7th of Neth: The Day of the Ceremony
Setting Out
In the dim morning light, Sara eyes the meager preparations she had gathered for the day's ceremony. She shrugs at the small pile: a small coin purse, a crossbow with a quiver of bolts, and her journal which she would have to tuck into her belt until she received a pack from the town center. She straightens up and turns to finish pulling together breakfast for her father. She grabs a kettle off the stove and strolls over to the kitchen table, placing the pot next to a cup already filled with a serving of her father's favorite tea blend. Smiling at the breakfast of toast and goat cheese piled in front of her father's seat, Sara moves quickly through the house to check on the man.
Peeking her head into his bedroom, Sara smothers a smile, Still sleeping, lazy oaf.
Her eyes catch on the sight of a lute resting across a threadbare chair in the corner of the room. Blinking in surprise, she smiles at the realization that her father intended to practice while she was out performing the rites. Her father's music was a rarity in the years since her mother's death. Her mother, Rinna, had always teased that it was Faramir's music that had swayed her into falling in love with the elf.
Maybe he'll perform at the celebration that is supposed to come after our rite.
Sara grins into the darkened room and twists the small golden band around her right ring finger with her thumb; the band had been her mother's wedding ring, and now is Sara's most cherished possession after her mother's death years ago.
She hurries back to the kitchen and rustles through one of the cabinets in search of a jar of elderberry jam she had hidden months ago, exclaiming aloud at finding the jar, "Aha! Found you!"
Placing the last of her cherished jam next to her father's plate, Sara quickly slings on her gear and slips out the door. Instead of heading towards the center of town where those who would be participating in the ceremony were to gather at midday, Sara turns and makes her way towards the forest edge. As she emerges into the small clearing, a bear perks his head up from where he was napping near the front door of a small cottage. The bear runs up to Sara as she grins and kneels on the soft grass.
"Hello Rauros," Sara tells the bear, scratching him behind the ears. "Where is your favorite friend, hmm? Is she not prepared for her big day? I bet she's faaaaaast asleep, snoring away-"
"I do not snore!" huffs Myne as she walks out of the cottage and closes the door behind her.
Sara laughs, and looks over her younger cousin, ensuring the girl has remembered to bring everything she would need during the rite as Myne makes her way across the clearing. Pursing her lips, she looks up at Myne and asks, "You have your dagger?"
Myne rolls her eyes, but nods nonetheless.
Sara continues, "They'll supply us with water skins, rations, and various other gear; but I hope you brought some sort of coin?"
Another nod from Myne and an exasperated sigh as she says, "You know all I have is a couple coppers, and I'm no good with coin anyway." As she reaches her cousin, Myne flings her arms around the older girl.
Sara laughs and hugs her back.
"I remembered everything I need," Myne assures her cousin. Grinning wider, she continues, "Mom even bought me a journal, like the one you have! I've not the talent for sketching that you have, but I figured I could chronicle everything that happens!"
Sara laughs again, "Remember, this rite is only supposed to take a few days, and it's supposed to be a secret. What on Golarion are you going to be able to write about?"
"Also," Sara eyes Myne again, seemingly looking over every inch of her before reaching out and grasping Myne's chin, tilting the girl's head this way and that.
"Whaaat?!" Myne laughs at her, allowing Sara to manhandle her.
"Did you remember to meditate this morning?" Sara asks her with a serious expression.
Myne laughs loudly, breaking free from her cousin and heading towards the path.
She hears Sara huff; and then the sounds of footfalls as her cousin and Rauros fall into step behind her. Myne tries to stifle her laughter, but one look back at Sara and the miffed expression marring her pretty face has Myne dissolving back into giggles.
The trio is nearly back to the edge of town before Myne has finally controlled herself enough to respond, "Yes! Of course I did! We both rely on our spells for survival; I'm not going to forget to concentrate on what the forest tells me each morning! Just because your magic seems to come more naturally… hmph."
