The Geonid that Sam speaks to doesn't say much more but it does submerge it's hands in the stream studying the way it moves, then cautiously slaps the water and makes a noise that sounds like falling rocks, whilst the boulder on its back shakes in amusement.
Elthana's geonid settles next to her and becomes inert once more.
"I don't think the mirror would be much help in fighting back against. I can only look through it for maybe like half a minute at a time. Ahh-" Gewyn winces as he reaches down and rolls up his pant leg, revealing a badly infected puncture on his ankle. The skin around it is swollen, and an even darker red. Gewyn isn't looking at it though, just absently scratching at the inflamed area. "In answer to your second question, I think I am coming down with a fever. I feel like I'm burning up, but I can't stop shivering"
Vin listens to the explanation. Neferox doesn't seem to care and seems only focused on determining who is a threat. She's still not keen on letting anyone near Vin. They seem particularly growly towards Muir now. The young man seems to want to learn more but not getting answers unfortunately. "I don't understand. I mean, I slept yesterday. Was something protecting me? This doesn't seem to add up Gewyn. Does this mean I was right and the kids are trap in this sleep world right now?"
“You were protected by the Druids while you slept in the tree. Now what about the questions I asked Vin….If we are to defeat this hag and protect you we need to know everything to understand why it would attack you”
Muir turns to Gewyn “Let me see the wound. How did this happen?”
Gewyn looks down and notices the wound. "Oh that looks bad. I just caught my ankle on a jagged piece of deadwood back when I was sparring with Elthana. I didn't think it was a big deal." He looks at the seeping wound and offers a queasy smile. "I'm starting to question that initial assessment."
Muir kneels down and looks at the wound as he waits for Vin to answer. He then peers up at Gewyn "This blight rot just happened the other day eh? Quite advanced for 1 or 2 days."Muir takes some herbs out of his pouch, chews it up, spits it out and stuffs it into the wound. He is not very gentle as he looks up at Gewyn to gauge the pain. He gives him a disappointed, not mad, just disappointed look. He holds his hands over the wound and casts lesser restoration healing it up.
Sam walks a couple steps away from the Boulder Buddies and towards his party and looks at them all with some bewilderment. "Umm... I think I missed some of this," he says, his confusion evident. "Vin is the hags target specifically? Not just a random dream victim? Gewyn's foot is going to fall off and he's been trusting mirror voices? Is there anything else I am missing here? Please, explain it to me like I'm a thick headed orc and not the savvy adventurer you see before you..."
As Sam mentioned both Vin and then Gewyn he studies them both to see what their expression or actions may reveal about them. He's always known there was more to Vin and Nef than the normal Boy and Dog schtick but he's now wondering if her needs to worry that they're hiding something about this hag connection? And Gewyn? Ignoring such a wound is suspicious enough but trusting an enchanted mirror? What good has ever come of that??
Insight vs Vin: 16
Insight vs Gewyn: 20
Once Sam has decided he has assessed those two, he turns to look more to Elthana and Muir. "And what about you two, eh? Any deep dark secrets that may be endangering the rest of us?"
General insight on them both...: 10 - He probably doesn't read these two as well since he is already distracted.
“You were protected by the Druids while you slept in the tree. Now what about the questions I asked Vin….If we are to defeat this hag and protect you we need to know everything to understand why it would attack you”
To Muir Vin jsut seems confused. "I don't know why the hag is after me. This is why I'm confused. It doesn't make sense to me. There isn't really anything special about me... well.. beyond the fact Nef is with me. She was attacked in the dream. Is it possible they are after her?" Vin looks to Nef as if asking. Nef seems to not like this conversation. The black hound is glaring at Muir.
Vin seems to be legit in that he is confused. He doesn't know why he is being targeted or if this is even true. The young man often seems to think most people don't value him much. This makes it even more likely that Vin is honest in that he doesn't know. Neferox however, seems to be upset with Muir for saying something and when Vin tries to talk with them there seems to be confusion from Vin like she's avoiding giving an answer. When Sam looks to Vin the young man says "I don't get it. Heck, I grew up in an orphanage on the streets I don't even have any connections. If anything, I want to know why."
