"No.. no," she gasps between her words. "I am kept here. Safe. With my Ehram." Her eyes darted for the knife, but something about the cleric's voice and demeanor halts her, and she allows the Avacynian to grasp her injured arm.
The woman has a sour scent and her hair is coarse and dry. She's somewhere in her twenties, but her lack of self care easily pulls at her eyes and skin, betraying her youth.
The house creaks and the wood and mortar groan slightly, almost imperceptively and easily dismissable by the age and lack of upkeep of the home.
"I am not going, Ehram. I know, it is not safe outside. Please, leave. I want none here."
Evaine cast a spell, an aura of white light growing from her body in a wide sphere, pushing away the darkness. Then, the woman's eyes grow panicked after looking over and perhaps, for the first time, recognizes her garb. She clasps the springsage's hands, and begs, "No! No, please no! Not my Ehram!"
"Who is Ehram?" Evaine asks.
"He was betrothed.. Please, don't make him leave!" She sobs into the cloths of Evaine's armor.
"Oh, my dear, he was your love?" Evaine kneels down next to the woman. "Those who leave the mortal coil... they do not truly leave us. Don't you want your love to reach the Blessed Sleep?"
"Ehram stays with me, he protects me! He-he can't go, I need him!" The house's wood strains from some unknown movement, as if reassuring the woman.
“Isn’t that a little selfish of you?" Evaine continues. "To keep him here, when he could move on to paradise,” Evaine said soothingly. “I am the new protector of this town. I can keep you safe, but you have to let me.”
To the right of the cathar and the deranged resident, the young ranger pulls the recently captive prisoner with her as she makes her way to the door. Fiona freezes, eyes wide and unsure of what to do next as her path is obstructed by a mountain of a man, brusque and old enough to be a the elder of a village. She keeps herself between everyone and the boy defensively.
"E-Evaine," Fiona said, voice shaking. She glanced at the large fellow. "We should go."
Sturm remains standing at the doorway, looking down at the scene. These walled-in types... they're not right in the head. "I need to get behind the walls. Your boy is the quickest way for me to do it. I'm taking him back." His tone and demeanor leave no room for compromise.
Fiona, despite her relative size, kept herself between the big man and the boy. "No."
“What if I can get you behind the walls?” Evaine turned her head. “Please be patient with me, friend. I can only deal with one catastrophe at a time. But I can help you.”
Sturm has seen her type before. They're able to enter and leave the walls whenever they want. "That would work." He glances down at the lil girl with her lil bow before pointing out what he feels is obvious. "I think she's talking to her knife," he says, indicating the injured crazy woman.
Evaine noted another form, lurking just behind the burly one. “You, in the shadows, who are you?” She called out, which causes Sturm to turn and look at what might be behind him.
A raggedy man, Gael, hunched his shoulders and raised his hands up with a sheepish sort of grin.
"That does not answer my question; who are you and what are you doing here?"
The man in question bit his lip and waffled over what to say before he uttered softly, "Friend?"
Sturm gives the strange man a wide berth, moving deeper into the house. He had encountered a lot of creatures in the wild, and some of them displayed similar symptoms as this man. It was always best to avoid them, as it was often contagious if bitten.
First this woman, then the boy, then everything else, Evaine thought to herself. “Please,” she looked back at the woman. “Let me help you. We can help Ehram and you both move on.”
Gael snorted and then shook his head with a frown taking note of Sturm's avoidance. Honestly, people and what they thought. Did he honestly look that bad? Gael glanced down at his threadbare clothes and grimaced. "Ah...not--not that."
Fiona looked at the new guy curiously. He looked like many of the people she'd seen on the streets. She desperately wanted to talk to him, but the situation they were currently in wouldn't allow for it. "Please, Evaine!" Fiona thought quickly. "I'm hungry," she whined.
Gael glanced at what he could see of the group, eyes darting between one person to the next, as he nibbled on his lip in thought. Finally they settled back upon the cathar woman, and he slipped further out of the shadows and towards her. "Cathar?" he asked, and kept his voice low and quiet and very cautious. He made a small gesture with his hand, to show that he wanted to ask her something--and not necessarily out loud enough to the rest of the group.
"I don't.." There's a notable tremble in the foundation of the house. "We don't want it.."
“Ok, we will leave you then,” Evaine backed away slowly, grabbing Fiona by the hand. Perhaps she would return later, but there were so many issues to deal with right this second that she would have to come back. “Is that alright with you?”
Gael's eyes widened. Oh dear. He'd definitely chosen the wrong place to search for work, apparently. Hastily, Gael backed back into the shadows.
Fiona tugged at Evaine's arm. "He's hungry, too," she said, nodding at Gael.
Gael glanced over at the younger girl and snorted. She wasn't wrong...but food seemed a bit of a poor choice of thought right now.
“Everyone, including all of our new friends, can come back to my temple and I will feed them as soon as I set my stuff down and we deal with him,” Evaine nodded toward the boy. “Right now we need to get out of this nice lady’s home.”
Fiona began to drag the boy and Evaine to the door, keeping an eye on the big guy.
