Children of Vecna - Revision history

Morrigu: /* All Debts Means All Debts */

2021-02-23T02:35:04Z

All Debts Means All Debts

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:35, 23 February 2021
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	I had been over the numbers in my own head so many times, all I needed to see was that he had a zero at the bottom of the page. I signed.		I had been over the numbers in my own head so many times, all I needed to see was that he had a zero at the bottom of the page. I signed.

	"Irrin Shoshenkra Vasri, I release you from your Geas. You have kept your promise and paid your debt. Any who ask here shall be told that your word sound." I could feel the change, a subtle shift in the world around me, like the difference between looking at the sky through a glass windowpane or the open air. One weight had been lifted from my shoulders, only to be replaced by another.		"Irrin Shoshenkra Vasri, I release you from your Geas. You have kept your promise and paid your debt. Any who ask here shall be told that your word is sound." I could feel the change, a subtle shift in the world around me, like the difference between looking at the sky through a glass windowpane or the open air. One weight had been lifted from my shoulders, only to be replaced by another.

	My debt was paid, but I had not finished making amends.		My debt was paid, but I had not finished making amends.
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	"Yes, I do. I'm sorry, Fae. I never apologized to you. There are no words that could ever be enough, and so I didn't try, and I should have. I should have tried every day. Every single day, I should have found you to say I'm sorry." It came out all at once, words tumbling on words.		"Yes, I do. I'm sorry, Fae. I never apologized to you. There are no words that could ever be enough, and so I didn't try, and I should have. I should have tried every day. Every single day, I should have found you to say I'm sorry." It came out all at once, words tumbling on words.

	We were both quiet for a moment. ~~Rae~~ had such a strange look on her face, like she couldn't figure out what I was thinking.		We were both quiet for a moment. Fae had such a strange look on her face, like she couldn't figure out what I was thinking.

	"I miss you, Rin," she finally said. "I just want my cousin back."		"I miss you, Rin," she finally said. "I just want my cousin back."

Ratri: /* Marakinth */

2021-02-23T02:18:44Z

Marakinth

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:18, 23 February 2021
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	I'd forgotten how much easier it is to set up and break down camp with two people, rather than doing all of it alone. He had a lyre with him, this Marakinth character, which seemed to be quite important to him. I didn't pry, of course. How hypocritical would that be? It was pleasant to have some music while cooking over the fire, on the days we managed to take a rabbit or some other small game. He's a better hunter than I am, and it was certainly nice to rely less on dried rations. Within a few days, we had tacitly worked out a routine for setting up and breaking down camp, and fell into a comforting daily rhythm.		I'd forgotten how much easier it is to set up and break down camp with two people, rather than doing all of it alone. He had a lyre with him, this Marakinth character, which seemed to be quite important to him. I didn't pry, of course. How hypocritical would that be? It was pleasant to have some music while cooking over the fire, on the days we managed to take a rabbit or some other small game. He's a better hunter than I am, and it was certainly nice to rely less on dried rations. Within a few days, we had tacitly worked out a routine for setting up and breaking down camp, and fell into a comforting daily rhythm.

	As we sat one night, with the fire burning down and the darkness deepening, I had taken out my woodcarving tools and gone to work on a small chunk of the spare firewood. ~~Marakinth~~ was tuning his lyre, in the otherwise quiet night, when there was an unexpected THUNK, and an off-pitch tone followed by an odd moment of silence. He mumbled something I didn't quite catch, but when I glanced up, it was clear something had gone wrong with one of the strings on his lyre. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes narrow, as the normal outdoor sounds reclaimed the silence.		As we sat one night, with the fire burning down and the darkness deepening, I had taken out my woodcarving tools and gone to work on a small chunk of the spare firewood. Kin was tuning his lyre, in the otherwise quiet night, when there was an unexpected THUNK, and an off-pitch tone followed by an odd moment of silence. He mumbled something I didn't quite catch, but when I glanced up, it was clear something had gone wrong with one of the strings on his lyre. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes narrow, as the normal outdoor sounds reclaimed the silence.

