Midnight RPG - Chapter 42.453

Setting

It is the night following a filling dinner of wild turkey brought down by Eranon's bow, cooked on the spit by Kyle at Lady Ahemia's direction. The wild bird filled your belly with a lush spice from the southlands for which the Lady legate had given. This is the night following the minor disputes across dinner, as Lady Ahemia stood up to face Kyuad - challenging him that she WAS in complete control of her mind... NO ONE controlled her! An argument to which Zal'Kazzir barely had a line to add... He calmed her for the moment and soon she walked away from the threats put to the grave-digger. But the outright accusations kept her mind going later that night.

THIS is that tale...

The moon and stars have grown dim in this time of strange unnatural movements in the night sky. But the hours wained and Lady Ahemia knew the hour of her faith. It had been at this time over most of her 28 years that she'd knelt and prayed to the Master in the North.

Just earlier that afternoon she'd found the most beautiful clearing along the glade overlooking the clear coast of the Sea of Pelluria. A most perfect spot to kneel, pray, clear her mind. So it was only natural that she found herself wandering off to that point during these hours of the night when the Riding Host slows and grazes in the sky. This is the Shadow Hour, the time when Legates feel the pulse of power given them by their sworn diety. However, tonight... Lady Ahemia was not doing as she had every night since her becoming ceremony and though that in and of itself didn't bother her, afterall her love Zal'Kazzir had put the alternative to the Shadow in such a poinient light earlier that afternoon, but something would nag at her mind as she looked to settle thoughts of the day.

Kyuad, the corspe-keeper... the Middleman... he... his accusations... his bile spit at her at this evening's dinner was biting and bothersome. What had he meant that she was under control, that she was on a leash?? And why had Zal not defended her position more?

As she set herself on the stone, dropping her silk dress to the crisp new autumn airs to soak in the fresh airs and new night - Ahemia still ruminated over the wizards biting comments. And with a whisper to her friend and companion, Dahiran the massive black tiger of the Aruunian Jungle slinked back toward camp... almost stalking... the elf... Eranon...

Dahiran had made it known to the elf that it was fighting its ever instinct not to tear his throat out, even though the 'insil had freed the beast from the control of a demon just a few days prior... So his appearance at first, not on "a leash" might have been a bit unnerving however the lure of the great cat's call likely wouldn't be denied. So too did he sneak down to Kyuad's camp space, growling at Kyle slightly as the Sarcosan-corpse felt the pit of his stomache for the first time in weeks.

Assuming both Eranon and Kyuad follow the cat out some 300-400 yards from the rendezvous camp overlooking the Sea, you may approach and hear the following conversation begin. It is likely that Kyuad might come in following Eranon, but not necessarily...

Lady Ahemia, former Legate of the Master in the North

Lady Ahemia sitting at her prayer spot...

Curious that we find ourselves here so far from home is it not? It wasn't that long ago that I slept in a warm goose feather bed in a well-kept fortress of the Priest of Shadow. True enough, the Vile did disgust my instincts as both a woman and sister of the Order... but his liege did not offend me to the point of discontent.

It was there in the Black Nail that I made several long friends... Those friends that I now will never again be able to speak with. On the whim of love, some would taunt as lust, I found my way out of the Druid Swamps. Even now I do not regret the decision. Rarely do I regret... But I do wonder... I do consider the new challenges that I've made in life. They all seemed so clear before and even with the confusion and distress of making my way back into the Order apart from the Vile's governess I knew where my faith laid... But now... now I am a little girl lost again as I was when Dahiran was but my protector and not my watchdog. Ahemia says as she strokes the great tiger that keeps her naked body warm in the crisp chill of the new autumn air... I was 13 when my father bartered for my induction into the temples of Theros Obsidia... I was so happy... I'd made him proud. My da' had made tithe of seven and ten full head of the finest Sarcosan bred warhorse - bound and bred for the possession of Astirax. ... I hadn't known the nature of the Astirax Demons prior, had I known you wouldn't have been given over my Dahiran... I promise you that... she says stroking the ears across and up into the air of the great cat.

