Nikolai places his hand upon Shiva's clawed hand with a nod before he turns his gaze to Nimue as more words spill forth. "You have some explaining to do. How do you know that Morgenstern has Ling? Why would he choose you of all people to divulge this information?" He turns suddenly to Astrid, noting the ashamed look about her as dawning takes place with her pronouncement. His fiery gaze turns back to Nimue once more, his chest was rising and falling quickly now as his anger began to build. The tips of his fangs poke out from behind his lips as he snarls. "What did you do?"
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice in this anymore, my dear. Be brave."
Nimue glowers at her grandmother, then turns her attention back to Nik.
She meets his gaze with cold fire in her own eyes. "The Undomiels are my family. We were professional monster hunters. 100 years ago, they were planning the biggest hunt they'd had in over 200 years. I was very young at the time, they kept their preparations hidden from me." She takes a deep breath before continuing. "Valentine Morgenstern was their target. And he killed them all. I was left all alone with my grandmother, and even she kept the truth from me." She closes her eyes briefly, uttering a silent prayer to Aralath for strength. "I found the location. And I needed to see it. I was....invited in. And I spoke to him." Her eyes turn cautious, but don't waver from Nikolai's gaze. "The Morgensterns and the Undomiels have a history. A closer history than I could've imagined. Turns out, Valentine Morgenstern is my cousin. And my mother wanted to kill him."
Nikolai's hand shoots out with blinding speed and wraps around Nimue's throat as he launches himself across the table with his fangs bared a wordless scream splitting the tense air around the group. The pair of them slam into the ground, Nikolai atop her as flames curl around his fingertips and a cone of fire bursts forth into Nimue's pretty face... blackening and melting the flesh---
'No.' The commanding voice inside his head literally rocks Nikolai as his body tenses and prepares to spring across the table. 'You must learn patience like me. There will be payment owed for this, but not now.'
Instead of murdering Nimue where she stood, Nikolai sits back and closes his eyes for several moments before opening them. "So, you mean to tell me that you were here seeking out the very same person we have been shadowing around. You tracked down the location where your family was killed. You went there with likely these two." He gestures towards Astrid and Caio. "And upon discovering that the man responsible for killing one hundred of your family members was within and you just walked in there without a second thought as to the outcomes of that decision? You are a gods damned, child." He holds up a finger and shakes his head when it looks like Nimue is about to defend herself. "No, you do not speak. None of you three get to speak right now. Your ignorant, foolish decisions has led to my friend being taken captive by this person. You had best prey to whatever gods you follow that she is unharmed, because if she is not... It will be upon your heads and I will reap my revenge upon you first." He immediately gets up from his chair, still holding Shiva's hand. "Shiva, come with me please. We need to talk away from these fools." He casts a pleading glance to Elodia and, if allowed by Shiva, he will start guiding her away from the others before stopping without turning.
"You know, Astrid. Of all of us here, I thought you most of all would have not been so foolish."
"Don't come looking, I need to find answers. I'll find you again. Tell Nik I'm sorry."
Ling’s reply comes to Astrid's mind. She looks down, staring through the floor as she concentrates on the sound of their friend’s voice and listening for any signs of any coercion or duress. She finds none. In fact, there is a sense of resolve and purpose in the response.
She only catches half of Nikolai’s scolding, but it’s enough for the dwarf to dig her heels in. With arms crossed, she replies, “Now, I understand that that your upset, and rightly so, but you don’t need to be placing blame at anyone’s feet here.”Her words have a slow, measured pace as if trying to remain calm with a toddler throwing a fit. “Firstly, Nimue here was going to go in that house with or without me. I tried to talk some sense into her but she would listen, so I thought the best thing for me to do was to go and make sure nothing bad happened. And this whole thing is about her family. I can’t fault anyone for wanting to get answers. Either by blood or the ones you care enough that you wish they were, I think you are smart enough understand those reasonings. It's one of the reasons your so upset right now.”
