Maybe it's the nickname, earned through an approach to self-sacrifice deemed overzealous even for a faith devoted to martyrdom, or maybe it's something about Jade's choice of words, perhaps both, but Eila closes off entirely. She seems to struggle for words, going from rubbing her knuckles to wringing her hands and her shoulders are stiff. "Don't. I am your friend, but don't you say that to me. Go where you go for your own sake and not for me. I can't lose anyone else because they followed me into danger."
And suddenly Jade sees her, really sees her. Not the Painbearer, or the healer, or the warrior, or even her friend, but the broken cleric who came to Hightower Castle all those years ago.
"El, I ... I'm so sorry. I just... I'm not your responsibility. And if it helps you, I won't make you mine. But I am going to Vermillion with you, because it's the right thing to do. And I'm not going to stand aside and let you take all the risks, because that's the right thing to do too. And if anything happens to any of us, that's not your fault because we all made the choice to go, of our own free will."
"You can't keep blaming yourself for the past. Neither can I. And punishing ourselves will never make it right."
"Good. Do what you will because it is right, not for... anything else. But as for punishment." She seemed settled for the barest moment, but then takes half a step closer and the Painbearer glares up at Jade past the crooked brow of her heavily burnt left eye. "You can teach me the proper way to seek retribution after you get your best friends killed because of your own incompetence. One life can't be worth three, so trust me, I know I can't make it right."
That said, she turns on her heel and stalks off toward the house of rest, all too eager to be done digging up the past.
Millicent stared into her drink as the others departed, she was about to retire for the night herself when she felt a familiar comforting sensation wash over her.
" Yes?", she whispered. " A secret? Of course. Always."
She stood up quickly hugging her satchel to her chest.
" Always."
It was some hours before she joined the others in resting and when she did she was beaming ear to ear.
Elliðaey comes back to the communal room at dawn. She glances at Millicent smiling and chuckles softly to herself before casting a glance at Eila and Jade. These two look to be sleeping oddly far from one another which is very out of character for them. She makes a mental note to speak to each separately. As for Zaphi Elliðaey can only assume the small lump in a far bed belongs to the kobold!
"Morning eveyone," Elliðaey calls out. It's a greeting and a statement. "We have full access to the libraries and the Hearth of course. Get breakfast at your leisure but I would appreciate help in search of information about Vermeillon. I'll be in Aluado's library. Join me when you're ready try not to linger too long, " the monk explains softly as she waits for a response to everyone's plans for the day ahead.
OOC Welcome to level 4! Everyone check in via PMs for PC upgrades and additions!
Eila takes a moment to rouse and groggily hauls her legs over the edge of the cot to stand. If the blue-purple rings under her eyes are any indication, she doesn't appear to have had a particularly restful sleep.
"Good morning. Where is Aluado's library? I'll join you there as soon as I'm able," she says, as she starts winding red cords around her wrists to prepare for the morning's prayers so she can access her magic.
Zaphi was curled in a tight ball as he was accustomed with sharing a bed with many relatives. As he awoke for a split second he half expected to to see his mother Leven come in. Then he wipes the sleep from his eyes and gets up and stretches a bit before slowly getting his pack
He then says "Hmm...good morning" as he lets out a yawn. He waits for directions to be given for the library before heading out for some breakfast at the Hearth
Jade's morning routine tends to be, well routine. She's a creature of habit who goes about her morning preparations in a blandly precise manner that borders on ritualistic.
Today is different.
Jade's body seems to radiate a palpable anticipation and, if you look closely enough, her hands are visibly shaking. She clearly distracted and frequently pauses in her preparations as if she's forgotten what she's doing mid-task.
Millicent meticulously organises her note parchment, ink and quill and waits patiently for her first assignment....she assumes it will be general background on Vermeillon but is ready for the unexpected.
"Aluado's Library," Jade repeats back to Elliðaey, "I'll meet you all there in a bit."
She turns to Millicent with the eagerness of a child anticipating a present, "Can I borrow a few minutes of your time? I need some help finding something."