Sara sighs, blowing out a great huff before linking arms with Myne, "Don't you laugh at me, I don't know how your powers work. Gods!"
The two break into laughter again, and continue towards the center of town to meet with the others.
With the village center in sight, Myne suddenly stops her cousin, giving her a serious look as she says, "Look, before we reach the others...I know you might be thinking I'm not ready for this… mom said the same. She knows we age strangely, she tells me that we behave like humans a few years younger than us would...apparently our moms have discussed and observed our childhoods closely."
Myne grins and continues, "She tells me I act the way she did when she was sixteen...I think she was unwilling to tell me that she thinks I am too young...but I refuse to be left behind. I can do this… and I want to do this with you. You're like a sister to me… and I just needed to say that before we start."
Sara gives Myne a tight squeeze, grateful that she too had her cousin with her for their coming-of-age trials.
As the two half-elves approach the center of town, they find several familiar faces: Lothar and Alex, two of the other younger humans of the village, as well as two elves. Myne smiles at the ranger she met the night before, Roth, and offers the elf a wave. Sara regards the two elves; the ranger Myne had told her about on their trip over, but the other was unknown to her.
She pauses and takes a good look at the elf: tall, platinum blonde hair, somehow familiar, Those emerald green eyes...
She blinks and shrugs, shaking off the sense of deja vu. She raises an eyebrow at him, but gives him a nod of greeting.
Seeing Alex try to give a greeting, Myne quickly steers her cousin as far away from the others without being impolite, making sure to turn Sara's attention away from Alexander, Last thing we need is for Sara's temper to flare before we've even started.
Other than the six of them, the center is curiously empty.
When the clock chimes the noon hour, they see a winding procession of townsfolk approach them. Leading the way is the town's elder, who holds an unlit lantern in his hand. Behind Elder Uptal is a horse-drawn cart containing six packs full of supplies. The elder welcomes the young group, and explains the tradition of the lighting ceremony, and the story of the fight between Kassen and Asar. He then explains the important symbolism behind allowing the youth of the village to light the lantern for the year.
He pauses at the end of this story to motion to the group and say, "Here stands four youths of Kassen, ready to enter adulthood: Saraneth Mithendian, age 25, daughter of Faramir and Rinna; Simbelmyne Elladan, age 21, daughter of Brynn; Alexander Shieldheart, age 20, son of Lord Zangold and Lady Krisonna; and Lothar Eisler, age 18, son of Ludwig and Carol. The village also welcomes strangers to participate, if they feel compelled to enjoy the challenge and camaraderie of the rites of the Eternal Flame of Kassen."
Here he nods to the two elves and says, "Strangers come and go, but those who choose to stay are no longer strangers. If it is your will to participate, step forward and speak your names and your family names."
The elf with the platinum blonde hair and green eyes steps forward and says, "My family is long since passed. I simply wish to be known as Tarian. I have been in Golarion for 150 years."
The elder gives Tarian a look, but nods, trying to understand the workings of elven families, and then looks to the other elf, waiting for his reply. The second elf, with ash blonde hair and grey eyes, steps forward and adjusts his stance, clearly uncomfortable making such an address.
In a soft voice he says, "Damerothlin Elldervil, son of Ambassador Arvendlir and Meduinis of Celahir Lossehelim. I have walked in the realm for 128 years."
The elder nods at Roth, and then says, "Strangers, we welcome you. And now, I need someone to come forward to be responsible for carrying the lantern."
Each member of the group looks about the six of them until Myne hesitantly says, "I would like to nominate Saraneth, being the oldest member of our group, begging the pardon of these two elf strangers."
Sara gives Myne a surprised glance before stepping forward to take the lantern, and Myne beams with pride for her cousin. The elder then instructs the group to each take a pack, which would have provisions for the trip.