As the three came out Gael's gaze slid from the Cathar to the boy and he frowned again. He glanced to the group and wondered if he could get a chance to speak to him at the least without listeners. He had a terrible thought.
Sturm kneels down next to the old woman to get a better look, staring into her eyes, curious as to her condition. Finally, he returns to a standing position, satisfied with his assessment and joins the others outside.
The gathering of trespassers vacate the home, the trembling subsiding only once the last stranger's foot has passed the open door frame.
The sun becomes shrouded by the haze of clouds in the skies while the group of strangers walk away and shake themselves of the experience they just had. As you they look back to the home, if any were brave enough, they'd see the silhouette of a figure at the second story window. Staring.
“Alright kid, let me help you,” Evaine looked at Fiona’s new friend, speaking to him in hushed tones. “I do not want them to put you to death, but if you are a part of Skirsdag I have very few choices in the matter. But if you explain yourself to me, perhaps I can help you redeem yourself in the eyes of the Church.”
While Evaine turned her focus on the boy, Fiona moved closer to Gael. She looked him up and down before she spoke. "Hello, raggedy man." She was sure to keep herself away from Evaine, for now. She knew she was in trouble, and it was just a matter of time before she got the lecture.
"Redeem m-m-myself?" He stammers. "We are not worthy of redemption, why else would Avacyn and her host desert us?" His face looks off, then is struck anew with some sort of revelation. "I was framed! Cultist items were placed in my home unbeknownst to me! A book! And a knife! I've never seen before! I swear!"
He flails his arms to and fro as he's led on by the cathar and the rest. "Uhm, perhaps we should find me a change of clothes? People will recognize my attire, and you will all be charged with aiding a suspected criminal. A charge even you can't ignore, cathar. At least a robe or hooded cloak?"
Sturm gives a single "Heh," with a smirk on his face. The jumpiness of the boy was amusing to the Stensian. He should man up and accept his fate.
A thought occurs to Sturm. He'd never been in a temple, and if that was where they were headed he wasn't sure what to expect. "Tell me about this temple," he says. If Avacyn's decisions were made there, perhaps that would be the best place for him to find the assistance he's looking for. The kid, and possibly others, seem to think Avacyn abandoned the land. If so, perhaps they needed Stensia's help as much as Stensia needed theirs.
Gael glanced down at Fiona and quirked his lips. He gave her a waggle of his fingers in hello, even as his gaze darted to the cathar and the boy--and the words the boy frantically said. That--yeah, Gael wasn't so sure about that. He wasn't sure about anything, but he really didn't like the idea of a cult anywhere near him. To demons or the like. His quirked lips turned a bit more brittle. He glanced back down to Fiona and the brittle smile hardened just a bit. He especially detested such dangers around--this is not Aislynn Gael had to remind himself. She was just as adorable at that age, though.
It took Gael a second longer to remember most people liked words instead of vague gestures and so, almost cautiously he murmured, "Hi?"
“I really, really wanted to believe you,” Evaine sighed before grabbing the boy by the wrist. “Listen, kid. You’re going to tell me the truth, because I am the only one who stands between you and certain death.” For the first time in a long while, the cleric’s voice had a touch of hardness to it.
“And if you are a cultist, a cultist who got near my Fiona? Well, then may Avacyn have mercy on your soul.”
Fiona gives Gael a smile and tugs at his rags. "Are you homeless too?" She gives Evaine a quick glance then quickly turns her attention back to the raggedy man. "I can show you all the best places to find food," she whispered, winking. "I've been on these streets a long time." Before she can continue, she hears Evaine's words to the boy. "No! Please don't hurt him!" Fiona ran over, trying to place herself between Evaine and the boy. "Why does it matter what he believes? Why should he be punished for thinking different?"
"Ah!" The young man strains against Evaline's grip. "Alright, alright! I read the book, and it called to me. It granted me powers.. enough at least, to keep the wandering dead of the Moorlands away."
Upon hearing the little red-headed girl, the presumed cultist gives a pleading look, "Yes, why must I be punished for defending myself when Avacyn and her host wouldn't?"
The view of Evaline's station could now be seen down the patch-riddled cobblestone walkway. It's high, arched steeples several feet higher than the surrounding architecture. It's stained glass windows featured alabaster angels with pleasant expressions, welcoming any to take in the light of Avacyn. Avacyn's symbol, a pronged collar prominently adorned the central arch, as well as the double-doored entrance. Its mortar walls were tinted shades darker than its original construction, probably due to lack of upkeep. The previous priest has been gone for some time. It was believed he is dead, however, his body has not since been found.
“Fiona, you don’t understand,” Evaine’s grip on the boy tightened. “His beliefs include human sacrifice, worshipping the darkness of this world I have given my life to protect against.”
”But I understand feeling powerless, and I believe in redemption,” the Cleric let go of the boy’s arm. “You have two options. First, you can run far away from this Parish and never return, never threaten those I care for again. I will not follow you. Second, you can return to my temple and ask Avacyn herself for forgiveness, and then help me drive out the darkness your book brought in.”