"It's in the Pillar of Pedagogy is where we have a reserved a room for research and discussion. As for Aluado's library. It can only be accessed by specific guests of the Keeper of the Tomes. I, myself, can only enter. You all can go to our room in the Pillars to seek knowledge of Vermeillon and your own interests from the avowed. They know our purpose and are keen to aid us having already selected some tomes of interest. As we are not free to wander the Emerald halls and shelves ourselves we will rely on the avowed. The password to enter the Pillars today is diligence," she explains smiling. "Oh, before I forget! Avowed Winters mentioned yesterday in passing the rules she neglected to tell us. Those in Candlekeep must follow certain rules: No fighting. No stealing. No copying. You can take notes, but getting a copy requires paying scribes to make one. No damaging, marking, or modifying works," the monk explains further. "The Pillars are across the from here the House of Rest, " she adds smiling. "Thank you for your help," Elliðaey finishes beaming ready to start her research!
At this new information, Jade turns to Eila. Once again, she speaks with the formal voice of the supplicant to the Painbearer interlaced with trepidation.
"Painbearer, I have some funds available if you need them. Will it take them long to scribe an entire book?"
"Aluado's Library," Jade repeats back to Elliðaey, "I'll meet you all there in a bit."
She turns to Millicent with the eagerness of a child anticipating a present, "Can I borrow a few minutes of your time? I need some help finding something."
" Of course."
She looked with slight yearning towards the Pillar but waited nonetheless.
At this new information, Jade turns to Eila. Once again, she speaks with the formal voice of the supplicant to the Painbearer interlaced with trepidation.
"Painbearer, I have some funds available if you need them. Will it take them long to scribe an entire book?"
"I don't know. It would depend on the skill of the scribes. I imagine they've a well-staffed scriptorium here, so nothing excessive. We can enquire with the Avowed in the Pillars. I'll be going straight there once I'm done, so I'll meet with you all shortly," she says as she settles down to kneel in front of the room's little window and starts murmuring verse under her breath, wrists entwined by the cord and head downcast.
The paladin watches the Painbearer, aware that she is neglecting her own devotions. For half a breath, it looks like Jade is about to speak. Then she turns to Millicent, cocks her head towards the door, and leaves.
Maybe it's the nickname, earned through an approach to self-sacrifice deemed overzealous even for a faith devoted to martyrdom, or maybe it's something about Jade's choice of words, perhaps both, but Eila closes off entirely. She seems to struggle for words, going from rubbing her knuckles to wringing her hands and her shoulders are stiff. "Don't. I am your friend, but don't you say that to me. Go where you go for your own sake and not for me. I can't lose anyone else because they followed me into danger."
And suddenly Jade sees her, really sees her. Not the Painbearer, or the healer, or the warrior, or even her friend, but the broken cleric who came to Hightower Castle all those years ago.
"El, I ... I'm so sorry. I just... I'm not your responsibility. And if it helps you, I won't make you mine. But I am going to Vermillion with you, because it's the right thing to do. And I'm not going to stand aside and let you take all the risks, because that's the right thing to do too. And if anything happens to any of us, that's not your fault because we all made the choice to go, of our own free will."
"You can't keep blaming yourself for the past. Neither can I. And punishing ourselves will never make it right."
"Good. Do what you will because it is right, not for... anything else. But as for punishment." She seemed settled for the barest moment, but then takes half a step closer and the Painbearer glares up at Jade past the crooked brow of her heavily burnt left eye. "You can teach me the proper way to seek retribution after you get your best friends killed because of your own incompetence. One life can't be worth three, so trust me, I know I can't make it right."
That said, she turns on her heel and stalks off toward the house of rest, all too eager to be done digging up the past.
Millicent stared into her drink as the others departed, she was about to retire for the night herself when she felt a familiar comforting sensation wash over her.
" Yes?", she whispered. " A secret? Of course. Always."
She stood up quickly hugging her satchel to her chest.
" Always."
It was some hours before she joined the others in resting and when she did she was beaming ear to ear.
Elliðaey comes back to the communal room at dawn. She glances at Millicent smiling and chuckles softly to herself before casting a glance at Eila and Jade. These two look to be sleeping oddly far from one another which is very out of character for them. She makes a mental note to speak to each separately. As for Zaphi Elliðaey can only assume the small lump in a far bed belongs to the kobold!