	"Do you have a spare?"		"Do you have a spare?"
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	"May I?" I must've looked appropriately thoughtful, or respectful, or something like that, when I held out my hand. Somewhat to my surprise, he actually handed me his prized possession. I looked it over. The highest string was stretched -- unusable, but not entirely broken. I unwound it carefully from the tuning peg, removed the peg, and looked it over. Not only was this peg thicker than the others, it had a rough spot where the string wrapped.		"May I?" I must've looked appropriately thoughtful, or respectful, or something like that, when I held out my hand. Somewhat to my surprise, he actually handed me his prized possession. I looked it over. The highest string was stretched -- unusable, but not entirely broken. I unwound it carefully from the tuning peg, removed the peg, and looked it over. Not only was this peg thicker than the others, it had a rough spot where the string wrapped.

	As I chose a tool from my kit, and started to shape the peg, where the string would wrap, I could've sworn I could feel ~~Marakinth~~ holding his breath. I thinned the peg, smoothed it carefully, and began re-wrapping the string. Before pulling it taut, I paused to cast Mending, to repair the damaged section, then slowly brought the string up to tension. It held, and the adjustment was smoother and finer. ~~Marakinth~~ was looking at me strangely when I held the instrument out to him.		As I chose a tool from my kit, and started to shape the peg, where the string would wrap, I could've sworn I could feel Kin holding his breath. I thinned the peg, smoothed it carefully, and began re-wrapping the string. Before pulling it taut, I paused to cast Mending, to repair the damaged section, then slowly brought the string up to tension. It held, and the adjustment was smoother and finer. Kin was looking at me strangely when I held the instrument out to him.

	"A...friend of mine played lute." I'm pretty sure I looked away, as he took the lyre back from me. "The construction is surprisingly similar. I'm no skilled artisan, to be sure, but a small adjustment can go a long way. You should find it easier to tune that string from now on."		"A...friend of mine played lute." I'm pretty sure I looked away, as he took the lyre back from me. "The construction is surprisingly similar. I'm no skilled artisan, to be sure, but a small adjustment can go a long way. You should find it easier to tune that string from now on."
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	====Bandits====		====Bandits====

	~~Marakinth~~ heard them first, and raised the alarm. Well, really it was more of a mix between an indignant bellow and a sharp battle cry, but it served its purpose. It brought me flying up out of my bedroll in an already wide-awake state, in time to see at least a half-dozen bandits swarming into our clearing. They approached almost in formation, like some kind of combat unit who had trained together, not just your average highway thugs. I assessed the situation quickly, thanking my lucky stars I was not facing this onslaught alone.		Kin heard them first, and raised the alarm. Well, really it was more of a mix between an indignant bellow and a sharp battle cry, but it served its purpose. It brought me flying up out of my bedroll in an already wide-awake state, in time to see at least a half-dozen bandits swarming into our clearing. They approached almost in formation, like some kind of combat unit who had trained together, not just your average highway thugs. I assessed the situation quickly, thanking my lucky stars I was not facing this onslaught alone.

	As I was gathering my wits to act, and forming a plan, I heard ~~Marakinth~~ growl under his breath about the fire dying down, and saw him stumble in the dark. Right, Dragonkin need light. I can do that. I reached out and put a yellow, sunlight-tinted glow on my tent. It was enough to light the clearing at least. I could see his eyes lock on target, taking in the scene the same way I had, calculating a plan.		As I was gathering my wits to act, and forming a plan, I heard Kin growl under his breath about the fire dying down, and saw him stumble in the dark. Right, Dragonkin need light. I can do that. I reached out and put a yellow, sunlight-tinted glow on my tent. It was enough to light the clearing at least. I could see his eyes lock on target, taking in the scene the same way I had, calculating a plan.

	I can only assume they couldn't see ~~Marakinth~~ clearly in his bedroll, and just saw a camp of two with minimal weapons and simple gear. They probably thought it would be easy money to swipe some stuff and ride on.		I can only assume they couldn't see Kin clearly in his bedroll, and just saw a camp of two with minimal weapons and simple gear. They probably thought it would be easy money to swipe some stuff and ride on.

	They were mistaken.		They were mistaken.
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	Seeing the group coming at him in formation, the Dragonkin took up his spear, but didn't ready it immediately. First, he took a deep breath and unleashed his fire on the front of the group. With the whole attacking force suddenly looking a lot crispier than they had a moment ago, and the front line swiftly approaching that spear, I threw an Acid Splash at the back of the line.		Seeing the group coming at him in formation, the Dragonkin took up his spear, but didn't ready it immediately. First, he took a deep breath and unleashed his fire on the front of the group. With the whole attacking force suddenly looking a lot crispier than they had a moment ago, and the front line swiftly approaching that spear, I threw an Acid Splash at the back of the line.

