Dewification? My lawyers have advised that I have no memory of that....

Olan: I want to read up on geomancers in this setting a little before setting stats putting together my concept, but I'm planning to have those to you by this weekend!

Eol: I shall style my beard the way the old gods and the new intended: a little to the left. And what the HECK man, I would neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever stab a bud in the back. That just ain't me

So excited to get into it with you guys, semi-irl! Can't wait!

It's still there but there's quite a bit of dust everywhere.

I'd whack you with my cane if I could lift it, sonny!

Stripper

*too brainwashed to get it*

* glares at Olan in brainwashed half-elf *

Gravity

Omggggg IT'S SO FAST

Woot!

Wow. WOW.

Just dropping by to reminisce. Hope y'all are doing alright out there!

Gonna need some cream for that burn.

It's 12:30am, and as I'm laying here just trying to fall asleep, my brain announces that if Kithran ever got a dog she would name it Kathrin.

Kithran and Kathrin.

That is what my brain thinks is important right now.

To be fair, I did laugh, so...

Anyway... That's all... GOOD NIGHT

The smile fell from Drusilia’s face, "I have been in my share of battles,” the Elven woman began in response to Aphelia, “both before I learned how cruel the world can be, and since then, but now I have embarked on a personal matter that means the world to me. I will not give up my hunt, but have agreed to not stand for others to take life needlessly. The tale is one I hold close to me, but perhaps over time I will share the story of what encouraged me to take up the blades."

“And I shall look forward to it,” Aphelia attempted a reassuring smile. The woman had clearly been through much, definitely more than she herself had been through in her nineteen years. Perhaps this was even what her future had in store for her, should Matias continue to pester her onward. Not the liveliest discourse she had had the pleasure of participating in, but she supposed those days were now behind her. There were no parties or pranks to look forward to, simply genuine conversation with knightly types, and putting Finder Wyvernspur’s “blessings”--as Matias calls them--to good use.

She turned her gaze over to the Dragonborn once again, urging him to put forth his reason for joining the wardens.

((OOC: any response))

The party’s stilted conversation continued until a plate of warm bread and butter were set before them by a taller Dwarven woman with a fascinating tattoo trailing down the side of her face.

 "This ones on the house,” she spoke, with that Dwarven lilt, “enjoy some fine butter n' bread from NestleNook. Better n' any loaves you can get from inside the city I bet."

She curtsied and Aphelia nodded, used to simple gifts like these being offered to her, and reached for a piece as the woman continued.

 "I apologize for asking, but from the looks of your gear and speakin' of the Wardens, are you heading to the Rest? I may have a small favor to ask if'n you are, just to bring my brother a parcel from our father if  that's n' alright. I'll pay of course! And either way yes or no, enjoy the bread, that's a parting gift for the road." 

Aphelia’s mouth full of bread, she looked to the others to respond. Drusilia was the first to accept on their behalf, and the elated Dwarven woman raced away from the table and back just before Aphelia had swallowed her first piece of the warm loaf. As the woman and Drusilia spoke, the Dwarf began to hold out a pouch of coin, one which Aphelia was more than happy to accept, her own pockets much more bare than she was used to. However, as she reached for it, Drusilia waved it away, and the young woman instead grasped at nothing as the server withdrew and set it back in her pocket.

The young noble sat back in her seat, stuffed in all but her pockets, and looked up at the Dwarven woman again. She seemed to be preparing to make her leave, but Matias’ voice nagged as it always did in the back of her mind, berating her into compassion. Aphelia sighed and straightened her back once more, before drawing the woman’s attention, “May we also ask your name, ma’am? I am Aphelia Thorne… no relation to any other Thornes.”

((OOC: assuming she gives her name))

“Lovely. And is there any other message you would like us to give your brother when we see him? Oh, and we should probably learn what he looks like as well.” Aphelia eyed the box, her years of pranking fueling her suspicion, “Should we… practice any sort of caution when giving this to him?” She turned her brown eyes on the Dwarven woman then and smiled, “Wouldn’t want to be thrown out on the first day, would we?”

