XOXOXO Bards at Funerals?
That afternoon they gather all the possessions that were of value of the deceased Salandra Sensbane and prepared them for export on the carriage that was returning to pick them up womanned by the Paladin of Tyr, Amberlee Alagondar, niece of the great hero and Lord of Neverwinter. The dark purple figure stood over the mass of collectibles, many of magical origin that he hadn't even study yet, but one of them leaped out. It was an amulet that he always remembered his mother keeping close to her that shone a bright purple light, similar to the colour of his rough skin and its incessant honing was more annoying than Punkin's night time ramblings.
"What is that thing," Punkin pointed to the amulet, "It looks really cool. I bet I could get a cool ten thousand golds for that baby…"
"NO!" screamed Meris.
"It was a joke…sorry."
"I…I…It was one of my mother most prized possessions, she'd fend it off with her life,"
"Why is it here and not on her than. Aren't amulets meant to be worn. I know that you are not up to date with the latest fashion trends but that's what they where invited for," Punkin teased as she nudged him with her butt on his thigh.
"SHE DID!" Meris screamed as he grabbed the amulet and looked up at it. It looked harmless what was so special about it that it was always on her and why wasn't it on her now. Did this involve her death in some way. No, the clerics said she died of old age. She was well over six hundred years of age so he guess that she may have but now he was questioning it. Why? A piece of woman's jewelry. It didn't make much sense to question one of Moonbow's cleric and go against everything his mother had ever taught him.
Punkin grabbed his arm and drew him close to her starring into his purple eyes. She was always mystified the color purple, the hue of royalty, and he was all purple so of course she loved all of him…even the parts that she hasn't seen just yet.
"MERIS!" a loud familiar voice breeched the moment, something always did.
Punkin ran to the door and ripped it open as she said, "Are all elves this inhospitable?"
The motionless statue of Chaim stood at hand, staring blankly at the petite bard that was still garbed in her velvety violet shin length dress.
"In most civilized societies we wear black to funerals, dear," the six foot tall muscular figure attempted force his way into the bare boned house.
Punkin shielded his path with a quick side step and said, "In most civilized societies people aren't run off because of their looks."
"So this Neverwinter takes in all kinds of abominations…"
"'Cept your kind." Punkin spat and closed the door as Meris approached the two of them.
Meris peered down upon a grinning Punkin as he said, "You promised to behave yourself," and then smiled ever so slightly.
Punkin ran her fingers through her hair again and smiled maliciously, "But, Meris, I didn't start it."
Meris touched her silky blonde curls and opened the door and looked at an anger blacksmith, "I very sorry about all this. My ah… friend hasn't felt very welcomed. I apologize."
"Mind your manners, demon. I've come for reasons other than apologies. Devil-child, I know you've done something that killed your mother…"
"What the hell are you talking about!" Punkin screamed as she squeezed in between the pair of behemoths.
"She had a small curse on her. It was very faint and couldn't be noticed by any of clerics but one of her friends, Delileah Moonwright picked it up during the funeral. I knew you did it, Beast!"
"He didn't have anything to do with it. He's been with me and a Paladin of Tyr for the last three months studying Neverwinter. His whereabouts are always closely guarded in case somebody tries to pin something on him," Punkin said as she put a gangling finger into the heart of his chest.
"Remove your finger or I'll remove it for you,"
"Than do it, boy," she said and he reached for her finger staring into her eyes without blinking.
As he made contact with her finger, the blacksmith felt something on his shoulder and looked up to see the colossal fist of Meris hurling toward his face. Chaim closed his eyes bracing himself for the impact of the assault but it never came and as he revealed his eyes he was met with the colossal five fingers of the demon child.
"If you ever try to lay another finger on her, I swear that you'll live to regret it and I do mean live…if what becomes of you would be considered living," Meris gently removed the finger from Punkin and looked undeviatedly at the face of Chaim, "I loved my mother with all my heart and everyone knew it. I will find out what happened to her, especially with all the resources I have back in Neverwinter. My friend Amberlee Alagondar, Paladin of Tyr is on her way here. She'll gather all the information we need to find out what happened to my mother. Now leave me be, anyway I think I hear a kobold eating your baby," Meris said as he slammed door and murmured, "Moribund."
XOXOXO The Hardest Part…Is Always Adidos
Amberlee arrived right on schedule, as usual. Her long black hair flutter in the wind and her brilliant blue eyes captured every ray for the sun. She was a good six inches taller than her bard best friend though she was three years younger. They prepared their possessions, loaded them and entered the horse drawn coach. Amberlee seemed quieter than usual. But she livened up after she was told that she would be given an opportunity to investigate Meris' mother corpse. In most circumstances Meris would be the person that would enjoy cadaver diving but curses were Amberlee's specialty. Punkin never cared for either, she hoped that she'd get an opportunity to sneak around gathering information about the corrupt person responsible or maybe even getting involved in a colossal fight with an army of undead fiends…
"It's a curse," Amberlee informed her two friends.