With another deep breath she continues, “Second, with regard to Ling. I will remind you that she sought out the Morgenstern girl – Clarissa - for answers to her own questions. She replied.”Astrid pauses to fully compose herself to deliver the bad news. “There was determination in her voice, so I feel the words were her own… She asked that we not come looking for her, and she will find us when she finds what she needs.”With sympathy in her eyes she adds, “She specifically said she’s sorry to you, Nikolai.”
Nimue leans her elbows on the table, head in her hands. She doesn't know what she expected, but it was something along the lines of what just happened. Nikolai could've killed her then and there. And he would be right to. She's not sure why he didn't, but she is grateful to still have her life. It's just about all she has in this moment. Tears gather in the corners of her eyes, and she's powerless to stop them as they overflow and trickle down her cheeks, her shoulders shaking as she cries. How was she to know that he would take Ling? He could've taken any one of them.
"Be strong, Melda. You will need his help before this is over."
Nimue laughs mirthlessly. "Not sure he's interested in helping me anymore. I seem to have burned that bridge."
"If your friend goes against Valentine now, he won't make it out alive. He's using the girl as leverage. She gives him an advantage, and he won't harm her unless he deems it necessary. You have some time. Use it wisely."
Caio's face remains expressionless in response to Nik's outburst and scolding. "You're right, Nikolai, it was incredibly foolish to walk into that house. But rewards always come with risks, and we now have three significant leads for information to use against this accursed family. You've been so determined to ignore them, but they clearly have no intentions of ignoring us. Whether or not we went to investigate the house today, Clarissa and her brother were already trying to lure Ling into whatever schemes they're playing at. If you're going to blame anyone for this then blame Ling for her curiosity, or blame yourself for discouraging her from seeking the answers she craves and making her feel that she needed to seek those answers away from you."
Shiva can feel the rage roiling and rolling within her, threatening to force it's way out. Her muscles tense as her claws extend out, cutting into the table. Just as she approaches the edge of her self-control, she feels Alaris' arm wrap around her, mollifying her with reassuring words. She takes several deep breaths before falling back into her seat, where Nik places a hand on hers. The claws recede, and Shiva squeezes her dear friend's hand in return.
"Ari...Nik...we can't lose Ling. I can't...I don't know what I'll become without her.."
News of Nimue's connection to the Morgensterns hardly prompts a reaction, as Shiva is suddenly back in the modest home of a commoner, with colorful blankets neatly folded on the bed of a nearby room. There's a crash, then the sensation of warm fluid against her face as the bodies of her aunt and uncle fall to the floor. Then she's in a cage.
Astrid's announcement of Ling's return message does little to assuage her fear. As the others begin to argue, Shiva withdraws into herself, all emotion receding from her face. She curls into a fetal position on her chair, silently staring into the distance.
Elodia stares at Nimue, and what little color had been in her face before drains abruptly, the name echoing in her ears. No. Over a year she'd hidden, and it was all destroyed in an hour. "I warned you," she says coldly. "I in no small words said what we were up against. The Morgensterns are not to be trifled with, and it was done anway. I have spent a year hiding from their view, and it has been brought on us regardless." She absently places a soothing hand on Shiva's shoulder as she curls into her chair, though Elodia's jaw doesn't soften. "His gaze is on us now, and firmly. Ling's departure is only part of this, and far from the worst of it. The venture is lost, unless you are all truly foolish enough to think he will not now be watching with interest exactly what we are up to."
She gives Nimue and Caio a frosty look. "Perhaps you are."
"If you think," Nimue says, her muffled voice shaking with anger at herself and everyone around her, "That I think that for one second, you're sorely mistaken." She raises her head to look at Elodia with reddened eyes. "I am under no illusions of what he is. I am sorry that I've brought this down on you. But I can't change that. I can only try to fix it." She looks away, her eyes hard with the same anger inside her.
