The Summit Road Campaign Thread

Akuma tilts her head slightly and crosses her arms. "So you made a big mistake. I'm sure most of us have in some way or another. It's time to push past it. Become better. This is a step in the right direction."

Taran blurs at the edges as his thoughts scatter and refocus. He darts over to River and hugs her. 

"Th-they are w-w-wonderful p-people aren't they?" He says hugging her. She would notice his skin felt hard, and there was a tremor running through him.

(Doing this now cause was at DMV but it happened before this conversation properly started)

Murephan and the pale kalashtar move about a dozen feet away before sitting cross-legged across from each other and closing their eyes. Soft white light begins to glitter in the air around them. They are clearly completely absorbed in whatever they're doing, thus giving you six your privacy.

"Even you, mister Taran... You're all so nice... I don't deserve friends like you..."

"I-I-I'm... I'm n-n-n-no d-different Miss River," Taran says quietly, flinching, "I-I c-c-couldn't j-judge you, n-not after wh-what I did."

Meanwhile Druhdaar's shape has started to shift and as he advances towards River his face vibrates and melts into one of a great, shaggy brown bear. Strangely enough, the energy emanating from the animal shape seems a lot kinder and easier to relate to that the rebarbative form of the druid's usual self.

When Beardaar speaks, it is with a surprisingly rich and soft tone, the deep baritone reminding the kenku of warm honey:

" You have done well to tell us all what you were hiding, River. Know that we never intended harm to come to thee. Yet the harsh ways of nature do not always allow for a bear hug. Sometimes the claws must come out. But know that these claws were never meant to hurt you. They were here to open the shell of your fears and shatter your illusions."

The bear remains silent for a while then says a little gingerly: " We feel worried and sad that you thought we could ever have hurt you. As you said, we all are our own new family. And thus, this is as a family that we will resolve this challenge ! Together. "

Suddenly the bear is gone and Druhdaar is back to his usual form. He seems somewhat dazed by what just transpired, and more than a little embarrassed at first, but quickly regains his countenance.

" Whoever this skull guy is, he needs a good ass-kicking. " the druid says laconically, in his normal, gruff voice.

As everyone’s comforts River Vishal’s own confusion and fear begin to melt away as he sees not not an armored fighter capable of killing, but instead a poor sweet little girl. Someone who was doing whatever she could for her family and in the middle of it all got dragged down a much darker path than ever meant for her. Seeing her like this, crying, thinking we’re going to abandon her, nobody should be like this. Ever. And this sight alone....it begins to fuel a fire in Vishal. A burning desire to not see River, or anyone else like this ever. “I’m sorry.” Vishal speaks aloud, his voice serious and deeper than normal, his eyes starting to burn like a bright blue flame, more intense than ever before. “I’m sorry you felt like you had to hide this from us. I’m sorry this happened too. I’m sorry we couldn’t help you. And I’m sorry I failed you.” Vishal says, his voice cracking a little at the words. “That you believed we would abandon you. We would never abandon you. You’re too close to our hearts for that. And I promise that man....” As Vishal speaks about the skulled man more anger seems to escape him as his body becomes covered in a spectral blue flame that....seems like it almost in the shape of something humanoid, something bigger and stronger than Vishal, something fueled by his desire to defend River. “Is going to regret toying with your life and desires if I ever see him.” 

Caelius looks to Taran as River tells her story. He smiles as she is comforted and frowns at Vishal and his quori. He turns to River, "Thank you for sharing. You have nothing to be sorry for. And both you and Taran deserve us as friends. Vishal, you did not fail her. Some things are beyond our control. You all belong here and you can not change my mind. River, are you still... shackled to Him?"

River sniffs and shakes her head, reaching up to wipe her eye and being rudely reminded of her armour by a loud scraping sound.

"Murephan, Luunkashtai, and the Speaker helped me break my bond. I'm alone now. I have no magic... I have no power... I'm just a sad little girl."

Caelius smiles, "Then what are we? Chopped liver? You are not alone, you are surrounded by friends, and dare I say it, family. Magic is not the only source of power. Your power comes from your perseverance, your courage. I wish I could get you and Taran to see that. You are not sad, nor little." 

"I... was going to kill you...Why are you being so nice?" She shrinks in on herself slightly, slumped on her knees.

Caelius smiles, "You forget that people are defined by more than one act." He walks over and lays a hand on Taran and River, "You are more than your worst thought, your worst moment. You are more than what He made you."

Taran thinks long and hard, turning the thoughts over in his head again and again, his form would darken around the edges, as though he was standing in shadows.

"I-I-I th-think Miss R-River, th-that y-y-you are s-s-so much braver and st-stronger th-than you think." he finally says, "If... If I ev-ever harbored a s-s-selfish d-d-desire, it w-w-would have b-been to have p-powers. B-Because, if I h-had them, I c-c-could prove to my F-Father that I wasn't worthless. And y-y-you had th-those powers. Y-You had th-the potential to r-r-reach a dream of yours. B-But, wh-when you re-realized it w-w-was a dark p-path you w-w-walked, y-you found the st-strength to... t-t-to give it up, and st-step back to the Light. I-I d-d-don't th-think I could have done that." Taran squeezes River's armored form a little tighter, "I-I d-d-don't think I w-w-would be str-strong enough to w-w-walk away. S-So, j-j-just stay str-strong. W-W-We'll help y-you, b-b-because, y-y-you are im-important to us. An-And w-w-we are t-t-to you too, r-r-right?"

"You all are very important to me... But I've made a terrible enemy and dragged you into my problems because I'm selfish... I just want my family back... I don't know if that's possible, but I'll do anything to make it so... Anything except kill my new family." She sniffs again and finally returns Taran's hug. "We'll have to fight him at some point, and I trust you all to be there for me when it happens. But until then... Just stay behind my shield, okay?"

Taran hesitates, then gives a small nod, "I-I-I'll tr-try, unless you n-n-need b-bandaged. Th-then I'll r-r-run over to h-h-help you. I-I'm b-b-better if th-the enemy d-d-doesn't see me any-anyways.Th-though, i-if you d-distract th-them, I-I sh-should be a-able to sl-slip b-between their d-d-defenses."

Caelius smiles and shakes his head, "I  don't think she means it literally Taran. We will River, we're here for you."

Vishal seems to calm down some as evident by the flames dimming down around him, “As long as you’ll have us we’ll always be here to help River. Just remember, you’re not alone anymore.”

"Thank you. Thank you all." She sniffs one final time before rising to her feet. "I have an artificer looking into something that can help me talk, so hopefully we won't need to do this again."

"I-I don't mind it." Taran says, jerking to his feet and stepping to the side "I-I l-like h-hearing Mister Caelius's voice." He statics nervously, "U-Um, Miss R-River... Is th-there something you w-would want us t-to say, s-so you c-can c-copy it... Since w-w-we can ask"

She seems to think for a moment before taking a deep breath.

"Could you say 'My name is Kaori'?"