Javenloft

[Grimquest]

Grim feels awkward being that this is his first wake of sorts. When he sees his old frien Frinkelo a deep sadness overwhelms him and as what seems to be coming a more and more common occurrence, Grim starts to weep. This time however, it is not his typical outburst of emotion but a soft, sincere, mournful, release. After a few moments he blurts out between sobs "I wish there was more I could have done, it all happened so fast. Frink was the first person to make an attempt to be nice to me. We shared many common interests. A man of few words He was still a great teacher. I will miss him dearly." At this he takes the mug Frink used to use drink The Brew from. He had carved and burned Frinkelo into it. He laid it next to his old friend and quietly cried

[Nemesio]

Felix doesn't hesitate stepping forward. "Appearances can be deceiving as I'm sure your well aware," said Felix looking over Antonina, and he was already fairly sure despite her eyes that she wasn't blind. A disguise spell or just a type of natural occurring phenomenon amongst the Vistani people? He would have to think on it later. I'm afraid, if you knew my parents I am a far ways from home."

Looking over to Kamose and shrugging he wondered at her comment to Kamose. "What is this darkness of which you speak?"

Please start with Felix, he seems eager to get started.

Antonina’s cataract tainted eyes stare blankly at Felix…

“Home is closer than you realize.”

The seer takes Felix’s hands into her own, her fingers thoroughly tracing the lines of his palms, fingers, and even his wrists… As she does so, she smiles warmly at the elf child, as if they were already familiar with each other… At this, a series of strange memories floods Felix's mind. They fade almost as quickly as they appear, yet they leave Felix with a distinct feeling that he already knows this woman…

“Many trials await you Felix. You should not have to face them alone… Share your thoughts with your friends. Perhaps they can help. You have a keen intellect, sharp like that sword you carry, and your intuition serves you well, yet you must take care not to be too trusting. You have already misjudged Baukis. She is your jailor, not your cellmate, and she gives me a bad feeling.”

Suddenly Dame Antonina drops Felix’s hands and makes a frown.

“Why are you still unable to remember me? Your identity should have been restored upon leaving Darkon… You should recognize Nova Vaasa as the land of your birth… You once frolicked with Equaar children as they chased after herds of wild horses… Do you not remember that you and I were playmates? I realize that it was a very long time ago, and that I have changed far more than you... Haven't I?.. Do you not remember the little blind girl whom you watched out for and led around by the hand?.. If you cannot remember, then I fear that you are suffering the effects of a powerful spell or curse, though whose I am not yet certain.”

[Rexleith]

Kamose repeats the words she says silently but certain words and phrases come out although in a quiet hushed tone. Share your thoughts......with friends. Take care not to be too trusting..........Baukis is your jailer. Why are you still unable to remember me? You and I were playmates..........I fear that you are suffering the effects of a powerful spell or curse

The only spell Kamose knew of was of the thralldom his friends suffered from. He hadn't thought about another one. One that made a person forget where they came from. Kamose hadn't had to worry about that, he had been born in Darkon so it never occured to him to consider if his friends had shaken off that effect of being in Darkon.

In a way, his friends had been carrying this false memory as a burden. A burden he should have recognized even though he couldn't help them, he may have been able to find someone that could. Kamose puts his head down feeling guilty for not seeing that his friends had a problem. An immediate problem that he should have seen and thought of himself.

[Ryan Naylor]

Laura drew back slightly at Antonina's words. She knew she had been born in Martira Bay; if that fact was not true, then nothing in her life made sense. On crossing the border into G'Henna, she had breathed a sigh of relief when her memories hadn't changed, knowing that she was the person she had thought she was.

But if what the Vistana said was true, how could she have faith in that truth? Could her whole past be false? Was it some malign influence from the intruding thing that had violated her?

Thinking of that, her eyes narrowed. The Vistani had forced her intruder upon her. It was about damn time they took it back.

[Zilfer]

Felix’s eyes flickers for a moment processing the information, it was clear something had struck profoundly. There was a sudden sharpness to his thoughts. They became keenly acute, homing in on one of the mysterious musings he had identified along the way. Now he was able to find that barrier once more. Whenever he had wagered thoughts in that direction he now could see his thoughts would go blank or wander in another direction.

If what she was saying was true, than his memories of Darkon were false. He had suspected gaps in his story of his upbringing but people had always done frivolous things, and sometimes it was just chance. He should have known better, what reason did he have to seek out Avernus Castle when he lived with his parents in Nevuchar Springs? Why would an elf wander away from his people? His memories of reaching Avernus were vague and just suddenly turned back ending up in Il Aluk amongst the scholars of Il Aluk academy. Why did he suddenly take to learning spell casting so late in life? Well for elves it wasn’t horribly late. His skill with a blade came down to almost muscle memory yet nothing he could think of would explain why he was proficient with his sword. It was like the sword was born for his hand and he had yielded it for years and yet… no magic emanated from the weapon. Dimmer had examined it himself and found that it granted no magic proficiency.