“Have you asked Neferox?” Sam asks Vin. “Straight up, demanding the truth. The full truth?”
“You’re a good one, Vin. Whatever you’ve come from, you’re a good one now and a part of this team. We want you here… Neferox, however…” Sam lets it linger for a moment before continuing. “There’s more to the hound than any of us know. I suspect even yourself. Perhaps Neferox is with you for the same reason the hag wants you? Why is Neferox with you? I suspect they don’t value your goodness like we do…”
Muir stands up after healing Gewyn's leg and agrees with Sam "Sam is correct Vin. I think the secrets between all of us need to be told so we know what we are getting ourselves into. We know there's a giant working with the Redcaps separate from this Hag who is targeting you. What does Neferfox know that they are not telling you? You have died before and have this power that has been acquired from somewhere. Was it the hag? It would help to know what we need to defeat to aid you and I think Neferfox is the key to knowing"
Vin looks from Sam to Muir as they begin to demand answers of Nef. The young man visibly getting more and more worried as they accuse her of things. He holds on tight to her preventing her from attacking as she pulls against him. She could easily pull away from him but the act of them trying to stop her seems to stop her rage as she snarls at Sam. As the boy tries to hold on the only family he has its clear to those with good insight he isn't about to just give up on Neferox. "Sam, I like you guys too too! Nef was warming up to you! S-She isn't like that! I thought..." She barks out at the big man looking ready to fight as Vin directs his next words to Neferox "No, Nef! They aren't betraying you or me! Everyone is just scared!" The boy is straining to hold the black hound back. She is just leaning against the pull.
Nef snarls out something at Muir too as he mentions something. A clear disagreement with his statement. "Yes, I know Nef. You did a good job protecting me. Muir! I never died. Sure, it's been close a few times but I've never needed revival. Heck, I was too poor to even afford it until recently. I would of died years ago if not for Nef." Vin is trying desperately to diffuse the situation. He thinks of something and says "Gweyn! You said you saw the hag attack Nef in the dreams! That's proof they aren't working together! Tell them!"
Elthana is glad that the stone sits down next to her, not sure why, but it does. She then turns her attention back to the growing quarry between her friends. Neferox's body language really starts to concern her and is worried the dog might actually attack if provoked. She hopes the others are aware of this as well.
After Muir works on Gewyn, Elthana looks to him with concern, "That feel better? I didn't know that happened to your ankle. You know, you must tell us when something doesn't seem right, this ankle thing could have gotten worse and well we don't need to keep things from one another." she admonishes him, but not strongly. She's tired herself and worried about what Muir is saying about Vin.
"Vin if you won't demand the full truth from Neferox, maybe Muir needs to. We need to be able to cut this tie the hag has with you if we can."
Sam raises his hands up to show they’re empty and takes a step back from Vin and Neferox. “Look kid, I don’t need to know everything. I couldn’t understand it all if I did. And I’m not trying to wedge you away from Neferox or Neferox away from the party, ok?” Sam explains. “I’m just saying.. there should be total truth between you and the hound.” “I think we all trust you,” Sam says, looking briefly to the others. “It’s Neferox we have concerns about. But we accept Neferox because we trust you. And that’s a big responsibility upon your shoulders… I guess my point is, you and them need to be totally open with each other, at least, else how can you live with that responsibility?”
Sam shrugs and then sits on his haunches to wait. He’s trying to look non threatening and hoping his message got through. He thinks he lost the thread of what he was saying somewhere there near the end but the kids is smart. The kid’ll get it.
Muir stands behind Sam and nods in agreement with Elthana and Sam. "Indeed, indeed.....There are many questions that are unanswered and it seems Neferfox has the answers. Shall I lit the questions again? Perhaps I should" Muir says that last part out loud to himself as if no one could hear his ramblings "This power is not innate and your dog is not a dog. Your dog is extremely protective, look how she wants to attack us for simply asking questions so we can help you sever ties with this Hag....Why does Neferfox want to attack those that would help? How did you die or almost die? The hag attacked you not any of us. We need to know why so we can help and your traveling demon dog seems to have some answers." Muir becoming impatient with both Vin and Neferfox dodging everyone's questions slides in the demon part as a reminder to everyone that they are traveling with a demonic entity.
