A Stitch in Souragne: Symbols of a Fallen Loah

[Ail]

Zumba recognizes the veve immediately, and kneels down reverently. He makes his prayers, and then stands, looking around and calling for the Maiden's name. He expectantly waits for her to appear...

[Ken of Ghastria]

The symbols on the crude altar mean nothing to Lucien -- most of his previous clients had little interest in religion -- but they obviously mean something to Zumba.

As his companion calls out to the mysterious "Maiden," the half-elf reaches up to scratch his chin ... and is immediately repulsed and terrified by the feel of cold flesh. It's the touch of his own hand, now withered and gray like that of a zombie. That chilling reminder of his grim reality nearly sends his mind shrieking madly into a black abyss, but it's a coolness of another sort that pulls him back...

Lucien! You're better than this! he hears Claude call out in his mind, something akin to desperation in the crystal's "voice." Don't yield to despair! Focus... remember, focus on the objective. You will survive. This... condition can be rectified. But you must live to see another day before we can deal with it.

Lucien nods at the words, the only visible indication -- aside from a shudder -- to those standing nearby of the tumult in Lucien's mind and soul. He concentrates and -- not wanting to be surprised by any enemy that may choose to answer Zumba's plea -- summons an invisible barrier between himself and the altar. Then he waits.

___________________________________
Lucien expends 1 pp to manifest force screen (+4 shield bonus, for 6 minutes).

[Rock of the Fraternity]

There is a soft, floral sound, and a beautiful woman dressed as a Souragnien peasant steps out of one of the trees!

She looks humanoid at first glance, but her hair and skin are the rich, vibrant green of growing things, rather than the colours of flesh and blood. Her clothing looks as if it was made from supple pieces of bark and dried leaves, rather than ordinary fabrics. And the 'vibrant' part ends as soon as she breaks contact with the tree. Yellow and brown stains spread across the woman's skin, her hair, even her clothes.

The woman's shoulders slump and she staggers; she has to lean against the tree she came out of, just to stay on her feet.

"You have come, as I hoped you would," she says, her voice kind, but faint. Her green eyes seem to hold an eternity of wisdom as she looks at you all -- and also an eternity of pain. "I pray that you have not come too late." Her eyes fix on Goren. "Especially you. You carry a deadly disease."

[steveflam]

OOC: Sorry I have been rather away, but real life can kick your behind. I haven't followed much, but maybe Rock can catch me up?


Goren is surprised to see the woman step out of the tree. At her words he is startled, needless to say.

"Why do you saying, I is malade? I feel fine, madame."

[Ken of Ghastria]

Lucien is taken aback by the woman's sudden appearance, and it takes every ounce of his self-restraint to not shoot her with his crossbow. This land is full of unpleasant surprises. He suddenly longed to stroll through the streets of Pont-a-Museau, where a typical surprise was a knife in the back or a lover's betrayal.

"Your pardon, mademoiselle," he says hesitantly. "We can help each other, I believe. You have been expecting -- or at least hoping -- to see us. What can we do to help this land regain its health?"

[Ail]

Lucien is taken aback by the woman's sudden appearance, and it takes every ounce of his self-restraint to not shoot her with his crossbow. This land is full of unpleasant surprises. He suddenly longed to stroll through the streets of Pont-a-Museau, where a typical surprise was a knife in the back or a lover's betrayal.

"Your pardon, mademoiselle," he says hesitantly. "We can help each other, I believe. You have been expecting -- or at least hoping -- to see us. What can we do to help this land regain its health?"

Zumba smiles as the Maiden steps out of the tree. How he jumped the first time he saw her do that. But now, after all these years, it's a welcome sight that mades him laugh...

That is, until he notices that she does not look well. Her stained body and clother suggest decay and hardship, and her frailty is evident.

He gulps, and offers his support to the maiden.

"I have come, I am going into bad places. We need your protection, oh gentle loah."

[A G Thing]

Orda stands behind the others still. She is not sure what to do other than to hold back from reacting. She feels discomforted and even a slight amount of anger but she knows that she is in control of it. The others seem to be controlling themselves and some even seem to trust this loah and revere it.

She watches and listens to it all but simmering beneath the surface is a want to attack. You don't trust the fey or the spirits. You respect and fear them. She does that now.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

OOC: On the off chance that anyone is still interested after my shameful absence...

The Maiden of the Swamps drifts over to Goren, as elegant as a falling leaf, and reaches out a verdant hand to briefly caress his face. An intense smell of green, growing things and flowers fills the air, and Goren feels the receding of a taint whose presence had not been clear to him until now.

Just for a moment, there is birdsong, and the light of day seems a little less hateful. But then yellow and brown spots race up the Maiden's hand from where she touched the Cleric, past her wrist to her elbow. Her beautiful face twists with pain and she utters a faint cry. Stumbling, her limbs creaking, the beautiful creature heads for one of the trees and into it.

