View source for A Knight to Catch Up

It's Tariday, Eatonis 31, 1022

Ezil seeks Faranmidahn of the Purple Rose, finally tracking her down in the Temple of the Hunter, deep in prayer and is slightly unsettled by her offerings. As they make way for other supplicants, they speak to the state of things, when Ezil's lightening mood treads on Faran's shame sharpened nerves. They touch upon the plight of their friend Cryosanthia, and Faran makes a blood oath to aid him in setting things right with her. This bothers Ezil, and after some further back and forth, Faran in pursuance of her promise, starts to tell the paladin what she knows about the plague, starting with the first day they tested the water in the Fernwood, to frame what happened the next. Along the way, she takes a moment to address something she noticed about Ezil's self deprecation, then later, as she tries to put the Test itself into context, she gives him a somewhat unrefined lesson in magic schools.

Ezil is stunned that all that was relayed was merely a warm up to the main show...


-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* A10: Temple of Gilead *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

          For being a god of the natural world, Gilead's Temple is one of the most active within the City. Sacred Hounds mix with the mutts of the City and roam throughout the ancient stone temple. The temple itself resembles a kind of large dais or low pyramid, surrounded by stubborn trees and the vestiges of the wild that insist on growing even here, in the center of Alexandria. 

          Tne temple's exterior platform is reached by ancient stairs. It is upon this platform and beneath the open sky where most of the activity takes place. For more formal affairs and for offerings, a modestly-sized building rests within the platform's center. Ancient of look and of craft, a great tree grows within this building, reminiscent of the First Tree of the World, Ygdrassil.

          If one enters the central building, one will be treated to a circular-cut out in the middle where sunlight (and wind, and rain) pours in, at the whim of the weather. A grove populates this building, with the one, great tree at its center. It towers over the other trees present--they appear almost dwarfed by its appearance, though are actually quite normal in size. Too, any number of wild creatures that should never be found within the City proper rest here, yet Gilead's presence here allows it. Many of them are under treatment by the Hunters, though some have become permanent residents.

          While Hunters tend the grove, the Wardens serve as guards. If one ascends the central tree itself (for there is a door built into it), one shall find a palatial altar among the branches, waiting for supplicants to lay fresh-cut branches and fresh-killed game upon it.

          The temple here is one of the busiest in the City, approaching the realm of Daeus and Althea, who stand as mother and father to the Son of Hounds. Gilead's hounds lie along the benches, near workers who sit to the side on the stone benches atop the platform, crafting arrows, discussing the recent hunt, and more. Druids openly walk the grounds, frequently accosted by farmers from out of town seeking veterinary advice and treatment for their livestock, or in some cases, solutions to vermin problems. The clerics themselves are actually more reclusive, frequently passing their time in the rooms beneath the stone temple, or hidden among the light, forest-like grounds that insists on growing around it. 

                                EXTRAS: +view                                 

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 Faranmidahn     Albino Lucht woman in black leather armor with a BIG  spider
 Ezil	          An armored man with dark skin, and grey-blonde hair.
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Out <O>                   
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The Hunter's temple is busy as normal, with a loose, near constant procession of supplicants awaiting their chance to ascend the great tree to make their offerings of branch or game. They speak as many do, about weather, about crops, or the conditions of predators vs prey as it relates to their lives, though always with that reverent respect.

Further inside, at the grove, where any inquiries of the clergy make note that the little knight had left her mount, selfsame spider is roaming along the smaller trees, seemingly exploring. While, further up, at the top of the Great Tree itself, Faran has her place at the altar and has, by all accounts, been there for some hours in an uncharacteristic silence. In uncharacteristic, or rather, different raiment than any her adventuring companions have ever seen.

Ezil is wearing his armor, the blue of Althea unmistakable in his heavy cloak as he enters this temple. If one might still question, a rose sits upon his shield, and his buckle to his sword belt is shaped like a starburst, representing one of the many other names Althea is called. Paying respects, the man takes his time, and crosses slowly toward where Faranmidahn prays, nodding to the acolytes, and those that tend this place from afar. He does not have his usual air, nothing casual about this visit, but he is friendly, smiling, but clearly on some sort of mission. It took him a bit to find the Little Knight, but at least he seems glad for it.

