From: Jhez Salin (Jhez_at_wanadoo.dk)
Date: Sat Dec 20 2003 - 01:05:23 GMT
Astran sits in the corner of the room, the furthest distance from anyone
else, making up his bedroll, looking miserable and a bit jumpy. He sits
down on it, not meeting anyone's eyes, and takes out his embroidery tools,
and starts to work on a scrap of fabric with an intent look.
Illyana sits down beside him, looking absentmindedly at the embroidery, but
not really noticing it. In reality, she is looking at his hands, thinking
about how they felt to touch, longing to be touched by them.
"Astran... You are right that we have rescued Selwyn, but it would be a
poor excuse for a rescue if we took her up to the Twists and then died
trying to get back to Haven because of the undeads being able to kill us
all in a weakened state. Besides, I know I'm tired. Aren't you?" Illyanas
voice is soft and gentle, calm and soothing. She does not know what is
going on in Astran - he seems changed somehow.
Astran, his face blank, passes over the scrap of robe weaving he has been
doing. "My Artisan test. What do you think?"
Illyana finally looks at the embroidery. She studies it intensely. Then she
reaches out towards Astran. She places her hands gently around his face and
draw him nearer to her. "Don't be afraid", she whispers. "I know what you
are thinking. But it is not so. It cannot be. And if it is, then we'll deal
with it. Together." Her eyes grow moist with tears, as she slowly, ever so
slowly, kiss him. She so wants to reassure him, to erase his fears, though
she knows she cannot. But at least she can erase the blank look in his
eyes. Hopefully. Once the fear has entered, it must be purged with the
death of a Horror, her gramps used to say. The fear of being horrormarked
is the Horrors greatest tool, he would go on. Remembering this, she knows
that this is the first true test of her courage. Is he marked or not? Does
it matter? She knows what her heart tells her. Her mind - and her knowledge
of Horrors - is another matter.
He pulls back, regretfully pulling his hands away. "but it *is* true" he
whispers. "I hear it in my mind. It tells me to do terrible things. So far
it only speaks, saying I am marked but not corrupted. But I know, I cannot
trust a thing it says. I have not obeyed it - I will not! But.. What if it
can make my body do things I do not wish it to? What if it can affect you,
though me?"
"It... well, even if it is true, then..." Illyana does not know what to
say, but stumbles on anyway: "I'm not afraid. You would never hurt me. I'll
be quite safe here with you. She keeps her voice to a whisper. Her face
shows no sign of fear, nor any real surprise. To those watching it most
likely looks as if the two young ones are having a very intimate moment -
and in some ways, they are. "Do you know what kind of a thing it is?"
"I would never! But it...I don't know what it can do. I don't even know
where it is, although it did want me to go back through those doors. I need
to find a Nethermancer or Horror Stalker that could tell me what these
things are capable of...and how to kill them. I didn't think i was going to
be able to get back into Haven, but since my Artisan test seems Ok...
strange, I wonder why... Oh, Illyana, I don't know if I can trust myself.
What if, though me, one of us gets hurt? What if you get hurt?"
"Then it will be my choice, since I chose to stay here, with you." She
tilts her head a bit and smiles at him. "Now... lay down and get ready to
sleep. You need to rest, to find your strength from within. I'm right
here." She helps him settle down as gently as a mother with a newborn,
rough hands unsuited for gentle actions suddenly so willing to do their
best. "We'll talk about this tomorrow. Tonight, you sleep."
Astran returns the smile a little warily - perhaps expecting her, even now,
to jump up and denounce him, then a little more warmly. "With such strength
without, how can I fail to find strength within? You must sleep too - I saw
the extent of your injuries, remember?" He squeezes her hand, and rolls up
in his bedroll, one arm resting out towards her.
Willingly, trustingly, she settles next to him, snuggling up in his arms.
After he has settled, she humms a lullaby. She does not remember the words
- it was something her mother used to sing to her when she was a baby and
it has been quite some years since her mother died. But she knows the
meaning, the intentions. It is to keep the beings of darkness away.
*** OOC: Because of a snowstorm in Sweden, I will be leaving for Christmas
in less than 12 hours. I'll be back on Dec. 28, late. Have a really
wonderful Christmas - and please don't go get your characters (and mine) be
killed in the meantime!!!
Intentions:
0) Get out of this dungeon!!!
1) Sleep. Take my last recoverytest while sleeping. Snuggle in Astrans arms
all night. Try not to wake up screaming with fear :)
2) Wake up and take another recoverytest. Have breakfast. Sit around
dreaming a bit... then worry.
3) Follow the lead of others (until I'm back from Sweden) with a sort of
happy/worried smile/frown on my face. Reach out and touch Astran whenever
possible.
4) Listen to Selwyn if/when she speaks to learn Sperethiel.
5) Staying near Siri and Astran when possible.
...
9) Fight like a madman if/when necessary, using Karma for attacks to try to
gain a Momentum Attack. If facing a single opponent, using aggressive
attack. Parrying if/when possible, using second weapon every round (unless
she is wearing out from strain). Using Wound Balance to try to avoid being
knocked down. If attacked by something really heavy-hitting, avoiding if
possible.
***
-----Original Message-----
From: Helle Salin Nielsen [SMTP:Jhez_at_wanadoo.dk]
Sent: 19. december 2003 07:24
To: 'parlainth_at_teaparty.net'
Subject: RE: [Parlainth] PBeM 1.0 Does Anyone Know Where To Go?
Illyana looks startled at Astrans outburst. Then, when he moves away from
the group, she silently picks up her gear and move over by his side. She
does not seem to care that everybody notices. She turns back towards Siri
and smiles, but the smile does not reach her eyes. She is concerned about
something, that much is certain.
-----Original Message-----
From: John Constable [SMTP:john_at_kript.net]
Sent: 19. december 2003 00:23
To: parlainth_at_teaparty.net
Subject: Re: [Parlainth] PBeM 1.0 Does Anyone Know Where To Go?
On Thursday, December 18, 2003, at 05:23 pm, Helle Salin Nielsen wrote:
> Illyana nods to Siri and start pulling out her bedroll. She puts her
> backpack on the floor neatly beside the bedroll and continue: "Then I
> propose the following. Astran and Trystan sleep all night - they were
> both
> hurt badly in the fight against the ghouls and need to recover as much
> as
> possible. Kestrel and myself take first shift - Kestrel is unhurt and
> I'm
> doing better every minute. For the middle shift I suggest Siri and
> Nightwind, while the last watch would be Endok-tuk and T'sunami. Both
> are
> relatively unhurt."
>
> "As far as supper goes - let's just settle for feeding Selwyn tonight.
> We
> don't know how long we need to be down here, so we have to ration what
> little food we have - and we are all well fed. One night without supper
> will not hurt us. Besides, I know I managed to get my dinner before
> leaving
> the inn. I know it is closer to breakfast by now, but once you are
> asleep,
> you will not think about food." Illyana stretches, glad to be rid of
> her
> backpack. Even if it isn't heavy, fighting with a backpack on is not
> really
> pleasant and she has aches and pains in hard-to-reach places.
Seeing that people were determined to stay, Astran takes his pack off
his back, reaches inside and removes a big pack of rations, which he
places with the rest of the group.
"Add these to the group store. I want to make sure I don't..that
is..that you all get the benefit of them, and there are no
disagreements like Berryblood. I don't feel much like eating, to be
honest, I'll just curl up" he says, looking gratefully at Illyana for
the suggestion of sleep, then looking away suddenly, picking up his
backpack, and going to the furthest part of the room from the rest of
the group, and setting out his bedroll.
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