“Alright, alright… The kid knows. Now give him and Neferox some times to sort it out between themselves. Once they do that then they can explain to us,” Sam suggests with some insistence.
“Meanwhile if you must worry a bone then perhaps focus on Gewyn a bit?” Sam adds, turning to focus on them. “Why’d he hide the wound like that? What’s with this mirror? Has it always shown such things or is it new? Perhaps since meeting the fairy queen? You two did seem to be fast friends…”
Gewyn gasps as Muir tends to his wound. The gasp of someone coming up for air. He winces afterward, but tension he hadn't realized he was carrying in his face melts away as does his fever. "Thanks Muir, that is worlds better."
But as he watches Vin's interrogation from the sidelines, he becomes restless. The kid looks scared. Confused. And the dog looks cornered. This can't go on. He has the power and the ability to stop it. Damn it.
Then Sam turns his questions on Gewyn.
"OKAY! Wait"Gewyn's voice cuts through as he projects as if he were on stage. In the following silence, he struggles to his feet, strength still returning to him. "First off, do each of you go running to the group every time a branch scrapes your shoulder, or your feet start to ache from wearing cold wet boots for a full day of walking? No. I didn't bring up my wound because I didn't realize it would be a problem. And sure, maybe I didn't bring up my mirror because I'm a little slower to trust than everyone else."Gewyn's voice get louder and louder as he continues to monologue. "But wait, that's not really true, is it? Because I think we are all witholding little bits and pieces of ourselves. With Muir slinking off on his own at night and keeping that knob of his secret at the beginning, Elthana not being super talkative about why the treasury would choose a wetworker for this team. And Sam, I'll be damned if you aren't secretly reporting back to someone in Marblestead through magical means when you think no one's looking."
Gewyn looks each person besides Vin in the eyes. "Can any of you look me in the and honestly tell me that you have totally forthright from day 1? But out of everyone here, I feel like Vin has hidden the least. Look at him. The poor kid doesn't know anything. I think the hag is after him because he doesn't realize that he doesn't fully belong in this world! And the reason I think that is because..." He hesitates, wrestling with himself. He then looks to Muir for support. "It's because she's after me too! And I-" His powerful voice cracks just a bit with emotion. He takes a deep breath and then speaks slowly and quietly. "I don't think I belong here either. The hag's words to me were, 'blood born of Fae and forged by this plane, you will be the key that opens the gate. The young boy too, born of fire and forged all the same. Closer, closer... you are the last sacrifice which wil birth a new era..'" And as Muir and Shionne can attest, I am indeed part fae"
With that, he begins to morph. His horns slowly flatten down into his skull. The definition of his lean muscles softens, and the colour drains from his face. Literally, all of the red recedes away from his face, leaving a blindingly pale visage in its wake. Silver spreads from the roots of his hair, overtaking the black. His brilliant eyes flatten to a cold grey. A thin but jagged scar forms freshly, travelling diagonally across one cheekbone and through both of his now-thinner lips. A reminder of when the Not-Deer tricked everyone into turning their weapons on him.
Gewyn holds his hands out to the side in a gesture inviting whatever may come. "This is as close to my true form as I know. If people back in Marblestead knew I was a monster... a freak... So yeah. Maybe we're all hiding some stuff. And maybe some of us have learned from their birth that keeping quiet is the only way to survive in this world. But maybe now the circumstances do indeed call for a little bit of transparency."
"Well shit, Gewyn... If you think that look makes you more of an outsider than the other... " Sam laughs again. "Shiiiit... Each and everyone of us look like a monster to someone. Because yeah, everyone loves the Half-Orc spawn, right?"