	~~Marakinth~~ brought his spear up to meet the front line's charge, and I started targeting the rest of the back line with rays of frost, focusing on any who tried to run away. A few solid hits from my companion, and one lucky Chaos Bolt from me, and the attacking force was reduced to a pile of corpses.		Kin brought his spear up to meet the front line's charge, and I started targeting the rest of the back line with rays of frost, focusing on any who tried to run away. A few solid hits from my companion, and one lucky Chaos Bolt from me, and the attacking force was reduced to a pile of corpses.

	We stood a moment, catching our breath, looking at the fallen attackers.		We stood a moment, catching our breath, looking at the fallen attackers.

	"Well. Now what?" I asked. ~~Marakinth~~ shrugged. "Now we dig a big hole, I guess," I muttered. Not how I wanted to spend my night, but even though we spoke precious few words before daybreak, I think both of us were keenly aware of how that fight would've gone without the other there to fight alongside.		"Well. Now what?" I asked. Kin shrugged. "Now we dig a big hole, I guess," I muttered. Not how I wanted to spend my night, but even though we spoke precious few words before daybreak, I think both of us were keenly aware of how that fight would've gone without the other there to fight alongside.

	====Kai Shan====		====Kai Shan====

Ratri: /* All Debts Means All Debts */

2021-02-22T01:38:17Z

All Debts Means All Debts

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:38, 22 February 2021
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	I raised my eyes. "I let my customers set my wage, Father, when their need is no fault of their own." He had never commanded that I earn the money fairly, but I knew I would be judged if I did not.		I raised my eyes. "I let my customers set my wage, Father, when their need is no fault of their own." He had never commanded that I earn the money fairly, but I knew I would be judged if I did not.

	"It takes a strong soul to make amends, without turning around and doing injury, however mild, to another." He smiled. "Place the final sum on my desk," he commanded. Almost without thinking, I did as he required. He glanced at ~~them~~, quickly confirming the count, and marked down the amount in his scroll. He read through it once more, I suppose to check the figures and be sure everything was added correctly. He drew two lines at the bottom, and signed on one of them.		"It takes a strong soul to make amends, without turning around and doing injury, however mild, to another." He smiled. "Place the final sum on my desk," he commanded. Almost without thinking, I did as he required. He glanced at the coins, quickly confirming the count, and marked down the amount in his scroll. He read through it once more, I suppose to check the figures and be sure everything was added correctly. He drew two lines at the bottom, and signed on one of them.

	"Please review and confirm you agree your debt to the temple has been fairly paid in full. If you are satisfied, you may sign your name."		"Please review and confirm you agree your debt to the temple has been fairly paid in full. If you are satisfied, you may sign your name."
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	<nowiki>* * *</nowiki>		<nowiki>* * *</nowiki>

	It was the same spot on the beach. I had considered whether she would come at all, whether she would be more likely to if I chose a different place, but ultimately, I needed to close this in the same place I had opened it. My debt was paid, my bags were packed, my room was cleaned, and the note to my mother was already sitting in the middle of my desk. The only thing left was the hardest part of all.		It was the same spot on the beach. I had considered whether she would come at all, whether she would be more likely to if I chose a different place, but ultimately, I needed to close this in the same place I had opened it. My debt was paid, my bags were packed, my room was cleaned, and the note to my mother was already sitting in the middle of my desk. The only thing left was the hardest part of all. I stared out at the ocean, my mind blank.

	"Rin?" It was softer than I'd heard her voice in a year.		"Rin?" It was softer than I'd heard her voice in a year.
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	"Rin, you don't have to."		"Rin, you don't have to."

	"Yes, I do. I'm sorry, Fae. I never apologized to you. There are no words that could ever be enough, and so I didn't try, and I should have. I should have tried every day. Every single day, I should have found you to say I'm sorry."		"Yes, I do. I'm sorry, Fae. I never apologized to you. There are no words that could ever be enough, and so I didn't try, and I should have. I should have tried every day. Every single day, I should have found you to say I'm sorry." It came out all at once, words tumbling on words.

	We were both quiet for a moment. Rae had such a strange look on her face, like she couldn't figure out what I was thinking.		We were both quiet for a moment. Rae had such a strange look on her face, like she couldn't figure out what I was thinking.

Ratri: /* Home */

2021-02-22T01:33:21Z

Home

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:33, 22 February 2021
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	I still loved my cousin's voice more.		I still loved my cousin's voice more.