((OOC: Insight checking her answer))

“We need to get ready to join the march,” Drusilia said finally, as their conversation came to a close, “before they decide to leave without us. Are you both ready to go? Have everything you will need?”

Aphelia looked down at herself, armed and armored, as she had never been before, and smiled sardonically back at the Elven woman, “I suppose I do, let’s go join the others”

Hi Altaira! I've found it's helpful to make LFG posts in the Recruitment Threads area, and/or search for games that are searching for more players there.

And honestly, you really don't need to know a system in order to join a game, considering GMs tend to resolve and make the majority of the rolls on their end after you've narrated your intentions in game. At least, that's been my experience. Whether that's different with other GMs or not, I'm positive any and all of them around here are more than willing and available to work with you, should you show interest in joining their game.

Gouda luck!

Be still my heart! Can't wait

I wouldn't mind

I've had a tiny bit of time on my hands, quarantined here in Infestationville Seattle. When I'm not impulse buying things off Instagram ads that turn out to be mens' face washing products, I finally finish random things I started writing weeks ago! Go figure

20th Day, Iteran, 427 E.R., Oryndal, Ertain

Tara had only seen the maidens once before. It had been a little over a year ago, in Ethryn. She had only caught a glimpse of them, as she had been following the Ikharis south to Oryndal just as the maidens were entering the city, but they appeared as fantastic as ever now. It had been a hope of hers to run into them again, to get to speak with one of them, ask them questions. The most she had were stories of their exploits, and tales in the temple’s books.

The Laughing Maiden sect of Shinara’s flock was comprised of women who had escaped the monotony of the expected social structures traditionally granted them in this day and age; they were adventurers, wanderers, seekers and bestowers of joy upon each and every town they found themselves in. Tara herself had once considered seeking a life with the maidens, but quickly extinguished the idea. Her issues weren’t entirely conducive to the air the Laughing Maidens portrayed. Even the Ikhari twins could hardly stand her anymore, despite their being the closest thing to family she had ever felt she had, but she could never leave them. And anyway, she would never be able to live up to the standards of being a Laughing Maiden either way, but that was alright. She had carved a bit of a life out for herself here, and that was more than she could have ever dreamed of, just two years ago. She was happier than she had ever been, despite the dwarven priestess’ insistence that she was trying to end herself.

Tara slipped back over the back of Shinara’s temple. Climbing down was much, much more difficult. Her queasy stomach rolled each time she dropped her foot down to the next maligned stone, and her head still whirled sporadically at her descent. She only slipped at the end, and while it was still enough of a fall to roll her onto her back, all but her liver remained intact.

After relieving her stomach further of the red poison she had filled it with the night before, Tara wearily snuck around the side of the building, running in through one of the side doors and sneaking up unnoticed through the winding halls and stairways of the temple. Her room resided at the top of the stairs in the Lovers wing. She had used to share a room with the Ikharis. After saving her they had liked to keep her close, to keep an eye on her and make sure she was okay. It had been very difficult for her to adjust in her first few months away from the life she had led before. However, as she began to seem more comfortable in her surroundings, she began barging into the room at more infrequent hours of the night, or harassing them in their sleep. Eventually they decided to move her into the room next to theirs instead. The twins would still check in on her to make sure she was still alive, but it would be on their own terms.

She walked into her room and was met immediately by the black-haired pair, sitting on the bed across from the door, waiting for her.

“You look like shit,” Nigel laughed as she shut the door, “To be expected though, seeing as how you must have finished off two more bottles of wine on your own last night.”

“Really, Tara,” Nicola said, “you’re still covered in your refuse from when we first found you, and now it’s all in your hair as well.”

Tara touched her natted, once-blond hair, now turned a multitude of other putrid colors, and Nigel snorted, “Oughta just chop it off at this point.”

“Yes, probably,” Nicola agreed.

“Alright you two,” Tara huffed and folded her arms across the admittedly disgusting front of her shirt, “I apologize for swiping my wine back from you-”

“Falloes’, wine,” the twins corrected in unison.

“Can I make it up to you after I’ve changed and c-” she nearly gagged again, “cut my hair?”