Faranmidahn, identifiable if only for the mad haystack of bone and ivory waves that spill around her, almost seems to have gotten an actual tan at first, the illusion of skin eroding to proximity as rough spun silk dyed the hue of desert sand. A dress, or, perhaps more a long, high slit tunic over what seems leggings with a texture like a wrapping of cobweb. Her traveller's knife is absent from her thigh, though her Longsword is lain to her right hand, bow to her left and quiver behind. Before her, two branches of local oak frame a rabbit taken with an arrow, neck slit no doubt as mercy. The blood has since dried on her hands, clasped in prayer as she stares up from her knees with a grim, resolute expression on her face.

It's a somewhat grim scene to Ezil, but he doesn't much understand the ways of Gilead. "Am I interrupting?" he asks from a few feet away, Giving Faran a berth as he doesn't know what it is he is interrupting. "If it's a bad time, I understand." his glance going about the temple once more, not focusing on the blood, something about it always making him uneasy. Perhaps it is death, but then he's seen that. What ever it is that conflicts him about this... he says nothing.

Faranmidahn closes her eyes and lowers her head, but her lips are still vaguely downturned. She unlaces her fingers and turns to look up to him with a soft, 'Hello, Ezil.' Simple and succinct. The little Lucht twists to take up her quiver buckle it around her waist resting against her back, then the bow, slung to her shoulder as she intones something reverential in her mother tongue, "Until my hunts are done." The longsword, the blade of the spider-knight is then, at last, reaffixed in place, 'I've wanted to speak to you.' She then tries to rise, though, apparantly something easily surmised troubles her legs and she staggers with a cry of dismay. <halfling>

Ezil notices that irritation and raises a brow, looking at the small knight with curiosity. "If you're hurt, I can tend that... but..." his point trailing off for a moment, his tone soft, not lettin his voice cary as he continues after a brief pause. "What did you need of me? It seems we were... wanting to talk to one another then." letting her agenda go before his, not one to rush things, but a hand lazily motions again to her legs, not forgetting that pained expression. "Though we can talk while I work?" his offer now more of a concern, but not pushing. It's still a question.

The little one looks up at her friend, somewhat puzzled by the look on his face at first, though more consternated by whatever troubles her wobbly knees and below. Faran reaches out to Ezil for support, "N-no! Not hurt, aaaaaah!" she groans in annoyance then stamps her feet in turns almost petulantly, "I nnnnn... I think we're like minded."

Ezil recognizes that issue, nodding slowly as he lets out some relief in a sigh. "Well, at least that's fortunate. No wounds, and like minded makes things easier." noting with a shift where he stands, his shield adjusted over his shoulder while feeling a bit awkward in this place. "Still, tell me first what you are wishing to know. I more wanted to talk of.... things in general." That's a half-truth.

Straight to it, then, she nods with a sigh as she seems to get getting feeling back in her feet, "I'd know our enemy." there, in the sentence bereft of even her meager formalities, congealing in the word itself, what can only be called 'venom'. He has seen her broken, now he stares into the edges, her eyes pools of vendetta, but she forcibly lowers them, "But, later for that...." A hand, wrapped like her legs, rises to her face, "Please... what of you? Are you..." 'hurt' would be a stupid question, both of them are, "Injured, my friend?"

"Not like some. My hurt will mend in time, but it will be there a while." Ezil speaking of something not physical, making a paning motion with his free hand. "I shall endeavor to keep my head up, but the times seem rough in Alexandria.... and beyond." a thought of something else, shaking his head. "At least the horn was returned, despite that madness." his tone calm, low, but he is ever stating his mind on such things.

Faranmidahn sighs and nods and, perhaps, letting herself touch even that slightly troubling success softens her eyes as she regards him anew, "Me too." Not 'And I as well' or other contrivance, "But I've made my offerings, we should make way." Sure enough, as soon as she starts to edge away, the rabbit and branches are cleared away and more supplicants bear their own respective tithe.

Ezil nods and moves with her, letting her set the pace and way. "Apologies. I didn't mean to clutter the sanctity of this place." content to move on, though that eye casts back to the offering altar. "Is it a sacrifice?" he asks, curious, but he soon moves on with the topic. "The issue with the White-One." hardly ever using Cryosanthia's name, does show where some of his thoughts roam. "Too much for me to decide what needs to be done. Things seem to refuse to want to wait."

Faranmidahn shakes her head, "It's an offering. A gift claimed with respect to nature, and given up to the Hunter, sharing the bounty of his blessing with him, in turn. The other rabbit was breakfast." Explanation over, and the pair descending the stair, she looses a light sigh and, "May I ask you something?"

Ezil nods once. "Anything." he answers, his curiosity peaked with that explanation. "I just know little about the Gilead Temple or ways of the wild types. I like animals, just no... harming them." offering another thought, but looking to her as he awaits her question.