"But whatever, we all have our own burdens and I am not about judging yours or anyones. Not about putting them on a scale against my own either. Everyone's is the worst to themselves, I suppose... You have every right to keep that to yourself, as my thinking goes. What you don't have a right to keep to yourself... What none of us do... Is wounds and threats and dangers that could sweep the others up into them. Put the others at risk."
"You're right, I'm not bothering you with a stubbed toe. You really telling me you just thought that was a stubbed toe though?" Sam asks. "Whatever. You should have told us but it's your damn foot. If it falls off it's on you... Except that's not exactly true. You are part of a team...
"Vin is part of a team...
"Neferox is part of a team...
"That means we rely on each other. That means your bum ankle is your business... Unless it's compromising your ability to watch my back. Or Vin's. Of Neferox's. And a threat you knew of against you and the kid? That sure as hell does affect us all if we're traipsing through hell and back together."
"Can I look you in the eyes and tell you what? That I have been forthright??" Sam steps up in front of Gewyn and looks him in the eyes. "Yes, I can. I ain't never lied to you all about anything..."
But Sam pauses and considers for a moment. "Well... I did kind of suggest to Vin that we'd have to hunt down and kill Ebb for leaving this secret mission team... But that was just in good fun." Sam turns to Vin and tosses him what he hopes is a joking, conspiratorial wink.
"Do I report back to my sponsor? Yes. Don't you all? It sure ain't no big secret or anything any more than it is when I take any one of you aside for a moment to exchange this or that piece of information. Never occured to me for a moment that you weren't all reporting back to your own sponsors some way or another about what was happening. But just because the factions don't trust each other doesn't mean we shouldn't. They're back there, we're here with out lives on the line. Screw them, we need to have each other's back."
"My reports back are what happened to us. The fight with the wolf. Finding the dead faery and then the not-deer. Finding the survivors. What I reported about you all?" Sam mulls on this for a while, thinking. "Nothing? Best as I can remember, anyway. My sponsor... Jimmy Connelly, head of the WFM... The Worker's Faction... He's asked that I take leadership of the team. He's pushed me to get information from Elthana about some magic item her faction has..."
Sam pauses in his speechifying and lets out a long, slow sigh.
"I did poke and pester Elthana about that a bit... I've since dropped it but... I'm sorry, Elthana. Your business is your business. I won't do that again, shouldn't have done it in the first place. As for taking leadership of the team... Well I guess you all can judge that for yourselves. You see me trying to force the decisions or sway you all into anything but being a team? I've let my opinions be known. I've argued my case a time or two, perhaps. But lead you all?" Sam has a skeptical look on his face even as he says it... He shrugs again and then looks around to everyone, focusing on each for a moment before looking to the next.
"If I lead you all into anything I hope it's into accepting that while we're in this together that we need to be in this together. Screw the faction shit. Screw the secrets and agendas and angles. Let them running the factions back home worry about that crap. Lets us just worry about keeping ach other safe and saving as many of the people here as we can, eh? Let's us just worry about fixing whatever the hell it is that got so broken here. Let's us be our own damn faction and just worry about doing what good we can do... At least until we've done that good. Then you all can go back to the intrigue and the drama and all, eh? Me... Given my druthers I would be back home, my feet up, a drink in my hand and a fire nearby to keep the chill away. Alls I care about what the bigwigs do is how it impacts the working people. So long as we catch a break now and again, so long as we have a chance to find a little joy every once in a while? Well that's about all I ask and the rest can just go jump up their own asses, eh?"
Muir places his hand on Gewyn's shoulder as he transforms. He listens to Sam and chimes in as well. "It is true I have known of Gewyn's secret but it was his to tell. I also have reported to my superior who you have all met. I have no secrets and shared my tree with you all because I trust you all. I don't know what factions you all belong to or what they've tasked you with. You all know what faction, if we can even be called that, I belong to and our goals. Vin, we ask these questions because the information Neferfox knows and has kept from you may help us defeat the hag and help save you Vin. If your dog doesn't understand that we are here to help....."