The twins’ mouths both dropped agape, and Nigel continued, “You wouldn’t, Tara, you know I was only kidding.”

The once-blond Lover rolled her eyes, but the sentiment was true, “Of course I wouldn’t, though I am not looking forward to the time it will take to fix this.” She grabbed a handful of the thick, disgusting hair.

“What you could do, to make it up to us, Tara,” Nicola continued, “is take a trip with the maidens to Felarin, and pick us up some of the Osbury wine they sell there, and bring it back. Unopened,” she added.

Tara paused, eyeing the twins skeptically, “You want me to leave you?”

“We expect you to come back to us, little sister,” Nicola grinned, “we just expect you to have some gifts for us as well. Otherwise,” she and Nigel sighed together.

“We’re not sure we will be able to forgive this most recent transgression,” Nigel finished.

“And anyway,” Nicola continued, “aren’t you intrigued by the maidens? You’ve talked about how great they are more than once, despite your never having even met one.”

“Yes. I mean I could.” She touched her hair again and her spirits dropped, “How long will they be here? It’s going to take me a while to look presentable.”

Nigel shook his head, “This is the sort of thing we’ve been trying to tell you, Tara.”

“This specific thing?”

Nicola snorted, “You’ve gotta get a handle on it, terror.”

“I’m trying,” Tara grumbled back.

The twins stood up together, “Are you trying, terror?” Nigel asked, “Because it was cute at first, but it’s looking more and more like a deathwish.”

Tara groaned, “If I wish anything it’s that people would stop saying that. I don’t want to die.”

“And yet we had to save your life from the same thing again last night, and then you went out and continued to poison yourself.” Nicola added, resting a hand on her friend’s shoulder, “We’ll speak with the maidens about bringing you along, but you should really use this trip to think things over.”

The young blond Lover of Fortune turned as the twins left, “It really feels like you want to be rid of me.” The door closed behind them and Tara got to work, already pushing aside the initial pang of pain at the twins’ words for now, and replacing it with an urgency to make herself presentable before the Laughing Maidens.

***

The sunlight began to wane through Tara’s window, by the time she felt refreshed and put-together enough to join the others downstairs. She had learned years ago how to make her face seem to glow amongst the others, what colors to wear to make her brown eyes stand out, how to put her hair up in ways that were interesting and accentuated her features. She put these lessons to use now as she wasn’t sure what sort of impression would have prove to have the best effect on a group of maidens and convince them that she would be tolerable to bring along. At the very least though, she would prove she could at least pull off the appearance of a decent human being.

There was also the fact that she did happen to idolize the maidens. Self-sufficient women able to travel the world, look out for one another, go on adventures, widely respected, never confined to one space, or forced into another… All the things Tara dreamt of for herself, but she could not bring herself to leave the Ikharis. At least not for good. For how much they badgered her, guilted her, became fed up with her, they still looked after her. They still saved her life, and for that she owed them everything.

If they needed a break from her antics, so be it. She could hardly blame them. She was a handful, and grateful they continued to keep her around despite all she put them through. And this would give her at least a brief glimpse into life as a maiden.

Tara approached the entrance to the small banquet hall and stopped abruptly at the wall of bodies clogging the path. From what she had heard, the arrival of the maidens always warranted a celebration. This was true whether they were arriving at one of the Luck Goddess’ temples, or in just a normal town. They brought luck, and stories, mischief, and of course, a band of lovely women. This was likely why now, it was clear that it wasn’t simply the normal patrons of the temple who had crowded the banquet hall, but several people she had never seen before, several wanting simply a glimpse of the enigmatic maidens.

It was also why she could not even slip in anywhere. The entry was dense with bodies, no way over or around.

Eventually she sighed, inaudible above the raucous crowd, and resigning herself to her fate for now, turned to go back to her room and change. The twins had mentioned putting in a word for her, and the crowd couldn’t last forever. She would get her chance, hopefully, before they set off for Felarin.

She entered the main hall once again and was about to turn toward the Lovers’ ward when she glanced a shock of crimson from the corner of her eye. Turning, she found a long-haired young woman, not much older-looking than Tara, sitting on a bench against the far wall, reading in the crimson robes of the maidens.

