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Post by Storyteller on Feb 3, 2021 0:55:17 GMT
"Or perhaps the other way 'round, friend," I say. "In serving our company, you serve the land, the druids, and Alaxton and Abrexa." I smile at him. "It is pleasant to have another friend."
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Feb 3, 2021 1:09:08 GMT
"Yes, in everything I serve the All and thus all pieces are part of the whole. Are you versed in our traditions? And also yes, it is pleasant to gain friends. I did not expect such outside of my own land."
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Post by Diocles on Feb 3, 2021 1:10:01 GMT
(commenting to get notifications)
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Post by Storyteller on Feb 3, 2021 1:14:38 GMT
"I know only a little, such as I learned of the other traditions when I studied Galadrin's ways. I know, of course, that Abrexa and Alaxton together are invoked as the gods of nature, and that the Shezazi ways are admired beyond all other druidic orders. The Shezazi are the order to which others aspire."
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Feb 4, 2021 0:35:45 GMT
"The Shezazi are indeed to be respected. We Spears learn much from them. The most important lessons being we must look after the land and be sure it thrives. We must preserve the cycles of birth and death, sowing and reaping, taking and replenishing. Since we burned our cities all of the land itself has become our home. It provides for us, protects us, defends us and in return we care for her. Many other peoples concern themselves with Order and Chaos, Good and Evil but we know that each is a part of the All. Each of them is necessary in its place. Very few peoples have respect for the land. They see it as merely something from which to take."
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Post by Storyteller on Feb 4, 2021 0:45:58 GMT
"When I was young--" I break off, feeling the full irony of this statement given my age. "When I was younger, I thought I saw the benefits of both Law and Chaos, but now, I cannot see any good in Chaos..."
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Feb 4, 2021 1:20:32 GMT
"Yes, from your recent experiences I get the sense that you have seen the full brunt of Chaos unbridled. It can be terrible."
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Post by Storyteller on Feb 4, 2021 1:34:06 GMT
"Not only terrible," I say, "for the wrath of the sea is terrible, and yet in that I can rejoice. No, it was evil. Purely evil. Treachery in flesh..."
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Feb 4, 2021 1:37:32 GMT
"Someday when the wound is not so fresh I would like to hear the story in full. But for now I do not wish to cause deeper grief."
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Post by Storyteller on Feb 4, 2021 2:07:21 GMT
"I appreciate your delicacy," I say. "But ... perhaps now is as good a time as any. After all, you already know I prostituted myself to a slaver, so the rest can only, perhaps, palliate the fault." I do not look into Rajit's face as I speak the rest, low and quickly.
"A little while ago, just before we met you at the Hooded Falcon, in fact, my cousin and I had been traveling, with Drusinicus and the thrice-accursed other cousin, whose name I do not speak. We four traveled with a band of Grorekathi, who had taken me on as their temporary Sentinel. As we traveled northward, the Ausir slaver ship, the Wolf, which you have seen, set upon us. They were seeking out the cursed one, for vengeance. But they were inexorable. The caravan and my companions would have been enslaved. For me, they could have only set upon me a little, for they could not keep a prisoner aboard their vessel. My magic would have been too much for them if they tried to fly. But so long as they did not, they could take all my power from me, from my companions..." I trail off.
After a deep breath, I say, "I am considered lovely. I seem to inspire men with lust. So I offered to the slaver captain that if he would release the Grorekathi and take my companions northward, I would serve him as a prostitute for the whole of the time. He accepted that offer. So I told my companions to stand down and be taken aboard. That I would answer for their safety, and that they needed to do nothing but keep quiet and wait."
Tears are gleaming in my eyes, but I do not pause in my words. "I sold myself as a whore, and my dearest cousin Aethyl trusted to me and to my words. But the other accursed one--and Drusinicus, too--came aboard the ship and began to fight immediately. They betrayed me, betrayed my trust, and showed that to them I was nothing. Not my sacrifice, not my word. The Ausir captain cut the Chaos-Lover's throat like a dog and threw him overboard. Drusinicus he spared because of Aethyl's words, claiming a madness for the gladiator. Aethyl, however, was lying to save his friend. The gladiator was not mad; he simply turned his back on me."
I blink away at the tears, but I do not yet reach up to wipe them. "The captain held to his word, and I to mine. We were delivered to the Hooded Falcon, unharmed but for my honor. That you went with my dearest cousin to redeem that honor is a precious gift to me, Rajit, Spear of the Shezazi. Thank you."
I wipe my eyes and square my shoulders. "My lord Árón and my Iritari both know this of me. There is no secrecy there. They took their mating oaths to me knowing this. I did not deceive them."
At last I smile weakly. "It was a tale not so long as dreadful, but you deserved to know it."
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Nobody
Alexios Group
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Nobody on Feb 4, 2021 2:07:29 GMT
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Post by Sir Roland Desprez on Feb 4, 2021 2:19:12 GMT
Looking at her solemnly Rajit says "There is no shame in what you did. As I said, there are many mean and women of Sundel who have done things for the good of our people and the land. You sacrificed bravely. I am glad I aided in redeeming your honor. I am also glad another Ausir slave ship is out of the sky. I am sorry about your cousin. It sounds like he loved Chaos, blood or madness, one or all, and paid for that love in losing his life and his companions."
Inwardly he wonders what could drive a man to such extremes.
"Now the telling is done and no harm has been done in the telling. Put this behind you and trust in those with you now. If we stay faithful to the All and one another, we have a chance."
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Post by Storyteller on Feb 4, 2021 2:21:40 GMT
I smile. "I trust that you will follow the dictates of the Shezazi and of your conscience, noble Spear. You are a good man. I have seen it. I trust my beloved mates and my dearest cousin with my life. It is enough for me."
I say nothing of the remaining companion...
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