Faranmidahn smiles sadly and she looks up to him, about to reach his way when she realizes the spattering of her hands, and insteads clasps them daintily before her, "To hunt and eat is part of nature, eating from the green is, too. I don't hunt a lot, but when I do, it's usually small game that will not go to waste, or it's something I drive into Torrent. Please understand I do everything I can to make sure nothing suffers."

Ezil laughs, nodding his head. "I know it is necessary, but I do not like harming any creature." his words warm as he looks to her hands, and takes both them despite the gore in one of his own. "Worry not, I am okay, just.... I don't think the world has to conform to my belief." he muses, giging her hands a squeeeze. "So, what else is it on your mind?"

Faranmidahn lowers her eyes then, "You were both wrong, you know." she says softly, face downturned, her head shakes, "Whatever demons drove her, -I- was supposed to be the bait..." and, even as she says that, her other hand comes up in a warding fashion as she doesn't think she's done speaking yet, but her friend may have other ideas....

Ezil raises a brow, huffing. "Both of us? It's possible. I am not some infalable being, Faran. I am just human, and a very flawed one. I try to use my blessing for the right cause, but I am lost in this world just like everyone else. I try and do my best, but we all mess it up. It's part of life." he answers in a vague way, but pauses. "So what was I wrong abour really? Explain... because a lot of things come to mind."

Faranmidahn closes her eyes completely and shakes her head, "I shouldn't have listened to her, I should have kept what I was doing, I would have had the creature's attention, I know it! But... I trusted her size would protect her better than mine had the night before. Instead, I moved to follow her orders, taking up the beer to destroy it, even though I had to keep my detection spell running." The opens her eyes and starts to look up at him, but, as though her head suddenly was fighting gravity, she fails in that regard, "I'd agreed to escort her that night... she was in my charge. My -knightly- charge.... yet... I" her voice breaks in shame, "It... somehow didn't.... I don't know why I wouldn't.... I betrayed her.... -I- put her in that situation... Salina hurt her... but I... I made it happen.... "

Ezil stares at Faran, his hand going to her shoulder as he goes to a knee to look on her with a stern glance. "You hold too much accountability in your heart. We are all only responsible to ourselves in the end, and you did what you thought best. She could usually, and has always handled her own well, and no one saw this coming, Faranmidahn. Your honor is hurt. Your heart. Your feelings. You are hurting, and I understand." his words low as he looks away, but squeezes her gently a second time, moving to hug her quickly after. "Forgive yourself, because I will need you to help me unravel this mess. All of us made mistakes, even her. Now... new we fix them, and do what we can. We learn... if we don't then all we fight for falls apart."

"Never..." Faran says softly, starting to turn to continue down the stairs, "But... we can't let this stand." She glances down at her sword, thumbing the blade free a couple of inches and closes her hand around the bare steel with a wince. She pushes it back into the sheath, ignoring the surprised looks of the other supplicants and holds up her hand, "I pledge myself to your quest. Spend my life as you deem necessary."

Ezil laughs as he can't help but shake his head. "Not necessary to pledge yourself. Just be there, and walk with me as we try and undo this madness. I ask not you to die, but to live until the task is done. Death... is something I hope we can avoid, but we will give our lives if we must... but only if... we must." winking to her as he stands, chuckling over something. "I don't see this like others do. It's about the people, all of them. It's about protecting the light. We have to bear our tasks as long as we can, and not die for nothing. It's about making every action count, and hoping for the best. There are no guarantees, but I would rather have a friend than a pledged devout, Faran."

Faranmidahn stops cold and turns to look up at him, stricken as her hand drips crimson onto the fluff of her leg, "Do you think this a game?" she asks in tight incredulousness, "In one night, I've disgraced my Order, my calling, my family, and betrayed one of my first real friends besides Torrent. I have -nothing- besides protecting the innocent and trying to make this right! NOTHING!"

"It's not a game, Faran. It's life. It's messy, and nothing ever goes to any plan. It's unpredictable and wild.... but one mistake. One misstep is not the end of everything we are. We are not born perfect soldiers to our deity. We are are just people... people who have to grow stronger and take on more than others. The innocent are all I think of. It's my doctrine... but... we are not perfect."

Faranmidahn lowers her face a moment, his tempering words cooling her fire to a simmer, "All I... ever wanted was to love.... and see everyone safe... everyone happy. To be a worthy knight, like my father... Ashes, now." She shakes her head and looks up to him, "I will not be a machine... but if the need is there, Ezil... the pact is made and done."

