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26/05/2020 8:32 pm
“Thank you for the invite, Magister Crowley.” Jarath said as he was shown into the dining hall of the tower.
Devon was already there sitting at a table with Holly to his left and young Madalyn to his right. She had insisted she sit next to Devon. Alayne chose a seat directly across from her daughter and Asheara had saved a very special place for Jarath next to her.
“Welcome child. Please sit.”
The magister had used a magical horn to create a feast for her guests. She also had wine and whiskey brought up from the cellar as a treat. She smiled as she watched Holly reach her arm around Devon, as she so often did, and whisper into his ear. Asheara for her part made sure Jarath was shown every courtesy, from pouring his whiskey to offering him each of the various courses. It wasn’t hard to see that she still held a fondness for him. She would stare at him for just a little too long and when he spoke to her, her face lit up with joy.
“It’s a sorry state of affairs my children…” The Magister began. “…To see our Lord Mayor consumed by that horrible creature. Whatever would cause Eugenius to enter such a pact is beyond even my understanding.”
“He was a broken man magister.” Devon offered.
“Come now. That was what…twenty odd years ago.”
“And still…some wounds never heal. It’s the only reasoning I can make of it. Despite how he treated me, he was a good man.”
“Yes well…that travesty aside… yes. Things would have been much different had you been allowed to remain full time in my care.”
Devon felt a tug at the bottom of his hair. “Indeed.” Holly smirked.
“Magister. I hate to bring business to the table but could you have a look at this? Devon and I recovered it in Stygia. It’s a contract for the mayor’s soul or at least I’m told as much.” Jarath began.
“I’ll have nothing to do with that.” She said in disapproval.
“I understand. I just would like a wiser eye to determine its validity.”
She took the scroll and began to read. “I’m no expert in infernal packs mind you but this appears to be in order.”
“Does it say who purchased the soul?”
“Honestly boy. Does the chantry not instruct literacy?”
Jarath remained quiet.
“And did they not teach you to read in Sanguinar? I thought you two received a proper education there.” She said with a hint of annoyance. “Here child. See. Recognize the name? You Jarath. You own his soul.”
Jarath looked repulsed. “So when I purchased it…”
“Ownership transferred to you.” She raised an eyebrow. “Magic”
“We’ll have to free him.” Jarath said looking at Devon.
“Are you still in contact with her boy? Do you know where to find her?”
“Yes magister.” Devon answered his mentor.
“Then may I suggest bringing his soul to her. It is more generosity than he deserves from you but still the right thing to do.”
“Of course magister.” Devon bowed.
“I want to dance.” Maddy said, grabbing at Devon’s arm.
“Oh Mads no. Devon’s eating. And we’re company here. It’s not proper.” Alayne said.
Madalyn sulked a bit.
“Nonsense. You wouldn’t be the first girl I taught to dance here… but definitely the first princess.”
Holly smirked and looked away.
Alayne watched with affection then sighed as Devon lifted Mads from her chair and began to dance with her, explaining the steps as she clung tightly to him.
“I know.” Holly whispered to Alayne. “He’s quite unique.”
The widow smiled. “Indeed.”
“The Lady Keira Calmwater.” An acolyte announced as she followed him into the room. “Her eyes found Jarath and then drifted to Asheara.
“Keira child. Welcome. So nice to see you. Please sit.” She looked to Jarath. “Be a good lad and grab her a chair would you?”
Jarath quickly rose and embraced her. “Of course magister.” He briefly considered forcing the chair between him and Asheara but thought better of it instead placing it in the open space to his right. “What brings you here?” Jarath asked.
“The Arch Penitar is looking for you…both of you.” She said as she watched Devon twirling Mads around while the little girl laughed with glee.
“She can wait.” Jarath said pointedly as he poured Keira some wine. “Sit. Eat.”
“Is it wise to keep her waiting child?” The magister asked.
“No. But I’m going to anyway.” He grinned.
The wizened mage shook her head in disapproval. “You’ve spent too much time with that one.” She said pointing to Devon who was still playing with Mads. “You’ve obviously acquired his defiance.”
Jarath grinned.
Keira shrugged her shoulders and they stayed for dessert and after dinner cordials.
“We really should be going.” Keira finally suggested with a hint of stiffness. “If you two are done playing?”
Mads looked a little sad. “Will I see you again soon?”
“Yes sweet princess. And next time I’ll make sure your Auntie Maya comes as well.”
The child brightened up immediately, throwing her arms around Devon and hugging him tight. Alayne rose and hugged him as well. “Thank you for everything Devon.”
He nodded and smiled. Holly stood to embrace him. She whispered in his ear and kissed his cheek. “Be safe.”
Asheara smiled and offered her farewells too. She put her arms around Jarath and he could smell the scent of a fruit-floral fragrance with notes of strawberry, violet leaves and jasmine.
Keira rolled her eyes and looked away.
Holly took notice. “Ok. That’s enough. Off you go. Bye.”
“Magister.” Devon bowed.
“Farewell child. Don’t be a stranger. Remember you always have a home here.”
“Thank you.” He smiled.
