Blackburn's Crossing Chapter 4: Snake Eater

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bernard shrugged and gave Leone a big grin, "You always have a choice Leon, but some more practical knowledge might serve us well." Bernard chuckled as he thought on his own choices and the ones Leone would soon have to make. Absentmindedly he stated, "I wonder what your knot will look like..." His statement trailed off with his thought as he looked around for Takatar who the Elder had told him of. Spotting the man he believed to be the one, he approached, "Good evening, are you Takatar? The Elder said we might..." He was interrupted by the man pointing to another explaining that Bernard had found the wrong tribes member. Giving Leone an embarrassed smile, he laughed, "Sorry, I don't know them any better than you do." He made an approach to the second gentleman, "Takatar, good evening. The Elder One said we might learn something of the Great Serpent from you. That you record the battles and might know of its strengths or deaths? We also seek knowledge of the trap which killed the Undying One's mate. If you know where we might find the mate's body or information on the trap, that would be of great aid."
 
Being in the camp as the others Gained knowledge of the tribes histories and other such swamp lore, Peri kept herself to the tent almost hidden from the tribe. There weren’t any bad memories from this place.

The people were kind as they had been before to her, but she felt uncomfortable and odd amongst them again much like at any such reunion. She didn’t know them though some may have been familiar. She remembered playing with children and Th kindness of the woman who found her.

Peri reverted back as the day went on to to quiet self in a place where she knew none of the language. She watched as Yelcan wandered about freely happy his curiosity still led him wherever he wished.

Curling up onto a bedroll as the evening grew on she curled herself up and ignoring the stories and feast until falling into restless sleep.
 
Arissa listened to Violette defend her actions without showing a hint of emotion before finally putting a hand on Violette’s shoulder and meeting her gaze. “I am sorry to hear the struggles of your people, and I have no doubt that the man deserved the fate that you had given him. Still, I believe it is our duty as those with the ability to help to be better than those we oppose. Despite all outward appearances, I have known far more than my fair share of suffering in life, but I am finally beginning to learn to not allow the past define who I am now.”

Arissa sighed for a moment before looking to Violette sadly. “I suppose I do owe you an apology, however. There were far too many uncertainties to make any decisions regarding who to trust with what information, and between your bias against the Falkovnians, justified as it may be, as well as your mysterious nature, you were not exactly high on the list of potential allies at the time.”Arissa took a deep breath, before smiling apologetically to Violette. “If I am to be honest, I am far more angry with myself than I am with you, and I apologize again for taking out that frustration on you. Between everything that has been happening with Jonathan and his mother, Bernard losing his memories however brief it had been, and our recent failure at the nonexistent hands of the naga, I was looking for someone to blame, and seized the opportunity. Despite our moral differences, you have since proven yourself to be a stalwart companion and a good friend to myself and the rest of our company, and whether I agree with your actions or not, it was wrong of me to blame you for something that you could not have known. Now is hardly the time or the place to begin to unravel the complex web that has weaved itself over the past few weeks, but perhaps I can begin to explain over that cup of tea... that is, if you are still willing to share it.”
 
Leaving the hut, Kallisto worked her way back towards the bonfire in the center of the village, slightly amused at how energetic the tribemembers still seemed to be even with how late the night as getting. In the back of her mind she hoped the celebration wasn't gaining the tribe too much attention ...

She saw a few of the others still mixed in with the crowd, though some seemed to have wandered off. Some of the tribemembers still approached her from earlier, but eventually she worked her way towards one of the people that had caught her eye earlier. "If I may ... are you Loretan? I hoped to ask a few things you may know of as the Shaman of the tribe... Kamoktalin said the mate of the Serpent had been summoned. Do you possibly know how to do the same for the remaining one? So she could potentially be pulled from her nest? Or ... the Children that have been transformed ... if there may be knowledge of something similar before?"
 
Village:

Violette nods seemingly in a distant head space while Arissa speaks to her but Violette responds quickly. "It is more than just that, but you are right that now is not the time to discuss such things. I hope that I continue to prove to be a... 'good friend' for at least a little while longer. The last few days have been, unlike many of my interactions with people outside of my family." Violette bows her head for a moment her white hair falling forward. "Thank you Arissa. Let's get back to the party."
 
Arissa looked at Violette trying to read her mood, and found herself recognizing many of the same emotions she herself had hidden her entire life. She stopped in her tracks and looked to Violette with sincere concern. “Violette? I know it may not mean much to you, but I am here for you if you ever wish to talk. I promise, I would never share anything that you did not expressly permit me to, but it is impossible to begin to heal without first accepting what had happened to us. I spent the better part of my life hiding from the truth of the horrors I suffered... I know it is not easy to trust others after mankind has failed you so greatly before, but I promise you, it does help to not feel so alone.”
 