"Me too, Knight Faran. I want people to live happy and free. I want all the races to get along despite the hate... I want a lot of things. They will come with time, dedication, pain, and.... thinking we could always be victorious is folly. We will lose. We will hurt, but we must get back up. We have too, because if not... the light loses." his words calm, as if mentioned to himself a thousand times. Ezil seems to know a bit of loss. "We should focus on what to do now, and win. One battle is not the war. It is still being waged, and we have work to do."

Faranmidahn smiles sadly, a little bit of hope that maybe together they can salvage something, but, she nods and, keeping her injured hand closed and away from him, she steps up into trying to embrace him.

Ezil watches those drippings, shaking his head and letting out a sigh as he returns that embrace. "You are a proud little thing, and I admire that... but I accepted death as an outcome a long time ago. I'm sorry if I offend you with how easily I might seem to be taking it, but... I don't focus on the problems. I focus on the solutions. Telmentar chose me... Gilead chose you. We are still here, and fighting the fight." giving her a squeeze, and letting his aura take her, and heal her wound. "I don't mean to deny you what you think is right... but what I need is a friend who plans to live. Not one who plans to die. We will fix this, and see something done. Only when we see the cost will we choose the price."

Faranmidahn gives him a squeeze as the wound heals, "I... don't want to die, Ezil. I want to see Torrent's babies.... and m-maybe... maybe I... could be a good mother, but... I have to make things right, I'm sorry I misread your feelings."

"No need to apologize. My feelings are there. They tell me to throw everything at this, but I can't do it blindly. Rage and anger aren't how one needs to approach this. We are dealing with demons, and vampires. Those who use your thoughts and emotions agaisnt you. I learned from Jerboba how manipulative they can be. Now is the time for us to prepare and bide our time. We search, research, and make an opportunity. We don't have to wait, but charging off with a sword in hand is what they want. Kol took Azog from us, and let him loose on our party. The Fae Queen can do more than that... we will need a real plan. Your conviction was never in doubt with me, but.... understanding that I am doing this to win means realizing I have to late that hate inside go." Ezil's words coming with a sigh as he lets go and looks towards the door. "It sucks, doesn't it?"

Faranmidahn nods, "I saw.... in your face last night, there was something like a plan rolling behind your eyes." She swallows, "I know you're... a good man, Sir. I... am not at my best, Ezil, and I swore myself to your judgement because of it."

"I had thought to try and undo all of this mess, Faran. I wanted to find Eclavdran and have him take me to the Shard Tower. He's taken and smuggled others inside... but." Ezil's words dropping. "Trusting demons, more so, a Duke of the Hells is folly. I wanted to do anything in that moment to take it all back. The tower can flow through time... and so that means anything can be undone." looking then to Faran with a harder tone. "A boys dream. A fool's mission. I realize now that all we can do is take her back, and destroy all of it so it can't happen again. Yes, I had a plan... but it was stupid."

Faranmidahn watches him with earnest concern as he speaks, a hand covering her mouth as he mentions considering throwing in with the demon. As he hardens, his plot abandoned, she looks crestfallen, "What would we do, then...?"

"The answer involves cold iron, and sending them packing by force." Ezil says sternly. "I am not a fool to ever throw in with demons, but I was tempted. It's how they get you. They make the impossible seem possible, and then with one misstep they have your soul." his words lighter as he forces a smile, looking about the Temple. "You can think of me what you will, but I feel the same pain. I just hide it better than others." shifting and letting out a heavy sigh. "Seldan and Zeke will have better ideas. Mikilos has the plague, and until cured is.... not as useful. They will have a plan, one I can support hopefully."

Faranmidahn frowns, "We had a plan the night all of this happened, too." she observs sourly, then shakes her head, "It was morning mist under the sun."

Ezil laughs as he raises a brow. "What plan did you have?" asking confused, not catching something. "It may not be relevant now, and have gone just as quickly as you say, but I knew of no plan."

Faranmidahn frowns, "I would speak of it but... not here and... I can't bear seeing the Fernwood just now." she says softly, probably not to cause a riot.

Ezil nods as he looks about once more, and nods yet again. "I understand... but what we face are foes that can change the world if we let them. This isn't like the Horn, or Eclavdran's little plans to cure the plague, and capture souls. This is going to be like war. I don't see why people pretend differently. We have to be smart about what we do. How long have they plotted? You heard Cryosanthia. A lifetime for me and you.... time means nothing to them."

