for some time through the jungle and what came off was nothing more than a thin film of natural dirt.
The mark remained. A dark brown-gray, nearly black sucker mark suspiciously shaped. The way it fringed at the edges...
It almost looked like a bruise.
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