"Morning eveyone," Elliðaey calls out. It's a greeting and a statement. "We have full access to the libraries and the Hearth of course. Get breakfast at your leisure but I would appreciate help in search of information about Vermeillon. I'll be in Aluado's library. Join me when you're ready try not to linger too long, " the monk explains softly as she waits for a response to everyone's plans for the day ahead.
OOC Welcome to level 4! Everyone check in via PMs for PC upgrades and additions!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Eila takes a moment to rouse and groggily hauls her legs over the edge of the cot to stand. If the blue-purple rings under her eyes are any indication, she doesn't appear to have had a particularly restful sleep.
"Good morning. Where is Aluado's library? I'll join you there as soon as I'm able," she says, as she starts winding red cords around her wrists to prepare for the morning's prayers so she can access her magic.
Zaphi was curled in a tight ball as he was accustomed with sharing a bed with many relatives. As he awoke for a split second he half expected to to see his mother Leven come in. Then he wipes the sleep from his eyes and gets up and stretches a bit before slowly getting his pack
He then says "Hmm...good morning" as he lets out a yawn. He waits for directions to be given for the library before heading out for some breakfast at the Hearth
Jade's morning routine tends to be, well routine. She's a creature of habit who goes about her morning preparations in a blandly precise manner that borders on ritualistic.
Today is different.
Jade's body seems to radiate a palpable anticipation and, if you look closely enough, her hands are visibly shaking. She clearly distracted and frequently pauses in her preparations as if she's forgotten what she's doing mid-task.
Millicent meticulously organises her note parchment, ink and quill and waits patiently for her first assignment....she assumes it will be general background on Vermeillon but is ready for the unexpected.
"Aluado's Library," Jade repeats back to Elliðaey, "I'll meet you all there in a bit."
She turns to Millicent with the eagerness of a child anticipating a present, "Can I borrow a few minutes of your time? I need some help finding something."
"It's in the Pillar of Pedagogy is where we have a reserved a room for research and discussion. As for Aluado's library. It can only be accessed by specific guests of the Keeper of the Tomes. I, myself, can only enter. You all can go to our room in the Pillars to seek knowledge of Vermeillon and your own interests from the avowed. They know our purpose and are keen to aid us having already selected some tomes of interest. As we are not free to wander the Emerald halls and shelves ourselves we will rely on the avowed. The password to enter the Pillars today is diligence," she explains smiling. "Oh, before I forget! Avowed Winters mentioned yesterday in passing the rules she neglected to tell us. Those in Candlekeep must follow certain rules: No fighting. No stealing. No copying. You can take notes, but getting a copy requires paying scribes to make one. No damaging, marking, or modifying works," the monk explains further. "The Pillars are across the from here the House of Rest, " she adds smiling. "Thank you for your help," Elliðaey finishes beaming ready to start her research!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
At this new information, Jade turns to Eila. Once again, she speaks with the formal voice of the supplicant to the Painbearer interlaced with trepidation.
"Painbearer, I have some funds available if you need them. Will it take them long to scribe an entire book?"
Zaphi nods in understanding and then heads out. Once at the Hearth he asks the barkeep "What do you have for breakfast because I am famished"
" Of course."
She looked with slight yearning towards the Pillar but waited nonetheless.
Jade gives Millicent a friendly smile and places a hand on her shoulder, "Go."
She looks over at Elliðaey, "it sounds like I'll have to ask the Avowed for the assistance I need. But thank you regardless."
She turns back to Millicent, "Were you planning on eating first, or would you like to head over together?
"I don't know. It would depend on the skill of the scribes. I imagine they've a well-staffed scriptorium here, so nothing excessive. We can enquire with the Avowed in the Pillars. I'll be going straight there once I'm done, so I'll meet with you all shortly," she says as she settles down to kneel in front of the room's little window and starts murmuring verse under her breath, wrists entwined by the cord and head downcast.
The paladin watches the Painbearer, aware that she is neglecting her own devotions. For half a breath, it looks like Jade is about to speak. Then she turns to Millicent, cocks her head towards the door, and leaves.
Zaphi eats a quick breakfast and join the others in the Pillars 20 minutes later.
Millicent immediately sets to work when they reach the Pillar, stating the word " Diligence" to enter.
She sorts through the tomes provided making notes and comparing information.
Investigation/History: 21