Gael laid his hand flat and tilted it so-so with a shrug. He had a home, but it wasn't here, and it was far and safe from him for now--but yes, technically he was homeless and knowledge of the best places to find food would be wonderful while Gael worked on getting some actual work. A part of him listened in on the cathar's conversation and the girl, and the boy, and a part of him frowned--cultists were problems. Yet, as the boy spoke, a part of Gael...understood. He could remember being called upon. Being granted boon and gift and--Gael grimaced.
Gael did not want to get involved, but with the skirsdag being in the area anyone like Gael himself, drawn in with promises and not being aware of the consequences--or perhaps damn them for whatever reason--were at risk. With a frown Gael picked his way over to the cathar woman, the girl, and the boy. He made a gesture.
"Cathar?" Gael murmured, and then glanced to the boy again and peered--was he right? Was he merely a fool like Gael himself, drawn in by a promise that would ultimately devour his soul? Gael wondered. He wondered if he could draw attention away, piece together more of the puzzle a bit--maybe tell the cathar things he himself saw? That book, after all...Gael shuddered. The boy came second, all things considered. Poor decisions aside, he'd need to make reparations in his own manner and way. There were more options out there than the half-whispered promises of a demon.
With a humming sigh Gael made a gesture, like he wanted to pull the cathar aside and say something. He glanced to the boy again, and then to the girl and gave her a faint smile. Hopefully she understood--the cathar, and maybe the girl.
"H-human... sacrifice...?" Fiona stepped away from the boy, tears beginning to fill her eyes. She'd made a huge mistake, and now the only person who cared anything for her might be in big trouble. "I-I only wanted..." She backed away from the group, hugging herself tightly. "I'm sorry," she said, before she ran for the temple. Once there, she found her typical hiding spot, tucking herself into the first tiny space she could find, making herself as small as possible.
"You walled folk are strange," Sturm says, gazing up at the temple. "There are worse things out there than those willing to give you power to protect yourself and the ones you love. Your angel gives you power... how are you any different than he?" Sturm continues his walk towards the temple, smiling as the girl rushes inside. "He's marked for death by your angel, just as someone else would have been from his demon. I see no difference." Perhaps if the temple failed to offer assistance, this cult would.
“Please, it’s Evaine,” the cathar responded to the ‘raggedy man.’ “I appreciate the help and discretion you both gave today. If you come into my temple and let me set my stuff down, we can have a longer talk.” It was clear he wanted to speak in private, but Evaine desperately wanted to have that conversation in the safety of her temple.
“It’s mostly the human sacrifice thing that sets us apart,” she responded to the larger man, taking off at a brisk walk toward the temple. She also needed to talk to Fiona. There were so many things demanding her attention... it was overwhelming. “There are other things, but I imagine you don’t really care about them.”
Opening the wooden, iron-banded double doors, a resonant creaking fills the room before the group. Revealed a sizable chamber. Two columns of pews create angled aisles facing an elevated platform against the far wall. Steps lead up on both sides, and atop it is a clothed table and preacher's podium. Two large banners hang on either side of of the platform, each baring the crest of Gavony, a shield emblazoned with Avacyn's collar, a crescent moon above it, and two swords and herons on either side. The once vibrant colors of the banners are now wan, and bathed in the pastel beams of light that pass from the evening sun through the stained windows.
Religious texts fill book shelves, and candelabras line the walkways nearest the walls. An elegant chandelier hangs below the rafters, it's reflective metals sheening in the somber light. Paintings of angels are hung at regular intervals, illustrating their benevolence to humanity.
Near the back corners of the chamber are doors that lead to a living quarters and dining area. Further right leads to the bed chambers, and further left reveals the kitchen and food and supply storage. Farther back still from the living area, is another door that leads to the pastor's chambers.
Sturm enters and looks around. The place is impressive. It is amazing the things people create in this city. The art was particularly interesting, and Sturm spends some time staring at the figures of the angels. Were these beings real? He wasn't sure. They were not real in Stensia. Not as real as the Vampires are. After a moment of studying the art and architecture, he turns to Evaine."When will you take me to the walls?" He asks.
Evaine took a deep breath. She was home. “Welcome to my temple,” she murmured, mostly to herself. “Why don’t you all come up to my chambers? I feel as if we all have a lot to talk about.”
Not waiting for an answer, The Cleric went through the doors that led to her room. All of her gear went into a massiv pile at the foot of her bed before she plopped herself down on the threadbare bed.
Sturm follows the cleric to her room. He looks it over with an appraising eye before deciding that it was a bit too rich for his blood. Not one to skirt around the point, he says, "Stensia needs the followers of Avacyn. The vampires have gone too far in both my village and Stensia itself. If you cannot help me, tell me who will, as I've traveled far to seek assistance." He leaves out the part that rumors are flying about that the angel has forsaken its people. He wasn't one to take to rumors as others were. To him, it was as simple as human helping human. It should come naturally for those in a position to help.
"I will help you, although you should know that I am not very... powerful," Evaine blushed. She could cure a few people, but her magic was nowhere near the magics of upper Cathars. "For all my big talk, I've never actually faced a vampire. But I suppose I have to start somewhere."
Evaine looked at the door, deciding that she needed to go after her Fiona. Sure, it would be rude to her guests, but her heart ached for the girl. “I’m sorry, but if you’ll excuse me, there’s something I need to attend to,” she stuttered, rising to her feet and heading out the room. “Make yourselves comfortable!”