As the group rummages through their supplies, the elder says, "Bring back the Eternal Light of Kassen so that it may glow throughout the dark and harsh winter. You are the youth of our village, but upon your return, you shall all be adults of the village of Kassen, free to choose your destinies and make your own lives. Farewell, and good luck."
With that, they start to walk slowly out of town in the direction of the path they would use to locate the crypt.
At the entrance to the path, Roth steps forward and says, "We should make a full assessment of our supplies before we head off blindly on the trail."
They nod at his suggestion, and stop for a quick discussion and strategy, making a careful inventory of their supplies. They each find a small piece of a map in their pack, which they hastily put together. It shows a winding path that leads southwest into a clearing called the Broken Glade. From the clearing, the path winds southeast to the Grav Lake. From there, it leads south into a ravine that runs east and west known as Serpent Gorge. The crypt entrance is in the other side of the ravine. They also have tents, rations, and provisions for the journey.
After setting their course with the map, they begin shouldering their packs, eager to head out.
Hesitantly, Myne speaks up from the rear of the group, "Umm, I know we are excited to get going, but there are unfamiliar faces among us, and we know next to nothing about each other, outside our formal names and the names of our parents! If we are to have the next four days ahead of us together…" she trails off, looking up at the sheepish faces of the others.
Smiling gently, she continues, "Some of you I know very well, others I do not know at all."
The group regards her carefully, and after a few moments of them standing and looking at each other awkwardly, Myne steps forward with Rauros to say, "Call me Myne, and this is Rauros my companion. Hopefully I can prove myself to the group through my skills in herbalism and my knowledge of the wild."
Roth smiles at her and says, "I too have skills in the wilds, and to walk side by side with a druid will be an honor. My martial skills rest in my training as a ranger, and the accuracy of my bow. Call me Roth."
Tarian pulls out a dagger from his belt, fingering it lovingly while he says, "You won't see me coming, but believe me, it will hurt. I am a rogue, and trader of secrets. You can call me Tarian."
Alex draws his sword with pride and says, "My life devoted to the honorable code of the Paladins of Iomedae. Call me Alex."
Sara lets out a scoff and rolls her eyes at Alex's introduction, and Myne sighs nervously at the open hostility that Sara would seemingly carry for their time together. Her act of disrespect was not lost on the paladin either, who deflates slightly at her scoff.
Lo grins and says, "My talent is in my music, I'll happily cheer you guys on from the back of the fight." He gives a wink and says, "Call me Lo."
Sara sighs and smooths her hair over one shoulder, calming her blood and magics while Lo introduces himself. Taking a deep breath, she manages to say, "My name is Sara, and hopefully you won't have to see what I am truly capable of."
Since the path is narrow they must walk single file, and Roth steps forward to lead the group. He knows his keen senses and path walking abilities as a ranger will come in handy at the front of their procession. Sara follows next, resolutely holding the lantern, and Myne diplomatically steps in behind her cousin to form a buffer between Sara and Alex, who bravely and obliviously steps in behind her. Lo follows next, content to not be near the front, and Tarian strategically places himself at the back of the line, keeping his eyes and ears open for anything that might surprise them from the rear.
For a while they follow Roth in silence, which is broken when Lo says, "I've heard many rumors and tales of what is in the crypt; that the dead come back to life. Silly right? I think I spend too much time at the Seven Silvers listening to the old men's tales."
Myne smiles and confidently says, "I have been in the crypt before to collect a rare variety of mushroom for my mother. True, the place is quite creepy, but there was nothing to fear inside. Just the dark dank inside of an old crypt."
Tarian grins, "I have heard rumors of the crypt being used for other nefarious purposes. Word gets around when it's your job to live in the shadows."
Sara pales further at each story, unusually disturbed by the thought of the undead haunting the secluded crypt.
