[Leela] Chapter 4: Borders of Xalaster Orthodoxy

Ella · January 20, 2019, 06:07:05 PM

Leela Steading

Although she was not entirely sure what she had been expecting when she decided to talk to the mana, it certainly was not for a person to basically manifest itself from the mana in the wind.

"Oh!" She blinked several times when he had finished materializing, as if to refresh the scene before her just in case she was seeing things.

"Hello!" Leela replied to his greeting, now wondering if he was a guardian of some sort for the forest. She decided to play it safe and introduce herself first.

"I am Princess Leela Steading of the great country of America. As I said before, we intend no harm. We are just passing through."

Throndir · January 21, 2019, 12:57:49 PM

"I was right... You can see me." The man said. "I don't have what you people use as names."

However, Efrit and Abi continued to look around.

"Princess? You talking to someone here?" Efrit said as he narrowed his eyes and seemed to scan the surroundings. You noticed him look right through the green-haired man. Abi too did the same, but she continued to clutch on to you.

"Leelasama!" Abi whispered. "Leelasama, who are we talking to?"

"Fascinating. Our other two companions cannot see him it seems, my lady Leela-sama. I am Zavan."

Ella · January 21, 2019, 03:08:12 PM

Leela Steading

"Can people not normally see you?" The princess looked at Abi, then at Efrit. "You guys really can't see him?" Since Zavan could see him but the other two couldn't, she suspected only those with blessings of a summoned person could see him.

"If you do not have a name... is there something we can call you?" She asked him, unsure if it was okay to ask him if he would like a name. Perhaps his kind did not like names. She also wanted to ask him what exactly he was, but did not want to come off as rude before they found out whether or not he was an enemy or an ally.

Throndir · January 21, 2019, 03:20:05 PM

"No... People cannot usually see me. I am something like a spirit that roams these lands. I go into the village sometimes... or... at times I travel with those on the roads, trying to talk to them, or simply just spend time with them. But they never notice me... I felt you were different... The both of you. Not the others who can't see me. I never knew there would be anyone who could see me..." He looked somber for a second, but then smiled.

"And now there's two."

Efrit leaned back on his nightmare.

"Can't say that I see him..." Efrit dismounted then, then headed towards where you were looking at when you talked. "Around... here?" Efrit said as he moved his hand back and forth. His hand moved in and out of the figure, as if there was nothing there at all.

"All I can see is Efrit's hand!" Abi declared. "Waving! Waving!"

"Interesting. Incorporeal as well."

"Something that you can call me...?" The person thought for a moment. "Well, I'm not sure actually. I believe you are the first two I've spoken to."

Ella · January 21, 2019, 07:45:56 PM

Leela Steading

What a lonely existence to have. Leela was amazed that he had not given up on trying to find people who could see him, though she guessed being around people even if they couldn't see you was better than total seclusion.

"I'm sorry that you had to experience that." As much as she might have wished it back in her early teens, Leela could not imagine how lonely being invisible all your life could be.

"Efrit! I'm pretty sure that is considered rude to do to a spirit. But yes, he is standing right there." She was not sure if the spirit man cared, but still. Leela would have considered it rude if it had been done to her.

"Are you like a guardian spirit of this place? Or..." She did not finish, unsure as to whether dead people could come back as spirits or not after what she had learned about ethereal bodies so far.

Throndir · January 22, 2019, 03:51:16 PM

The green-haired man laughed. His voice was light and gentle.

"It's fine... A lot of people over the hundreds of years I've been around have done much the same, all without meaning to of course. In fact, having this man... Efrit? Give me attention, is actually rather satisfying..."

"Though, not as satisfying as it is when talking with you two."

He shook his head.

"No, I am no guardian, or anything like that... I wasn't originally from this particular village either... One day perhaps a few decades ago, the lands suddenly became different, along with that brought in all sorts of other creatures and peoples. I haven't yet met anyone like you two however."

Ella · January 23, 2019, 12:49:09 PM

Leela Steading

Leela was not quite sure how to respond to his saying Efrit giving him attention even if Efrit couldn't see him was satisfying. She decided not to tell Efrit what the spirit had said, since it might not be the same with all spirits.

Spoiler

Rolling a sense motive before continuing the conversation with him.

Rolled 1d20+4 : 2 + 4, total 6

[close]

Throndir · January 23, 2019, 01:45:31 PM

Sense Motive: 6
You could not detect anything suspicious about what he said.

Ella · January 23, 2019, 02:54:54 PM

Leela Steading

The spirit seemed genuinely happy to have people who could see and talk to him. With as happy as he was, and since he had mentioned following travelers before, she would not be surprised if he chose to follow their group whether he was invited or not. And if he was going to follow them, she might as well invite him to join their group. His... invisibility to everyone might come in handy on their mission. Perhaps she could send him off to search for where the humans were holding Ashaki while she talked with them.

"So... you can travel wherever you want, then? You're not bound to an area?" Leela asked him.

"My companions and I are on an important diplomatic mission. You are welcome to join us, but I should warn you that it could get dangerous if things do not go well." She wondered if it was safe to tell him the full truth or partial. Would he be upset if he knew she was working for demons? Would finally finding people who could see and talk to him cause him to not care about such things? If he had traveled with other people, he most likely knew by now that the horses they rode were not normal horses. Even if he had not noticed that yet, he would when it was time to swap out mounts. She would surely have to explain a few things at that point...

Throndir · January 23, 2019, 08:59:56 PM

He shook his head.

"No... I've always been able to go around as I see fit. And it's alright if it's dangerous, I notice that swords and arrows phase right through me. Even most magic I've been in the crossfire of, do nothing."

Ella · January 23, 2019, 10:52:39 PM

Leela Steading

"Also..." Leela hesitated, trying to think of the best way to ask without scaring him off. Finally, she decided to ask in a way that she could explain using her half truth that she would be telling the humans if he answered negatively. "What do you think of the demons to the east of here? In the Domain of... Rossandan?"

Throndir · January 24, 2019, 01:41:03 PM

"The ones with horns? Sometimes I follow them too... There's fighting happening between the humans and the demons, but it's not something I involved myself with." The green-haired man explained.

Ella · January 31, 2019, 12:38:35 PM

Leela Steading

"I see. Well, my mission involves trying to make peace between the humans and the demons of Roshandan, if it is possible. As I said before, you are welcome to join us on our travels, but I don't suppose you might be willing to help us a little with our mission?" She asked. "You would not have to fight or anything like that if you are opposed to it. It would just be finding someone so that if things go wrong, we can rescue her quickly and keep casualties to a minimum."

Throndir · January 31, 2019, 12:59:34 PM

"A mission? Oh most certainly!" The green-haired man said. "I don't think I am willing to fight though... But I don't think I'd be willing to just leave now that I've met you two."

He paused and thought for a moment.

"Usually... I would simply follow travelers, and keep them company until it suited me to do something else, but... I've always been looking forward to saying this..."

"May I follow and keep you company?"

Ella · February 28, 2019, 07:50:46 PM

Leela Steading

Although she had basically invited him to join them twice already, Leela decided to play along with his formal request to join them. He seemed very excited to be able to formally ask it.

"It would be our pleasure if you joined us-" She paused abruptly. He did not yet have a name for her to call him.

"Before we continue on our journey, I need to know two things. Do you have a name in mind that you would like us to call you? If not, would you be okay if I helped you pick one? The other thing I need to know is how you would be traveling. Do you need a horse or do you travel by wind?"