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Post by Ancelas on Nov 27, 2023 20:02:12 GMT -5
Ve'ra chuckled. "I don't blame you. Boy has no sense of style. Does this hurt at all?" Ve'ra gently ran her thumb across Sae's fingers. "They may just be a mark of some kind... something that might fade in time."
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Post by redcoat on Nov 27, 2023 20:09:57 GMT -5
Sae looked it over, shaking her head. "No- that doesn't hurt. The spell Konane did- that felt like a battle ax to the skull, but my hands are fine. I thought it was charcoal, but it wouldn't come up with prestidigitation. I was going to ask Keeper Drummond about it this afternoon before... everything."
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Post by Ancelas on Nov 27, 2023 20:24:34 GMT -5
Ve'ra laced her fingers through Sae's and brought Sae's hand to her lips, giving the back a light kiss. "Mm... the shattering of a curse. That's powerful magic... if that's something your friends are capable of, then you're all better off for it."
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Post by redcoat on Nov 27, 2023 20:29:56 GMT -5
Sae sighed, resting her head against Ve'ra's shoulder. "I didn't... feel cursed. I don't even think I was acting that differently. I wasn't missing chunks of time, or taking risks I wouldn't normally take. Everyone is acting like it was exceptionally obvious that I wasn't myself... but I've no clue what I've been doing that isn't... me."
She gave Ve'ra's hand a squeeze.
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Post by Ancelas on Nov 27, 2023 20:35:17 GMT -5
"That might be a conversation to have with them," Ve'ra admitted, squeezing her hand. "There are curses that turn you into something wicked the longer they have to work on you, but I was taught that the most dangerous curses were those that were more subtle. That took advantage of your own nature and bound it to its whims. Perhaps this was one of those.
"That you friends noted a change before it could grow more powerful... they must know you well."
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Post by redcoat on Nov 28, 2023 7:33:31 GMT -5
Sae gave a soft smile. "Better than I thought. They haven't always been the best at... noticing, or listening when I've said something wrong in the past. After Taliesin and I broke up it was... messy. And even when I told people I was struggling, no one really... listened."
She squeezed Ve'ra's hand.
"Not all their fault. I can barely ask for help once, and when I do it's not very... obvious. And it wasn't just them. I told Arren as well, and she didn't really get it either."
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Post by Ancelas on Nov 28, 2023 18:18:19 GMT -5
Ve'ra nodded slightly. "Arren was you old friend, yes? I imagine you've changed much since you last parted with her. In ways she may not have understood. To my benefit, of course."
Ve'ra lowered their hands, shifting her grip to more easily hold Sae's hand, and looked out across the mountainside beyond the walls of the refuge. "I understand what you mean, though. It is difficult for myself to ask for help as well. To... open up. It is frowned upon where I come from, and that is reason enough to embrace it, I suppose. But overlanders do not make it so easy.
"Even now, even with you... I wish I had the right words to say. But if you are willing to share your pain and frustration, I can at least listen."
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Post by redcoat on Nov 28, 2023 18:36:22 GMT -5
Sae smiled sadly, moving Ve'ra arm over her shoulder and leaning into the drow.
"Honestly, your words have been helpful." She admitted, resting her head on Ve'ra's shoulder. "I have... a tendency, when there's a bad turn to sneak off on my own and spin in my own dark thoughts. Usually with Alistair's bottle of almost-never-ending wine. Being alone with you... is infinitely better than being alone with myself."
"Honestly... I'm scared, more than anything." She said, her eyes focusing on the horizon. "Thornwall is the last city of the Alurani, and I'm afraid I've condemned them. Like here, their biggest defense is in being hidden. They've had a little defensive training from Arren and Ratha, who were there as a diplomatic attache, but... not enough to withstand a major offense."
She hated admitting she was afraid, but... it was Ve'ra, and she'd asked.
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Post by Ancelas on Nov 28, 2023 19:03:34 GMT -5
Ve'ra leaned her head against Sae's. "It's a reasonable danger," she said. "All your concerns... they are real fears. To not feel concerned for the Alurani, or the Travellers... that would be irresponsible. At the same time... the enemy must already know about Thornwall, through the corruption of the Kurnothi. And the Refuge is too remote to pose any strategic value. Perhaps it would be useful as a source of slave labor, but with Hectapol's foothold in the region thoroughly disrupted, it would be a waste of resources to come here.
"We can't know for certain what the Fallen know... but they are not as unified a force as you might think. They all serve Ruin, but there have always been rivalries among them and their orders. Perhaps that is something that could work in our favor."
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Post by redcoat on Nov 28, 2023 19:26:11 GMT -5
"Hopefully... dealing with the threat in the Vale and at the First Shrine will be enough to make both places not worth the trouble." She said, feeling the knot in her stomach loosen a bit with the help of Ve'ra's logic... and with her acknowledgement.
"They'll likely know that the head of the Gunslingers will be in Astor shortly. Something they may have known before or found out from their spy, that Albion prick." She said, this fear more thoughtful than the last.
"He also can't be scryed on. So that will protect him a good deal."
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Post by Ancelas on Nov 28, 2023 19:43:28 GMT -5
"High elves," Ve'ra muttered disdainfully at the reference to the albion prick. "I do not know much about the head of the gunslingers, but I imagine such a person would be accustomed to threats on his life."
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Post by redcoat on Nov 28, 2023 19:47:06 GMT -5
"I've never met an elf more high elf than him." She said with a snort. "Probably so. I imagine Master Duschaine is used enough to them that he protects himself from scrying."
She sighed again, feeling the weight on her shoulders lightening a bit.
"I am not sure I'm ready to meet him. I think, between him and Zychni, I'd choose Zychni."
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Post by Ancelas on Nov 28, 2023 20:01:57 GMT -5
"Of course - you could shoot Zychni," Ve'ra noted with a smirk.
"You have already been granted a unique status by your fellow gunslingers, yes? Surely that will aid you when you speak to him."
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Post by redcoat on Nov 28, 2023 20:08:36 GMT -5
"Actually, I think I might have to stab Zychni- my gun was not as effective on Velkyn as I'd hoped. But, I've got a god killing sword from Sylvanus that does the trick." Sae rebutted with a genuine smirk.
"Right. Well, the unique status is called being on Exodus. And it's a bad thing. No gunslinger or chapterhouse is obliged to help me, and my black badge marks me as someone awaiting trial for oath breaking."
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Post by Ancelas on Nov 29, 2023 20:42:42 GMT -5
Ve'ra noted the comment about the gun and the sword - that would be something to consider in future battles. "Mm... it is not that you are awaiting trial, then - you are being tried. Tested to see if you were right to break your oath. In my old priesthood, this would be a trial of independence - to measure your power, stripped of the support of your peers."
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