Faranmidahn nods, "Of course you're right, but, perhaps away from the others, at least? The grove, perhaps, Torrent should still be having fun down there."

Ezil flushes, looking away. "Sorry. I forget it isn't for all ears. It worries, and sparks fear." something that Ezil doesn't seem to feel it seems. "I just... when I decide someone is worth trusting... I hold nothing back." motioning for her to lead if she will. "Apologies, again."

Faranmidahn hugs him again with her tiny arms, but for a moment then looks up to him, "I will answer freely." She -did- promise, then turns and starts to move more briskly down the stair...

Ezil follows, smiling after that hug. He takes a moment while following before he speaks again. "Do I really seem like I think it's a joke?" he finally asks, killing the brief silence.

Faranmidahn hangs her head, "Forgive me... I haven't rested well." It isn't long before they reach the grove, a reasonably private alcove of sorts in the trees, "It started, actually, the night before."

"I do joke, and sometimes at the wrong time... but I feel people need it. Spirits can't always rest in the dirt when hope is scarce." his words low as he moves to lean against of the trees in this alcove. "You have nothing to ask forgiveness for. I don't get mad at such things. I get mad at suffering, and pain caused to those I know, and those I can see." he assures. "Stop worrying for me. Lets use that energy elsewhere."

Faranmidahn nods and settles down onto an upraised root, "The night before, I had entered the Fernwood on a lark, just craving something different. Cryosanthia was there, as was Zeke and several others. A nice man named Dorne, Miss Elly, and a silver scaled Sith, Durrankar I think. Cryosanthia mentioned being stuck with a demon, but I wasn't sure if her meaning was literal."

"That demon was what she faced in Charn. Her capture, and her fight for freedom. That all happened before we knew her as she is now." Ezil says, sighing. "I think, at least. The only demon anyone is bound to is me. I doubt she was hanging out with Jerboba, and Kol's a vampire." he tries to muse, shaking his head then, looking to Faran and offering a small smile. "I could be wrong. Often I am, but I know of no demon she was stuck with other than her fears."

Faranmidahn frowns and nods, a little sparkle building in the corner of her eye, but she closes them and continues, "Zeke had a map of the attacks, disappearances and other related instances. Including our previous attempt to scry on the vampire." She thinks to the outcome of -that- fun experiment and shakes her head, then, "And he noted that the primary foci of the attacks were the Soldier's Defense, and the Temple of the Enduring One." One of Vardama's names.

"I suspect the attack on the garden might not of been an attack but a distraction." Ezil says seriously, looking down to Faran with a sigh. "Kol had no plan. It was all about as much damage as they could do, but for what purpose? If they had a hundred years to plan, why be so haphazard?" he offers, but finding himself nodding to the woman's words. "I guess others might think so too if they are looking into the disappearances, and his activities... but even as we take precautions from them." Ezil flashing the ring on his finger with his words. "They will be doing the same from us. She is no fool. This Fae Queen is masking her tricks."

Faranmidahn frowns and nods, "There was some discussion about an encounter with the vampire, apparantly..." she squirms on her root and looks completely abashed, "One fell to the same sort of sorcery I did when we sought the horn. Durrankar had... things to say about that."

"I heard Durrankar and Un'eth discuss this about Azog. Wanting to take his head until this was over." Ezil laughing at the Sith-Makar's musings, and banter. "I can never tell if their kind is joking or not, but neither of those two are pleased with Kol and the Shard Tower." something bringing his mirth to the surface once again. "I can't say I blame them, Azog is more than a forc of nature when unleashed. I am sure even I would feel fear at finding his blade against mine. I was lucky I had a chance to flee that fight." a hard breath ending his words, and shaking his head. "Madness. All of it."

Faranmidahn frowns and sighs, "I'll get to them." She shake her head, "When magic seizes your mind, it has a -mechanism- for doing so, and-!" She clams up, shakes her head again, then, "Anyway... Zeke spoke that perhaps the slimes, plague... whatever, may empower 'Her'" taste the airquotes, then, "By 'her' I must now presume Sally." Because she knows about demon naming, so.... "So the concentractions of victims may be serving to more strongly power her, or, if there is strife, present the vampire with a more compelling target."

"It's good insight, Faranmidahn. I like hearing your thoughts and reasoning." Ezil says with a bob of his own head, seeming to be still in thought. "I have never experience it, but... it's good to know how it works, and makes others feel. It will aid in dealing with those after... and it sounds terrible." his smile fading. "I don't think as openly as that. To me, you were under control, and I could tell it. One moment friend, another... foe? No. You were seized. The tales of it are numerous in the Faring Folk's legends." 