Nikolai looks at Astrid and Caio for a moment, but then just shakes his head and walks over to Shiva, pressing his forehead against hers as he leans in to whisper to Shiva. "She's not gone, we both know that. Ling has always had her own way of doing things. Deep down, I think we both knew this day might come. I will make sure that she is safe though. I will speak to Shahar, but for that... I need supplies. I have lost my appetite. Would you like to come with me to purchase some components?"
“His eyes were already on us.” He retorts, drawing out the word in an attempt to get his point across. “We have not been hidden for a year. The first time we met Clarissa she already had information on us, and Jonathan sought us out specifically hoping that we would get involved as well. The only fools among us are those that think we could have completely avoided any of this.” He casts a frustrated look towards Nik, before turning to Nimue. In the same flat tone he continues. “You did not bring this upon us. You were a catalyst perhaps, but the fact of the matter is that strings have been pulling all of us into this. The only thing we’ve lost is the illusion of being able to run away.”
Nikolai nods to Shiva. "I'll be outside then. Elodia, you are welcome to join Shiva and I if you'd like." He nods to Shiva and then departs the interior of the inn for refresher air before he says something he will regret to the rest of the group.
Outside he looks up to the sky with an exasperated sigh. Life had been so much easier before all this. When it had just been him, on the road alone. No messy conflicts. No foolish decision by others to clean up. He was tired.
'You're beginning to understand, young one. Life is exhausting. People will always let you down. Trust in yourself.'
'I will not leave her to the machinations of that man.'
'Nor should you. You made a commitment, and you must honor it. The others though... they are less entangling.'
As Nikolai steps out into the frosty streets, an ember of flame appears in the air of front of him, slowly blossoming into a piece of parchment - a fire message.
If you want to help Ling, then meet me outside the temple of Vida. I will be amongst the pilgrims. JM☼
Alaris kisses Shiva on the cheek as Nik stands up. The tiefling can feel the aasimar's heartbeat racing with their own worry and fear. "You know I serve the Lady, but you all are my family now - the family She gave me. I will not let you down." They rise, whispering a prayer as they follow Nikolai outside. On their way out, they pause long enough to grasp Nimue's hand and give it a squeeze of reassurance.
The fruit of the Lady is love and joy and peace and self-control. Lady, grant me the strength not to fight him and peace to share words of blessing.
Arriving outside in the frosty morning, the bogatyr lays a warm hand on Nik's shoulder as he stares up at the sky. "What are we going to do? You know I will take that gold back to the church right now, regardless of what that means for me. Well, maybe you don't know it, but I will."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Nikolai glances around immediately as the message appears. His eyes narrow into angry slits as he reads the message and he crumples it into his fist just as Alaris comes out. "Alaris. I---" he chews his lip as he thinks of what to say. "I want to burn his home to the ground and rips his entrails from his gut and use them to seal his soul into the deepest, darkest pit of the Abyss imaginable where even the darkness fears to tread, but... If what Astrid said is true, then Ling may have left on her own. And there is this." He passes the note to Alaris. "We must tread carefully, my friend. The foolishness of those three have forced Valentine's hand. He will be watching us more carefully than he might have been. Before we were simply one of many threads he was weaving, but with Nimue, Caio, and Astrid walking into his damn home... That changes things. Caio thinks I did not foresee this eventuality? Of course I saw it coming! That does not mean you rush headlong into it! He is reckless and impulsive. Just like the day he and I first met when he tried to kill me without learning the truth of things. Nimue is just as impulsive. They are worse than Ling in this! At least she would listen to me. Those two." He sighs angrily. "I need to not be around them right now. I am taking Shiva to gather some components for some new spells that Shahar has gifted me with this morning. She needs to not be around them either, I think. You are welcome to come with, but let me make it clear that I do not want Nimue or Caio near me right now. You need to keep them away from me."