Ephemeral Encounter Near a Fallen Tree
Other than the brief discussion about the crypt itself, the group's journey is quiet, and little is said until they reach a large fallen tree in the path. As they each decide how they will get around it, two huge orcs jump out from the brush, one holding a spear and the other holding an axe: they aren't looking for a negotiation. All members of the party nervously prepare for a fight, and their first attempts at damage are disheartening. Roth's arrows ricochet, Sara's crossbow bolts fail to find any purchase, and Alex's and Tarian's swords fail to connect. Unfortunately, their enemies make hard blows to both Tarian and Alex. Lo manages to confuse one of the orcs with a musical spell, and the tables slowly turn in the favor of the young party. Tarian takes too much damage from one of the orc's spears, and falls unconscious. Myne makes a hasty decision of how best to use her magic, and heals Tarian first. Her spell only stabilizes Tarian, and meanwhile Alex is still hurt from the encounter. Sara and Roth manage to hit their targets, and when Alex connects with his enemy, he finds his target strangely not solid. After a painfully drawn-out battle, the group emerges victorious, and the orcs vanish. Even more strange, their wounds heal immediately.
As Tarian quickly comes to, and sees that his wounds are healed, he eyes Myne with some level of awe and says, "The skills you have are far more than just herbalism… believe me I know. You are in possession of some greater power."
Roth nods at Tarian knowingly and with a level of reverence in his voice says, "That, rogue, is the power of a druid. She calls upon the magic of the wilds, something I have only seen in one other before now. There are few magic wielders in this world, and you are now privy to have been healed by one."
Myne gives an embarrassed smile and drops her eyes to the ground at Roth's description, fidgeting with her hands and biting her lip. She had kept her magic to herself for the most part; only Sara knew. She had relied on Sara to help her learn how to control her powers, since Sara too possessed these rare magical abilities.
Roth continues, "And she is not the only one with that power. Something is strange about this village. I do not possess any magical abilities, but I feel something here, don't you all?"
Lo grins as he says, "I haven't ever told anyone, but since we're all having this little moment, you don't think I am able to just confuse, dazzle, and daze with just these good looks do you?"
Sara rolls her eyes at the bard and says, "If you want flamboyance, then you shall have it!"
She opens the palm of her hand, and creates a flame like a torch in her palm. She smiles as she watches the others widen their eyes in shock while Myne gives her cousin a knowing grin.
To herself Sara says, At least I finally have a chance to release some pent up rage… and if they do see more, it won't be quite the shock.
Tarian crosses his arms at this seemingly impossible concentration of magic users, and says, "Let's not forget this fight either. It makes no sense that our enemies should just vanish and our wounds heal instantly. What a waste of energy!"
Tarian stops his grumbling as both he and Lo sniff the air, recognizing the scent of pipe weed. Tarian follows the scent to its source: the bartender from the Seven Silvers, at his ease behind a bush smoking his pipe. The bartender is taken off guard by Tarian's presence, but casually congratulates him and his party for defeating his orcs. It's clear that the townsfolk had set this up for the young party to stumble into. When Tarian returns to the group, he tries to have a little fun with Myne, whispering to her what he found and quietly laughing to himself about the fact that they were being set up by the villagers. Despite Myne's uneasiness about why this elf stranger would choose her to share this little joke, he persuades her to not tell the rest of the group for the fun of it. Roth also investigates and finds the bartender, but wants to make the group aware of what they were "up against." As Roth opens his mouth to say something, Tarian steers the conversation in another direction, persuading Roth to also keep it to himself for the sheer enjoyment of leaving half the party in ignorance. As the party sets out once again, it is with a little bit of hesitation of the unknown.
The First Encampment: The Broken Glade
Nightfall approaches, and they reach the clearing that must be the Broken Glade. It makes the perfect spot to set up camp, and as they make a fire and begin to set up camp, they hear howling in the woods nearby. Both Roth and Myne recognize the howl: a hungry wolf pack on the hunt, and they quickly help the group prepare to ward off wolves by placing a perimeter of fire and magicked light around the camp. The howling grows closer, and they see yellow eyes just outside the ring of light that is their encampment. They all draw their weapons and prepare to defend their camp.