"I'm sorry, though. I should of made it clear that I saw that for what it was, because the guilt you feel is also on our part." Ezil reasons. "We should of let you know you weren't responsible for it. We all knew it. I'm pretty sure most did. Hells. I know Cryosanthia better than most, and she knew and succambe to same magical compulsions!" his voice huffing a laugh at the irony. "I make complex things simple, but I forget others don't do the same. I'm not that smart. I hide it. I feel bad people think I am good at what I do, but I am just a human... blessed by Telmentar. Why? I don't even think she knows."

Faranmidahn frowns, "I'm a sorceress, Ezil.... I should have been able to fend it off!" Because that's always how it works, "Cryosanthia was still my friend, but... the priest was... so much more my friend." Ahem, "The Mul'iessa with us... we'd just met." She regards him for some time as he relates being 'a human' and chimes in at last with, "Can I confess something to you, Ezil?"

"I am a Paladin of Althea. I am a protector of the community. I mean.... I don't really know what the Temple has preached about us. I follow the codes written, but I learned the word from my mother. Not the Temple." Ezil says at length, but sighs. "It's a story I don't tell. Sorry. I said part of it to explain something.... I don't keep secrets from the community. However, that means to me... anything that would harm the community I would tell freely.... but, on the other hand? Some secrets have their place. If you're comfortable with that. You can tell me anything. Anytime. That's how friends work, Faran."

Faranmidahn cants her head slightly, holding his eyes and begins with, "I'm rather young for my people, but we roam, and even at our distance I have seen many peoples, and what I have learned to my awe... is there is no such thing as 'just a human'."

Ezil blinks. "Well, that was a strange tangent for me to go on, for a question I did not expect." chuckling at himself, and sighing. "Sorry. We were tense there, and I thought you might drop something pretty.... heavy?" winking at the small woman. "I don't know what you mean. Humans are humans. We do stupid human things, and think we're right all the time. We are as varied as the sea, but all still kind of the same. Aren't all of us like that? Every race?"

Faranmidahn shakes her head, "No." now it's her turn to laugh, "You still don't see it. The Sil tend to be one way, the Mul another. The sith. The Oruch, Even the Lucht Siuil. There are expections always, but few, by and large, we are as we are." She leans forward, resting her elbows against her knees, "So many more of you branch out of an 'average', and even those who don't can sometimes do something completely shocking, scandalous, or inspiring. There is very little certainly that 'just a human' couldn't start a revolution. Cure a plague. Stop a war before it begins. Every one of you. Every. One... could be -that- one."

"I see elven healers, and Gobbos that can make things of wonder I couldn't even fathom. I see everyone I run with grow, and become stronger. The Sith-Makar. The Lucht. I see growth in all of you. The trip to Charn changed you all. It impacted you in ways I don't understand." Ezil pauses and mulls this over, but it seems her words have throw him off, and he just shrugs. "I can only fix what I see, and in Charn I hated leaving those slaves in the house behind... but I had to draw a line. I carry guilt for it, but I don't let it consume me. I realized that I was still being true to Althea. Saving some was better than none. I wanted to save them all, but we didn't have the resources to do it. I should of been able to save them all, like you felt, and still do feel. We can't let those moments consume us completely. We have to soldier on."

Faranmidahn sighs and nods, "I... I know you did... as.. as much as it bothers me, you were right." She looks faraway for a moment or two, then, "But, perhaps once we have broken these villains we can turn our combined might to saving more."

"I won't let it wait that long." Ezil smirks to Faran. "I will tell Un'eth and Durrankar of the sith who stayed in the fishing village. Those two can coordinate and see if those raiders liberate more. I'd hope that might be enough to entice them into acting. More sith freed, and souls brought to nest." looking the lucht up and down. "If the White-One hasn't told them... you should come too. Tell them what you saw as I did."

There is something that lights her eyes for a moment, then, she seems to weight the balance of asking versus not, then, she pins it for later, "As for them...." There's not a note of fondness in 'them', "Cryosanthia asked Durrakar for a swiftclaw, as she is concerned about being exposed so long as she travels to and from Nictlan. He denied her. And I offered to escort her the next day, should she need."

Ezil raises a brow at that. "What do you mean? When did this happen?" not knowing this tale, shaking his head. "Where and when did she ask for a Swiftclaw?"

