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“I know your there Grey.” claims Grognak nonchalantly still reading from the tome open before him in the great library of Shin Ling.
“Of course you do.” Murmurs Grey as he moves from the shadows of one of the library stacks just behind Grognak. Dressed in his usual great coat and his wide brimmed hat held lightly in one gauntleted hand.
“I could have incinerated you, turned you to nothing more than ash in an instant had I so desired.” Grognak quips agitatedly, at his slowly moving Moon elven comrade, as Grey comes to stand before the desk Grognak has claimed for his studies this afternoon.
“No, you would not have.” Grey states matter-of-factly, wearily even, settling into the rickety chair before the desk, slowly rolling the brim of his hat through his fingers.
Affronted as usual, Grognak sits back, squaring his shoulders and starts into his trademark blustering “Ye…”
Grey looks up into Grognak’s eyes stopping the blustering Evoker cold. Grey’s Steely eyes meeting Grognak’s mismatched eyes. (Right blue left grey)
Grognak glimpses something in Grey’s normally unreadable eyes and expression. Something the argumentative wizard has never seen before, a true depth of emotion and turmoil previously unknown to the wise wizard.“Stop.” Grey states flatly, “Just stop it man. I did not come here to fight. I am tired of the incessant needling and posturing.” Grey looks away, out into the dusty library. “I came to ask a question. It is an important question. One that only you in all your mighty intellect can answer. Only you have the faculties and the wisdom to discover the answer.”
Intrigued, and a bit off put by Grey’s strange behavior, Grognak leans forwards steepling his dexterous fingers before his face and says semi-haughtily “Yes?”
Grey turns and looks the wizard straight in the eyes and asks “What do you want Wizard? What is your goal in this life? Power? Fortune? What is it you desire from your future? Where do you go from here?” Grey leans back straight faced as his words sink into the proud Wizard.
Sharn dances up beside Hroth and Shanzee, his long blond hair tossing leaping up from his shoulders as he makes the various spirited jumps of the jig. He’s taken an old woman as a partner, who seems every bit as quick as him.
“Shanzee you charmer! you say you are but humble monk yet you’ve stolen money from me again with your wits!”
Meanwhile his dark haired sister Sheal looks on from a bench were she sits, still clutching a clay cup. everyone quickly notices the dancing warrior. Of your group, grey is the first to spot Hroth tearing it up with the locals, then Caris, from her vantage high up at the lords table finds her jaw dropping, distracted from a very intense conversation with Lay Yu, as she notices Hroth dancing in the background and realizes her jaw has dropped at the sight of the huge warrior dancing a jig and doing a fine job at it.
Meanwhile….
Shanzee saunters up to Hroth, a clay cup in her hand. She’s created a long tail of feathers that trials from the bottom of the cup. She is in a beautiful gown of blue silk.
“I don’t wear dresses often big man, you’d better dance with me while it lasts..besides, half this town has taken bets on which one of you outlanders will be the first to dance, I’ve got all my money on you, none of them will see it coming, I’ll get paid six to one, and all the money goes to rebuild my home village so, come on, I’ll show you the steps. It’s not any more complicated than one of those fighting routine’s you practice all the time!”
The little children are in awe of Caris and her payment.
“Thank you Lady” one of them finally manages, looking up with star struck eyes at heavenly Caris.
“My Lady”, and Caris, your heart flutters a bit at the smooth intonation of Daidoji’s voice. You turn, and he stares into your eyes, speechless for just a moment before bowing. Motioning to the dark haired beauty and the mysterious man in his company, he introduces them.
“This is Rythil Threnody” He defers to the Elf, who looks as pictured below, but without the mask, lantern, or any visible weapons. He bows his head.
“Well met Lady Ambrodel”
“This is Lady Lay Yu Quan, our Mistress of Arcana” She bows, coming forward and takes your hands Caris
“You are even more beautiful than my brother led on…” A mischievous light sparkles in her eyes and Daidoji begins to turn red behind her
“You and I must share a drink, find a place to sit, and you will tell me of all your adventures, and in exchange, I shall teach you our way of dancing, so that you may take my brother for a proper spin once the night has picked up!”