A moment passes, then a second... a third. Finally, the Maiden of the Swamps reemerges. "I am dying," she says, her voice bleak. "I am the meanest shadow of the full Maiden of the Swamps, she who is the Land, and this means she is dying. Have you not been told of the regalia? The high Voodan of my Higher Self's opposite was meant to tell you... Or was it me? My mind wanders more and more... My body is withering, I can barely use any power, other than to preserve this island... I am at my limits."

[Ail]

Zumba stands turning his face to the ground. Compassion for the maiden, mixed with an unquenchable rage against who caused her frailty, assault his mind. He clenches his fists and closes his eyes for a second: a resolution!

"That settles it then! It is your will also that we go, I shall not waste more time. Give me your blessing please, and I'll depart for the deepest of this swamp. I shall have those regalia!"

A fugitive tear emerges at a corner of his eye. He can't hold the disappointment that seeing the Maiden in this state has caused him.

[steveflam]

Goren blushes at the Maiden's touch, then feels relieved once she is done. He can tell she gave up much to help him and a slight sadness
encompasses him, knowing she has sacrificed much to help him. Someone she barely knows. He is deeply touched by her sacrifice.

"I very merci, madame. Moi tres touché by your act" He bows with respect.

" I promise to the best of moi abilités, madame. With Lathander blessing I help you most I am possible,
madame."

[Ken of Ghastria]

Lucien makes no move as the strange tree-woman acts. He simply watches carefully.

After Zumba's outburst, he cautions, "Easy, Zumba... we will seek these 'regalia.' But let's not charge ahead blindly."

He turns to the woman, "Mademoiselle, excuse me, I know you are weak, but the regalia.... Do you know of any obstacles that the Land's enemy may have placed in our path? We need to be prepared."

[Ail]

It's not easy to subdue his rage when it swells up. Zumba acknowledges Lucien's words, and he summons his physical training to try and control himself. But it's not easy. While the others continue questioning, he steps away a while and begins doing some push-ups to spend the excess of energy he is feeling right now.

[A G Thing]

Orda holds herself back from striking at the approaching spirit as it moves to touch Goren. The strange feel of the area and the simple sight of the Loa's actions makes her spine shiver.

She barely realized how tense she was in this place. Her hand had unconsciously gripped the hilt so tight that she only noticed it when her hand could grip it no tighter.

Still she now eyes both Goren and this Loa a bit more cautiously. The others seem to be trying to find out where this regalia is. Still Zumba seems to be ready to act, but his energy is less contained than hers.

Orda eventually looks at the spirit woman, and for a moment their eyes meet. Orda looks away for a moment and shakes her head, gritting her teeth as if to clear thoughts from it. She returns to watching calmly, but the longer they stay in this Loa's presence the more agitated she becomes.

The sooner they leave here the better, for the land and for her peace of mind.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

The Maiden's eyes meet Orda's, and they become slightly more lucid -- and infinitely more sad.

"Such suffering in you," she sighs. "So many shadows clinging to your coattails. I would help you if I could, but your nature is as it is, and I can not go against nature. Worry not, child, for I am no enemy to you. Not to any of you. You are my last hope to survive."

Turning to Lucien, the Loah smiles faintly. "I can not leave this island anymore. There was a time when I could, though not for long, but now... there is a creeping sickness rising from beneath the swamp, and my home is attacked. I must be here to defend it, for it is my life. Traps, there will probably be galore. But not where you are going. The first of the regalia is with... Anton. The Baron. You will be guided to him, for he is one in purpose with us in this, but he is a trap all of himself."

The Maiden smiles faintly at Zumba. "Son of Souragne, you have my blessing, for what it is worth. But be warned; you still walk under a much mightier blessing, and that has come at a price. You are to be the Land's knight defender, because you have received freedom."

Finally, the Loah looks at Goren, and any semblance of a smile vanishes. The wondrous spirit-being gives the Cleric a sober look as she whispers: "Your service has already been decided. It is why you were drawn to Souragne. Once the regalia have been found, you must be the horse."

[steveflam]

Goren listens attentively to her. Once she is done and she tells him his part, he is honored yet afraid at the same time. He is getting the impression that this Anton Misroi is more than he seems to be. She doesn't mention much about him and neither do the others as of yet.
Being the Horse for all the Regalia intrigued him.

Now he knows why he is here at least. The man sincerely hopes he is up to the task at hand. If all went according to plan then they would
save this island Souragne. Their next stop is Anton Misroi and as thus, the cleric a little more than intrigued by this.

"Je fait de mon mieux, Madame. Merci for your trust in me." He looks around then to the others.

" We go visit this Anton Misroi now, oui?"