"Okay…" Punkin said half rolling her eyes, "Anything pertinent ?"
"Pretty what?" Amberlee eyebrows clamped together.
"More specifics, babe," Punkin shook her head at the paladins lack of intelligence.
"It seems to be tiny in terms of outward responses. No decrease in ability functions or anything of the sort but it seems more like a internal curse maybe it slowly sap her energy. It probably manifested over a long period of time, I'd be guessing from the power I'm feeling that it took a several years to do its deed."
"Any idea of it's origin."
"It's definitely demonic, I swear my sword on it. It's not from this plane. If were necromancer I'd be enthralled…it's really scary looking." Amberlee said and looked over at Meris.
"So it was hard to remove." Meris asked as he moved closer to Amberlee.
"I couldn't remove it." Amberlee said.
"What!" Punkin exclaimed.
Amberlee pointed her finger in the air and said, "That's what I was saying. It's some sort of combo curse…it's linked to someone or something and if we don't find out what I'd be guessing that it will be coming after more people, if it has already."
Then arrived the blacksmith along with half of the townsfolk, which mostly was consisted of merchants and tradesmen but they seemed well armed, "Have I given you permission to dig up this grave, boy."
Punkin jumped up, startled and said, "I think the commerce's meeting is at the other end of the graveyard, boys."
"Quiet child," Chaim said as he brushed passed her quickly and made his way to Meris, "You are not the authority here. I don't know how things work in Neverwinter but here you need permission to dig up the graves of others."
"So if this was my grave it would be alright," Meris remarked.
"I see you've developed a smart mouth." Chaim said.
"And you seemed to have developed a backbone…a weak one but one nonetheless. My mother's grave is my property…"
"You've sold all your property to the town remember…"
"It's still mine until sun down, remember. I maybe be of demonic blood but I know my rights." Meris said.
"You have no tie to us, you have no rights here…"
"Is that your attempt at a threat on my life…"
"If that's how you want to take it…"
"Than make your move, morge," Meris said and held his chin straight into the air.
"Leave monster, or we'll force you to do so."
"Why do you wish for us to leave so hastily Mr. Smythe," Amberlee asked as she slyly stepped in between the combatants.
"I don't wish for you to leave but this demon will only attract more like him here to our peacefully village…I'm only doing what is best for the entire town, Lady Amberlee,"
"So your reputation has reached this far, huh," Punkin asked a bit jealous of her 15 year old companion.
"And you are?" Asked Chaim.
"Punkin Capernun, Bard Extraordinaire. A master of all tales of Faerun and if I might say so myself, the greatest rapier wielder in the land as well." Punkin held her hand out a purple gloved hand to the elf.
"You sure have the talkative nature of a bard…"
"And you have the smell of a blacksmith." Punkin replied.
"Do they teach manners at this Academy?"
"Yeah, but I took the course pass/ fail," Punkin jested.
Chaim rolled his eyes and looked at Amberlee, "So what have you found out about this curse."
"I can't remove it…" Amberlee spoke softly and became interrupted.
"I know it is an association curse, Delileah told me. I hoped that having the boy here would release it but I guess he really didn't place it…"
"Meris," Amberlee looked over to the emotionless wizard, "He's too much of a sweetheart to do anything like that. Plus, I've been with him since like forever…"
"A year isn't forever," Punkin mocked.
"Well," Chaim continued, "We are capable of finding out what is wrong. You three need to head off. Your studies await you."
Meris really didn't like his tone of voice but he with held his rage knowing that he needed to show these people that he left here a boy that couldn't control his anger but now was man that could contain himself.
"No supper or nothing," Punkin joked as she ran across the graveyard and jumped into the carriage.
"It was truly a pleasure to see this village and the incredible lands around it. Thank you for allowing a mere Paladin apprentice to trespass onto it," Amberlee said as she shook his elven hand and followed Punkin to the cart.
There as the sun's rays beat down on the scenery, stood Meris and Chaim staring into one another's eyes awaiting the other's first move. Tactically, Meris motioned his index and middle finger to the center of his forehead and gently bowed keeping his eyes on the face of Chaim.
"For a demon child, you are well mannered-farthewell" Chaim said as he turned and walked away returning to the disappointed mob. Meris blew out a sigh of relief, he'd had a terrible feeling about coming here but never thought that it was because the locals would want him dead. But he was a force of evil after all and maybe his time in the lax atmosphere of the Neverwinter Academy he had forgotten that people only saw him by his horns. Meris looked into the coach that was bouncing from side to side from the apparent antics of his little Punkin. He walked over and joined the entertainment.