The second place Evaine looked was the kitchen. “Fio-na,” she called out the young girl in a sing-song voice. “Fio-na, where are you? Come on out, it’s alright. It’s just us.” Evaine could hear sniffling coming from one of the little cupboards under a counter, but there was no other movement. Evaine took out her handkerchief before kneeling before the cupboard and opening it slowly. “Fiona, it’s ok.”
Fiona wiped her nose on her sleeve and looked up at Evaine, with red puffy eyes. "I'm sorry! I was just trying to help! I didn't want to see him die!"
“Fiona, one of the many things I love about you is how much you care. I am so proud that you wanted to help that boy.”
Fiona hid her face. "But I screwed up! They're going to come and take me away. Or you'll get in trouble, and they'll take you away!"
“Fiona, no one is going to take either of us away,” Evaine extended a hand to rub circles on the little rogue’s back. “I just need you to trust me.”
"I do," Fiona sniffled, looking up again. "I trust you, Evaine. But I don't trust them."
“I’m one of them, remember?” Evaine smiled sadly. “And when we’re working with them, you have to trust that I will do all I can.”
"You're not like them. They were going to kill him. You actually care."
“They were going to kill him because his choices endanger a great many people. Sometimes we take drastic action to protect those we care about.”
Fiona blinked. "But... he sacrifices people." Her bottom lip quivered.
“Well, he may not specifically, but others like him certainly do. That’s why the Church had him in chains. I know that you know that I don’t always agree with their decisions, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t truly believe that the Church is doing its best to make the world a brighter place.”
"How does death stop death?" Fiona wiped her nose on her sleeve again. "I don't think the Church does anything to help other people. The Church only helps protect itself."
“If there’s a big scary monster that I know will try and hurt you tomorrow, you’d best believe that I will kill it today,” Evaine bit her lip. “That’s how death stops death. I have protected you for six months, I think it’s time you trust in me a little bit more.”
"But monsters are different. How does killing a boy stop people from killing people?"
“If a boy kills other people, in my mind he’s a monster.”
"But..." Fiona sighed, not sure how to put to words the way she was feeling. "Okay, Evaine," she said, looking away.
“I’m not saying everything the Church does is good or perfect, but Fiona, please trust in me. I will always try my best to do the right thing.”
"I do trust you. I promise! You aren't the Church. You aren't the men that had that boy in chains. You are different. That's why I've stayed with you. They didn't take me in and feed me and give me a bed. You're so much better than them." With that, Fiona slid out of the tiny space and wrapped her arms around Evaine's neck in a hug.
“I am no better than anybody,” Evaine murmured to herself before pressing a kiss into the top of Fiona’s head.
"Then why was nobody willing to help me when I was starving?"
“Someone was.”
"You."
“I’m an agent of Avacyn, nothing more. If I hadn’t been there, someone else would have saved you.”
"Avacyn wasn't there for me."
“She sent me to you, didn’t she?” Evaine raised an eyebrow. “Angels don’t appear to us, they work in mysterious ways. I’ve never even personally seen Avacyn, but I see her hand in all of the goodness of this world.”
"She didn't send you anywhere. I sneaked into your temple and tried to steal your stuff."
“And why did you choose my temple?”
"Because it was empty."
“It wasn’t though. It was full of exactly what you needed. And that’s what I call Avacyn’s hand.”
Fiona pulled away from Evaine and looked her in the face. "Avacyn didn't prevent my parents from dying. Avacyn didn't prevent me from being homeless and starving."
“She didn’t prevent my parents from dying either, but she did prevent both of us from being homeless after a fashion,” Evaine sighed before rising to her feet, offering Fiona a hand. “You may not believe, and that’s ok, but I have enough belief for the both of us.”
"I can't believe is someone who has never shown themselves to me, and has never done anything for me. I believe in you, isn't that good enough?" Fiona took Evaine's hand, but quickly let go when her stomach growled loudly.
“It is,” Evaine smiled. “Come on, let’s get something for you to eat.”
Fiona nodded, but stopped a second later. "What about those other people? What about... that boy? Did they... come here?"
“They did,” Evaine blushed, realizing she had forgotten about all of them. “They’re currently in my room.”
Fiona bit her lip, while frowning. "Well... maybe we should bring some for them?"
“That would probably be a good idea,” Evaine laughed. “Was there any food hiding in there with you? Because if not, we might be out of luck...”
Fiona shook her head no, and frowned even deeper.
Evaine did a a few mental calculations. “I’m sure there’s a tavern nearby. I think I can get food for everyone there.”
Fiona nodded. "Sh-should I stay here?"
“You can come with me if you’d like.”
Fiona nodded again. "I'd like to."
Evaine led Fiona back to her room, giving her another quick hug before opening the door. “Fred here is hungry, which means we’re going to take a field trip to the nearest tavern,” the Cleric addressed the room of veritable strangers. “Lunch is on me. We can discuss whatever you’d like over some food.” Fiona stood behind Evaine, watching the newcomers with red, puffy eyes.