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The Geonid that Sam speaks to doesn't say much more but it does submerge it's hands in the stream studying the way it moves, then cautiously slaps the water and makes a noise that sounds like falling rocks, whilst the boulder on its back shakes in amusement.
Elthana's geonid settles next to her and becomes inert once more.
"I don't think the mirror would be much help in fighting back against. I can only look through it for maybe like half a minute at a time. Ahh-" Gewyn winces as he reaches down and rolls up his pant leg, revealing a badly infected puncture on his ankle. The skin around it is swollen, and an even darker red. Gewyn isn't looking at it though, just absently scratching at the inflamed area. "In answer to your second question, I think I am coming down with a fever. I feel like I'm burning up, but I can't stop shivering"
Vin listens to the explanation. Neferox doesn't seem to care and seems only focused on determining who is a threat. She's still not keen on letting anyone near Vin. They seem particularly growly towards Muir now. The young man seems to want to learn more but not getting answers unfortunately. "I don't understand. I mean, I slept yesterday. Was something protecting me? This doesn't seem to add up Gewyn. Does this mean I was right and the kids are trap in this sleep world right now?"
“You were protected by the Druids while you slept in the tree. Now what about the questions I asked Vin….If we are to defeat this hag and protect you we need to know everything to understand why it would attack you”
Muir turns to Gewyn “Let me see the wound. How did this happen?”
Gewyn looks down and notices the wound. "Oh that looks bad. I just caught my ankle on a jagged piece of deadwood back when I was sparring with Elthana. I didn't think it was a big deal." He looks at the seeping wound and offers a queasy smile. "I'm starting to question that initial assessment."
Muir kneels down and looks at the wound as he waits for Vin to answer. He then peers up at Gewyn "This blight rot just happened the other day eh? Quite advanced for 1 or 2 days." Muir takes some herbs out of his pouch, chews it up, spits it out and stuffs it into the wound. He is not very gentle as he looks up at Gewyn to gauge the pain. He gives him a disappointed, not mad, just disappointed look. He holds his hands over the wound and casts lesser restoration healing it up.
Sam walks a couple steps away from the Boulder Buddies and towards his party and looks at them all with some bewilderment. "Umm... I think I missed some of this," he says, his confusion evident. "Vin is the hags target specifically? Not just a random dream victim? Gewyn's foot is going to fall off and he's been trusting mirror voices? Is there anything else I am missing here? Please, explain it to me like I'm a thick headed orc and not the savvy adventurer you see before you..."
As Sam mentioned both Vin and then Gewyn he studies them both to see what their expression or actions may reveal about them. He's always known there was more to Vin and Nef than the normal Boy and Dog schtick but he's now wondering if her needs to worry that they're hiding something about this hag connection? And Gewyn? Ignoring such a wound is suspicious enough but trusting an enchanted mirror? What good has ever come of that??
Insight vs Vin: 16
Insight vs Gewyn: 20
Once Sam has decided he has assessed those two, he turns to look more to Elthana and Muir. "And what about you two, eh? Any deep dark secrets that may be endangering the rest of us?"
General insight on them both...: 10 - He probably doesn't read these two as well since he is already distracted.
Muir turns to Sam and smiles “I’m a vegetarian”
Sam screws up his face and stares at Muir. "If you're going to be making up words then there's really no point, is there?"
To Muir Vin jsut seems confused. "I don't know why the hag is after me. This is why I'm confused. It doesn't make sense to me. There isn't really anything special about me... well.. beyond the fact Nef is with me. She was attacked in the dream. Is it possible they are after her?" Vin looks to Nef as if asking. Nef seems to not like this conversation. The black hound is glaring at Muir.
Vin seems to be legit in that he is confused. He doesn't know why he is being targeted or if this is even true. The young man often seems to think most people don't value him much. This makes it even more likely that Vin is honest in that he doesn't know. Neferox however, seems to be upset with Muir for saying something and when Vin tries to talk with them there seems to be confusion from Vin like she's avoiding giving an answer. When Sam looks to Vin the young man says "I don't get it. Heck, I grew up in an orphanage on the streets I don't even have any connections. If anything, I want to know why."