Tara’s heart fluttered for just a moment as she thanked the Scarlett Mistress for smiling upon her once again, and hurried over to the maiden. It was clear as she approached that this woman would be much taller than her had she been standing. Tara wasn’t incredibly tall herself, but the maiden seemed to be, and she was definitely more broad in the shoulder than most young women Tara knew.

The young Lover approached, stopping just a couple feet away, a wide grin on her face, giddy for her first encounter with a Laughing Maiden, awaiting her notice.

But it never came.

Tara took a small step closer, but the woman remained engrossed in her book. So instead, she cleared her throat. And cleared her throat again. And then one more time, until she had finally won her attention.

The long-haired woman sighed softly to herself and closed her book, setting it aside as she gazed up at her intruder, “May I help you with something?” She glanced behind her, “If this is about the banquet hall I’m sorry, I cannot squeeze in either.”

“You can’t… but aren’t you a Laughing Maiden?”

She looked down at her garb, tighter around her arms than she would have liked, “Ah, I suppose so, but I am also new.” She gestured to the hall from which the sounds of merriment and celebration could be heard, “And all of that, it isn’t for me.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?”

“Well I just sort of assumed it was custom for all maidens to participate in,” Tara gestured behind herself as well, “all of that.”

The woman shrugged, “It isn’t for me. Do you think that makes me less of a maiden?”

“I guess not.”

She tilted her head toward the banquet hall once more, “They don’t believe so either. So, now that that is cleared up,” she reached for her book, “if you’ll excuse me--”

“Wait!”

Taken aback by the fervent outburst, she set her book back down and studied the young woman, “Yes? Are you alright?”

“Um, yes.” This was not going how Tara had imagined at all. She really wanted to speak with a different maiden, “Ah, what’s your name?”

“Serena.”

“Serena…?”

The maiden smiled and shook her head, “Just Serena. And you are?”

“Tara Ikhari.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve heard of you, from those funny little twins, um,” she tilted her head in thought for a moment before recognition hit her, “Nigel and Nicola!”

“You were the one they spoke with?”

Serena stifled a chuckle at her incredulity, “No need to be so surprised. I was only in the room when they requested we take their little sister with us to Felarin. Speaking of which...” She eyed the young Lover of Fortune, “You are about the furthest away from a sibling of there’s as I can imagine.”

“They rescued me from a sex thing, and your imagination could use some fine-tuning.”

“I’m sorry, a sex thing?”

Tara waved away her confusion, “It’s a long story. They saved my life. I took their last name. The end. So what was the consensus, will the maidens have me along to Felarin?”

Serena’s head reeled with questions, but her demeanor remained stoic, “Yes, of course. We’ve no reason not to bring you along. They said you idolized us, so I suppose that clears some things up here.” 

“Well, as much as anyone idolizes the Laughing Maidens,” Tara replied, trying her best not to do laps around the entirety of the temple in her excitement. “When do we leave?”

Serena’s book was back in her hands, her mind still burning with questions as she flipped back to her spot, “We are planning to leave an hour or two after sunrise. Will you be able to make it in time?”

The frustration at the twins for not having come directly to her to give her the news clouded by how excited she was to finally have a chance to travel with the maidens, Tara nodded wildly, “I will go pack my things now. Thank you, Serena!”

“You’re welcome,” the maiden replied to her book, as the lover sprinted back up to her room.

“I anticipate it will not be an easy journey,” the icy-haired elven woman continued, “they rarely are these days.”

Aphelia nodded and turned her smile up to the brooding copper dragonborn before her. She had never met one in person before, and he was just as intimidating as she had imagined one might be.

"I would join the two of you,” he replied as well, “It seems my breakfast has worn off. And it would be nice to get out of the rain for a bit"

The young noblewoman tilted her head further back, to the darkening clouds above them, before pulling her warm brown cloak more tightly around her, “I can’t say I disagree with you there. A pleasure to meet the both of you. Shall we?”