Last edited:
Ludwig raises an eyebrow when Maeve mentions the existance of worlds in many different sizes. "As big as a room you say? That would be pretty useful, just having a world for yourself to think, work, or study in silence. Though I doubt it's as easy as stepping through a door and back." He chuckles at his own words and starts to wander over towards the brain floating around in liquid.

"Miss Maeve, I appreciate the invitation and I will certainly attend, though I have one question. How would one pay for the items found at the market? It doesn't seem to be like a standard market, and even if it was.. I doubt I have enough gold to afford anything of value." Standing in front of the brain, Ludwig carefully brushes a hand against the glass as he inspects it up close. A wide smile appears on his face as he stares at it for a few seconds. "Mr. Legba, you certainly know how to push my buttons. For that, I commend you." Tracing his hand from the glass all the way to the machine on the other side, Ludwig steps into the machine.

"Those side effects are nothing that medicine can't handle. You've awoken my curiosity and I'm afraid it can't easily be sated." Shifting his eyes back towards Queen Maeve, he gives her a small bow. "Before I perhaps die in horrible agony, is there any other business arrangement you'd like to make? With all due respect to Mr. Legba, I do keep my business options open. Bit of a personal growth or investment. If not, feel free to do your thing Mr. Legba." With a grin, Ludwig digs into a pouch with two fingers and covers them in a fine earthy powder. Taking a second to judge the dose, he stuffs the contents on the inside of both his cheeks. "I'm not sure how much this'll help, but lets find out." [Guidance]
 
Village:

Takatar turns to Bernard and Leone. He is a burly man with many scars though no apparent missing limbs, and he gives a large smile as he realizes who he is looking at. "I see, you have come to hear the tales? Sit, and I will speak to you of great warriors and battles of long past." Takatar takes the next thirty minutes going over stories, and answering questions from the stories, telling you of the Great Serpents ability to suddenly cover large distances, control people against their allies despite being brothers, see through the trickery of Shaman, and how Lucky Tal'kin began to suddenly fumble in the presence of the Great Serpent. He speaks of fire raining from the heavens to sear her enemies or lightning shooting from the creature's mouth. Then he speaks of stories of people falling asleep, or being unable to move within her presence.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Loretan milky white eyes look over to Kallisto as she speaks. Her garb sets her apart from the rest being decorated with bones, and her skin tattooed with various markings. "I am Loretan, Child. You have come to the right woman," says Loretan as she looks past Kallisto. "Al'ocktalel is no different than her mate. The answer has always laid in the same place. A graveyard of bones. Many of our people have gone in search of this place yet none have found it. If you seek the knowledge to draw her to yourself you must go there where none have returned."

Loretan's voice grows suddenly deeper holding a heavier resonance. "Where I saw but One, now I see Two. The Lost One will strike the final blow. Then we will make the pilgrimage to the Lake of Blood." After that sentence her voice seems to go back to normal. "Is that what you plan to do?"
________________________________________________________________________________

Violette turns back to Arissa as she had stopped and smiles. "I guess we'll just have to see. Maybe our cup of tea will be a long conversation," says Violette cheerfully before turning away. She does not speak again during the rest of the walk back to the party, and seems to be headed straight for the hut. Inside she see's Peri for a brief moment smiles at the sleeping girl before unrolling her own bedroll for the night.
 
Arissa observes Violette for a moment and considers pressing the subject, but decided to hold off for now. She smiled to Violette and nodded before idly telling her random details about Carmanth to fill the silence, hoping that her presence would at the very least help Violette feel less alone.

As the two of them returned to the hut, Arissa’s eyes fell on Peri curled up alone in the corner. She saw Violette preparing to go to sleep, and then turned to Yelcan who was hard at work on some sort of strange brew. “If the others wish for me to provide protection for us in the night, feel free to wake me upon their return. Otherwise, I would ask you to keep it down if you could. We need all the rest we can get for the coming battle.” Arissa then walked over to Peri and unfurled her bedroll next to hers before laying down and wrapping an arm around the smaller girl. After a few minutes to process the day’s chaotic events, sleep took her as well.
 
Hearing Loretan speak of a graveyard of bones, Kallisto's mind went to the legend on the map and rumours she'd heard before -- none seemed to ever make it back alive, and those that returned were riddled with arrows. The hairs on Kallisto's arms raised slightly at Loretan's words -- didn't that sound like another suicide mission...?