“Have you asked Neferox?” Sam asks Vin. “Straight up, demanding the truth. The full truth?”
“You’re a good one, Vin. Whatever you’ve come from, you’re a good one now and a part of this team. We want you here… Neferox, however…” Sam lets it linger for a moment before continuing. “There’s more to the hound than any of us know. I suspect even yourself. Perhaps Neferox is with you for the same reason the hag wants you? Why is Neferox with you? I suspect they don’t value your goodness like we do…”
Muir stands up after healing Gewyn's leg and agrees with Sam "Sam is correct Vin. I think the secrets between all of us need to be told so we know what we are getting ourselves into. We know there's a giant working with the Redcaps separate from this Hag who is targeting you. What does Neferfox know that they are not telling you? You have died before and have this power that has been acquired from somewhere. Was it the hag? It would help to know what we need to defeat to aid you and I think Neferfox is the key to knowing"
Vin looks from Sam to Muir as they begin to demand answers of Nef. The young man visibly getting more and more worried as they accuse her of things. He holds on tight to her preventing her from attacking as she pulls against him. She could easily pull away from him but the act of them trying to stop her seems to stop her rage as she snarls at Sam. As the boy tries to hold on the only family he has its clear to those with good insight he isn't about to just give up on Neferox. "Sam, I like you guys too too! Nef was warming up to you! S-She isn't like that! I thought..." She barks out at the big man looking ready to fight as Vin directs his next words to Neferox "No, Nef! They aren't betraying you or me! Everyone is just scared!" The boy is straining to hold the black hound back. She is just leaning against the pull.
Nef snarls out something at Muir too as he mentions something. A clear disagreement with his statement. "Yes, I know Nef. You did a good job protecting me. Muir! I never died. Sure, it's been close a few times but I've never needed revival. Heck, I was too poor to even afford it until recently. I would of died years ago if not for Nef." Vin is trying desperately to diffuse the situation. He thinks of something and says "Gweyn! You said you saw the hag attack Nef in the dreams! That's proof they aren't working together! Tell them!"
Elthana is glad that the stone sits down next to her, not sure why, but it does. She then turns her attention back to the growing quarry between her friends. Neferox's body language really starts to concern her and is worried the dog might actually attack if provoked. She hopes the others are aware of this as well.
After Muir works on Gewyn, Elthana looks to him with concern, "That feel better? I didn't know that happened to your ankle. You know, you must tell us when something doesn't seem right, this ankle thing could have gotten worse and well we don't need to keep things from one another." she admonishes him, but not strongly. She's tired herself and worried about what Muir is saying about Vin.
"Vin if you won't demand the full truth from Neferox, maybe Muir needs to. We need to be able to cut this tie the hag has with you if we can."
Sam raises his hands up to show they’re empty and takes a step back from Vin and Neferox. “Look kid, I don’t need to know everything. I couldn’t understand it all if I did. And I’m not trying to wedge you away from Neferox or Neferox away from the party, ok?” Sam explains. “I’m just saying.. there should be total truth between you and the hound.”
“I think we all trust you,” Sam says, looking briefly to the others. “It’s Neferox we have concerns about. But we accept Neferox because we trust you. And that’s a big responsibility upon your shoulders… I guess my point is, you and them need to be totally open with each other, at least, else how can you live with that responsibility?”
Sam shrugs and then sits on his haunches to wait. He’s trying to look non threatening and hoping his message got through. He thinks he lost the thread of what he was saying somewhere there near the end but the kids is smart. The kid’ll get it.
Muir stands behind Sam and nods in agreement with Elthana and Sam. "Indeed, indeed.....There are many questions that are unanswered and it seems Neferfox has the answers. Shall I lit the questions again? Perhaps I should" Muir says that last part out loud to himself as if no one could hear his ramblings "This power is not innate and your dog is not a dog. Your dog is extremely protective, look how she wants to attack us for simply asking questions so we can help you sever ties with this Hag....Why does Neferfox want to attack those that would help? How did you die or almost die? The hag attacked you not any of us. We need to know why so we can help and your traveling demon dog seems to have some answers." Muir becoming impatient with both Vin and Neferfox dodging everyone's questions slides in the demon part as a reminder to everyone that they are traveling with a demonic entity.