That mischief in her eyes spreads into a smile as she looks back at her brother winking. Daidoji is standing their blushing as Lay Yu leads Caris over to a stage where 3 great, flower wreathed tables are set up.
“Do come sit with us when you’re duties are done brother!”
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It does not matter precisely when the following events occur. Assume they happen in the days soon after the defeat of Grimeye. You’ve been spending your days as you wish, and staying at the Shrine of the Golden Lady. There is a section for each of you but I’m chaining these all together here, so feel free to read through the whole thing and then respond when you’ve reached the part that applies to you! Just picture all these scenes happening “Tarrantino” style, not necessarily in order but all related, and you get to watch them all. Have fun!
————————————————————————————————-It is early morning, on a secluded river bank near Shen Ling. A robed Stern kneels before his make shift alter. A crimson glowing pile of coals with his magnificent axe Sunder stuck handle down in the middle forming the holy symbol of Krom. He kneels, freshly shaven head bowed, massive hands clasped before him, his ivory robes pulled taut over his colossal shoulders.
He hears the light crunch of someone walking up the bank towards him but doesn’t look up, he knows the sound of that tread, the cadence of the gliding walk, the slight rasp of mithril steel gauntlets on a worn leather great coat, the swish of a foreign pistol loose in its leather holster.
The nimble steps proceed right up to Stern’s right side, then the crunch as Stern’s friend kneels down beside him. Without looking up Stern smiles speaking lightly to his comrade
“Come to pray with me Brother?”
This is met with the same old brief chuckle as their normal banter plays itself out again for the umteenth time.
“You know I don’t pray Brother, let alone to Krom. I have no tongue for it.”
Grey says smiling over at Stern who answers as always
“So you say. Though, I believe differently, for every enemy slain, every foul creature crushed before you is a prayer to Krom, Lord of Battles.”
Finishes Stern, smiling bringing his head up to regard his friend. Looking over at the pale patrician features of Grey, the smoke from the burning coals drifting between them and the dull burble of the river beyond, intuitive Stern lays a massive hand on his friend’s slight shoulders and asks
“What troubles you?”
“I am alright my friend” Grey assures Stern reaching up to pat the mighty hand on his shoulder with his decidedly smaller one. “I am merely in a contemplative mood this morning and have a question for you.”
Stern raises one arched eyebrow and sits back on his haunches regarding Grey.
Grey continues looking out over the river“What do you want now Brother? What do you desire from life ahead? Where do you want to go? What would you choose for your future?”
You all eventually find your way off to bed, and the next day, the Ceremony of Cups begins just as it was explained. All along the shores of the lakes, beneath trees and vine covered trellises, different groups of people have brought out tables draped in colorful cloths. There are paints, brushes, and metal styluses for etching clay. There are also small pots of dyes and shimmering metallic and clear glazes. There are all sorts of charms as well, feathers, small lengths of silk, metal rings and threads strung with glass beads.
People have brought all these things out from their own homes, and some have been donated by wealthier families, but all are left out and open to be shared. All are welcome to spend as much or a little time on their cup as they wish, and to use any substance laid out to do so. They start whenever they wish, take a break whenever they wish, finish whenever they wish, and there are at least several thousand, mostly humans with the occasional half elf or full elf participating. The result looks something like a crafts fair, or like all the citizens from every walk of life have come out to prepare a host of decorative cups for a celebration.
You look out on this scene from a balcony in the shrine, eating a light breakfast of eggs and toasted bread with your host, Oki Lo Kin, the keeper of this shrine. He instructs you that you need not have lost someone in this battle to participate, you may take a cup and make it to honer someone who has fallen in the past. He assures you there is no need to take part, but perhaps it is a fine opportunity to lay some past grief to rest, that the spirits look down upon such a ceremony and truly grant some sense of relief to those who take part. As Oki speaks, one by one you realize Grey is standing in the doorway listening to the man intently as you are. When Oki pauses to bite into a toasty piece of buttered bread, Grey clears his throat to announce his presence and then bows to the gathering and takes a seat among you.