"No.. no," she gasps between her words. "I am kept here. Safe. With my Ehram." Her eyes darted for the knife, but something about the cleric's voice and demeanor halts her, and she allows the Avacynian to grasp her injured arm.
The woman has a sour scent and her hair is coarse and dry. She's somewhere in her twenties, but her lack of self care easily pulls at her eyes and skin, betraying her youth.
The house creaks and the wood and mortar groan slightly, almost imperceptively and easily dismissable by the age and lack of upkeep of the home.
"I am not going, Ehram. I know, it is not safe outside. Please, leave. I want none here."
Evaine cast a spell, an aura of white light growing from her body in a wide sphere, pushing away the darkness. Then, the woman's eyes grow panicked after looking over and perhaps, for the first time, recognizes her garb. She clasps the springsage's hands, and begs, "No! No, please no! Not my Ehram!"
"Who is Ehram?" Evaine asks.
"He was betrothed.. Please, don't make him leave!" She sobs into the cloths of Evaine's armor.
"Oh, my dear, he was your love?" Evaine kneels down next to the woman. "Those who leave the mortal coil... they do not truly leave us. Don't you want your love to reach the Blessed Sleep?"
"Ehram stays with me, he protects me! He-he can't go, I need him!" The house's wood strains from some unknown movement, as if reassuring the woman.
“Isn’t that a little selfish of you?" Evaine continues. "To keep him here, when he could move on to paradise,” Evaine said soothingly. “I am the new protector of this town. I can keep you safe, but you have to let me.”
To the right of the cathar and the deranged resident, the young ranger pulls the recently captive prisoner with her as she makes her way to the door. Fiona freezes, eyes wide and unsure of what to do next as her path is obstructed by a mountain of a man, brusque and old enough to be a the elder of a village. She keeps herself between everyone and the boy defensively.
"E-Evaine," Fiona said, voice shaking. She glanced at the large fellow. "We should go."
Sturm remains standing at the doorway, looking down at the scene. These walled-in types... they're not right in the head. "I need to get behind the walls. Your boy is the quickest way for me to do it. I'm taking him back." His tone and demeanor leave no room for compromise.
Fiona, despite her relative size, kept herself between the big man and the boy. "No."
“What if I can get you behind the walls?” Evaine turned her head. “Please be patient with me, friend. I can only deal with one catastrophe at a time. But I can help you.”
Sturm has seen her type before. They're able to enter and leave the walls whenever they want. "That would work." He glances down at the lil girl with her lil bow before pointing out what he feels is obvious. "I think she's talking to her knife," he says, indicating the injured crazy woman.
Evaine noted another form, lurking just behind the burly one. “You, in the shadows, who are you?” She called out, which causes Sturm to turn and look at what might be behind him.
A raggedy man, Gael, hunched his shoulders and raised his hands up with a sheepish sort of grin.
"That does not answer my question; who are you and what are you doing here?"
The man in question bit his lip and waffled over what to say before he uttered softly, "Friend?"
Sturm gives the strange man a wide berth, moving deeper into the house. He had encountered a lot of creatures in the wild, and some of them displayed similar symptoms as this man. It was always best to avoid them, as it was often contagious if bitten.
First this woman, then the boy, then everything else, Evaine thought to herself. “Please,” she looked back at the woman. “Let me help you. We can help Ehram and you both move on.”
Gael snorted and then shook his head with a frown taking note of Sturm's avoidance. Honestly, people and what they thought. Did he honestly look that bad? Gael glanced down at his threadbare clothes and grimaced. "Ah...not--not that."
Fiona looked at the new guy curiously. He looked like many of the people she'd seen on the streets. She desperately wanted to talk to him, but the situation they were currently in wouldn't allow for it. "Please, Evaine!" Fiona thought quickly. "I'm hungry," she whined.
Gael glanced at what he could see of the group, eyes darting between one person to the next, as he nibbled on his lip in thought. Finally they settled back upon the cathar woman, and he slipped further out of the shadows and towards her. "Cathar?" he asked, and kept his voice low and quiet and very cautious. He made a small gesture with his hand, to show that he wanted to ask her something--and not necessarily out loud enough to the rest of the group.
"I don't.." There's a notable tremble in the foundation of the house. "We don't want it.."
“Ok, we will leave you then,” Evaine backed away slowly, grabbing Fiona by the hand. Perhaps she would return later, but there were so many issues to deal with right this second that she would have to come back. “Is that alright with you?”
Gael's eyes widened. Oh dear. He'd definitely chosen the wrong place to search for work, apparently. Hastily, Gael backed back into the shadows.
Fiona tugged at Evaine's arm. "He's hungry, too," she said, nodding at Gael.
Gael glanced over at the younger girl and snorted. She wasn't wrong...but food seemed a bit of a poor choice of thought right now.
“Everyone, including all of our new friends, can come back to my temple and I will feed them as soon as I set my stuff down and we deal with him,” Evaine nodded toward the boy. “Right now we need to get out of this nice lady’s home.”
Fiona began to drag the boy and Evaine to the door, keeping an eye on the big guy.
As the three came out Gael's gaze slid from the Cathar to the boy and he frowned again. He glanced to the group and wondered if he could get a chance to speak to him at the least without listeners. He had a terrible thought.