Three wolves enter the clearing, and they see that the animals are starving and desperate. Lo expertly sends out a wolf call that confuses one of the wolves. It leaves the clearing in search of the sound, and only two remain to be dealt with. One wolf lunges towards Sara, but snaps its jaws on empty air near her robes. The other grabs hold of Myne's leg, knocks her down, and bites down hard. Rauros and Tarian both take down Myne's wolf. The wolf slathering over Sara is struck by Alex, but it's Lo once again that confuses the wolf into retreat.
Tarian looks over the lone wolf that they managed to bring down, and decides that there could be a meal made of the fresh meat.
He looks around the ragtag group and asks, "Any of you good with a fire? I could make a stew, but the taste might leave some of you wanting…"
Myne looks up at Tarian and smiles, nodding with her chin at her cousin. "Sara's a great cook! Mom and I always head to Uncle Faramir's for dinner when we can!" She sees the flash of annoyance darken Sara's gaze and frowns.
"Pleeeeeeease?" she pouts, tilting her head and leaning towards the older girl.
Tarian throws in some encouragement and compliments as well, and finally Sara huffs before heading towards the fire to get started.
"If someone else cleans the beast, I suppose I can make something of it."
Lo chuckles, and shakes his head, plucking a soft set of chords on his lute. He grins at Sara, "I remember when your parents used to own the inn. You must have always been in the inn's kitchen. Glad to know one of us can cook!"
Sara glances at the bard and gives him a noncommittal hum, gathering a cooking pot and what meager supplies they were given in their packs.
Roth moves across the camp to begin cleaning their kill. He offers a reserved smile, regarding the humans and half-elves in the clearing, "You all must have grown up together in Kassen, right?"
Alex, who had been removing and cleaning his gear near the fire, grins wryly before answering, "Sara, Lothar, and I played together as small children… at least when I could slip away to the village with my mother-"
"Hey!" Myne interrupts, "I was there, too!"
Lo and Alex both laugh, the bard chiming into the conversation, "Yes, let's not forget Sara's ever-constant shadow!"
Myne huffs at him, and Lo looks over and sees Sara hiding a grin from her cousin, shoulders shaking from contained laughter.
Lo continues where Alex had left off, "But then Sara moved to the outskirts of the village. We didn't see much of her after that…I think Alex and I were about seven or eight...Sara was maybe 14?"
Sara gives him a blank look before turning back to the fire as Roth brings her some of the wolf meat. Myne gives a shudder and a slight gag at the red lumps in his hands, and Sara gives her cousin an apologetic look as she adds the meat to the boiling water.
Myne gives her cousin a shrug and then begins to paw through her pack like a squirrel gathering nuts, "Don't worry Sara, I think I saw some rations in my pack!"
As Roth returns to the wolf to see if he could dry the remaining meat into something they could bring on their journey, Sara responds to the unspoken question Lo had posed by saying, "After my mother died, my father couldn't stand the sight of the inn. So, we moved, and I found no reason to continue playing children's games when I had to take over the housework for our home."
Alex pauses in his task and looks up to the redhead at the fire. He brings a hand to the back of his neck and rubs it in slight discomfort, saying, "I had forgotten your mother died around that time. My father didn't like to have people talk about it in front of me."
Sara scoffs harshly, slamming a lid on the pot she had been preparing and turning on Alex with fists balled white knuckled at her sides. Alex blinks at the girl, clearly confused at the sudden hostility in her actions as she sneers at him, "Oh, I'm sure he didn't!"
Seeing the questioning looks she was getting from the rest of the party, Sara deflates slightly, and turns her back to the rest of them while making a show of tending to the fire.
Alex stares bewildered at the her until Roth asks for someone to help him move the remains of the dead wolf to the edge of the encampment in the hopes of keeping other predators at bay. Lending a hand, the two make quick work of it.