He points at the paper. "I will see what this bastard has to share. I also want to seek out a new spell that will allow me to speak directly to Ling. If she is safe and left willingly, then... I will come with you on this journey, but otherwise... I cannot. I promised her I would keep her safe, Alaris. I know what you all think about me, but if there is something that is true and honest about me it is my word. I keep my promises and do not give them lightly."
With everyone departing, Astrid finally relaxes and turns to Nimue. "Don't worry, hon. Sometimes family makes us do things that may not be the wisest... even when they're not here. I don't think Ling's leaving has anything to do with us going in there. Just bad timing," she says reaching out to pat the elf on her hand. She pops another potato in her mouth and chews it up. "I also believe that these shorter-lived folk don't quite understand that things are bigger than just the present."
Nimue wipes her eyes, feeling Alaris's comforting grip, then giving Astrid a wan smile before her expression turns serious. "He's not going to kill her. He wouldn't even kill me. I told him that I'd understand if he wanted to kill me. But he didn't. He told me enough of our family's blood has been spilled." She takes a shaky breath. "I just hope Nikolai doesn't do something stupid. He'd be dead before he made the foyer."
Elodia gives Astrid a cold look. "We shorter-lived folk have to make do with the time we have. Nothing highlights the selfishness of those of you with more of it than something like this, with no regard for those of us with much smaller windows to work in. You may have fifty years to sort this mess out. Not all of us have the luxury." Pulling the hood of her cloak back up, she shakes her head in reply to Shiva and squeezing the tiefling's hand, indicating she should come as she follows Nikolai and Alaris into the street.
Caio shakes his head before resting his temples against his tensed fingers. “Astrid is right. They don’t see that there are larger forces at work. They put more weight in our actions than they truly hold in the grand scheme of things. I suppose you could call it hubris. We are far from having any true power over these forces that loom above us, and we will have to put far more at stake in order to gain that power. Until they realize that they will continue to get up in arms over every risk, every loss. Ling is safe and that’s all that matters. Even if she weren’t, it would be the same path laid before us.”
Nikolai places his hand upon Shiva's clawed hand with a nod before he turns his gaze to Nimue as more words spill forth. "You have some explaining to do. How do you know that Morgenstern has Ling? Why would he choose you of all people to divulge this information?" He turns suddenly to Astrid, noting the ashamed look about her as dawning takes place with her pronouncement. His fiery gaze turns back to Nimue once more, his chest was rising and falling quickly now as his anger began to build. The tips of his fangs poke out from behind his lips as he snarls. "What did you do?"
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
Aaaaaand this is exactly what I was afraid of.
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice in this anymore, my dear. Be brave."
Nimue glowers at her grandmother, then turns her attention back to Nik.
She meets his gaze with cold fire in her own eyes. "The Undomiels are my family. We were professional monster hunters. 100 years ago, they were planning the biggest hunt they'd had in over 200 years. I was very young at the time, they kept their preparations hidden from me." She takes a deep breath before continuing. "Valentine Morgenstern was their target. And he killed them all. I was left all alone with my grandmother, and even she kept the truth from me." She closes her eyes briefly, uttering a silent prayer to Aralath for strength. "I found the location. And I needed to see it. I was....invited in. And I spoke to him." Her eyes turn cautious, but don't waver from Nikolai's gaze. "The Morgensterns and the Undomiels have a history. A closer history than I could've imagined. Turns out, Valentine Morgenstern is my cousin. And my mother wanted to kill him."
Fire. Rage. Death. Kill her!!!
'No.' The commanding voice inside his head literally rocks Nikolai as his body tenses and prepares to spring across the table. 'You must learn patience like me. There will be payment owed for this, but not now.'
