"The others seem to feel secure enough to go back to bed. I'll be keeping watch for as long as I can. If you need to talk about anything. I'll be here"
*Fiora pulls a chair out to the top of the stairs so she can hear what goes on in the common room and near her friends. She will occasionlly patrol down stairs, through the common room and kitchen, and back up the hall upstairs.*
Guston is now be aware, as Vaga, Kaled, and Fiora appear out of nowhere, that he wasn’t actually dreaming. They acknowledge the existence of the wanderer that has spoken to him. He knows not who or what the wanderer was, or anything about his history, but he felt in him a kinship. He, too, appeared to be haunted by memories of failure.
“I thank you Fiora...” he says quietly to the gentle halfling Paladin. “Though I know in your love for children that were we to meet several years ago it would not have been as friends, yet I still thank you for your charity.
“I think that I may have been missing the purpose of my chastisement. I have focused too much on staying alive, on keeping food in my belly, for so long...”
“It was my downfall,” he confesses after a pause. “I cared more for my own well-being and comfort than I did for those in my care. And so I betrayed them. And now, my curse...
“I have worried more about the boils and puss on my face and more about my survival, than I have about the lesson Chauntea has been trying to teach me about loyalty, honor, and friendship. In short, I am still putting my own needs above those of my friends...
“I am more concerned with finding a cure for my affliction than in seeking repentance. I have been more concerned about these boils than seeing them for their purpose. For you, Fiora, and Vaga, and Kaled, and even the rhyming boy, have shown me loyalty despite my outward appearance of disgust... I know not why, but it is now a revelation of my weakness.
“Perhaps with all that Chauntea has done for me, she will illuminate my path towards repentance, towards change and self-forgiveness... a path that, I must confess, is completely darkened by my all-consuming fear.”
"Guston, wait! We don't know who they were or what they wanted. It's not safe to go out alone. If they were friendly, they have either done what they intended to do, or will returnt us later. If they are after something else, following them could be the last thing you ever do."
Ignatius, still invisible and hovering, follows Guston as he runs out the door. It wouldn't be wise to leave the sad priest alone to his fate. If he seeks redemption, he ought to have it, for it is never too late to mend.
As @Anduin already said, Guston's backstory is really enlightening. A tale of betrayal, remorse and redemption, and a very interesting character development, makes it a treat to read. It's highly insightful about the nature of human-kind. Great job, @mashedtaters! I'll be looking forward to see how Guston evolves to be.
Guston steps out into the fog, and fog is all he can see. He can’t even see the inn right behind him. Ignatius follows him outside, and now they are both out in the fog somewhere.
Kaled don't know what's going on, but he know that he could not easily fall asleep now, that the others disturbed his well deserved rest. "Well, now that i woke up, i can do nothing better, than take a walk under the stars." says he somewhat bitterly, and follows Guston in the night, without much rushing.
"You realize that you can't do much in this foggy night Guston. Better go back to the inn to bring some source of light, if you would like to stroll on the streets at this hour."
As Kaled and Guston trade words, they suddenly hear a familiar woman’s voice ask “Is someone there?” A brief moment later, the fog in the area parts, and they see Emeril standing in front of them with a look of confusion on her face. She looks from Kaled to Guston and asks “How did you get here?”
Whith suspicion Kaled asks back. "What you mean here? We just stepped out of the inn. Why everyone think this is a good time to rambling on the streets?"
“The inn?” Emeril asks. She looks around and says “You came here from the inn? That would mean...” A look of realization crosses her face, and she says “Look around. Does this look like Callus to you?”
As the area has been cleared of the fog, Kaled, Guston, and the invisible Ignatius find themselves in a foreign place. There is nothing but a stark white expanse as far as the eye can see. After letting them have a look, Emeril says “You should not be here. You need to get out of here, now! If you don’t, you will all die.”
“If what you’re saying is true, there’s no where for us to go,” says Guston. “We walked out of the inn in Callus in search of a wandering man in a wide brim hat and a small, ghostly girl who had visited us. I believe they are spirits or something in need of peace.