Aphelia trotted after her new bowed acquaintance, with the dragonborn in tow as they found their way before The Sword & Sheathe Taphouse. With an unnecessary, but appreciated bow, Drusilia allowed Aphelia to enter the establishment first. A small bit of hesitance stunted her procession, as she had never been inside a taphouse in this area of Neverine City before and wasn’t sure what to expect, but she trudged inside quickly enough to get out of the rain.

The black boots she wore were expensive, but worth their cost, her feet having remained dry in their trek, and now warming here inside the cozy taphouse. Few filled the room, enough for the constant muttering of muted conversation to permeate, or the groan of a losing hand of cards to stick out amongst the otherwise quiet establishment, but that was all.

The trio found a table just as a female dwarf with twin brunette braids made her way behind the disappointingly unplayed piano. Just as Aphelia was about to wave over a server, the woman stepped away and a jaunty tune began to emanate from the instrument. The dwarf smiled to herself as she went back to work, and Aphelia couldn’t help but do the same as she watched the keys play themselves.

Soon another dwarven woman made her way to their table, took their order, and scurried away, leaving the group to themselves amongst the murmuring of the other patrons and the quaint sounds of the piano.

Aphelia glanced at her compatriots, before settling on the dragonborn, another saccharine smile on her face to mask her discomfort, “Now that I think of it, I don’t believe I caught your name.”

((OOC: assuming he replies with his name, if not or something else happens, I’ll revise))

“Komantaar, hmm,” she said and leaned back, the name sounding peculiar as she spoke it aloud herself, and then looked back to him, “Komantaar, I’ve never heard a name like that before. Well, I’ve never met a dragonborn before so I suppose that might be the reason.”

((OOC: any response, will revise as necessary))

A small paused followed, filled by the extraneous sounds of the taphouse, before she continued, “You two already look prepared for a battle at any moment. Have you seen many already? What brings you to the Wardens?”

Aphelia eyed the other two stragglers dawdling beside her, only mildly curious what had held them back as well. For her, it was only that she had little interest in socializing with anyone on this little excursion. She was here because the voice of Matias kept ringing in her ears, urging her to prove herself worthwhile, to put the gifts the Nameless Bard had bestowed upon her for some reason to good use… which was hardly fair. She had never asked for them in the first place, she had simply wanted her brother to live. And now… now she was reduced to congregating with this motley lot.

She sighed. Matias wasn’t in her head at the moment, but she could almost hear him berating her, telling her she was being too haughty, to make friends with these rough-looking strangers. It was always like that with him, with this god. Imagine, graciousness to those who had hardly shown it, or done anything to deserve it. It was why she was here, why she left her family, her home, her betrothed. It all just felt like such a waste of such incredible power.

Truly, why she had been gifted it was beyond her. Perhaps she was haughty. Perhaps the lack of empathy she often felt for those who had not earned her care was not an attribute Finder was particularly fond of. Why choose her then? Why not give these… blessings or whatever they were to someone who upheld that sort of magnanimous, recklessly inclusionary spirit? Of course, she had wanted them when she had wanted to save her brother, but she was well past that now. Not even Matias seemed to want to converse with her, more often than not, yet here she was.

She looked again to the other two, then tied her bright blond hair up in a high ponytail. That was another thing. Since receiving these abilities, and finally succumbing to Matias’ unrelenting badgering, she had noticed physical changes about her as well. Her hair had always been blond, but never so luminous. Her skin had always been flawless, naturally, save for the small scars on her arms and back from crash landing through the window a few weeks ago, but she swore at times it seemed to glow now. All the blame of course would likely need to go to Finder, who for some reason found it necessary for his conduit to stand out like some trophy of his.

She sighed once again, the nagging of Matias still rattling around in the back of her mind, and she made her way to the other two, much taller than her, smiling as she approached, “Good afternoon, I am Aphelia Thorne. Would you two like to… find a drink or food? Or both? It seems as though we will be saving the world together. It might be nice to get to know each other in the meantime." She shrugged, "First round is on me. What do you say?”

.

Yus, I am here too

Cleric, reporting in!

With all of us in semi-quarentine over here in WA, all of our bars, restaurants, gyms, theaters, etc. closed, a new, rousing game of D&D would be very welcome to pass the time.

I'm. Just. Sayin'.