Instead of murdering Nimue where she stood, Nikolai sits back and closes his eyes for several moments before opening them. "So, you mean to tell me that you were here seeking out the very same person we have been shadowing around. You tracked down the location where your family was killed. You went there with likely these two." He gestures towards Astrid and Caio. "And upon discovering that the man responsible for killing one hundred of your family members was within and you just walked in there without a second thought as to the outcomes of that decision? You are a gods damned, child." He holds up a finger and shakes his head when it looks like Nimue is about to defend herself. "No, you do not speak. None of you three get to speak right now. Your ignorant, foolish decisions has led to my friend being taken captive by this person. You had best prey to whatever gods you follow that she is unharmed, because if she is not... It will be upon your heads and I will reap my revenge upon you first." He immediately gets up from his chair, still holding Shiva's hand. "Shiva, come with me please. We need to talk away from these fools." He casts a pleading glance to Elodia and, if allowed by Shiva, he will start guiding her away from the others before stopping without turning.
"You know, Astrid. Of all of us here, I thought you most of all would have not been so foolish."
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
Ling’s reply comes to Astrid's mind. She looks down, staring through the floor as she concentrates on the sound of their friend’s voice and listening for any signs of any coercion or duress. She finds none. In fact, there is a sense of resolve and purpose in the response.
She only catches half of Nikolai’s scolding, but it’s enough for the dwarf to dig her heels in. With arms crossed, she replies, “Now, I understand that that your upset, and rightly so, but you don’t need to be placing blame at anyone’s feet here.” Her words have a slow, measured pace as if trying to remain calm with a toddler throwing a fit. “Firstly, Nimue here was going to go in that house with or without me. I tried to talk some sense into her but she would listen, so I thought the best thing for me to do was to go and make sure nothing bad happened. And this whole thing is about her family. I can’t fault anyone for wanting to get answers. Either by blood or the ones you care enough that you wish they were, I think you are smart enough understand those reasonings. It's one of the reasons your so upset right now.”
With another deep breath she continues, “Second, with regard to Ling. I will remind you that she sought out the Morgenstern girl – Clarissa - for answers to her own questions. She replied.” Astrid pauses to fully compose herself to deliver the bad news. “There was determination in her voice, so I feel the words were her own… She asked that we not come looking for her, and she will find us when she finds what she needs.” With sympathy in her eyes she adds, “She specifically said she’s sorry to you, Nikolai.”
Nimue leans her elbows on the table, head in her hands. She doesn't know what she expected, but it was something along the lines of what just happened. Nikolai could've killed her then and there. And he would be right to. She's not sure why he didn't, but she is grateful to still have her life. It's just about all she has in this moment. Tears gather in the corners of her eyes, and she's powerless to stop them as they overflow and trickle down her cheeks, her shoulders shaking as she cries. How was she to know that he would take Ling? He could've taken any one of them.
"Be strong, Melda. You will need his help before this is over."
Nimue laughs mirthlessly. "Not sure he's interested in helping me anymore. I seem to have burned that bridge."
"If your friend goes against Valentine now, he won't make it out alive. He's using the girl as leverage. She gives him an advantage, and he won't harm her unless he deems it necessary. You have some time. Use it wisely."
Caio's face remains expressionless in response to Nik's outburst and scolding. "You're right, Nikolai, it was incredibly foolish to walk into that house. But rewards always come with risks, and we now have three significant leads for information to use against this accursed family. You've been so determined to ignore them, but they clearly have no intentions of ignoring us. Whether or not we went to investigate the house today, Clarissa and her brother were already trying to lure Ling into whatever schemes they're playing at. If you're going to blame anyone for this then blame Ling for her curiosity, or blame yourself for discouraging her from seeking the answers she craves and making her feel that she needed to seek those answers away from you."
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Shiva can feel the rage roiling and rolling within her, threatening to force it's way out. Her muscles tense as her claws extend out, cutting into the table. Just as she approaches the edge of her self-control, she feels Alaris' arm wrap around her, mollifying her with reassuring words. She takes several deep breaths before falling back into her seat, where Nik places a hand on hers. The claws recede, and Shiva squeezes her dear friend's hand in return.