Keira took them both by the hand, squeezing Jarath’s with a bit more emphasis and then they were gone.
This topic was modified 4 years ago 2 times by Dorym
Topic starter
08/06/2020 2:03 pm
Clearing the Air
Originally Posted by Bronze- Reposted to fit the timeline.
This takes place the day before the heroes go to West Port Manor in search of the Life Rune
After two back to back forays into the Hells the Lord Marshal sought what bit of solace he could find in the tiered Gardens of Opulent Splendor. He found great comfort in its wide variety of trees and shrubs; and the combination of the warbling of Elysian thrushes mixed with the sound of water bubbling up from nearby fountains helped clear his mind. Ever present, Gnash rested on the ground nearby. Only after a few brief moments his reverie was broken as the scent of Black Orchid and Lotus Blossom caught his attention.
“Hey.” Keira said in a solemn greeting .
“Hey you.” Jarath said, trying to bring up the mood.
“I was thinking maybe me going to West Port with you isn’t a good idea.”
“Why is that?”
“The Arch Penatar is sending you on a mission and I don’t want to be a distraction. Besides, you have Asheara to take care of you.”
“Seriously?!” Jarath said clearly annoyed. “Gnash, can you give us a moment please?”
“Yes My Lord. You do know it won’t really make a difference though. I’ll still be able to hear.”
“Yes! Yes! I know! Just go anyways! Let me pretend I have privacy!”
“By your command.” Said the mastiff as he sulked away.
“What does he mean it won’t matter?” asked Keria.
“His damn canine hearing! He can hear for miles!”
“Then I don’t want to talk.” she said rather stiffly.
“We can talk. Gnash isn’t an eavesdropper, just my bodyguard. We’re good.”
There was a brief uncomfortable silence before Jarath continued the conversation.
“Keira, you have nothing to be concerned about as far as Asheara is concerned.”
“Tell me how you two became friends again.” she said in an icy tone.
“We were in the City of Brass for the first time; before Ari took the throne, and we needed a guide. It’s not easy for us to travel in disguise, except for Devon. I couldn’t take the risk of hiring someone off the street. I needed a guide I could trust, so we went to the slave market and I bought her. With her brass collar linked to me, for her to disobey me would be committing suicide.”
“I’ll bet you and your friends had a lot of fun with that.” She said sarcastically.
“You have known me since we were children, and you know me better than anybody. I swear that I did nothing to dishonor you or to dishonor myself in the eyes of Heironeous. I acted in accordance with the 3rd and 28th Analects when I made Asheara our guide and set the conditions of her freedom.”
“The what?”
“The 3rd and 28th Analects of the Code.”
Keria wasn’t expecting Jarath to recite Heironean Code and was taken aback somewhat before hastily responding. “And how did these ‘Analects’ apply in this instance?”
“The 3rd Analect, Duty to a Lady, devotion to one’s beloved, and respect toward all women in general. You are always at the forefront of my mind and I would never betray your trust. Asheara was obviously in trouble and possessed knowledge useful in aiding us in our mission. Win win in my book.”
“Hmm” Keria said stiffly.
Jarath continued “The 28th Analect, The five practices of humanity: courtesy, tolerance, good faith, diligence, and generosity. Courtesy wards off insults; tolerance wins all hearts; good faith inspires trust in others; diligence ensures success, and generosity confers authority upon others.”
“Well it was obvious to me and everyone else at the dinner table that she doesn’t share your sense of honor.”
“I would be lying if I said I was blind to her behavior as well. I can only explain it as ‘hero worship’. I saved her from a fate worse than death and now she has developed an emotional attachment. I can assure you the feelings are not mutual.”
“Then why did you go to the tower?”
“Devon sent Maya to get me because the mayor was acting strangely and a company of paladins of The Topaz Order were making strong accusations against him. When I arrived we learned he was possessed. And not soon after that we saw the mayor murdered before our eyes by a Pit Fiend in the streets of WestPort. When the smoke cleared the Magister had invited us over. We obviously had a great many things to discuss.”
“I still don’t trust her.”
“I’m not asking you too, but trust me. We have known each other far too long and have been through far too much to allow a mage with a propensity of making poor decisions to tear us asunder.”
Keira sighed and thought for a moment before she stood up and moved to sit in Jarath’s lap. As she wrapped her arms around him she looked into his eyes and said “I trust you and love you Jarath Godguard, and I will never forgive you if you break my heart.”
This post was modified 4 years ago 2 times by Dorym
Topic starter
08/06/2020 3:39 pm
This is a joint post by Dorym and Bronze
Some days later…
“What did the magister mean when she asked if you still were in contact with her? Don’t you have enough trouble juggling all of your female relationships?”
Devon laughed. “No. It’s nothing like that at all. She was referring to the mayor’s wife, Lady Chadwick.”
“Wait now I’m confused. How would you be conversing with her? Are you contacting the dead?”
“No. Well yes I guess. But not like that.” He shook his head. “I visit her grave to lay flowers every year to honor her memory. She’s a lantern archon now in the service of Tyr.”
“Ahh. Ok.”