...so I wonder you see... I wonder what it is that the wizard-crypt-keeper spoke of at me earlier over dinner... I've had time to calm my nerves and angst at his notion that I am not of my own woman. You see, I pride myself on this. I promised that I would never give myself over fully as I had unknowingly given my Dahiran to the Shadow's spy... the Astirax called Tannus. The one YOU, Eranon, killed to set my friend free. Ahemia pulls the silken shawl over her naked shoulder and spins to sit up on the rock. She pulls a leaf from her purse and rolls it into a small long pipe... saying a word or two asking the Shadow for light, the weed sears to a cherry glow and burns as her plush lips puff on the relaxing weed. She offers the pipe to Eranon and then motioning to Kyuad as if apologizing for her outburst earlier as she looks up into the starless sky.

I am my own, you know... I can feel that the orc and that even you have distrust for Zal... but I think it is that you don't know him as I do. I've spent time with him. I know that he is a man of the south... a man of the stars. He is stronger than you know. I... I've fallen here as I have not in a long time... I... I'm... in love with your friend. And I'd like your fresh mind on this matter.... You, Middleman... you taunted me earlier suggesting that I am not in control of my own faculties. I wish to know your mind on this. I have never felt any clearer than I do tonight. the raven haired girl sits up, then stands... she's nearly as tall as Kyuad, powerful in stance and nature but at the same time her questions in the dark make her utterly vulnerable here in this place...

...tell me then Kyuad, tell me then Eranon... what advice would you have for me for your friend? He seems still lost these days... I know his family's death was strongly on his mind since they were lost in the shadow of the Black Nail. We had words earlier this evening, I can't speak as to what we argued about it was such a frenzy of emotion but he assured me that he'd always be there for me... even beyond that which my faith has offered me. Zal promised that he'd last longer than Shadow cast across me so long ago. ... That, elf, is why I found the strength to give you my family's heirloom ... the silver moon's pendant of the Master in the North. I... I need it less these days... My faith is full of love... in love with Zael... Zal...

...but still, your words - they bit me earlier tonight. I want to believe that I'm no longer a minion of the Shadow as the resistance would call it... yet I never thought I was a "minion", it was a faith that gave me comfort and guidance. But even still, I was never forced or under control. I have always been under my own council for my mind and faith... So tell me Kyuad. Tell me what you so pointedly argued at me. Zal doesn't wish to speak of it, and with that I agree with him. I don't wish to push my love on it. But in this time of prayer in which I do not feel like praying, I wanted to ask you for your mind on this... What can you tell me? Is it the Shadow that's reaching out to control me beyond my knowledge of magics now that I have strayed? What is it elf? What is it Middleman? Please... tell me... as the former legate looks out over the sea, arms crossed, her black curly hair blowing in the moist air...

Eranon

• • ROLL: Eranon (Sense Motive +3) ROLLED: 12+3 = 15
    This suggests to Eranon that Ahemia's behavior is odd and may be being influenced by magics... Eranon knows not exactly what she's been effected by or by whom, not from sensing any motive by way of Ahemia's speaking or actions and not from his knowledge of spells and magics. Something's amiss... Something of magic is touching this young Sarcosan woman's mind, but what Eranon isn't yet sure...

What does Eranon do/say?

Kyuad

• • ROLL: Kyuad (Sense Motive +17) ROLLED: 16+17 = 32
    This suggests to determine that Ahemia’s behavior is being influenced by an enchantment effect, specifically of the style and patterns shown by those under Zal'Kazzir's domain. With this Kyuad pieces together the idea that magic is at work, specifically Ahemia has apparently been Dominated by Zal within the last day or less...
    • ROLL: Kyuad (Spellcraft +25) ROLLED: 8+25 = 33
      Yes, it is absolutely Dominate Monster. One in which Ahemia failed in her will against him. The spell seems to have cast a blinder over her sense of belief in worship of the Corpse God. More specificly she now seems to have gone from belief to doubt since the afternoon. She now toys at thinking of Zal'Kazzir in place of the time she would have naturally been thinking of her faith. Kyaud knows that a protection from evil or a similar spell can prevent Zal'Kazzir from exercising control or using the telepathic link while Ahemia is so warded, but such an effect neither prevents the establishment of domination nor dispels it. However, its unlikely that Zal is paying attention now. But then again - who's to say he isn't watching... listening to this discussion even now...

What does Kyuad do/say?

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LINKS

PORTAL | DURGAZ | ERANON | KYUAD | ZAL'KAZZIR