	====The First Lapse====		====The First Lapse====
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	I'm not proud of the way I fled. In the years since, I've come to realize I was running away from myself, more than anything else. I was lucky -- he lived, though he wasn't pretty anymore. No one ever learned who was behind the attack.		I'm not proud of the way I fled. In the years since, I've come to realize I was running away from myself, more than anything else. I was lucky -- he lived, though he wasn't pretty anymore. No one ever learned who was behind the attack.


	====The Final Straw====		====The Final Straw====
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	"Yes Father."		"Yes Father."


	===Home No Longer===		===Home No Longer===

Ratri: /* Home No Longer */

2021-02-22T01:32:34Z

Home No Longer

@@ Line 228: / Line 228: @@
 ===Home No Longer===
-(wrapping up debt, seeing Fae one last time, leaving town)
+My mother didn't understand how I worked so hard and never had any money, but I was an adult now, and I wasn't about to tell her the whole story. She knew I was hiding something -- but whatever she thought it was couldn't be as bad as the truth.
 ===Marakinth===

Ratri: /* Backstory */

2021-02-21T23:29:58Z

Backstory

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:29, 21 February 2021
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	"Yes Father."		"Yes Father."


			===Home No Longer===

			(wrapping up debt, seeing Fae one last time, leaving town)

Ratri at 23:27, 21 February 2021

2021-02-21T23:27:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:27, 21 February 2021
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	I resented her lute for sitting, silent, in her room. I seethed. I boiled. I didn't understand what rage was. I didn't understand who I was anymore. The world swirled and spun and spiraled around again. Someone had pulled the plug, and everything was running together down the drain. What are those crashing noises? Why are there splinters in my hands? Why is Fae looking at me with such grown-up worry in her eyes?		I resented her lute for sitting, silent, in her room. I seethed. I boiled. I didn't understand what rage was. I didn't understand who I was anymore. The world swirled and spun and spiraled around again. Someone had pulled the plug, and everything was running together down the drain. What are those crashing noises? Why are there splinters in my hands? Why is Fae looking at me with such grown-up worry in her eyes?

	* * *		<nowiki>* * *</nowiki>

	Slowly, I realized the room around me was in complete disarray. I was still holding the neck of the lute in my hands -- cracked and splintered, the body smashed, the strings connecting some of the fragments together.		Slowly, I realized the room around me was in complete disarray. I was still holding the neck of the lute in my hands -- cracked and splintered, the body smashed, the strings connecting some of the fragments together.
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	"Chin up, Rin." she said, and disappeared back down the stairs.		"Chin up, Rin." she said, and disappeared back down the stairs.

	* * *		<nowiki>* * *</nowiki>

	Hours later, the room was straightened and cleaned. Every item was put away, neater than it had been before. The bed was made, the desk was cleared. There was nothing else left to do, except...every shard, every splinter, every shred that was once her beautiful lute was laid out on her desk. Broken and useless.		Hours later, the room was straightened and cleaned. Every item was put away, neater than it had been before. The bed was made, the desk was cleared. There was nothing else left to do, except...every shard, every splinter, every shred that was once her beautiful lute was laid out on her desk. Broken and useless.
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	"DON'T YOU DARE RUN FROM ME."		"DON'T YOU DARE RUN FROM ME."

	The words felt strange, but the meaning was clear. A ray frost sprang from my hand, and she slowed. Another, and another, and she fell. I stood, rooted to the spot. By the time I unfroze, I swear the sun had moved in the sky. She was still lying there, frost in her hair, face down in the sand. She couldn't breathe like that. Why wasn't she breathing? Why wasn't she moving? Why ~~was~~ I ~~watching~~ this ~~happen~~?		The words felt strange, but the meaning was clear. A ray frost sprang from my hand, and she slowed. Another, and another, and she fell. I stood, rooted to the spot. By the time I unfroze, I swear the sun had moved in the sky. She was still lying there, frost in her hair, face down in the sand. She couldn't breathe like that. Why wasn't she breathing? Why wasn't she moving? Why couldn't I wake up from this nightmare?