“Alright, alright… The kid knows. Now give him and Neferox some times to sort it out between themselves. Once they do that then they can explain to us,” Sam suggests with some insistence.
“Meanwhile if you must worry a bone then perhaps focus on Gewyn a bit?” Sam adds, turning to focus on them. “Why’d he hide the wound like that? What’s with this mirror? Has it always shown such things or is it new? Perhaps since meeting the fairy queen? You two did seem to be fast friends…”
Gewyn gasps as Muir tends to his wound. The gasp of someone coming up for air. He winces afterward, but tension he hadn't realized he was carrying in his face melts away as does his fever. "Thanks Muir, that is worlds better."
But as he watches Vin's interrogation from the sidelines, he becomes restless. The kid looks scared. Confused. And the dog looks cornered. This can't go on. He has the power and the ability to stop it. Damn it.
Then Sam turns his questions on Gewyn.
"OKAY! Wait" Gewyn's voice cuts through as he projects as if he were on stage. In the following silence, he struggles to his feet, strength still returning to him. "First off, do each of you go running to the group every time a branch scrapes your shoulder, or your feet start to ache from wearing cold wet boots for a full day of walking? No. I didn't bring up my wound because I didn't realize it would be a problem. And sure, maybe I didn't bring up my mirror because I'm a little slower to trust than everyone else." Gewyn's voice get louder and louder as he continues to monologue. "But wait, that's not really true, is it? Because I think we are all witholding little bits and pieces of ourselves. With Muir slinking off on his own at night and keeping that knob of his secret at the beginning, Elthana not being super talkative about why the treasury would choose a wetworker for this team. And Sam, I'll be damned if you aren't secretly reporting back to someone in Marblestead through magical means when you think no one's looking."
Gewyn looks each person besides Vin in the eyes. "Can any of you look me in the and honestly tell me that you have totally forthright from day 1? But out of everyone here, I feel like Vin has hidden the least. Look at him. The poor kid doesn't know anything. I think the hag is after him because he doesn't realize that he doesn't fully belong in this world! And the reason I think that is because..." He hesitates, wrestling with himself. He then looks to Muir for support. "It's because she's after me too! And I-" His powerful voice cracks just a bit with emotion. He takes a deep breath and then speaks slowly and quietly. "I don't think I belong here either. The hag's words to me were, 'blood born of Fae and forged by this plane, you will be the key that opens the gate. The young boy too, born of fire and forged all the same. Closer, closer... you are the last sacrifice which wil birth a new era..'" And as Muir and Shionne can attest, I am indeed part fae"
With that, he begins to morph. His horns slowly flatten down into his skull. The definition of his lean muscles softens, and the colour drains from his face. Literally, all of the red recedes away from his face, leaving a blindingly pale visage in its wake. Silver spreads from the roots of his hair, overtaking the black. His brilliant eyes flatten to a cold grey. A thin but jagged scar forms freshly, travelling diagonally across one cheekbone and through both of his now-thinner lips. A reminder of when the Not-Deer tricked everyone into turning their weapons on him.
Gewyn holds his hands out to the side in a gesture inviting whatever may come. "This is as close to my true form as I know. If people back in Marblestead knew I was a monster... a freak... So yeah. Maybe we're all hiding some stuff. And maybe some of us have learned from their birth that keeping quiet is the only way to survive in this world. But maybe now the circumstances do indeed call for a little bit of transparency."
Sam chuckles.
The chuckle turns into laughter.
Bright, honest laughter.
"Well shit, Gewyn... If you think that look makes you more of an outsider than the other... " Sam laughs again. "Shiiiit... Each and everyone of us look like a monster to someone. Because yeah, everyone loves the Half-Orc spawn, right?"