"I ... have heard of such a place, and I think I may know how to find it ... but if none have returned..." Kallisto let her sentence fade as she listened to Loretan's changed tone.

She reached for her beads, picking at them for a moment, "I -- what is the 'Lake of Blood'...? I have seen it written before, but I don't know what it is. Or if I did, I don't remember. Why would a pilgrimage be needed?"
 
Papa Legba calmly goes about securing Ludwig to the device listening to him speak and nodding sagely at the man’s comments.

“Of course, I would expect nothing less from someone pushing the boundaries of science. How can it progress if there are people attempting to hold it back? Only the bold will continue to advance the world.”

Papa Legba calmly walks over to a lever which seems intended to activate the machine. True to the usual bedside manor he spoke one last time.

“You might feel a little…. shock.”

The lever flipped, and suddenly energy coursed over the machine some of the energy seeming to spark dangerously away from the machine, and Ludwig began to shake as the brain inside the jar began to blacken and then slowly crumble away. Meanwhile Ludwig feels the sudden rush of information, of tentacles being attached to limbs, gills to breathe underwater, the removal of eyes to increase one’s vision, the heart of a bull to increase ones endurance, the addition of a poison gland, and endless more possibilities. With this knowledge however comes another, a mans knowledge who had originally lived Lamordia in a small village within the snowy mountains. A thirst for knowledge had driven him from place to place, and he had created many different kinds of people. Some who had escaped others who had died when the peasants had come for him.

Ludwig wakes up with a panging head ache inside of his shop, a letter written out in front of him and a bottle of wine sitting upon the desk. Not remembering how you got there, you pick up the letter reading it. You see hand writing that is not familiar to you despite the ink upon your fingers you do not remember writing it.

_________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Dr. Ludwig,

I write to inform you that I am glad to be up and about again though it may not be under the circumstances either of us desire. Your body is much younger and more vigorous than my own, and though the trek back to town was short it was a much needed experience. It would seem that we are on some sort of time share. While I could access a lot of your knowledge while you were incapacitated it seemed that most of your memories could not be accessed. If I am correct I believe that as I drift off to sleep that your consciousness will take the front seat once more, so I write this letter to start the dialog of our running conversation. If my theory does indeed prove true I will inhabit your body upon your rest, and visa versa. It will be an interesting hurdle for us to overcome seeing as we cannot directly speak to one another. If you should ever need me, I believe you have the knowledge to knock yourself out. If not I have written a formula for just that though it may take several minutes to take effect.

Sincerely,

- Dr. Frantisek Markov
__________________________________________________________________________________
 
Bernard thanked Takatar for sharing his knowledge and slowly made his way through the crowd mulling over all they'd learned. "Sounds like the Serpent is a powerful caster. Perhaps we can bait her into wasting some spells before we engage her in combat to limit her potency. I also worry about what power she has that is unrecorded. And I find it interesting that she seems to prefer sowing chaos and discord to direct conflict and rarely spits venom." Bernard spoke with Leone idly as they walked until he spotted Loretan speaking with Kallisto, feeling it was relevant that she be present to discuss the trap and wanting to share that she had living relatives which Loretan might be able to identify, Bernard approached. He paused for a moment just within ear shot, waiting for a good chance to join the conversation.

When Kallisto mentioned the Lake of Blood, there was a moment's pause and Bernard seized the opportunity, "Lake of Blood, that sounds ominous. Good evening, Kallisto, if you don't mind my joining in the conversation, I have some questions for Loretan that might prove useful for our second attempt at the hunt." He smiled kindly at Kallisto, not sitting until she'd given her consent.
 
Village:

Loretan smiled a bit at Kallisto's question looking briefly over to the approaching Bernard. "Ominous? Most certainly for an Outsider but a potential paradise for our people. It will be won when the Great Serpent is finally defeated for good," says Loretan. She reaches out putting a hand on Kallisto's arm holding it for a moment. Her smile grows wider for a moment. "It pleases me that one so strong has arrived. You are right, none have returned, though whether this is because of the Great Serpent or because of the graveyard itself remains to be seen."
 
Kallisto glanced over as Bernard approached, "Why would I deny you? We need to learn as much as we can, and your mind comes at things differently than mine."

While Loretan reached for Kallisto's arm, her eyes focused in on the older woman's eyes -- it seemed like her sight was nearly gone, but still managed to see things closer to her. "But ... why is it a paradise? Why would it be won? Was it something the Serpents used to guard together?"

