Player Plot: The Big One?

[gatheringstorm]

WHO: Korrin, Araceli, Samouel, Kirk, Christine, Tim Gutterson, The Outsider, Iskandar, Kain (the last thread is open to anyone)
WHAT: Nuggalope shenanigans
WHEN: Any time in the latter portion of Harvestmere
WHERE: In the northern Frostbacks, near Honey Badger Hold.
NOTES: As mentioned here in the OOC comm.

 

Comments

[universal_charm]

_{[ Kirk comes up to Christine during one of her bird watching moments. He hadn't thought to come back here, and it was not quite so spiritual or meaningful a place as it obviously was for some others. He had not been quite so close to Asher, after all, but he did like this place. ]}

Do you know what kind they are? The birds, I mean.

[aceso]

Oh, well. [ She lets out an awkward laugh. ] Some sort of carrion bird, I would think. That spot is where the hold leave out their dead.

[ But it sounds less spiritual and meaningful when she puts it like that. ]

But I watch them because of what they represent. They are the ones who carried Asher's soul to his Lady of the Skies.

[universal_charm]

_{[ He glanced at the birds again, and could indeed see the way they bore resemblance to carrion birds in his world. ]}

Sympathetic magic. They need a piece of him to carry to the Lady.

_{[ That was how it sounded to him, but he honestly knew precisely zero about the Honey Badgers' culture beyond the bare introduction he had gotten when first coming here. ]}

I think it would be a nice way to ascend to the after life - on the wings of a bird. Freeing, you know?

[aceso]

I was thinking it was more symbolic than magic. But every culture deals with death in a different way. I think I like the Avvar way best. Andrastians burn you so there is nothing left for spirits to possess. Except for the Nevarrans, who preserve bodies on purpose to put spirits in them to do their bidding. Dalish bury their dead. I hear they plant a tree over the mound. But your soul being carried by a bird is... it sounds lovely, does it not? I used to feel as though I was a caged bird, just waiting for someone to forget to lock the door so I could escape.

[ It's why she'll always be drawn to birds, but now she has a second reason; knowing how they helped Asher pass on. ]

[universal_charm]

It's a term where I come from - sympathetic magic. It means to have two related pieces that have, ah, similar energy? One effects the other, or becomes part of the other, I suppose. It was an ancient custom, in my world.

But yeah, it does sound nice. I would like that, I think, being carried high beyond the clouds. It's the view I like best, personally.

_{[ He looked to her curiously at that last statement. ]}

And now?

[aceso]

Oh. But it is merely a turn of phrase? You do not have magic in your world, correct?

[ A small smile appears on her face before she lifts her head up towards the sky. ]

Now I am free of the Circle and its locked doors.

[universal_charm]

_{[ He nodded his head. ]}

That's right. But people used to believe in it, so we have the concept of it - just not as it appears in this world, not quite. Ancient peoples believed strongly in it, and we still have some of their texts and artworks to help us understand how they lived.

_{[ He'll leave out some of the nastier parts of that though. ]}

Hmm, good. Such a lovely bird should be able to spread her wings as far as she likes and fly as far and high as she wants. Beautiful things aren't meant to be caged.

[aceso]

[ She looks back at him with an indulgent smile. ]

Such a charmer. I do hope if I were an ugly mage that you would not feel differently.

[universal_charm]

But of course. If something is meant to fly, why not let it?

[aceso]

Ah, that is the question, is it not? Talk to many and they will have a million excuses to give you as to why mages should be locked away.

[ She sweeps out a hand to indicate their surroundings. ]

But look here. Here among the Avvar, they value their mages and they contribute to the hold. They are not seen as a constant threat. It is so refreshing.

[universal_charm]

Believe me, I've heard them. I think they're a bunch of bull, personally.

_{[ He glanced around and back to Christine. ]}

Have you considered staying here? Or some other place not wasn't under Chantry influence instead?

[aceso]

[ Her lips twitch with a smile. ]

I think if I did, my mother would die of shock. And Sam would never stop teasing me.

[ But then she sighs and meets his eyes. ]

I confess I... wonder what it might be like to be a part of all this. To be useful, and valued, and treated well by everyone around me. But right now I have things to do in the Inquisition.

[universal_charm]

Neither of which sounds like it would bother you all that much.

_{[ He smirked at her a little before his face became more pensive, listening. ]}

I'm sure once you've completed what you need to do, you'll find a happier place.

[aceso]

[ Well, he has a point there. But only because she knows her mother wouldn't really die of shock. She would get very theatrical, though. Of that, Christine has no doubt. ]

I must borrow some of this positivity of yours.

[ Her smile is weak, but this is something she's long considered. What place will mages have in the world after the war and after a new Divine is chosen? She now feels the spirit of Faith as a gentle presence in her mind, not pressing her, but reminding her to believe in something better. Christine sighs softly. ]

Perhaps. If not somewhere in the lowlands, I think the hold might accept me. They like spirits and here I have one close to me.

[universal_charm]

I am blessed with quite a lot of it, so take as much as you need.

_{[ His own smile tried to make up for hers, as if he could pass her that positivity that he promised. His hand shifted, as if he might reach out and take hers to give a comforting squeeze, but stops himself, unsure if that would be something she would welcome. ]}

Do they have a name? Your spirit, that is.

[aceso]

[ Her eyes dart down to his hand and she lift her eyebrows before smiling a bit more and bumping the back of his hand with hers. Take it, you silly man. ]

This one is a spirit of Faith. I am sure Sam has told you about spirit healers, yes?

[universal_charm]

_{[ Oh, well, if she's all right with it. He is usually quite forward, but there are times where he does question it. He does not like being slapped, after all. He reaches out and takes her head to give her the comforting squeeze. ]}

To some degree, yes. It is all bit - difficult for me to wrap my head around. But your spirit is not named Faith, they are simply of Faith?

[aceso]

[ Why would she slap away an offered hand? It's not like he's groping her. But show her a good time and she's very open to groping. ]

That is right. There are multiple spirits of Faith, but for the sake of ease, I call her Faith.

[ There is a pause and she smiles a bit brighter before chuckling. ]

And I call the spirit a her. It makes sense to me now. We are closer than when first we met.

[universal_charm]

_{[ Well, he's very good at showing people a good time, so maybe sometime... ]}

Heh, call her what you want - you're the one in communication with her, so who am I to argue?

And she helps you with your magic? That's what I think I understood from what Sam has told me.

[aceso]

She provides additional power to fuel my spells. Without a spirit to lend it, I have to use my own mana, and that drains out as spells are used. It replenishes on its own, but it takes valuable seconds that a patient may not have.

[universal_charm]

Ah, I see. So you have, what, a symbiotic relationship with the spirit then?

[aceso]

[ Christine tilts her head ever so slightly, running over the unfamiliar term in her mind before shaking her head. ]

What does that word mean?

[universal_charm]

It usually refers to animals where I'm from - two animals life together and each get something from the other and provide something in term.

For example, we have animals called sharks, and they eat other fish. But there are these little fish that hang around them that they don't eat. These little fish clean the shark's skin and teeth for the shark. In return, the little fish get an easy meal and protection from larger fish.

So that's what I mean - you two each get something and provide something for each other.

[aceso]

Well... I suppose so. It is silly to think of ourselves as animals, but I do answer as Faith's questions about this world. Spirits are very curious about it. And she gives me something to help others in return.

[universal_charm]

_{[ He makes a sound to her first statement, but says nothing to it. Better not to argue that sort of thing. ]}

Hah, well, see, symbiotic.

But... if spirits are curious about this world, does that mean they weren't here originally? I thought spirits were, well, people who had previously been alive.