City of Cresthall

Bennett sees this, chuckles and signs "Smooth." To Crispy

"Hmm, hand signals useful, yes?" Karra comments. "These used by people in Underdark. Help people communicate, attract less drow as less noise." Karra holds the longsword up and out, the blade looking a little big for Karra's short stature. "Tried connecting to blade. Creates fire when <flare> is called." (Note: flare is said in dwarven) The blade illuminates a a fiery aura covers the weapon. "Hmm, seems useful, but too cumbersome for me, yes? This sword large, for human-size." He looks to the others. "Maybe someone bigger and stronger want to use, yes?"

Deciding to humor Crispy as she takes her through the basics of military hand signals, Ashley responds to the proposal with some of them more complex signs translating roughly too

"Thank you, that sounds like fun."

Crispy nods and smiles, and gets up, gathering her things. Of course Ashley knew how to sign, she was also in the military, but it was a means to an end. One, she wanted to show Ashley, she had a soft side to her, and two, she wanted an excuse to approach her and make her feel better. She glanced at Bennett, and winked. The next moves might be a bit more complicated, and while she pretended to be busy, thought about how she would execute those next moves.

Hatt sighs and tries to relax himself, mostly successfully, though part of his mind is still agitated at what has just transpired.  He watches Crispy demonstrate the hand signals, but doesn't think he'd be able to imitate them without a lot of practice.  Shrugging, he walks over to Karra and takes the massive (for him) longsword.  He imitates the word that Karra had used, but nothing happens.  Shame, he says, that looks fun.  But yes, much too big; he hands the blade back to Karra, or whoever else indicated they might want it.  Who's next?

Edited for disappointing lack of fiery blade :( 

Quote from SteveThaiBinh >>

Hatt sighs and tries to relax himself, mostly successfully, though part of his mind is still agitated at what has just transpired.  He watches Crispy demonstrate the hand signals, but doesn't think he'd be able to imitate them without a lot of practice.  Shrugging, he walks over to Karra and takes the massive (for him) longsword.  He imitates the word that Karra had used, grinning as the fire lights up the blade.  Wow! he says, that's fun.  But yes, much too big; he hands the blade back to Karra, or whoever else indicated they might want it.  Who's next?

As you tried to imitate Karra, the sword doesn't respond with its fiery aura.

(You all know the command word, you just need to attune yourselves to it but only one person can be attuned to it.)

Ashley feels a sense of relief after interacting with Crispy.  She regains 23 from the short rest.  She gets herself stuff ready and moves toward Crispy Crispy...I just wanted to thank you...for taking those hits for me. She wraps her arms around Crispy and gives her a firm hug.

Karra shakes his head at Hatt. "No, must make bond with weapon before can do." He offers for the sword back to say the command phrase again, letting it light up. "How the magic of such things, more than just the word, but bond with item otherwise once enemy hear word, they activate your items and nothing you can do." He hands the sword back over to Hatt. "If you want, you may have, yes?" He then looks to the others. "Hmm, maybe open chest now? Think everyone is recovered a bit."

(also, did someone say something about us leveling up ?)

((Yeah we are level 4 now))

No, no, thanks very much for the kind offer says Hatt as Karra holds out the sword towards him; way, way too big for me.  Perhaps Gasp or Aurelia?  He shrugs, as he doesn't know much about weapons.  He notices, as he says it, that Aurelia seems still to be sleeping, so he walks over to her and clears his throat Errrm, excuse me?  Aurelia?  I hope you've had a nice rest, but I think it's time to make a move.

Gasp gets himself up from his bed and pads over. His black, raven eyes light up when he sees the amazing blade! He has no idea if he will be able to make good use of it, but he'd love to take a look. "Perhaps Gasp?" He mimics Hatt.

As Crispy was gathering her things, she took a moment to put on a new set of clothes. She always carried another set or two, as the life of an adventurer can always get dirty. As she was putting on her new shirt, she didn't mind changing in front of everyone. People in the Academy changed together all the time. What she WASN'T expecting was Ashley to approach her and thank her. She accepted the hug gladly, and for a moment, felt really good in her arms as she wore just a simple tunic.

"You're welcome. I protect those who..I like. And, you're worth protecting." She smiled at her. Something about Ashley seemed to calm the feral beast inside Crispy, and she wanted to explore that sensation a bit more. "I'm looking forward to having that drink with you later."