Faranmidahn sighs, "This was the night before she was taken. It... becomes important, later." She brings her hands up to her face and smooths her hair back, dried blood flaking off in her locks, "Zeke mused aloud that the vampires attacks seemed random, rather than being a scheduled occurance, and seems to realize at once that the sewer system, even the cisterns, corresponded to the grouping of the attacks. He thought perhaps something may be affecting the water, and so... I asked miss Elly to draw some for me to test."

"Oh, wow. This is all new to me." Ezil notes, listening more intently. "I only had suspicions." he admits, looking down. "Well, what's the rest of this then? I missed a lot when I went to pick up my armor." that having taken him a few days of travel.

Faranmidahn frowns a little, "That's... well... things get a little fuzzy, there. I think Durrankar was talking about sniffing demons out... Elly had brought out some chicken... I don't know if it was as good as it smelled." She holds a hand up to her forehead a moment, and, "The other sith, his mate I think, arrived?"

Ezil nods his head. "Well that's how it happens. When things get going... they tend to leave many behind." her tale answering some questions. "Wait. Durrankar? His Chi-..." Ezil shaking his head. "Yeah, if it was Un'eth... that'a his mate."

Faranmidahn massages her brow for several moments, "I'm... sorry, Ezil, I'm kind of sure of things up to that point, but suddenly I was laying on the floor with Dorne, the nice man, next to me. He said I... 'crashed'?"

Ezil waves a hand, laughing again. "There you go apologizing for things you can't help. I'm not upset. I understand." assuring with his softer tone. "Though 'crashed' is worrying. Did you hit your head at the pub?"

Faranmidahn looks a little vacant for a moment, glancing sidelong as though running through hard math, then, "I... was standing on the chair at the table so I could see the map... then... I was laying on the floor.. " She blushes, "Then I was sitting up and something wet slapped against my face. I think I was..." She glances furtively at Ezil, then, "Regardless!" Ahem, squirm, "Cryo was asking where I was about as Dorned asked me to walk with him back to his temple."

"Well... it was once told to me your kind can go unnoticed easily." Ezil's words coming as he shifts, his armor taking a bit of effort as he shifts, sitting against the tree. "And this was... when things happened? Or?"

Faranmidahn sighs, "There's times when it becomes infuriating." She looks up at him again, and her expression is more intent, if... troubled. She interlaces her fingers as her elbows rest on her knees once more and the lucht proceeds to honor her word about the story, "I climbed back up onto the chair, and cast, at first, my poison detection spell. Happily, it came up empty. Then Zeke asked if there was a magical element involved, and so I switched to that incantation." Her troubled expression blooms to fully grave, "There was. But I was intent on the energy signature, Dorne and Cryosanthia both realized the -water- was moving toward me, and cast their magics in thoughts to protect me. It got bigger."

"Was it a plague ooze?!" Ezil's mind jumping there as she mentions it got bigger. "When you cast magic in their presence, they grow. That's how they hurt those infected. It's why you can't use magic. I discussed this with Seldan, and Mikilos. /IT/ was in the water?"

Faranmidahn nods, but holds up a hand, "You are not wrong, but... please, don't get ahead of me, yet." a subtle tinge of something in her voice, something not anger, "My incantation is as nothing, I can cast it all day, but it doesn't give me all it's potential information at once. I still need to study and... try and analyze how the magic works, to determine it's..." She stops, then wonders curiously, "You know what magic schools are, yes?"

"Nope. I know they exist, but I don't really know what they mean. I know about the source, and the divine... but arcane uses of magic? No." Ezil admits, giving a motion for her to carry on from where he sits. "I 'of' a lot of things, but not in detail."

Faranmidahn nods and smiles, "My magic is... in my blood, but I had to be shown it's use to really get anything out of it. The sources of magic are varied, but... in a lot of ways they work in similar...." She rolls her wrist as she fishes for a word in trade, "Channels? A necromantic spell usually invokes energies from the negative plane, no matter the power using it. An evocation is usually a manifestation of some kind of force, it can even briefly create things to a different degree than an illusion or a true conjuring. That sort of thing."

Ezil nods, listening intently as she tries to explain. "Okay, so evocation can actually make something out of near nothing... but not like conjuring?" puzzled, but then rubbing a hand against his chin. "Like a fireball?"

Faranmidahn claps her hands together delightedly, scattering some sparrows, "Yes! Yes! Exactly so! Or my attack darts which are..." ahem, "First tier level spellcraft. Or Mister Merek's lightening bolts." She looks up as the birds settle in at other trees and offers a sheepish, "Sorry!" then back to Ezil goes her attention, "That is it's school. I'm sure a wizard would be able to describe it more succintly than I can, I hear they have their own language for their magic. I invoke in my own. It's.. more confortable to weave the energies together with the concepts. Anyway, to learn a manifestation's school, or schools, because some magics are more grandiose and complex, is to, in large part, be able to identify the spell, and thereby, perhaps determine the counter."