	* * *		<nowiki>* * *</nowiki>

	I brought her to the only temple in town. I had wiped the frost out of her hair, off her shirt. I had brushed the sand from her face. Her eyes were already closed, her beautiful eyes, or I may not have been able to look at her at all. Tears streamed openly down my face. I carried her in as gently as I could, trying to convince myself she was sleeping.		I brought her to the only temple in town. I had wiped the frost out of her hair, off her shirt. I had brushed the sand from her face. Her eyes were already closed, her beautiful eyes, or I may not have been able to look at her at all. Tears streamed openly down my face. I carried her in as gently as I could, trying to convince myself she was sleeping.
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	I buried my face in my hands again. I didn't even deserve to look at her. I couldn't even choke out an apology. What was there to say? She already knew everything. No words could change what I had done.		I buried my face in my hands again. I didn't even deserve to look at her. I couldn't even choke out an apology. What was there to say? She already knew everything. No words could change what I had done.

	* * *		<nowiki>* * *</nowiki>

	I ripped apart my room, finding every random coin I'd ever lost in my pillows, everything I could possibly sell for a penny. I put a page on the odd-jobs board in town -- farm work, furniture repair, fixing any odds and ends. I cashed in all my memories at the pawn shop for two shiny gold pieces, and brought them with my loose change back to the temple that night.		I ripped apart my room, finding every random coin I'd ever lost in my pillows, everything I could possibly sell for a penny. I put a page on the odd-jobs board in town -- farm work, furniture repair, fixing any odds and ends. I cashed in all my memories at the pawn shop for two shiny gold pieces, and brought them with my loose change back to the temple that night.

Ratri: /* Backstory */

2021-02-21T23:26:01Z

Backstory

Show changes

Ratri: /* Bandits */

2021-02-21T20:22:37Z

Bandits

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:22, 21 February 2021
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	I can only assume they couldn't see Marakinth clearly in his bedroll, and just saw a camp of two with minimal weapons and simple gear. They probably thought it would be easy money to swipe some stuff and ride on.		I can only assume they couldn't see Marakinth clearly in his bedroll, and just saw a camp of two with minimal weapons and simple gear. They probably thought it would be easy money to swipe some stuff and ride on.

	They were ~~wrong~~.		They were mistaken.

	Seeing the group coming at him in formation, the Dragonkin took up his spear, but didn't ready it immediately. First, he took a deep breath and unleashed his fire on the front of the group. With the whole attacking force suddenly looking a lot crispier than they had a moment ago, and the front line swiftly approaching that spear, I threw an Acid Splash at the back of the line.		Seeing the group coming at him in formation, the Dragonkin took up his spear, but didn't ready it immediately. First, he took a deep breath and unleashed his fire on the front of the group. With the whole attacking force suddenly looking a lot crispier than they had a moment ago, and the front line swiftly approaching that spear, I threw an Acid Splash at the back of the line.

Ratri: /* Bandits */

2021-02-21T20:22:25Z

Bandits

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:22, 21 February 2021
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	====Bandits====		====Bandits====

	Marakinth heard them first, and ~~raise~~ the alarm. Well, really it was more of a mix between an indignant bellow and a sharp battle cry, but it served its purpose ~~of bringing~~ me flying up out of my bedroll in an already wide-awake state, in time to see at least a half-dozen bandits swarming into our clearing. They approached almost in formation, like some kind of combat unit who had trained together, not just your average highway thugs. I assessed the situation quickly, thanking my lucky stars I was not facing this onslaught alone.		Marakinth heard them first, and raised the alarm. Well, really it was more of a mix between an indignant bellow and a sharp battle cry, but it served its purpose. It brought me flying up out of my bedroll in an already wide-awake state, in time to see at least a half-dozen bandits swarming into our clearing. They approached almost in formation, like some kind of combat unit who had trained together, not just your average highway thugs. I assessed the situation quickly, thanking my lucky stars I was not facing this onslaught alone.

	As I was gathering my wits to act, and forming a plan, I heard Marakinth growl under his breath about the fire dying down, and saw him stumble in the dark. Right, Dragonkin need light. I can do that. I reached out and put a yellow, sunlight-tinted glow on my tent. It was enough to light the clearing at least. I could see his eyes lock on target, taking in the scene the same way I had, calculating a plan.		As I was gathering my wits to act, and forming a plan, I heard Marakinth growl under his breath about the fire dying down, and saw him stumble in the dark. Right, Dragonkin need light. I can do that. I reached out and put a yellow, sunlight-tinted glow on my tent. It was enough to light the clearing at least. I could see his eyes lock on target, taking in the scene the same way I had, calculating a plan.