Glancing between the hot-tempered sorceress and the paladin, Tarian blows out a breath, What in Golarion happened there, I wonder? Poor Rinna, I never asked Brynn about her sister.
He turns to regard Myne, who was looking at her cousin's back with worry. He could tell she was trying to decide whether to go to the older girl, but she was obviously hesitant to escalate Sara's ire-or turn it to herself.
"Myne," he calls to the redhead, "Lo and Alex are both younger than you. Why would they not treat you the same?"
Myne looks at him, and he is once again hit with old memories as her heart shaped face turns to him and she blushes lightly, "Sara and I are aging differently."
She touches her pointed ears that stick out through tousled short hair and continues, "By human standards Sara is just their age, and I am probably two years younger than Lo."
Tarian regards his daughter with a measure of sympathy and thinks, Gods, the girl had no father, and she is only half-human. She must have been alone much of the time if not for her cousin. I never would have left if I had known Brynn was with child.
Out loud he says with a slight crack in his voice, "There was no one your human age to play with?"
Myne turns her gaze to both Alex and Lo before regarding Tarian again, "The other kids were much younger than the rest of us, and I wanted to be near Sara, she's like a sister to me. So much to her annoyance when we were young, I was the toddling little kid that spoiled the older kids' fun!"
She laughs, and Tarian notices that Sara has relaxed enough to offer her cousin a smile as she says, "You got better. You were always so quiet when you came into town, and I hated that I was forced to watch after my baby cousin."
Sara laughs as Myne makes a face at her, "Little did I know how you'd come out of your shell once you were out of the town and into the wilds. You're almost tolerable now."
Myne laughs loudly, "Tolerable?!"
Lo laughs at the girls, "Yeah, Myne was never too far from the river unless she was gathering herbs for Brynn. If I was ever playing my lute in the forest, I knew she would be lurking nearby."
He tries to hide a wide grin behind his hands as Myne blushes and mumbles, "I love your music…"
Sara turns to Tarian and gives him a wink before grinning at her cousin, "Mmm, mostly tolerable. On your good days."
Sara ignores Myne's half-hearted mumbles of "...tolerable…" that trail off into silence as the group settles down within the ring of their tents. Lo plays soft melodies as they continue to speak on topics with little importance. Lo inquires after Alex's training as a paladin at the temple of Iomedae; Tarian questions Myne what it was like growing up as the daughter of the village herbalist; Roth contributes very little information about himself but makes an effort to include himself in the conversation, and listens carefully to the Kassen natives to learn more about the village. Sara settles in front of the fire and draws out a small journal, settling in to sketch her companions while the stew cooked. If anyone ever asked, she simply would have blamed a lack of practice as to the reason Alex's caricature made him look much less charming than he actually was.
Catching her glances at him, Alex tries to smooth over whatever rift had formed between them earlier and offers the girl a smile. She returns it with a flat look before rolling her eyes and returning to making his nose slightly too big and certainly off center in her drawing. Myne notices her cousin's snub and frowns at her.
Looking at the flames silhouetting her cousin's form from behind, she laughs and says, "Sara, you look like some terror of a fire demon or something from this angle!"
Turning to look at the flames behind her, Sara grins wickedly and offers the group a bemused look. "Must be my fiery personality then!" she remarks as she puts away her journal, offering Myne a smirk.
Turning back to the pot of stew, Sara declares that the food should be quite finished. All but Myne have their fill of the warm meal; she instead fills up on dried fruit and cheese from her rations while receiving confused stares from the rest of the group.
Myne tries to mitigate the stares by sighing and saying, "Look, I don't eat meat, okay? It's just... I can't… another creature laying down its life to feed me or clothe me… I just can't... but far be it for me to deny others, or even Rauros for that matter, it is the way of things in nature."
The group seems to give her an understanding nod, and leaves her in peace. Afterwards, they set up shifts for watch, and the rest of the night passes uneventfully.