Ezil is startled by those sparrows, his jolt visible before he laughs. "Goodness, that... point taken." dropping whatever complaint he had, smiling wider. "Well, a little need for that apology, but.... only a little." his logic seeming to follow her explanation. "So you wanted to try and see what had been done, so you could.... undo it?"

Faranmidahn giggles behind her hands, "Not for you, silly, for the birds. They were sleeping I think." for a moment the Lucht of days prior, then she fades back into the Storyteller, "Exactly so. If I could see all the threads, I could at least tell someone which to cut." and she makes a snippy notion with her fingers, the red ones. She sighs and squirms in her seat again, "By the time I was certain how many schools were at play... It was exanding up my arm." Her bangs shives slightly, "I.... had to watch the mechanics of... what was trying to eat me."

"I take it that it wasn't a good think to see." Ezil notes, something on his features softening. "Well, I guess it was good to apologize to them. I don't know how that works, but they had to come from somewhere I suspect." smiling, but it doesn't stay long. "So. What did you see?"

Faranmidahn sighs, swallowing as her arms fold about her self, fingers curling about her arms as her knees press together, "It... there was so much going on, the others were trying to get it off me with sticks and fire but it kept getting bigger, I didn't dare breathe or it would crawl into my mouth or my nose..." She shivers again, "They had stabbed it with burning logs and... it started to act like acid... eating the logs and burning my flesh I could finally determine that it was the pure channel, a universal school that there was more to the puzzle, but suddenly it was distracted, and instead of reaching for my face, it sought Cryosanthia and tried to reach her. I Tried to move us away from her. But I dropped my spell and shouted what little I had determined thus far."

"I see now why you blame yourself for some of this, but.... no one could of known what would happen." Ezil tries to assure, watching mor eintently as her story goes on. "What happened next?" he asks, saving some thoughts for later, and seeming to want to hear more.

Faranmidahn shakes her head, "Once I was sure it was trying to reach Cryosanthia, I started trying to drag us toward the hearth and to make sure I had it's attention, I cast again." She goes silent, then and curls into herself a little bit.

Ezil stands, a hoist of his weight to get on his feet. "Come now, we've had this talk. We can feel bad after we fix this. Now is not the time to dwell on the past. You're telling me something important." crossing towards her and sitting there, a hand slapping her small shoulder lightly. "We will fix this. Or well.... maybe you were right. Die trying. Either way, we won't leave it untouched."

Faranmidahn flinches under the slap, "I-it... ate me!" she answers nearly in a shriek, "I... was traped inside, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't let it go after anyone else and it burned! My skin, my lungs, my eyes burned but I had to keep -looking-" She takes a deep, quaking breath and a more stable second then, "Beer... beer destroyed it."

"Oh wow... that again..." Ezil's head shaking for a bit about that. "I have felt burning like that before. A demon called down fire on me not once, but twice. It nearly killed me. I wish beer would of worked then too." he tries to joke, but still stunned as how the tale gets stranger. "Flaming slime too.... seems I attract a lot of fire." his tone dropping, but this time his hand rubbibg her back briefly. Ezil adds quickly. "I can't imagine what it was like. I just know burning."

Faranmidahn hangs her head, "I've never been so afraid before... I never had t-to stare -into- something like that..." she confesses miserably, "Dorne... Cryosanthia, and Zeke... they were there for me, then and after." There is a shame in her voice, but she changes tracks, "That was as nothing... preamble for the next day."

"Are you serious? This story has two parts?" Ezil's words now showing direct shock as his hand falls away, and he does lays back in the grass and bushes, looking toward the Temple ceiling. "I know things were bad, but this happened after the fight with Kol?" making sure he has his timeline right.

Faranmidahn frowns and sighs, "I said I would tell you anything of relevance, and... many of those things lay the groundwork for what happened, that night." That said, she stands and starts to pace a bit, dusting bark bits from her bottom. She looks to him, then and arches an eyebrow, "According to what everyone was saying, yes. I must assume so."

"It is all relevant." Ezil says from where he lays, his arms crossing over his breastplate as he looks up to her. "Well, continue then? I want to hear more, it's been enlightening hearing what happened. I had thought all was quiet until I ran into the Hearthguard you mentioned. Dorne."