Kallisto looked towards Bernard who had sat, "Supposedly the 'Graveyard of Bones' could be a way to summon the Serpent as was done before. I wondered if we might pull her from her nest like had happened to her mate ... but I've never heard of anyone returning from the graveyard." She looked back towards Loretan, "Sometimes people from the Crossing stumbled across it in the swamp -- those who stayed out only heard screams, and any corpses that were found were killed by arrows... I suppose I'm not sure why that graveyard would hold the answer, or how that is known if none have found it or know much of it to begin with ..."
 
Bernard leaned back slight, resting on his elbows, "Interesting, the Elder One told me that you, Loretan, might know where we could find knowledge of the trap that held the Mate. Sounds like this Graveyard might be the place to look? Though I don't know how promising I find the idea of a Lake of Blood. While I respect your people's sacrifice and their... gifts... I cannot help but be uneasy at the idea of a Lake of Blood, that blood has to come from somewhere and these titles rarely tell the whole story. The Guardians for example, seem to be more aggressive, meant to hunt and kill rather than wait for danger to come. Leone and I learned there is no end to the distance they will travel to kill an offending creature. That is not what I would call a Guardian, but a Killer." Bernard gave a sigh as he realized he'd gotten off topic, and it pained him to think that he too was a "guardian" who sought out the darkness to vanquish it. Perhaps none of them were guardians at all, maybe they were all just killers.

Bernard shook off the thoughts as he looked back among the group, "Back to the point, we could try to find information about the Great Serpent's Mate at the Graveyard of Bones, but it sounds like we may face the Serpent between here and there. If she is watching the resting place of her love, it could alert her to our betrayal. Not that we should shy away from the task but rather be cautious as we likely already used our good will and will not get a third chance to succeed." Bernard turned to Loretan, "So, what more can you tell us of this Graveyard and what do you know of the Trap? And if we do manage to get a trap, how do we bait her into it?"
 
Village:

"The Blood comes from the land. As we are born we take from it, some of it's life, and when we die the blood returns. This blood ends up in the Lake of Blood," says Loretan. "The Serpents guarded all of this land so in a way yes. She has hidden it from us so that we may not drink deep from it's Well."

She holds up a handful of small bones with markings, that seem to glow with an inner light. "If you seek answers in the Graveyard of Bones, you will find a way to draw her. Of this I am certain. There is someone there who waits. They have waited. I have dreamed of this place, but always upon waking I have remembered only one thing. A large circle of snake bones."

Takatar comes up from behind having followed out of curiousity and at least speaks walking closer to the conversation. "If it is a worry that the Great Serpent will see or stop you, I can provide a distraction. I can run south as far as my legs will take me. She will come after me, but it will buy you time. Perhaps she will catch me, or perhaps you will summon her away from me. I will do this thing for the Lost One." He nods towards Kallisto leaning on his spear. "The Feast you have provided runs through my body even now that I feel that I could run for days."
 
Bernard leaned forward as the shaman spoke. He listened attentively, "I hope this Lake of Blood is everything you believe it to be and that it does not bring further pain to my people, or yours." He turned to Kallisto as the bones were shared, "It is promising that she has seen our success, and interesting to note that the Elder who sought immortality was is only spoken of in legend now, could it be that he is trapped just as the serpent was?" Bernard did not notice Takatar's approach and was surprised by his interjection, "It is Kallisto's decision, I am sure, but I would caution against such recklessness. You seem a capable warrior but if the beast can travel great distances through magic and stop you in your tracks, no amount of blood or speed with save you from her clutches, we simply cannot move fast enough. Once you are caught, you could be just as dangerous an enemy as you are an ally, Takatar."
 
While Loretan speaks of the Lake of Blood, again Kallisto thinks of the map ... it had a Lake of Blood written on it too. Would that be where the tribe moved once this was over? Would they have to guide a migration of the tribe...?

As conversation moved back to the graveyard, Kallisto nodded at Bernard's words. "Yes ... I do wonder if perhaps that's where he remains. Trapped with the one he originally trapped. The question is ... would the same happen to one of us if we followed that path?"

Kallisto turned as Takatar spoke, surprised to see someone who shared her build compared to everyone else -- and seemed to not be missing anything either. She shook her head, "With Perian and her staff, we have a way to move without drawing too much attention. Ultimately I feel the Serpent can't know I'm still in the area -- someone running off into the distance for no real reason might actually draw more attention than anything else." She bowed her head towards Takatar, "I appreciate the offer, but I'd prefer not to split our forces if possible. As Bernard mentioned, anyone lost to the Serpent could become yet another ally taken and turned. My goal is to take Children back -- not lose more to her."