Sturm kneels down next to the old woman to get a better look, staring into her eyes, curious as to her condition. Finally, he returns to a standing position, satisfied with his assessment and joins the others outside.
The gathering of trespassers vacate the home, the trembling subsiding only once the last stranger's foot has passed the open door frame.
The sun becomes shrouded by the haze of clouds in the skies while the group of strangers walk away and shake themselves of the experience they just had. As you they look back to the home, if any were brave enough, they'd see the silhouette of a figure at the second story window. Staring.
“Alright kid, let me help you,” Evaine looked at Fiona’s new friend, speaking to him in hushed tones. “I do not want them to put you to death, but if you are a part of Skirsdag I have very few choices in the matter. But if you explain yourself to me, perhaps I can help you redeem yourself in the eyes of the Church.”
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
While Evaine turned her focus on the boy, Fiona moved closer to Gael. She looked him up and down before she spoke. "Hello, raggedy man." She was sure to keep herself away from Evaine, for now. She knew she was in trouble, and it was just a matter of time before she got the lecture.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
"Redeem m-m-myself?" He stammers. "We are not worthy of redemption, why else would Avacyn and her host desert us?" His face looks off, then is struck anew with some sort of revelation. "I was framed! Cultist items were placed in my home unbeknownst to me! A book! And a knife! I've never seen before! I swear!"
He flails his arms to and fro as he's led on by the cathar and the rest. "Uhm, perhaps we should find me a change of clothes? People will recognize my attire, and you will all be charged with aiding a suspected criminal. A charge even you can't ignore, cathar. At least a robe or hooded cloak?"
Sturm gives a single "Heh," with a smirk on his face. The jumpiness of the boy was amusing to the Stensian. He should man up and accept his fate.
A thought occurs to Sturm. He'd never been in a temple, and if that was where they were headed he wasn't sure what to expect. "Tell me about this temple," he says. If Avacyn's decisions were made there, perhaps that would be the best place for him to find the assistance he's looking for. The kid, and possibly others, seem to think Avacyn abandoned the land. If so, perhaps they needed Stensia's help as much as Stensia needed theirs.
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Gael glanced down at Fiona and quirked his lips. He gave her a waggle of his fingers in hello, even as his gaze darted to the cathar and the boy--and the words the boy frantically said. That--yeah, Gael wasn't so sure about that. He wasn't sure about anything, but he really didn't like the idea of a cult anywhere near him. To demons or the like. His quirked lips turned a bit more brittle. He glanced back down to Fiona and the brittle smile hardened just a bit. He especially detested such dangers around--this is not Aislynn Gael had to remind himself. She was just as adorable at that age, though.
It took Gael a second longer to remember most people liked words instead of vague gestures and so, almost cautiously he murmured, "Hi?"
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“I really, really wanted to believe you,” Evaine sighed before grabbing the boy by the wrist. “Listen, kid. You’re going to tell me the truth, because I am the only one who stands between you and certain death.” For the first time in a long while, the cleric’s voice had a touch of hardness to it.
“And if you are a cultist, a cultist who got near my Fiona? Well, then may Avacyn have mercy on your soul.”
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Fiona gives Gael a smile and tugs at his rags. "Are you homeless too?" She gives Evaine a quick glance then quickly turns her attention back to the raggedy man. "I can show you all the best places to find food," she whispered, winking. "I've been on these streets a long time." Before she can continue, she hears Evaine's words to the boy. "No! Please don't hurt him!" Fiona ran over, trying to place herself between Evaine and the boy. "Why does it matter what he believes? Why should he be punished for thinking different?"
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
"Ah!" The young man strains against Evaline's grip. "Alright, alright! I read the book, and it called to me. It granted me powers.. enough at least, to keep the wandering dead of the Moorlands away."
Upon hearing the little red-headed girl, the presumed cultist gives a pleading look, "Yes, why must I be punished for defending myself when Avacyn and her host wouldn't?"
The view of Evaline's station could now be seen down the patch-riddled cobblestone walkway. It's high, arched steeples several feet higher than the surrounding architecture. It's stained glass windows featured alabaster angels with pleasant expressions, welcoming any to take in the light of Avacyn. Avacyn's symbol, a pronged collar prominently adorned the central arch, as well as the double-doored entrance. Its mortar walls were tinted shades darker than its original construction, probably due to lack of upkeep. The previous priest has been gone for some time. It was believed he is dead, however, his body has not since been found.
“Fiona, you don’t understand,” Evaine’s grip on the boy tightened. “His beliefs include human sacrifice, worshipping the darkness of this world I have given my life to protect against.”
”But I understand feeling powerless, and I believe in redemption,” the Cleric let go of the boy’s arm. “You have two options. First, you can run far away from this Parish and never return, never threaten those I care for again. I will not follow you. Second, you can return to my temple and ask Avacyn herself for forgiveness, and then help me drive out the darkness your book brought in.”