"Ari...Nik...we can't lose Ling. I can't...I don't know what I'll become without her.."
News of Nimue's connection to the Morgensterns hardly prompts a reaction, as Shiva is suddenly back in the modest home of a commoner, with colorful blankets neatly folded on the bed of a nearby room. There's a crash, then the sensation of warm fluid against her face as the bodies of her aunt and uncle fall to the floor. Then she's in a cage.
Astrid's announcement of Ling's return message does little to assuage her fear. As the others begin to argue, Shiva withdraws into herself, all emotion receding from her face. She curls into a fetal position on her chair, silently staring into the distance.
Elodia stares at Nimue, and what little color had been in her face before drains abruptly, the name echoing in her ears. No. Over a year she'd hidden, and it was all destroyed in an hour. "I warned you," she says coldly. "I in no small words said what we were up against. The Morgensterns are not to be trifled with, and it was done anway. I have spent a year hiding from their view, and it has been brought on us regardless." She absently places a soothing hand on Shiva's shoulder as she curls into her chair, though Elodia's jaw doesn't soften. "His gaze is on us now, and firmly. Ling's departure is only part of this, and far from the worst of it. The venture is lost, unless you are all truly foolish enough to think he will not now be watching with interest exactly what we are up to."
She gives Nimue and Caio a frosty look. "Perhaps you are."
"If you think," Nimue says, her muffled voice shaking with anger at herself and everyone around her, "That I think that for one second, you're sorely mistaken." She raises her head to look at Elodia with reddened eyes. "I am under no illusions of what he is. I am sorry that I've brought this down on you. But I can't change that. I can only try to fix it." She looks away, her eyes hard with the same anger inside her.
Nikolai looks at Astrid and Caio for a moment, but then just shakes his head and walks over to Shiva, pressing his forehead against hers as he leans in to whisper to Shiva. "She's not gone, we both know that. Ling has always had her own way of doing things. Deep down, I think we both knew this day might come. I will make sure that she is safe though. I will speak to Shahar, but for that... I need supplies. I have lost my appetite. Would you like to come with me to purchase some components?"
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
“His eyes were already on us.” He retorts, drawing out the word in an attempt to get his point across. “We have not been hidden for a year. The first time we met Clarissa she already had information on us, and Jonathan sought us out specifically hoping that we would get involved as well. The only fools among us are those that think we could have completely avoided any of this.” He casts a frustrated look towards Nik, before turning to Nimue. In the same flat tone he continues. “You did not bring this upon us. You were a catalyst perhaps, but the fact of the matter is that strings have been pulling all of us into this. The only thing we’ve lost is the illusion of being able to run away.”
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Shiva's eyes slowly focus on Nikolai, though there is still an absence to them. "Um....yes."
Lowering her legs onto the floor, she finally notices Elodia's hand on her shoulder and turns to face her. "Are you alright? Do you need anything?"
Nikolai nods to Shiva. "I'll be outside then. Elodia, you are welcome to join Shiva and I if you'd like." He nods to Shiva and then departs the interior of the inn for refresher air before he says something he will regret to the rest of the group.
Outside he looks up to the sky with an exasperated sigh. Life had been so much easier before all this. When it had just been him, on the road alone. No messy conflicts. No foolish decision by others to clean up. He was tired.
'You're beginning to understand, young one. Life is exhausting. People will always let you down. Trust in yourself.'
'I will not leave her to the machinations of that man.'
'Nor should you. You made a commitment, and you must honor it. The others though... they are less entangling.'
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
As Nikolai steps out into the frosty streets, an ember of flame appears in the air of front of him, slowly blossoming into a piece of parchment - a fire message.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Alaris kisses Shiva on the cheek as Nik stands up. The tiefling can feel the aasimar's heartbeat racing with their own worry and fear. "You know I serve the Lady, but you all are my family now - the family She gave me. I will not let you down." They rise, whispering a prayer as they follow Nikolai outside. On their way out, they pause long enough to grasp Nimue's hand and give it a squeeze of reassurance.
