[Jean] Chapter 10: Ceremony

Throndir · January 17, 2019, 10:32:04 AM

One of the villagers shook their heads.

"Among the land-dwellers perhaps, or perhaps one of the heroes. Our people have always been gifted with the attribute of Air, but other ones, not so much. The Light attribute in itself is rare too, even for those who live on land. It's too soon to tell how she'll fare, so I don't want to give any false hope. We'll be treating the wounds, and taking care of her."

Ren nodded solemnly at you, as she continued to follow the villagers with the stretcher as Anja was taken back to town.

"I am not one of the healers, no." Anja's teacher, the priest who proctored the test spoke.

pringerbeam · January 17, 2019, 10:58:06 AM

"Dalina, you can go ahead with Anja if you wish. I'll be staying behind for now. You don't have to stay for this." Jean waited for the others to leave and for Dalina to make her choice before speaking again. "There is a story back where I come from. A young man and his father are imprisoned and to escape they make wings to fly away. But when they finally taste that freedom the boy becomes overzealous and flies too close to the sun, plummeting to his death." He takes a moment to pause. "Any of that story sound familiar?"

Throndir · January 17, 2019, 11:13:53 AM

Dalina nodded. She hugged you back one more time, then started running off after the villagers. Finally, it was just you and the priest.

The priest considered your words.

"And that boy in your story then, is Anja? I believed Anja was ready, she had always excelled in her studies. She had always been level-headed as well... I do not know what would have caused her to want to climb this tree. There are plenty of eggs found on the forest floor: Submerged in the water, hidden beneath leaves and bushes."

pringerbeam · January 17, 2019, 04:06:32 PM

"You deprived her of her right to take part in this test. So when she was finally able to fly she sought the sun. You said that some of the eggs are known and that few of the island's inhabitants know of them. I'm guessing they are difficult to reach and that obtaining them is the mark of an exceptional child if not granting them a powerful companion." Jean looked at the spot where Anja had lay broken just before. "I was worried before that leaving Anja here without her sister might be a bad idea but that was because I was splitting her from her only surviving family. Now, I don't know if she would be safe here... You said that she is expected to take up the mantle of the priestess of the hero when Dalina leaves with me. What would you have done if she had died here? Which, if you had waited until dusk to look for her, quite possibly would have happened."

Throndir · January 18, 2019, 03:37:28 PM

"She may have very well been attempting to get one of the more difficult eggs. Knowing Anja, she would have done plenty of research on the ceremony and this island before hand. That egg you found, might have been her goal."

"And yes. It would have been a tragedy if Anja would have died here. We would have been left without the line of the Priestesses of the Hero, and it would mark a tragedy that hasn't befallen our island in years. But... if she would have passed from this world, then it is the will of the goddess to do so, with whatever purpose that the goddess deems fit."

pringerbeam · January 18, 2019, 05:07:13 PM

"No backup plan? You were just going to roll over and hum and haw? Fuck, you people are pathetic. And you plan on fighting the demons? Well that settles it. I'm disembarking at the mountain as soon as I can and when Anja recovers I'll be taking her with me. She deserves better than this." Jean turned to go. "I thought your people were just soft from your isolation and safety but now I think it's more than that. Your goddess has made you not only weak but slaves to her whim... Pathetic... And worst of all, you don't even realize how enthralled you are. Now, I'm going to go and complete the ritual and watch over Anja." Jean began to walk away.

Unless the priest wants to keep talking, Jean will go, grab his egg, find out where they are caring for Anja, and resume the ritual by her bedside.

Throndir · January 19, 2019, 04:53:42 PM

Location: Wind Temple of Velothia - Bird Sanctuary
Date: Day 3 - 1:30 PM

"You may be the hero, but you do not disrespect our goddess!" The older man finally said to your back as you began to talk away, you could tell that he had been trying to hold it in. He eventually breathed in deeply.

"If you choose to take Anja with you, then it's the right of the hero to do so. But now I question more than Anja's participation of the ritual."

Location: Wind Temple of Velothia - Following after the rest
Date: Day 3 - 2:00 PM

It didn't take you long to catch up to the rest of them, it seemed like Renenutet had summoned some of the tentacles, and as you neared each one, they simply pointed you into the direction you had to go.

The destination looked to be back at the main temple, in one of the buildings that made up the entire structure. Peering in there were a couple of older priests who seemed to be putting ointments and salves on each of Anja's wounds. The little girl herself had been stripped off her clothes, save for a light blanket that covered her most sensitive areas. As instructed, Ren had still been slowly pumping the pain-killing fluids into Anja.

Dalina, was sitting on a bench in the room, staring at her sister, with the slimeling on her lap. She noticed you, and gave you a weak smile.

pringerbeam · January 19, 2019, 06:12:59 PM

Jean sat down on the bench next to Dalina. He took out the egg and began to pour energy into it. "How's she doing? Do they know if she'll be alright?" He asked, watching the healers work.

Throndir · January 19, 2019, 10:08:07 PM

Dalina shook her head.

"They aren't sure yet. They just began examining. She suffered broken bones through both of her legs, and one of her arms. There is some damage on her back as well. She has a lot of cuts, but... it's the legs and the back that worry them the most. They can't know for certain until she's more recovered though, and once she's conscious..."

QuoteI'll be rolling hourly on her conscious rolls, so far, she's getting a +2 from Ren, and a +2 from your setting of her bones in place earlier.

pringerbeam · January 19, 2019, 11:23:44 PM

"Well, hopefully she wakes up soon." Said Jean as he settles in for the wait.

Pass time until Anja either wakes up or the ritual finishes.

Throndir · January 20, 2019, 12:13:06 AM

Dalina nodded in response, and while you had your own hands on the egg, funneling mana into it. Dalina placed her hand over yours, and then scooted in next to you as she buried her face on your shoulder. You felt her sob a bit, though, quietly, as to not distract the healers who were at work.

After the first hour, Anja continued to be unconscious, and the healers and tenders had finished taking care of as much as they can.

"We've done all we can... We just have to wait for her body to heal up. We'll leave someone here in case she wakes up. Are you two staying?"

One of the priestesses were left behind, while the rest left.

During the second hour Anja continued to be unconscious.

It was on the third hour that Anja started to wake up.

"W-what... I..." Anja said. Dalina stood up immediately and went to Anja's side. The priestess too immediately went to her.

"I..." Anja started to realized what had happened. "... The ceremony...!"

pringerbeam · January 20, 2019, 12:25:49 AM

"Don't move, you were injured pretty badly. The ceremony is over." Said Jean, continuing to pour mana into the egg. "You fell."

Throndir · January 20, 2019, 12:54:02 PM

"N-no... How long have I been out?"

pringerbeam · January 20, 2019, 01:00:16 PM

"Several hours, it's now late afternoon." Said Jan, still sitting. "It looks like you fell a great distance. Why were you so high up in the tree? You could have died."

Throndir · January 20, 2019, 03:25:35 PM

"That means... that means I can still make it...!" Anja started to rise from her bed, but the moment she did, pain shot up her arm. The priestess who was checking up on her spoke up.

"Don't move your arm Anja... You... are bound to your bed until you've recovered."

"Anja! It's okay... You don't need to complete the ceremony now... You just need to rest and-" Dalina said, but was interrupted.

"N-no... I can still do it! I kept a few eggs... I placed them underneath some leaves near the tree I tried to launch myself from! It should be there! Please..."