9:30 Drakonis 3rd
Darkspawn came out in droves from the homes. A Hurlock emissary was among them with genlock bodyguards to boot. Hurlocks were plentiful as usual and they were the first ones that went on to attack us. Talen did a few sigils of protection for us before focusing on trying to get to the emissary with a few fire clicks of his staff. Leliana kept to the back, being our eyes behind our head. Alistair was our front man with Zevran and I at his sides.
Alistair rammed and kept his shield up. Those that went past him had to get through Zevran and I. Zevran had more finesse than I when it came to wielding his daggers. The way he zipped through the Hurlocks and his footwork allowed him to barely get any blood on him. That prideful look on his face made me want to smack him. I wasn't like that at all. With my medium armor on and my knuckles, the first thing I always did was put those knuckles on their faces. I usually had my right hand with the knuckles and my left with the blade.
I was a bloody mess by the time we got through the first wave of Hurlocks. By the time the last one fell, the emissary sent out an odd green fireball with the genlocks charging at us. Talen did a wave of a barrier around us as he joined our group. Alistair met with two genlocks while Zevran and I went for the other one. The emissary focused on Talen as they traded spells with each other. Talen had the upper hand at having a barrier constantly up but that took away his concentration from making a super fireball that would knock the emissary on its ass. Then the lovely Leliana showed her precision skills at taking out the eyeballs out of the genlock we were fighting, shooting a Genlock in between the eye balls, and making a pincushion out of the emissary that screeched at a few of her arrows.
When I looked back at her, I noticed that she had a vial of some sort of purplish liquid. Deathroot, from concentrate no doubt. When she had time to do that, I had no idea but I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Poison was a definite rogue tactic. Zevran had dealt quick but deadly cuts on our genlock while I had pushed in the arrow from one eye into the other. It squelched and the darkspawn roared in pain before I did a mean right hook and stabbed it underneath its chin and up into its head. Alistair had taken one genlock down but had taken some damage. His head was bleeding from a cut on his eyebrow that was bleeding heavily and he had trouble keeping the blood from obscuring his eyesight. Zevran had sneaked up on the genlock and stabbed both of his daggers into the back of it before jumping away. He sidestepped from a blow and plowed his daggers again on the weak ribcage. I came in and kicked the genlock in the face followed by a deep stab into the side of its head.
By the time we were going to help Talen with the emissary, he had already gathered enough ambient mana around him to finally conjure up a decent sized fireball. He aimed it at the emissary and it got knocked to the ground. As it was charging a counter spell, Alistair came up, used his templar abilities to dispel it, and stabbed downward on its head. The emissary did a death twitch before becoming completely still. I took a deep breath and let it out, letting my body relax after the battle. It was getting easier though killing darkspawn was always easier than human enemies. The fact that I know what to do and was getting better made things move smoother.
"The place is clear, for now. I feel more darkspawn but underground. For some reason they're not coming up to attack us." Talen said, coming over and doing a quick healing spell on Alistair.
"Oh that feels better." Alistair grunted, no longer having a pained expression.
"Take a potion to ease away the hurt, otherwise you're going to wake up with bad bruises tomorrow." Talen suggested. Leliana came over to meet with us and we traveled further into the village. Many of the homes were creaking and crackling with the fire. Two homes collapsed while we walked and we found a cobblestone pathway leading into the center of the village.
That's where we found Shale. She was standing in the middle of a garden, a basket filled with seeds near her, a few pigeons flew away as we got closer. I have to say that she was a mess. She had bird crap all over herself and all matter of gunk surrounded her. I guess the fact the villagers didn't want to get near her was an understatement, she really needed cleaning. Talen came up and looked her over.
"I thought golems were…taller." Talen pouted.
"Well we have the golem. Use the control rod my friend." Zevran suggested and Talen nodded. He brought it out of his robes and touched the golem.
"Dulefgar." He said but nothing happened. Not even a twitch from Shale.
"Hmph, it seems that rod is nothing but a stick." Zevran shrugged. Talen scowled.
"Whatever, we came, we saw, we got nothing. Let's go find those darkspawn that don't want to fight us." Talen stomped away.
"We had hope but it was always a small chance." Leliana sighed. We followed Talen toward a cellar entrance. We went in and followed the stairs down and we found the rest of the villagers. A purplish barrier was erected between the villagers and the darkspawn. Most of the darkspawn were trying to force through it but to no avail. Once they sensed Talen and Alistair, however, they stopped banging on the magical barrier and went for us. They were led by a Hurlock Alpha which Alistair gladly faced himself.
Talen cast a protect barrier around him and Leliana while Zevran and I jumped the last steps to get to the darkspawn. We made short work with the few Hurlocks that were around. It sucked fighting in such a small space. Talen couldn't use any of his big spells. He, instead, relied on his wisps of flames coming from his staff. They can never miss so long as he has a target. The Hurlocks weakened with the fire which allowed Zevran and I to kill the rest. The Alpha was keeping Alistair preoccupied and Alistair moved slower since he didn't take the potion after he was healed.
Zevran and I positioned ourselves behind the Alpha, missing a swing from its large axe. I jumped up and plunged my daggers into its back while Zevran focused on his lower back area that was uncovered. Zevran stabbed multiple times while my good grip allowed me to churn my blades around its back before we both jumped back. It focused its attention on us but had its back to Alistair who used that to stab right through its chest. The Alpha slumped onto the floor. The villagers, that were screaming and crying throughout it all, clapped as we approached the magical barrier.
"Thank the Maker you were here." A woman said as a few others shared their thanks as well.
"Were you sent by the Bann to save us?" A man asked. Talen and Alistair looked at each other.
"Actually we were only in passing my good man. This was merely a coincidence though a nice one considering your circumstances." Alistair chuckled sheepishly.
"We're Grey Wardens and it's our job to kill darkspawn. You're welcome by the way." Talen said brusquely.
"Thank the Maker for our good fortune then but if you weren't sent by someone, why have you come into our village if you don't mind me asking?" The man asked.
"We got a control rod from someone down the road and came here to recover the golem that you guys have up front." Talen explained.
"A control rod…?" He sighed. "Then that means you came here looking for Shale." He shook his head. I put up his hands and the magical barrier lost its solid state. The villagers behind him ran out.
"Go to Redcliffe, it's safe there." Talen said as they ran past us.
"Apostate." Alistair whispered before I elbowed him in the ribs that hurt. He coughed before the man signaled us forward. Talen put his hands on the barrier that still managed to remain though its power has gone down. I saw that sparkle in his eyes before he passed through as did the rest of us.
"That damn golem has brought my family nothing but trouble. My mother sold off its control rod years ago after it killed my father. I thought that was the end of that but apparently not." He looked at the rod that Talen took out with disdain.
"Your father? I'm guessing he was a mage then?" Talen asked.
"Yes. My name is Matthias and my father's name was Wilhelm. A mage to the arls of Redcliffe, a hero in the war against Orlais, and what did he get? A defective golem that almost tore him apart. My mother found him outside of the tower, all of his bones broken and his body barely recognizable. Shale stood over him just like it is now. My father deserved better but if you really want to wake Shale up…then it's yours now." He scoffed.
"But we used the command that was supposed to wake it up but nothing happened." Talen said.
"Then my mother must have passed the wrong command when she sold it. She never wanted to see Shale activated again. I am willing to give you the phrase but I need your help first." Matthias asked.
"I'm listening." Talen nodded.
"I know you have already saved my life and the lives of the villagers, I am truly grateful for that, but my daughter, Amalia, ran further inside, towards the laboratory. She was afraid and ran too far before I could stop her. I have no idea how she was able to get through the laboratory's defenses. I tried to send one of the men out but he was killed. Please, could you find her and get her out?" Matthias asked.
"We won't abandon a child." Leliana said.
"Well said." Alistair nodded.
"We'll find her." Talen agreed.
"Thank the Maker! My father's laboratory is just past the next area, she has to be there! I will wait here until you all have returned." Matthias said and we followed Talen toward the passageway that was carved out. It was carved extremely narrow to where we had to go in single file. After passing that, we found a carved out cavern, small and musty.
"No one has gone through here for a while." I said, feeling the cold of the underground go through my armor.
"Well since one guy has died already, I'm sure that no one else wanted to go through here in the first place." Alistair said.
"Still let us be off and find this child no? The cold of the underground is not at all pleasant." Zevran shivered slightly.
We continued forward past a doorway where we saw another cavern filled with empty bookcases and a desk at the far wall. The wood was rotting away, some cases had already fallen apart. There were no other books but it looked like one was still at the desk. We walked and Talen saw the next passage when four shades came from the walls. These were the defenses that Matthias was talking. Talen cloaked us in a barrier as the shades came closer. Alistair got one through some slashes and a shield bash. I evaded one, did a stab as well as a slice on its back. It reared back and I dodged its slash into the wall. It tried slashing at me again but I evaded, did a kick on its face before stabbing on its one good eye.
Talen made a ring of fire appear around him and Leliana. She used the confusion to shoot one in the eye and stab an arrow into another that got too close. Zevran finished off the last one with quick stabs and cuts.
"Do you think she might still be alive? I doubt a single girl would be able to get through here." Zevran wondered.
"Well her grandfather was a mage, her dad is a mage, maybe she's one too. You never know." I said.
"We'll know for sure the further we go in." Talen said. We followed another tight passageway that had a few crystals on the rocks. I saw Leliana's eyes light up at that. We walked along a very rickety path and found ourselves crossing another magical barrier. We saw Amalia kneeling in front of a cat, cooing at it.
"You're so pretty kitty. I can't wait to take you home." Amalia said while the cat looked at her, its tail swishing to and fro.
"Amalia? You're Matthias daughter right?" Talen said.
"Oh! Someone's come to play! Are you going to stay here and play with us? We're playing a guessing game." Amalia said.
"Um we're not here to play. We're here to get you back to your father." Alistair mentioned.
"You can tell father I'm fine. Maybe he can come here and stay and play with us! Since you're not here to play then you can leave, kitty finds you distracting." She explained.
"The cat finds us distracting?" Zevran chuckled.
"We need to go Amalia, your father is worried sick." Leliana said.
"I can't go! If I go then kitty will be lonely!" Amalia cried out.
"You're so kind Amalia. I would miss you terribly if you left." The cat said. We all looked at each other.
"A talking cat? You can scratch that off my 'This isn't real' list." Talen said.
"Talking is simple enough." The cat said.
"That is not a cat." Leliana glared.
"I am a cat. Really." The cat deadpanned. The cat licked its paws. "Nothing you can say will convince Amalia to go with you. She loves only me now. I am her friend while you are merely a stranger."
"We need the girl." Talen said.
"Then we are at an impasse. Allow me to offer a…compromise. Free me and let me take the girl. We shall return to her father and leave this place forever." The cat stretched.
"You're a demon who wants to possess an innocent girl, why do you think we should let you go?" Alistair's voice churned with anger.
"Such a crude way of putting it. I will not harm Amalia. I only merely want to experience this world through a human's eyes, is that so wrong?" The cat's eyes flickered. Alistair and Leliana's faces were both of stern anger while Zevran seemed to be bored. Talen rubbed his chin.
"Ok I'll take down the barrier, what do I need to do?" Talen asked.
"Talen!" Alistair raised his voice but Talen kept his eyes on the cat.
"I am glad you have seen it my way. The magical barrier that the mage had enacted is the only thing keeping me here. The runes that have been inlaid on the ground are the items keeping it activated. The girl had no luck breaking through but perhaps you can break it." The cat explained.
"Yay! Kitty gets to go free!" Amalia clapped her hands. Leliana and Alistair looked at each other with worry.
"Talen isn't stupid guys, trust him." I said. Talen looked at me with a smirk and a wink. I'm pretty sure that he just lied to the demon. There's no way he would let it go out and possess Amalia. We stood by while Talen moved the runes one by one with commentary from Amalia, all about her precious 'kitty.' Talen was concentrated and finally finished connecting the runes. The barrier behind us dissipated and Talen came over to us.
"Yes! I can feel the barrier go down!" The cat reared its back.
"Kitty what's happening?" Amalia asked.
"Something wonderful my dear. Now, if you will let me take the girl…" The cat started and Amalia started to walk backward away from it.
"No!" She cried out.
"I said I would drop the barrier but I didn't agree to let you possess her." Talen said, taking out his staff.
"Betrayal!" The cat screeched as Amalia ran from us and away. The cat shed its disguise and a desire demon floated in its place. Talen immediately hit it with a fireball with Alistair coming in and dispelling the magic surrounding the demon. The desire demon screeched as she tried clawing Alistair. Leliana shot off a few arrows that hit directly on the chest. I was about to go with Zevran behind her before Alistair used his shield to bring her down and stabbed through the chest. The demon gurgled before sinking into demonic essence.
"Talen, you really convinced me!" Alistair laughed while slapping Talen on the back.
"Ow!" Talen rubbed his back and Leliana squeezed his shoulder.
"That was a fine deception." Leliana praised. Talen's face reddened slightly.
"It was nothing. Anyway, we should go and make sure Amalia is ok." Talen suggested. So we walked back to the cellar. We found a few shades on the way but they were easily taken care of. When they sank back into essence, there were crystals on the floor. Leliana looked at them with glee and gathered them up. Talen picked one up and hummed.
"Something wrong?" I asked.
"No just…these crystals seemed to have magical properties. Not likes runes but similar to them. They definitely have some element attached to them. Gather up all you can so I can run some experiments." Talen suggested and so we gathered up all the gleaming crystals away in our packs. We saw Matthias and Amalia up ahead, giving each other a hug.
"Oh I can't believe you brought her back safe and sound!" Matthias let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry I ran father, I was just so scared." Amalia said.
"It's ok now, it's all going to be ok. Now for the command phrase. Hold your control rod to Shale and say 'Dulen harn.' Here, as well, for the trouble." Matthias gave a pouch to Talen before exiting the cellar.
"Hm, coin." Talen threw the pouch before catching it and putting it in his pack. "Now, let's go see that golem!" Talen went up the stairs first.
"He's like a kid." Alistair chuckled.
"Well considering his age, he actually is a kid." I mentioned. "It's nice to see him act the way he should be, with fascination about magic and research, not just tearing his hair out with the Blight."
"I agree. The fact that he can still enjoy himself, even with the stress, is wonderful." Leliana said.
"Wonderful sure, what will be wonderful is the fact we are about to welcome a fully functional battering ram." Zevran laughed.
"How do you guys feel about this? I mean, golems are just things you can control right? Nothing more?" Alistair wondered.
"You are worried that these are sentient beings and we are essentially making them a slave yes?" Leliana asked.
"I've heard stories passed down from other dwarven Grey Wardens. Rumors about how golems were once people and this doesn't really sit well with me." Alistair groaned.
"Ah put on a smile my templar friend! You can always assume that these are just highly engineered pieces of dwarven smithing!" Zevran patted Alistair's arm.
"Not exactly the thing I wanted to hear…" Alistair mumbled.
"We'll just have to see and then make a decision." I said. We got out of the cellar and Talen was standing in front of Shale. I noticed that he poked the crystals that were already on Shale and has his thinking face on before we got there.
"Everyone ready?" He asked.
"Go ahead Talen." I nodded. Talen brought out the control rod and aimed it at Shale.
"Dulen harn." He recited. At first, nothing happen then the rock grinding started. Soon, Shale's arms started to move as well as her entire body. It almost looked like a person cracking their bones after being stiff, which is actually something I wouldn't put past her. She stomped her feet slight before rocking her head back and forth. The shining eyes and mouth was really weird and off putting. I'm sure I'll get used to it though. She took a deep breath before letting out a sigh.
"I knew one day would come when someone would find the control rod." Shale's voice slightly boomed and echoed. Talen actually stepped back, his eyes in a full on twinkle as he stared at her with awe. The rest of the group gave unbelieving looks while I slightly smirked. She looked Talen up and down. "And a mage this time, how droll. As if I hadn't had enough of those pestering experiments. Typical." I had to stifle a laugh. Oh I loved Shale and, hopefully, I'd be able to get her to call me 'she' instead of 'it!'
"Um…well…that was a good hello, I guess?" Talen looked at me with a confused face. I'm sure he's questioning 'Are they supposed to talk like this?' Well, Shale was special.
"Hmph, you cannot believe how long I stood in this spot while I watched the wretched little villagers scurry around me for, oh, so many, many years." Shale scoffed.
"Oh you terrible thing. That must have been…really, really boring." Leliana mentioned.
"And the villagers never knew they were being watched? Yes that is all sorts of creepy." Alistair mumbled.
"I was beginning to enjoy the quiet too." Shale looked around the destroyed village. "Tell me, are ALL the villagers dead?" Shale asked.
"Who would ask that?" Zevran laughed. Talen gave him a look.
"No, we saved a few." Talen said.
"Pity." Shale scoffed.
"So I'm sure you don't want to be called 'golem' all the time, do you have a name?" I asked.
"Perhaps though I might have forgotten through the years of only being called that. 'Golem, fetch me that chair.' 'Do be a good golem and squash that insipid bandit for me.' And let's not forget, 'Golem, pick me up, I tire of walking.'" Shale let out a disgruntled snort. I could tell that she would cross her arms if they weren't so big. "It does have the control rod, does it not? I am awake so…it…must…"
"Is something wrong?" Talen wondered.
"I see the control rod and yet I feel…Go on, order me to do something." Shale asked for it.
"Uh, ok. Golem, walk over there." Talen ordered.
"And…nothing? I feel nothing, no compulsion to carry out its command whatsoever. I suppose this must mean the rod is…broken?" Shale wondered. Talen ran his hand through his hair.
"I guess that means you should be happy about this right?" Talen asked.
"Well, if I can't be commanded then this means…I have free will, yes? Now begs the conundrum of what should I do? I have no memories beyond this village for so long. I have no real purpose…hmm…I find myself at a loss. What about it? I believe that it awoken me for some purpose, no? What did it intend to do with me?" Shale asked.
"I first came here to see if you were real at first. Now, with the way you are, I'm not actually sure." Talen shrugged.
"Wonderful." I imagined Shale rolling her eyes. "There are two options for me. I could always follow it…or maybe I can venture out beyond the village? I…can't even fathom what can be out there…"
"We can always welcome you into the group if you're not sure." Talen suggested.
"Are you sure about that? I mean, just look at the size of it!" Alistair breathed out.
"Alistair, are you seriously denying everyone a fricking golem?" I looked at him. "I can't even list all the pros of what's happening here and, believe me, there are a lot of them."
"Alright, alright." Alistair stood down.
"Then I will follow it, for the time being. I am called Shale, by the way." Shale introduced herself.
"Welcome Shale. Let's go guys, looks like we're going to have to camp out for the night before moving on to Redcliffe." Talen said since the sun was already setting. We walked out of the village with Shale trailing behind us. I tried not to look back because I knew that Shale hated to be prodded and looked at like a museum piece. I was so curious though and she was always one of my most favorite of characters too, that sass! That strength! That bluntness both literal and figurative!
I kept my giddiness down as we camped near a lake. Shale had taken to try to scrub out the grime and filth that had accumulated on her for years and having difficulty doing so. I still had some soap in my pack with the crystals that I picked up. I went toward Shale as I set up my cot. Shale looked at me with suspicion as I drew closer.
"Um I noticed that you were having difficulty washing your body. I have soap here and these crystals. I had a feeling they went with you." I said, feeling a stupid smile on my face.
"Ah, augmentation crystals? Fine, it may wash me as well as placing those crystals on my body. There are slots on my shoulder as well as my knuckles. It may place them, come on now, I want to shine from head to toe!" Shale said and I nodded my head. I lathered up the soap and, using a spare brush for Lily, started getting the grime off of Shale's body. I hummed softly while I washed her before I got everything off. Shale walked off more into the lake until she disappeared and then reappeared, the soap all washed off. It was weirdly reminiscent of a spa day for her with me as the spa lady. She showed me the slots and I put in the ones that I had. The large crystals that crackled, I put on her shoulders while the ones that resembled fire, I put on her knuckles.
"So? What does it think? They don't make me look any wider do they? I find myself wide enough as it is." Shale showed off her body.
"Oh no, they actually look very slimming." I nodded.
"It must have been the vertical positioning that it put them in. How could it have known? Must have been luck but, otherwise, a good sort of luck." Shale's body language was definitely one of happiness.
"We found more back in the cave. We all gathered them and I'm sure if you want more then we can put more." I offered.
"The large crystals it put in should be enough. I would love to glitter from ear to ear but I fear it may affect my fighting capabilities. Very well, that should be all." Shale went off and stomped near the trees around our camp. I went back to my cot with a big smile on my face. I don't care if I was wet, I was ecstatic.
"You are in a good mood mi niña. Is there something or someone that has made you that way?" Zevran said as he sat down next to me.
"Don't think it's you Zevran but…I'm going to admit, having Shale around is…really cool." I giggled and lightly touched my fingers.
"You and Talen are so weird." Alistair said, biting into some dry bread.
"I've always been weird." I shrugged. "I've just been more comfortable now so my weirdness is going to shine a bit more." I took out some of the smoked meat and squished bread. "Besides, being normal is overrated nowadays."