"But whatever, we all have our own burdens and I am not about judging yours or anyones. Not about putting them on a scale against my own either. Everyone's is the worst to themselves, I suppose... You have every right to keep that to yourself, as my thinking goes. What you don't have a right to keep to yourself... What none of us do... Is wounds and threats and dangers that could sweep the others up into them. Put the others at risk."
"You're right, I'm not bothering you with a stubbed toe. You really telling me you just thought that was a stubbed toe though?" Sam asks. "Whatever. You should have told us but it's your damn foot. If it falls off it's on you... Except that's not exactly true. You are part of a team...
"Vin is part of a team...
"Neferox is part of a team...
"That means we rely on each other. That means your bum ankle is your business... Unless it's compromising your ability to watch my back. Or Vin's. Of Neferox's. And a threat you knew of against you and the kid? That sure as hell does affect us all if we're traipsing through hell and back together."
"Can I look you in the eyes and tell you what? That I have been forthright??" Sam steps up in front of Gewyn and looks him in the eyes. "Yes, I can. I ain't never lied to you all about anything..."
But Sam pauses and considers for a moment. "Well... I did kind of suggest to Vin that we'd have to hunt down and kill Ebb for leaving this secret mission team... But that was just in good fun." Sam turns to Vin and tosses him what he hopes is a joking, conspiratorial wink.
"Do I report back to my sponsor? Yes. Don't you all? It sure ain't no big secret or anything any more than it is when I take any one of you aside for a moment to exchange this or that piece of information. Never occured to me for a moment that you weren't all reporting back to your own sponsors some way or another about what was happening. But just because the factions don't trust each other doesn't mean we shouldn't. They're back there, we're here with out lives on the line. Screw them, we need to have each other's back."
"My reports back are what happened to us. The fight with the wolf. Finding the dead faery and then the not-deer. Finding the survivors. What I reported about you all?" Sam mulls on this for a while, thinking. "Nothing? Best as I can remember, anyway. My sponsor... Jimmy Connelly, head of the WFM... The Worker's Faction... He's asked that I take leadership of the team. He's pushed me to get information from Elthana about some magic item her faction has..."
Sam pauses in his speechifying and lets out a long, slow sigh.
"I did poke and pester Elthana about that a bit... I've since dropped it but... I'm sorry, Elthana. Your business is your business. I won't do that again, shouldn't have done it in the first place. As for taking leadership of the team... Well I guess you all can judge that for yourselves. You see me trying to force the decisions or sway you all into anything but being a team? I've let my opinions be known. I've argued my case a time or two, perhaps. But lead you all?" Sam has a skeptical look on his face even as he says it... He shrugs again and then looks around to everyone, focusing on each for a moment before looking to the next.
"If I lead you all into anything I hope it's into accepting that while we're in this together that we need to be in this together. Screw the faction shit. Screw the secrets and agendas and angles. Let them running the factions back home worry about that crap. Lets us just worry about keeping ach other safe and saving as many of the people here as we can, eh? Let's us just worry about fixing whatever the hell it is that got so broken here. Let's us be our own damn faction and just worry about doing what good we can do... At least until we've done that good. Then you all can go back to the intrigue and the drama and all, eh? Me... Given my druthers I would be back home, my feet up, a drink in my hand and a fire nearby to keep the chill away. Alls I care about what the bigwigs do is how it impacts the working people. So long as we catch a break now and again, so long as we have a chance to find a little joy every once in a while? Well that's about all I ask and the rest can just go jump up their own asses, eh?"
Muir places his hand on Gewyn's shoulder as he transforms. He listens to Sam and chimes in as well. "It is true I have known of Gewyn's secret but it was his to tell. I also have reported to my superior who you have all met. I have no secrets and shared my tree with you all because I trust you all. I don't know what factions you all belong to or what they've tasked you with. You all know what faction, if we can even be called that, I belong to and our goals. Vin, we ask these questions because the information Neferfox knows and has kept from you may help us defeat the hag and help save you Vin. If your dog doesn't understand that we are here to help....."