The fruit of the Lady is love and joy and peace and self-control. Lady, grant me the strength not to fight him and peace to share words of blessing.
Arriving outside in the frosty morning, the bogatyr lays a warm hand on Nik's shoulder as he stares up at the sky. "What are we going to do? You know I will take that gold back to the church right now, regardless of what that means for me. Well, maybe you don't know it, but I will."
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Nikolai glances around immediately as the message appears. His eyes narrow into angry slits as he reads the message and he crumples it into his fist just as Alaris comes out. "Alaris. I---" he chews his lip as he thinks of what to say. "I want to burn his home to the ground and rips his entrails from his gut and use them to seal his soul into the deepest, darkest pit of the Abyss imaginable where even the darkness fears to tread, but... If what Astrid said is true, then Ling may have left on her own. And there is this." He passes the note to Alaris. "We must tread carefully, my friend. The foolishness of those three have forced Valentine's hand. He will be watching us more carefully than he might have been. Before we were simply one of many threads he was weaving, but with Nimue, Caio, and Astrid walking into his damn home... That changes things. Caio thinks I did not foresee this eventuality? Of course I saw it coming! That does not mean you rush headlong into it! He is reckless and impulsive. Just like the day he and I first met when he tried to kill me without learning the truth of things. Nimue is just as impulsive. They are worse than Ling in this! At least she would listen to me. Those two." He sighs angrily. "I need to not be around them right now. I am taking Shiva to gather some components for some new spells that Shahar has gifted me with this morning. She needs to not be around them either, I think. You are welcome to come with, but let me make it clear that I do not want Nimue or Caio near me right now. You need to keep them away from me."
He points at the paper. "I will see what this bastard has to share. I also want to seek out a new spell that will allow me to speak directly to Ling. If she is safe and left willingly, then... I will come with you on this journey, but otherwise... I cannot. I promised her I would keep her safe, Alaris. I know what you all think about me, but if there is something that is true and honest about me it is my word. I keep my promises and do not give them lightly."
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
With everyone departing, Astrid finally relaxes and turns to Nimue. "Don't worry, hon. Sometimes family makes us do things that may not be the wisest... even when they're not here. I don't think Ling's leaving has anything to do with us going in there. Just bad timing," she says reaching out to pat the elf on her hand. She pops another potato in her mouth and chews it up. "I also believe that these shorter-lived folk don't quite understand that things are bigger than just the present."
Nimue wipes her eyes, feeling Alaris's comforting grip, then giving Astrid a wan smile before her expression turns serious. "He's not going to kill her. He wouldn't even kill me. I told him that I'd understand if he wanted to kill me. But he didn't. He told me enough of our family's blood has been spilled." She takes a shaky breath. "I just hope Nikolai doesn't do something stupid. He'd be dead before he made the foyer."
Elodia gives Astrid a cold look. "We shorter-lived folk have to make do with the time we have. Nothing highlights the selfishness of those of you with more of it than something like this, with no regard for those of us with much smaller windows to work in. You may have fifty years to sort this mess out. Not all of us have the luxury." Pulling the hood of her cloak back up, she shakes her head in reply to Shiva and squeezing the tiefling's hand, indicating she should come as she follows Nikolai and Alaris into the street.
Caio shakes his head before resting his temples against his tensed fingers. “Astrid is right. They don’t see that there are larger forces at work. They put more weight in our actions than they truly hold in the grand scheme of things. I suppose you could call it hubris. We are far from having any true power over these forces that loom above us, and we will have to put far more at stake in order to gain that power. Until they realize that they will continue to get up in arms over every risk, every loss. Ling is safe and that’s all that matters. Even if she weren’t, it would be the same path laid before us.”
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger