Blackburn's Crossing Chapter 4: Snake Eater

Status
Not open for further replies.
With Peri's net and some extra rations in his pack, Bernard wandered his way over to Reginauld's curio shop. Taking a quick look through the displays, he decided to pick up a small trinket, a rabbit's foot which Reginauld claimed would bring him good luck. "Good, I could use some of that lately." Bernard also collected two health potions and paid Reginauld a total five hundred gold pieces. After thanking him, Bernard rode Durendal back to Marsh House to meet with the others.
 
Wincing slightly from a few misplaced notes, Kallisto watched the leaves shift and create a barrier. She nodded as Arissa spoke, sounding slightly warbled through the strange formation. At first she placed her hand on it, finding resistance, then she leaned on it, trying to force her way through -- still couldn't get in.

Turning to face the weird green barrier, she locked eyes with Arissa for a moment as she raised both her hands in fists before slamming them down on the barrier. The force of the blow came back through her arms, her hands slightly numb before she did it again, slamming down towards the barrier. She pulled back, her hands curled slightly from the pain before she swiped across the barrier, claws not finding any purchase in the strange material.

Kallisto crossed her arms as she leaned against the barrier from the outside, looking towards Arissa, "... I think it'll work."
 
Arissa smiled as she saw that the bubble withstood Kallisto’s assault, although she winced a bit seeing the impact. She approached the wall of the barrier and cautiously put out a hand to test the spell. She let out a sigh of relief and grinned to Kallisto. “It seems to be working well enough, although perhaps the spell could be stronger if it had been better rehearsed. Thank you for the assistance.”

Arissa hesitated for a moment before passing through the barrier, which immediately dispersed into a pile of leaves that faded as they reached the ground. She glanced at Kallisto’s clawed hand. “I hope that it was not too painful... if I am to be frank, I had expected you to use a weapon of some sort“ She then smiled to Kallisto. “I should have known you would take a hands on approach, ja?”

Arissa glanced over to Léone and raised an eyebrow. She has hardly reacted to anything at all since arriving... something is wrong. I will have to speak with her soon... I pray it is not like the last time. Arissa then put on a smile to her two friends. “Well, now that that business has been handled, I do not believe there is anything preventing me from leaving once the others have gathered. Any new calamity that I have not yet heard of?”
 
Rubbing her hand from the numbness that was still working its way through her arms, Kallisto shrugged. "The only weapons I have with me are definitely not the type to be used in a house. My greataxe and the large crossbow -- many things could go wrong. A fist, at least, would just be a bruise."

Returning to Aluc, she sat, "Dunno, depends on what you've heard. Seems the Crossing can't make it a day without something else happening lately."
 
Léone sat there on the couch idly flipping through her spellbook, lost in thought and barely reacting to the scene taking place in front of her. She'd managed to distract herself earlier by walking around town and gathering supplies, but sitting idly in the Marsh house had given her mind free reign to wander and worry about all of the implications of her still-too-recent discovery, no matter how far-fetched they were.

"Why were his memories changed in the first place? Did this happen to other people in Darkon? How many years had he spent as the 'other' James? Did his parents know about it? Were they involved, did they strike a deal with Azalin? The Wizard-King must have wanted the memory to react like that on purpose... did he expect me specifically to discover it or someone else? And why? What did he even expect me to do with this knowledge? What'll happen when the modification is lifted? What hidden memories or secrets would he uncover? Would the two streams of thought still be there - except with him aware of it? Would the personalities clash? If so, which one would win out...?"

She snaps back to reality as Arissa addresses her and Kallisto, asking about any recent calamities. Glancing briefly at the two of them, she mulls it over a bit. "It's not an immediate emergency, I suppose... it can wait a few days, right? Until after the serpent and the book? He's been fine up until now..." Turning back to Arissa she forces a small chuckle. "Sorry, I spaced out a bit. The manor hasn't gone up in flames since the last time I checked, if that's what you're asking." Faltering in her expression, she sighs internally and glances up into Arissa's eyes, sending a small mental message. "I'm fine, really. Maybe we can catch up on the way." She flashes another smile and turns back to her spellbook, trying not to make a big deal of it.
 
Bernard finally returned to Marsh House, his many tasks for the day completed. He dismounted Durendal, thanking him for the work he'd done in recent days and promising apples when he returned. As Durendal retreated along to the back of the house with his hay, Bernard entered his family's home. He took a deep breath and smiled, looking around. I'm not excited to leave again, but we're not going far and we'll be back soon enough. It's not like last time.

After a moment he set his maul down in the corner. Then removing his signet ring he studied it carefully. "Subcinctus." The simple ring turned to a replica of his own signet which he placed on his ring finger. His own ring he palmed and entered the living room where Kallisto, Arissa, and Leone hand gathered. "Good afternoon ladies." He said as he approached Arissa, awkwardly placing his hand in her pocket, dropping the ring inside as he leaned in to kiss her. "Are we all ready to go? I've got some extra rations for the trip and I've settled everything I needed to in town." He smiled at Arissa as he took a seat in Ferrin's chair.
 
Arissa smiled between her friends and was about to respond when she heard a whispered voice near her ear. She flinched slightly but quickly recovered as she recognized it as Léone. “Anything that you need, I am here. Also, I would appreciate a warning next ti-“ Arissa felt the spell fade, but she met Léone’s eyes and nodded to her briefly before smiling to Kallisto. “There is actually something that I was curious if you could offer a hand in. Apparently, Violette offered Bernard’s assistance in helping out the seamstress, Sereal’s daughter, Lora in exchange for a favor on my behalf. I believe that Bernard has dealt with enough struggles, and was hoping to handle it without further burdening him. As an official guardswoman of Blackburn’s Crossing, would you be willing to aid me in this task upon our return?”

Arissa did not notice Bernard enter the room, and turned in surprise as he greeted them. She beamed up at him happily as he approached and kissed her, taking little notice of his awkward hand placement. “Goedenmiddag, Bernard. I pray that it was not I that drove you away earlier today, ja? It is quite alright, however. I would say that the rest of my morning was... well spent. I managed to get some rest before we slogged through the swamps once more, so that is a small mercy.” Arissa walked over to the door where she had tossed Yorgi to the side the night before, and picked the blade up, affixing it to her side. Ignoring his usual greetings, she returned to the room and took a seat nearby Bernard’s and took his hand, smiling at him.
 
"You could never drive me away, I was simply caught up in my thoughts. As Leone and Kallisto know, we have solved the case. Whatever took Maria's place all those years ago now resides in Heather's body and left Maria's dead in the forge, to give you the short version. Mostly it was Maria's handwriting in Heather's journal which made it clear, thanks again Leone." Bernard shifted in his seat to more easily hold Arissa's hand. "So, what gossip did I interrupt? Was Kallisto just confessing her secret and forbidden love? Do not worry, I am honor-bound to keep quiet in the face of confession, as long as you accept Ezra into your life." He jests before filling the room with a hearty chuckle.
 
Marsh House:

Violette having found Peri and Yelcan at the Roaring Rapids began to bring them back but not before asking them if they had fun on they're little 'getaway.' Upon arriving at the Marsh House hold she briefly glanced around as a few people still looking at the house but brushed it off as nothing, she walks up to the door holding it open for Peri and Yelcan before following in herself. "Alright, looks like everyone's here. So whats the plan?"
 
Fourth Watch, Night One of the Snake Hunt

As pain shoots through the paladin's mind and the strange woman calls out a name, his eyes dart around, searching the darkness for somewhere safe. Seeing the opaque globe, he moves cautiously toward it, his attention consumed by the man and woman as he begins seeking safety and comfort. Stumbling into the orb, he collapses to his knees, clutching his head, and sobbing in pain.
 
Swamplands:

The travel through the day had been peaceful. Throughout the day everything seemed to go fine, as everyone bunked down for the night. Arissa put up a protective orb, and everyone bedded down for the night. It was peaceful, and a safe place. Where you knew nothing could harm you... and a scream pierces the air of the night jolting many of you instantly awake. Violette moves forward cursing as Bernard retreats. "Whoever the fuck you are, you picked the wrong person to fuck with 'Jared'" she says as he comes forward pressing her quick reactions. She thrusts, causing the man to leap to the side, but he was too slow. Another thrust caught him in the hip, and she quick jerked with a yank, thrust straight into the man's heart. Suddenly she felt a rush through her head and screamed out herself as the man pulled back bleeding from his wounds, before running off into the night....

Her white hair hung over hear head as she held tightly to her sword and the side of her head. Something painful, ached in her head. As she looked up she noticed her nose was bleeding and wiped it from her mouth before standing up unsteadily. She looked around desperately for a moment, as if unsure what to do.
 
Arissa’s eyes flutter open and she is unable to immediately register the cause. She blinks bleary eyed for a moment before her eyes fall on Bernard in pain and sobbing in the center of the hut, blood pouring from his nose. “Bernard!” Arissa immediately ran to him, pressing her hands against his face and forcing all of her healing might into him. She looks at him, tears in her eyes. “Bernard... I cannot lose you as well! I will not!” Arissa wrapped her arms around Bernard, terrified of what could have happened to him.
 
Hearing the scream, Kallisto rose quickly -- her hands grasped around the axe in a strange reflex almost. Her eyes darted around -- the shifting gaze slightly out of control from just waking up, it was difficult to keep track of where she was looking.

Shaking her head she glanced down at Bernard with a confused expression, following Perian out of the hut towards Violette.

As the pair approached, Violette swung her weapon towards them, "Who are you ... stay back..."

Kallisto placed her weapon in her holster, placing her hands in front of her with her palms up -- reminded of animals she'd dealt with who were panicked. Slowly she approached and spoke softly, "Violette ... we're your friends. It's alright, you've been injured -- we want to help if we can. You offered your help to us, remember?"
 
Swamplands:

"I-I don't know you..... stay back!" she says stepping back until her back hits a tree and she turns for a moment as if to attack it for a moment before swiftly turning back to face you. "Where am I!" yells Violette clearly confused with her current surroundings and agitated. "How many of there are you in there, huh!? Just stay back.... I'm warning you. This blade's tipped with poison that could fell an Ox."
 
As people move and shout around him, the paladin continues to hold his head. As the woman with metallic hair touches his face he tries to scramble backwards, reaching for his spear as he fell backwards. The armor was awkward, he didn't seem comfortable in it. Using the spear to help himself up, he holds it in front of him. "You stay back... stay... back..." His eyes seemed lost, but he wielded the spear like a man who knew how to use it. The pain still overwhelming, and the people seeming to help, he dropped the tip of the spear slightly. "I... I am Bernard?" His breathing labored, he watched the people surrounding him trying to grasp the situation.
 
Kallisto stepped forward again slowly, a hurt expression on her face, "We're in the swamps ... outside Blackburn's Crossing. There's a few others in the weird orb thing -- others you traveled out here with. You know me -- you told me that blade is only enchanted to keep from being dull, please ... I know I look scary, but I am here to help you..."
 
Arissa fought back her tears at hearing that Bernard didn’t recognize her, recalling what Léone had said about James earlier. She approached Bernard slowly, gently pushing away the point of his spear as she spoke to him calmly, weaving healing magic further into her words. “Yes.. yes, you are Bernard, and no, I will not stay back. I am here to help you, Bernard, forever and always.” She slowly continued to approach him before placing a hand on his cheek and holding up her other hand with the signet ring as well as the one he had given her. ”We complete each other... please, Bernard, allow me to make you whole again.”
 
Peri awoken abruptly sees Arissa go after an injured Bernard, trusting her with him she rushes out followed by Kallisto to assist Violette. As she reacts negatively to their presence Peri tried to help Kallisto persuade her to listen to them.

Seeing the fear still on Violette’s face and the lack of recognition she clasps her hands together. “Do you even know who you are?” As this thought dawns on her also comes the worry that Bernard is in the same state. “No” she whispers looking back to Violette hopeful.
 
Yelcan is up at the same time as the rest of them, and he looks back and forth between the two groups of people. Yelcan sees Violette backing out of the protective dome and then sees Peri and Kallisto run out after her. With just a quick glance back at Bernard and Arissa, Yelcan follows them outside of the dome.

Yelcan keeps both hands raised and moving them ever so slightly in a circular pattern, he layers his voice with Oberon's magic, attempting to calm the scared woman into resting. "Violette, listen to us. I know that you are very confused right now, but no one here is going to hurt you. Why don't you come back inside this protective bubble so we can talk about this?" As his words fell silent, Yelcan cursed internally as he saw she was still standing, seemingly unaffected by the spell. He continued to keep his arms raised in a non threatening way in hopes that she could be coaxed back inside so they could figure out what happened to her.
 
Swamplands:

As Kallisto keeps moving steadily closer she continues to move backwards. "I told you to stay back..." says Violette carefully placing her feet not to loose her balance. As Perian begins to speak she thinks for a moment, "I.... I remember... Pur..." she starts to think but immediately is interrupted by Yelcan coming out and casting at her. For a moment it looks like she is about to swoon, but she shakes herself off of it and immediately runs back thirty feet behind another tree breaking line of sight. "Last warning filthy Slavers!" she says her voice coming from behind the tree.
 
As the one who healed him approaches the struggles to keep his spear leveled allowing her to push it away. Her voice soothed his pain and his mind, but he could not place her face. As her hand touched his face he began to withdraw, but she spoke in a beautiful language and he hesitated, staying with her. "I... don't know you?" Bernard did not seem convinced of his own words, his confusion seemingly ever-present. He looked into her strange violet eyes. Gods her eyes are beautiful. How could she complete me if I do not even know her name? "If I am Bernard, what do they call you?" He calmed slightly, dropping his spear. "Where are we and who are they?"
 
Arissa began to smile slightly as Bernard responded in celestial, and tears welled up in her eyes. “They call me Arissa, Bernard. We are in the swamp lands near the town of Blackburn’s Crossing, the place where you were born and raised, and now serve as the head of the church of the goddess Ezra. Those people are our friends and family. There is your sister, Perian Cherricola Marsh, the most pure hearted individual I have ever had the pleasure of knowing... Stalwart Kallisto, whose strength of body is only matched by her strength of heart... Léone, one of the brightest minds in all of the lands and truest of friends as well... And Yelcan, the most...” Arissa pauses to think for a moment before laughing slightly despite herself. “To be frank, I am not certain that you think much of him, but he is a good man and a loyal friend. We have been through hell and back together and come out stronger despite it all... Surely there must be something of that left, ja?” Arissa desperately searched Bernard’s eyes for any sign of recognition.
 
Bernard's expression was blank, "No... I am... " He paused searching his mind, but he didn't know what he did or where he was from. "I am Bernard. And this is a swamp. You are Arissa." He smiles, for a moment. "You are gorgeous and talented. I am lucky to have you as a friend, but why was I hurt? What is this pain? What did that man do and who was that woman that stabbed that man?" A bit more calm, he was still obviously confused, but he had questions. His mind was blank and each question, he hoped, might fill a gap or make sense of things. It didn't seem to be working. "I have a sister? Peri...an?" He looks out of the hut to the others. "They're fighting that woman! She helped me! I have to go save her." He turned toward the combat but lingered with Arissa's hand still on his cheek. Conflict in his mind and on his face. "If they are my friends why would they hurt her?" He shouted out towards the others, "STOP IT! YOU'LL HURT HER! SHE'S MY FRIEND!"
 
Arissa smiles brightly to Bernard as he complimented her and giggled for a moment. “I appreciate the compliments. I wish I knew the answers to all of your questions, but unfortunately I could not tell you. I was asleep before you awoke me with your arrival.”

Arissa then followed Bernard’s gaze over to the conflict in the woods as the party attempted to restrain Violette. “The woman who aided you is Violette Reiner. She is another of our companions, but I fear that what has happened to you has affected her as well. I am afraid that she is also far less gentle of heart and likely is the one who landed the first blow, but she is a good person deep down.”

Arissa then gently turned Bernard back to face her. “I promise you, we will help her soon. First, there is something I need to correct. I am not just your friend. I am the woman you love, and who loves you back with all of her heart, and you, Bernard Hathoway, will remember me.” Arissa leaned in, kissing Bernard deeply for a long moment as she tried to channel fey magic into him to force out whatever spell seemed to be affecting him. She pulled away, and felt her heart drop as she saw a continued lack of recognition. She whispered to herself as tears began to run down her cheeks. “No... no it cannot be... I... I was supposed to fix you... to make you whole...” Thoughts flew through her mind of what this could be, but whatever it was it was far beyond her power to fix.
 
Bernard looked to Violette and then to Arissa, a deep pain in his eyes. "If she is... like me... then she is alone, lost, scared. Pain doesn't fix those things. They should stop hurting her. They won't help anything." Bernard looked at the fighting with deep concern. When Arissa kissed him he didn't return the kiss, he seemed surprised and confused, it felt foreign and uncertain. "There is no time for this now! Call off your friends and let me save mine!" He turned and bolted toward the commotion.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 3 (members: 0, guests: 3)
Back
Top