"I find that it's good you are more comfortable." Leliana said and I smiled at her.
"Oh Talen, Shale said that the crystals that we recovered from the lab are augmentation crystals. They seem to be attuned to her." I explained.
"Huh, interesting. Do you think I'd be able to ask her to test them out?" Talen wondered.
"Ehh…" I shook my head. "Give her some time to adjust to her surroundings before you go asking for stuff like that. I get the feeling she won't be warm to the idea."
"She's a golem that can talk. I don't think there's much she can complain about." Alistair mentioned.
"I believe we all just need rest and we should discuss our findings with the rest of our group in Redcliffe." Leliana said.
"I second that. Now, would anyone like to have a massage to relax them before-"
"Pass." I said, finishing off my food and sitting on my cot.
"No." Leliana denied.
"Don't even think about it." Alistair glared.
"If you want to get roasted…" Talen let that hang.
"Are all Fereldan's so squeamish with sex?" Zevran wondered.
"Good night Zevran."
9:30 Drakonis 4th
"I must say, seeing the squishy things look dead throughout the night was unnerving. I didn't know whether I should have crushed it to make sure it was alive." Shale regaled us on our sleeping habits. "Especially the mage and the heavily armored one. There was nonstop twitching, what is with the twitching?"
"We get nightmares ok? We twitch." Talen said.
"It is unnatural especially with the painted elf and its fleshy bit in the middle of its body." Shale mentioned.
"Ok that is personal information that I believe should not be shared." Zevran shot back.
"Yeah, way too much information." I rolled my eyes.
"After many years of watching those squishy villagers run about, I find it amusing that there are very little differences with other squishy things." Shale said.
"There are many differences from the villages. We know how to fight, I'm a mage, Alistair is a templar, the painted elf is an assassin, Leliana is a bard, and Nia is a bodyguard." Talen smirked at Zevran. He obviously liked the nickname that Shale put on him.
"Ah yes, the tiny one. There is something different about it." Shale said.
"Wait, are you referring to me?" I pointed at myself.
"Did I not make myself clear? The elves have always been tiny and frail creatures." Shale said.
"But I'm not an elf." I shook my head.
"Truly? I thought that its ears were taken. Then its human and a tiny one at that. Tell me, how does it even survive in battle?" Shale wondered.
"Sometimes through luck but mostly because I stab and smash my enemies." I said.
"To be able to live this long, I attribute its survival due to luck." Shale concluded. I had to fight the urge to laugh even if she was making fun of me.
"You are rather on the short side." Alistair chuckled.
"Short enough to hit where it hurts Alistair." I threatened and he gave a nervous chuckled. With Shale's various ramblings, we made it to Redcliffe by afternoon. What I wouldn't give for a clock. Eamon's recovery had already spread amongst the villagers. By the time we arrived, Eren had greeted us with a wide smile and a myrrh of amusement that I haven't seen since Highever.
"I'm glad you made it back safely and, with our extra friend, I'm sure that everything went well?" Eren said.
"I am guessing that this is its leader?" Shale looked unconvinced.
"That I am, unspoken of course. Your name is?" Eren asked.
"Shale, not that I need its own name. All you squishy ones are the same." Shale said, walking through the room. I heard a few screams from the cleaning ladies from outside. Eren laughed, actually laughed.
"Did something good happen?" I asked.
"More than that. Eamon is now on his feet proper but we found someone else traveling. They found my brother, Nia. They found Fergus!"
Beta'd by Syutaku
Oh boy, I got my work cut out for me now that I've introduced Shale. Sassiness abounds! I've always loved her character, all her ribbing and brutal honesty. Kinda reminds me of me when I get comfortable with a person though I'm more of the innocently insulting part. It seems I have a tone that makes others think I"m insulting them when I'm not really. Anyway, did you guys see the leak of information regarding the next DA game? It wasn't so much of a leak but more of some art designs and a mysterious cloaked, bearded, bald, figure hmmmm?
Chimera Spyke: I think more of the Guardian visit as a improntu therapy session. Of the few I've had, when you have your pains and your guilt thrust upon you, and then forgiven, it makes a difference. It's how I was about to go through my own demons. Besides, I wanted the group dynamic to come out stronger, especially before the Deep Roads because that will be different than what I wrote, hehe. Thank you for the congratulations :) They mean a lot.
Please Review!