She faced Loretan again, "... earlier when you were speaking, you seemed to ... change your voice for a moment. From our conversation I feel I understand most of what was said, but ... what might you have meant by 'Where I saw but One, now I see Two'? Please don't say there might be more Serpents ... or more Hydras..."
 
Village:

"If it was spoken then it was meant for you're ears. True speech is not always known to me, but others have told me that I do so," says Loretan as the old woman cackles amused for a moment before her shoulders shrugged. "Search for the truth among the words. Are there two enemies? Two Paths? No I can only guess. It is your path to find out."

Takatar grinned devilishly. "I would take my own life before that happened. It is not uncommon for someone to loose hope and try to make it beyond our lands in some hope that they will make it. It has been awhile since one has tried but it is not a strange thing for us. As you say, I do hope the Serpent cannot see through your magicks but I will trust your knowledge to mine. It has been a long time since I have been convinced of a plan that is worth risking," says Takatar looking to Loretan. "If the Shaman believes in it, then I will too."

"Do not follow words blindly my son," says Loretan looking over to Takatar. His teeth flash white towards Loretan. "When my eyes are blind I follow the path the feels right. I know your words, I am not blind, I follow the beacon before me."

A wry smile crosses her lips for a moment before she looks back past everyone. "The hour grows late, rest our guests for we will not sleep this night. Your offering will keep us well into tomorrow's night, but your bodies need the sleep. Kallisto might be able to match us but it will take it's toll on the rest."
 
Kallisto scratched at the scar on her chest while Loretan laughed, "...I see."

She bowed her head again towards the pair, "I feel you may ... underestimate our desire for knowledge. And it would not be the first time I've stayed up a full night -- even without ... blood. I've been given much to think on tonight, but I've still not heard much of the hydra. I'd like to know more before I lose my line of thoughts -- so I can consider everything together in planning out what is to come. I know at one point it was the Elder's brother, but ... has anyone attempted to hunt it? Does it ever seem to travel the swamps itself? I hope to ... remove it from the Serpent's side, hopefully by itself if we can potentially lure it elsewhere or find it alone."
 
Peri jumped slightly at the light touch of Arissa but as her familiar scent and warmth surrounded her a little bit of the sadness that gripped at her melted.

This thing that encased her chest was thick tacky and cumbersome . It clung to every memory and happy feeling dissolving it and transforming it into more of the ichor. It was hungry and weighed her down kept her tired consuming her energy. Working like consumption upon her essence.

Rotating in her rest Peri curled into Arissa refuling her psyche from her friends kindness falling back into sleep a little more restful.
 
Village:

"Kamoktalin's brother. I hardly remember him, young and full of energy. He was supposed to defeat the Serpent, and so he did.... but he did not kill the Serpent and instead was seduced by a power he thought he might control. Perhaps he does, though I thought he looked better with a single head," says Loretan laughing again. "We do not know if it travels by itself. It hasn't been seen in a long time. We had perhaps thought it had died or lost itself somewhere out in the swamps. Did you ask this of Kamoktalin?"
 
"I have not ... had a chance to speak with Kamoktalin yet. Earlier he mentioned his brother returned with ... the heads of his companions attached to himself, and that was how he transformed into the hydra. When I returned to the bonfire, he seemed busy speaking with Bernard and Leon, so I instead approached you. I thought I may as well ask while I had your ear," Kallisto glanced between Takatar and Loretan, "Especially since I could potentially ask two people at once."

She thought for a moment, "I wonder if it's not been seen in a while that the Serpent doesn't let it wander very much ..." she leaned her against Aluc gently. "Aluc, would you be willing to perhaps do some scouting in the morning? Perhaps I can 'ride' with you as well, two sets of eyes in a way."

Kallisto smiled, her teeth showing, "Unfortunately I'm unsure what to offer you in return now."
 
Village:

"I can fly about in the morning if you wish," says Aluc looking between the people gathered. "It will be easier to see that way. Do not worry about gifts, for you have helped give me a gift beyond measure."

"It talks!" says Takatar bowing his head slightly to the bird. "It is an honor animal friend of Kallisto."

Loretan smiles at Takatar's praise chuckling before looking back to Kallisto. "We do not know and I fear for what we do not know. He should be put to rest if we can manage it. He may not be the same man Kamoktalin knew so long ago," warns Loretan. "He may be more beast than man now, but it is a fate he brought upon himself."
 
"She talks -- yes. She's been very helpful to me and the group that came out here with me." Tilting her head slightly to look towards Aluc, "Please let me know when you decide to head out so I can be prepared."

Kallisto bowed her head towards the pair, "If nothing else then I suppose I'll go speak with Kamoktalin before I finish off the night."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread

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