“She appeared one day when I was there and revealed herself to me. We had a lovely conversation.”
“Only you could describe a conversation with the departed as ‘lovely’.”
Devon smirked.
“Do you know where she is?”
“Yeah, The Court in Lunia on Mount Celestia. But we’ll find her at her grave outside of Westport.
They followed the path from the southern gate to a well kept area surrounded by a low stone wall. Devon led Jarath to the headstone.
“This is it.” He said. “Lady Orlina Chadwick if you can hear me, I would very much appreciate it if you could reveal yourself.” Devon called
A floating wisp of light appeared just beyond the headstone a few moments later, moving forward to meet them. It stopped a pace away and Devon fell to a knee.
“My Lady Chadwick.” He said bowing his head. Jarath acted in kind.
The orb of light seemed to pulse for a moment and then burst, replaced by the translucent figure of a middle aged woman with soft blonde hair. “Hello Devon. Greetings Lord Marshal.”
Jarath wore a look of surprise. ‘You know who I am?” He asked.
The melancholy look on her face forced a small grin. “I know all the heroes of Westport my lord. I’ve watched your exploits with great interest, none more so than Devon here who I suspect has come to act as a harbinger of terrible news.” She looked nearly overwhelmed with sorrow. “News I unfortunately have already received.” There were tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry you travelled all this way for naught though I appreciate the sentiment my lords. It seems my Eugenius foolishly entered into an infernal pact in a misguided attempt to bring me back. Devon knows I could not return, I only wish I had told my husband before he…” Her words trailed off and she looked away fighting to hide the devastation she was feeling.
Devon took hold of her hands. “My lady all is not lost.”
“You are so kind Devon but there is no way I could in good conscience accept any offer of you to travel to Baator in an attempt to free his soul. We have caused you enough grief.” She shook her head. “I never thought he would do something so foolish as to bargain his soul away for me. At least the creature that took his shape is destroyed.”
“My lady…” he began softly. “We have already acquired the contract for the Lord Mayor’s soul. Jarath and I, in an unusual happenstance came across a vendor in Stygia who was in possession of it. We purchased it with the hope of restoring it to him in life. Sadly, all we can offer is freedom in death.”
Jarath drew the scroll from his pouch.
Her eyes grew wide as tears fell freely from her cheeks.
The priest began to pray. “Eugenius Chandwick. I Jarath Godguard, possessor of legal writ and right to your soul grant you release to the care of The Lady Orlina Chadwick, that you may spend your eternal days in the safety of her care and the compassion of Tyr’s embrace. Suffer no more and be free.”
The parchment took to flame and as the smoke drifted from the burning document it coalesced in the form of the portly mayor of their home town.
“What…What’s going on. How am I here? Orlina? Is that really you?” He asked, confused.
The couple embraced for a long few moments before she broke away. “Eugenius. How could you do such a stupid thing.” Her sorrow had moved to happiness and now anger.
“I…I…I couldn’t bear to be apart from you any longer. Ath’toth promised me…”
“Do not speak that name on these hallowed grounds.” She reprimanded him.
“I’m sorry my love. I was a fool. Please forgive me. Thank you for saving me.” He kissed her hand.
“It’s not me you need to thank Eugenius.” She waved her hand toward Jarath and Devon. “Do they look familiar?”
“You…” He said mouth agape as he stared at Devon. “You mean? He? They? The boys who left for Sanguinar?”
“The boy you banished you mean? Though I don’t recall the trip being either of their own choices.”
“Well yes… but no…I mean…Jarath belonged to the church. I could hardly…”
“I believe the words you are looking for are I’m sorry.”
He looked at his wife who nodded then to Devon. “I did a great injustice to you sir, a regret I shall carry the rest of my days. A man can only admit when he is wrong and ask forgiveness.”
“There is nothing to forgive my lord.” Devon said with sincerity.
“Thank you. Thank you both for saving me from eternal torment. It’s a debt I can never repay.”
“We can never repay.” Lady Chadwick added. “Thank you both my lords.”
“We were fortunate, my lord and lady.” Jarath replied. “Be at peace.”
Lady Chadwick stepped forward and hugged Jarath. “Devon was not the only one to pay a great price for the good of the realms.”
Jarath gave her a puzzled look and she winked.
“And you.” She stepped over to Devon. “Don’t think because I’m reunited with my husband that I will not be keeping an eye on you. I shall look forward to your annual visit.”
“Not at all my lady. I’ll be there as always.”
The Lord Mayor stared at Devon. “The flowers…black lotuses and white roses…That was you?”
Devon bowed and the mayor lowered his head in shame.
“I must announce him to Tyr. Please forgive my hasty departure.” Lady Chadwick said. “Farewell. Until next we meet.”
“Farewell my lords and thank you.” The mayor bowed.
“My Lord Mayor. My Lady.” they bowed in return.
The Chadwick’s forms shrunk into orbs of light and whisked across the sky.
“Only took twenty years, brother.”
Devon smiled. “Yeah.” He paused for a brief moment. “We should return to town.” A shimmer and flash later they were gone.
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