Me too. I haven't really made any friends since i left the Service. And being a field triage medic didn't win much favor either. Ashley smiles, trying to hide her real emotion, as the nightmare flashes once again.

"I've felt your heals." Crispy puts an arm on her shoulder. "You've won a lot of favor from me." She sat down with her again, noticing she was still thinking about the nightmare. She decided to talk a bit more, to help her, distract her. "I think you and I work well together. Maybe we can stick together and..try and get through the nightmares together? You seem to have a lot of qualities that I lack, and, frankly, I don't really have any friends either since I was terminated. Just..lots of regrets, mistakes, and sleepless nights."

She didn't want the conversation to end, for she could literally feel the warmth and glow of Ashley when she was near, as if being near hear could keep her own personal demons away.

"Tell me, why do you do what you do? What makes you get up in the morning and want to help people? To heal people? What's your motivation?"

My first time in combat didn't go so well. The squad i was assigned to as support knew i would only fight if absolutely necessary. That i was there to create protective shields and heal injures . Ashley looks down into her hands.  No one expected the ambush. 3 members of my squad died. And while i didn't truly panic, the ambush surprised me and i didn't react in time.Taking a deep breath to steady her voice he died in my arms. The 3rd soldier. His dying word were all but a curse upon me. He said, that if i had acted like a real soldier, he and the other 2 would have survived. She wipes her eyes and continues. I almost ran away. But in the end i was approached by a messenger of The Morninglord. We made a deal He would grant me the power to save and protect those under my care in exchange for never running from my responsibility. The angel and Lathander have kept there side of the deal. I seek to keep mine. I never want to lose someone again. The growing gloom fades and her smile returns in full sincerity. I have taken this group...and have placed them under my protection. I will keep everyone safe.

Crispy listened intently and patiently as Ashley told her story. Sometimes telling a story brought out the darkness inside into the light, and Crispy was pleased to hear the conviction in her voice when she finished.

”It sounds to me you were not cursed but blessed.“ she said. “I admire you. You have a tale to tell people of how you overcame a terrible situation where lives were on the line and how you became better because of it.” Crispy paused for a moment, and took out a small wooden horse from her backpack. “This small toy is all I have left to remember my mother. She left me in a temple when I was about 11 and I never saw her again. My father beat us regularly and she didnt know what to do so..I think she just one day gave up, left him, and then left me. Ive been handed and given nothing but hardship, pain, torment, and horrible choices. Many made by me. I have yet to find salvation, and I probably never will. So..I admire and envy you. I feel like I could learn a lot from you, because you remind me there is hope in this world when I think that there is not.”

She puts the toy horse back in her pack, and gave her look that implicitly told her how much she did trust her.

"I constantly struggle to do the right thing. It's like..something inside of me is so violent and angry, it took 3 years of grueling intense military training just to control it. I can't get rid of it, no matter how hard I try. I spent my life training to help and protect the weak, what did I do? I screwed it all up with my personality. Not too many people like me. I always feel like..i'm broken. I'm damaged. You should see all of my scars. What life, what myself..what others, have done to me."

She shook her head. "You're lucky. You have a gift. And you earned it. What do I do? I just..hurt people.."

I believe its never to late to start over. That's what Lathander teaches. He tells us the old must pass to make way for the new. If you strive for that, strive to shed what you were and become something new, I believe you may redeem yourself. And if being around me helps, then i shall not leave your side until you are made whole again.

Bennett gets out of his bed and stretches, "Wow. What a great nap!" he chuckles. "What's next on the to-do list?"

She looked at Ashley for a while, her impossibly blue eyes fixed on her, contemplating what she was saying.

"I sometimes feel like I am beyond redemption. At least..that's what my father tells me as he beats me in my dreams. I haven't had a good night's sleep in some time since..well.." She trailed off, as if she didn't want to tell that story, or reveal the details of something terrible. "I want to be around you. I do. I like being around you. I'm just. Messed up. But..you.." She tried to find the words. "You..make me want to be better. To try. Sorry. I'm not..good at being soft and emotional, or..whatever the word is..." She got a bit flustered and embarrassed at trying to be someone she was not, but really wanted to me. She wanted more than anything to be normal, especially in front of Ashley. It's like some horrible darkness was keeping the real person from forever emerging.