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Gael laid his hand flat and tilted it so-so with a shrug. He had a home, but it wasn't here, and it was far and safe from him for now--but yes, technically he was homeless and knowledge of the best places to find food would be wonderful while Gael worked on getting some actual work. A part of him listened in on the cathar's conversation and the girl, and the boy, and a part of him frowned--cultists were problems. Yet, as the boy spoke, a part of Gael...understood. He could remember being called upon. Being granted boon and gift and--Gael grimaced.
Gael did not want to get involved, but with the skirsdag being in the area anyone like Gael himself, drawn in with promises and not being aware of the consequences--or perhaps damn them for whatever reason--were at risk. With a frown Gael picked his way over to the cathar woman, the girl, and the boy. He made a gesture.
"Cathar?" Gael murmured, and then glanced to the boy again and peered--was he right? Was he merely a fool like Gael himself, drawn in by a promise that would ultimately devour his soul? Gael wondered. He wondered if he could draw attention away, piece together more of the puzzle a bit--maybe tell the cathar things he himself saw? That book, after all...Gael shuddered. The boy came second, all things considered. Poor decisions aside, he'd need to make reparations in his own manner and way. There were more options out there than the half-whispered promises of a demon.
With a humming sigh Gael made a gesture, like he wanted to pull the cathar aside and say something. He glanced to the boy again, and then to the girl and gave her a faint smile. Hopefully she understood--the cathar, and maybe the girl.
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"H-human... sacrifice...?" Fiona stepped away from the boy, tears beginning to fill her eyes. She'd made a huge mistake, and now the only person who cared anything for her might be in big trouble. "I-I only wanted..." She backed away from the group, hugging herself tightly. "I'm sorry," she said, before she ran for the temple. Once there, she found her typical hiding spot, tucking herself into the first tiny space she could find, making herself as small as possible.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
"You walled folk are strange," Sturm says, gazing up at the temple. "There are worse things out there than those willing to give you power to protect yourself and the ones you love. Your angel gives you power... how are you any different than he?" Sturm continues his walk towards the temple, smiling as the girl rushes inside. "He's marked for death by your angel, just as someone else would have been from his demon. I see no difference." Perhaps if the temple failed to offer assistance, this cult would.
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“Please, it’s Evaine,” the cathar responded to the ‘raggedy man.’ “I appreciate the help and discretion you both gave today. If you come into my temple and let me set my stuff down, we can have a longer talk.” It was clear he wanted to speak in private, but Evaine desperately wanted to have that conversation in the safety of her temple.
“It’s mostly the human sacrifice thing that sets us apart,” she responded to the larger man, taking off at a brisk walk toward the temple. She also needed to talk to Fiona. There were so many things demanding her attention... it was overwhelming. “There are other things, but I imagine you don’t really care about them.”
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PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
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Opening the wooden, iron-banded double doors, a resonant creaking fills the room before the group. Revealed a sizable chamber. Two columns of pews create angled aisles facing an elevated platform against the far wall. Steps lead up on both sides, and atop it is a clothed table and preacher's podium. Two large banners hang on either side of of the platform, each baring the crest of Gavony, a shield emblazoned with Avacyn's collar, a crescent moon above it, and two swords and herons on either side. The once vibrant colors of the banners are now wan, and bathed in the pastel beams of light that pass from the evening sun through the stained windows.
Religious texts fill book shelves, and candelabras line the walkways nearest the walls. An elegant chandelier hangs below the rafters, it's reflective metals sheening in the somber light. Paintings of angels are hung at regular intervals, illustrating their benevolence to humanity.
Near the back corners of the chamber are doors that lead to a living quarters and dining area. Further right leads to the bed chambers, and further left reveals the kitchen and food and supply storage. Farther back still from the living area, is another door that leads to the pastor's chambers.
It is peaceful and quaint in a charming way.
Sturm enters and looks around. The place is impressive. It is amazing the things people create in this city. The art was particularly interesting, and Sturm spends some time staring at the figures of the angels. Were these beings real? He wasn't sure. They were not real in Stensia. Not as real as the Vampires are. After a moment of studying the art and architecture, he turns to Evaine."When will you take me to the walls?" He asks.
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Evaine took a deep breath. She was home. “Welcome to my temple,” she murmured, mostly to herself. “Why don’t you all come up to my chambers? I feel as if we all have a lot to talk about.”
Not waiting for an answer, The Cleric went through the doors that led to her room. All of her gear went into a massiv pile at the foot of her bed before she plopped herself down on the threadbare bed.
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PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
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Sturm follows the cleric to her room. He looks it over with an appraising eye before deciding that it was a bit too rich for his blood. Not one to skirt around the point, he says, "Stensia needs the followers of Avacyn. The vampires have gone too far in both my village and Stensia itself. If you cannot help me, tell me who will, as I've traveled far to seek assistance." He leaves out the part that rumors are flying about that the angel has forsaken its people. He wasn't one to take to rumors as others were. To him, it was as simple as human helping human. It should come naturally for those in a position to help.
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"I will help you, although you should know that I am not very... powerful," Evaine blushed. She could cure a few people, but her magic was nowhere near the magics of upper Cathars. "For all my big talk, I've never actually faced a vampire. But I suppose I have to start somewhere."