Kaled casts Detect Evil, and the whole area turns red.
Emeril looks at Guston and quickly says “Your empathy is commendable, but they are beyond help. You, on the other hand, are not. You will be if you do not heed my warning, however.” She looks around frantically, muttering something under her breath. After a short time, she points behind you and says “Follow me. Quickly.” She then takes off running.
Vaga slowly transcends back into the real world from the inner space he had visited. Deep inside his very core he has his own dojo, just a simple room where he sits, contemplates and practices his mental katas. He can feel he's being moved... correction, carried. How peculiar, he thinks to himself. He regains full consciousness and becomes aware he's being carried by a very strong, albeit very small, being. It's Fiona.
Now, Vaga is not a funny man. Even among grumpy dwarves, he's considered rather dull. His almost complete neutrality ranging at most from slightly irritated to vaguely interested make him smile rarely and laugh almost never. He's a man of tasks and purpose, of working hard and in silence, of walking instead of talking. This, however, is a rare occasion. He decides to act as if he's still asleep, letting the little paladin carry him around. He makes himself as heavy as he can, but otherwise remain as if he's still in a meditative state.
Woohoo Sweden just won vs Mexico and is through to the next round in the World Cup! It's INSANE, Sweden topped the group and Germany ended last! I just can't believe it, it's unreal.
Comments
"The others seem to feel secure enough to go back to bed. I'll be keeping watch for as long as I can. If you need to talk about anything. I'll be here"
*Fiora pulls a chair out to the top of the stairs so she can hear what goes on in the common room and near her friends. She will occasionlly patrol down stairs, through the common room and kitchen, and back up the hall upstairs.*
“I thank you Fiora...” he says quietly to the gentle halfling Paladin. “Though I know in your love for children that were we to meet several years ago it would not have been as friends, yet I still thank you for your charity.
“I think that I may have been missing the purpose of my chastisement. I have focused too much on staying alive, on keeping food in my belly, for so long...”
“I have worried more about the boils and puss on my face and more about my survival, than I have about the lesson Chauntea has been trying to teach me about loyalty, honor, and friendship. In short, I am still putting my own needs above those of my friends...
“I am more concerned with finding a cure for my affliction than in seeking repentance. I have been more concerned about these boils than seeing them for their purpose. For you, Fiora, and Vaga, and Kaled, and even the rhyming boy, have shown me loyalty despite my outward appearance of disgust... I know not why, but it is now a revelation of my weakness.
“A weakness I must change.”
He rushes out the door to see if he can spot the girl and the man walking away. He intends to follow them to assist them if they need.
Though blind, Guston searches for them as best he can.
“Hello! Uh... wanderer! And girl! Little girl! Where are you two? Perhaps my friends and I can help?”
As the area has been cleared of the fog, Kaled, Guston, and the invisible Ignatius find themselves in a foreign place. There is nothing but a stark white expanse as far as the eye can see. After letting them have a look, Emeril says “You should not be here. You need to get out of here, now! If you don’t, you will all die.”
"Crap crap crap!"
“I want to try to help them.”
Fiora is able to do so without much difficulty.
Emeril looks at Guston and quickly says “Your empathy is commendable, but they are beyond help. You, on the other hand, are not. You will be if you do not heed my warning, however.” She looks around frantically, muttering something under her breath. After a short time, she points behind you and says “Follow me. Quickly.” She then takes off running.
Now, Vaga is not a funny man. Even among grumpy dwarves, he's considered rather dull. His almost complete neutrality ranging at most from slightly irritated to vaguely interested make him smile rarely and laugh almost never. He's a man of tasks and purpose, of working hard and in silence, of walking instead of talking. This, however, is a rare occasion. He decides to act as if he's still asleep, letting the little paladin carry him around. He makes himself as heavy as he can, but otherwise remain as if he's still in a meditative state.
Only his vague smile reveal him.