Evaine looked at the door, deciding that she needed to go after her Fiona. Sure, it would be rude to her guests, but her heart ached for the girl. “I’m sorry, but if you’ll excuse me, there’s something I need to attend to,” she stuttered, rising to her feet and heading out the room. “Make yourselves comfortable!”
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The second place Evaine looked was the kitchen. “Fio-na,” she called out the young girl in a sing-song voice. “Fio-na, where are you? Come on out, it’s alright. It’s just us.” Evaine could hear sniffling coming from one of the little cupboards under a counter, but there was no other movement. Evaine took out her handkerchief before kneeling before the cupboard and opening it slowly. “Fiona, it’s ok.”
Fiona wiped her nose on her sleeve and looked up at Evaine, with red puffy eyes. "I'm sorry! I was just trying to help! I didn't want to see him die!"
“Fiona, one of the many things I love about you is how much you care. I am so proud that you wanted to help that boy.”
Fiona hid her face. "But I screwed up! They're going to come and take me away. Or you'll get in trouble, and they'll take you away!"
“Fiona, no one is going to take either of us away,” Evaine extended a hand to rub circles on the little rogue’s back. “I just need you to trust me.”
"I do," Fiona sniffled, looking up again. "I trust you, Evaine. But I don't trust them."
“I’m one of them, remember?” Evaine smiled sadly. “And when we’re working with them, you have to trust that I will do all I can.”
"You're not like them. They were going to kill him. You actually care."
“They were going to kill him because his choices endanger a great many people. Sometimes we take drastic action to protect those we care about.”
Fiona blinked. "But... he sacrifices people." Her bottom lip quivered.
“Well, he may not specifically, but others like him certainly do. That’s why the Church had him in chains. I know that you know that I don’t always agree with their decisions, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t truly believe that the Church is doing its best to make the world a brighter place.”
"How does death stop death?" Fiona wiped her nose on her sleeve again. "I don't think the Church does anything to help other people. The Church only helps protect itself."
“If there’s a big scary monster that I know will try and hurt you tomorrow, you’d best believe that I will kill it today,” Evaine bit her lip. “That’s how death stops death. I have protected you for six months, I think it’s time you trust in me a little bit more.”
"But monsters are different. How does killing a boy stop people from killing people?"
“If a boy kills other people, in my mind he’s a monster.”
"But..." Fiona sighed, not sure how to put to words the way she was feeling. "Okay, Evaine," she said, looking away.
“I’m not saying everything the Church does is good or perfect, but Fiona, please trust in me. I will always try my best to do the right thing.”
"I do trust you. I promise! You aren't the Church. You aren't the men that had that boy in chains. You are different. That's why I've stayed with you. They didn't take me in and feed me and give me a bed. You're so much better than them." With that, Fiona slid out of the tiny space and wrapped her arms around Evaine's neck in a hug.
“I am no better than anybody,” Evaine murmured to herself before pressing a kiss into the top of Fiona’s head.
"Then why was nobody willing to help me when I was starving?"
“Someone was.”
"You."
“I’m an agent of Avacyn, nothing more. If I hadn’t been there, someone else would have saved you.”
"Avacyn wasn't there for me."
“She sent me to you, didn’t she?” Evaine raised an eyebrow. “Angels don’t appear to us, they work in mysterious ways. I’ve never even personally seen Avacyn, but I see her hand in all of the goodness of this world.”
"She didn't send you anywhere. I sneaked into your temple and tried to steal your stuff."
“And why did you choose my temple?”
"Because it was empty."
“It wasn’t though. It was full of exactly what you needed. And that’s what I call Avacyn’s hand.”
Fiona pulled away from Evaine and looked her in the face. "Avacyn didn't prevent my parents from dying. Avacyn didn't prevent me from being homeless and starving."
“She didn’t prevent my parents from dying either, but she did prevent both of us from being homeless after a fashion,” Evaine sighed before rising to her feet, offering Fiona a hand. “You may not believe, and that’s ok, but I have enough belief for the both of us.”
"I can't believe is someone who has never shown themselves to me, and has never done anything for me. I believe in you, isn't that good enough?" Fiona took Evaine's hand, but quickly let go when her stomach growled loudly.
“It is,” Evaine smiled. “Come on, let’s get something for you to eat.”
Fiona nodded, but stopped a second later. "What about those other people? What about... that boy? Did they... come here?"
“They did,” Evaine blushed, realizing she had forgotten about all of them. “They’re currently in my room.”
Fiona bit her lip, while frowning. "Well... maybe we should bring some for them?"
“That would probably be a good idea,” Evaine laughed. “Was there any food hiding in there with you? Because if not, we might be out of luck...”
Fiona shook her head no, and frowned even deeper.
Evaine did a a few mental calculations. “I’m sure there’s a tavern nearby. I think I can get food for everyone there.”
Fiona nodded. "Sh-should I stay here?"
“You can come with me if you’d like.”
Fiona nodded again. "I'd like to."
Evaine led Fiona back to her room, giving her another quick hug before opening the door. “Fred here is hungry, which means we’re going to take a field trip to the nearest tavern,” the Cleric addressed the room of veritable strangers. “Lunch is on me. We can discuss whatever you’d like over some food.” Fiona stood behind Evaine, watching the newcomers with red, puffy eyes.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?