If what was before was false than what did that make him now? Was he this new identity or the old one trying to break through? Perhaps he was neither like Dimmer and there was a clone of him around. It might explain why he didn't have his memories back if they were in fact supposed to come back after leaving Darkon. He couldn't fathom why unless whatever influences people's minds like his and Dimmers lost power the further away you got from it.... Was it the King? If so perhaps Baukis being an extension of King Azalin's power hold could temporarily extend said reach? It was a bit out there even for magic's sake. Regardless he felt that no matter who he was originally he would not ever be what he was before or after for both versions would exist despite the others, making a blend of mixtures. Blue and Red would combine and blur into purple....

Felix glances at her hand. Somehow it had seemed so familiar, had he held it before? He had a feeling that perhaps this wasn't his first reading? They held hands while he lead her around yes, but was that as far as his relationship with the Vistani Seer had been? Children... human Children could be forever changed by their childhood, and holding her hand to get around... he somehow knew the soft hand that had just let go of his he had held before. A bit older perhaps.... Felix frowned at this thought remembering for a brief moment mortal's extremely short lifespans.

"Sorry. Was lost in thought for a moment," said Felix smirking a boyish grin. He briefly spoke a phrase in elven. "None be fairer in all the land."

"If I have forgotten forgive me for I may have forgotten much more than a childhood friend," said Felix pointing to his sword a grin still upon it. "I've not forgotten everything however, my blade can still dance when I want it to."

[Grimquest]

After Antonina's reading Grim falls silent and stands with his mouth open. His tears forgotten as the shock of her words to Felix take hold and penetrate. Grim had known all along that Baukis was bad but entire histories being rewritten his brain started to spin

[Metaflux]

That voice in the back of his head finally got through the fog of ale, and woke him up a little. Though, if the voice was his own thoughts or something else, he could not tell.

"Nullraithian, you fool, clear yourself of this nonsense at once or you'll make yourself look even more of the imbecile you truly are!"

Suddenly, the goose looked less like a goose and more like a massive man with lots of jewelry. Then, another individual, a woman, began to form in his vision. The arms from before had gently set himself on the ground, and Null felt, as he had been before in such situations, as a burden. "I will have none of this!" he thought. Grim's face was frozen in bafflement as if the truth he saw was having a hard time setting in. Turning his head to Laura, he found contempt hidden by a mask of furrowed brow and suspicions.

"Mother, assist me," he whispered.

Getting his feet under him, and feeling a rush of nausea course through his belly, Null placed himself in a kneeling position, and then, steadily, found his footing. Standing up straight was similar to one precariously balancing on a boulder that moved underneath him, but eventually, he halted his shaking legs, and moved upright. From then on, his focus was purely spent on keeping himself standing. He could hear everyone speaking, could hear what they were saying, but his mouth was untrustworthy at the moment.

Null did hear one thing, though, that set itself apart from all of the others.

"...I fear that you are suffering the effects of a powerful spell or curse..."

No...no, this cannot be...

The ale did not help his train of thought as he tried to make sense of what else she had said. "A curse...a curse...No...My curse...I cannot let this happen," he mumbled to himself. His mind began to race, and yet, still, the fog of his previous hour was hindering him so.

[Nemesio]

After a few moments, he blurts out between sobs: "I wish there was more I could have done. It all happened so fast. Frink was the first person to make an attempt to be nice to me. We shared many common interests. A man of few words, he was still a great teacher. I will miss him dearly." At this he takes the mug Frink used to use drink The Brew from. He had carved and burned Frinkelo into it. He laid it next to his old friend and quietly cried.

Touched by Grim’s display of emotion, Dame Antonina herself had briefly broken down into tears… After composing herself and reading Felix’s palms, she had asked the boy: “Please guide me over to your companion, the sullen Verbreker known as GrimQuest, I wish to speak with him next...”

With a quizzical look on his face, Felix helps the women to her feet and guides her by the hand, as he had supposedly done so many times before...

“GrimQuest… May I read your palms?”

GrimQuest displays his hands, which appear monstrous next to Dame Antonina’s. She studies them for a moment, but she seems distracted by something. After a drawn out sigh, she says: “I believe that you understood my brother as few others did, and I am thankful for the time you and your companions shared with him on the road. Oft times he was shy around strangers and from what I can glean thus far, you were the best friends he had ever had...”

Again choking back tears, Dame Antonina continues with her palm reading, saying: “You have a kind and loyal heart, tinged with a healthy amount of skepticism… It is wise not to give your trust freely, but beware! Do not become jaded. You must not isolate yourself… The deep loneliness you feel is often unfounded. You create this distance between yourself and others to shield yourself from harm, but you are not such an easy target. You are smarter and tougher than you let on. Are you not? You have always had friends who care about you, and there is something else... You are a wealthy man, and in more ways than one... You know of what I speak. Do you not? A mysterious force watches out for you GrimQuest, as it always has... It will not make itself known to me... I can say no more...”

Antonina smirks at Grim before turning to the others and asking: "Who is next? Come forth so that I may have a look at your hands..."

[Zilfer]

Felix leads her to Grimquest and she reads his palm next. Somehow it does feel familiar if distant however once she finishes with him he looks at the others. None seem forthcoming so he went ahead and judged who would be next.... seeing Null was still having a trouble standing he decided to wait for him last so he had a bit more time to gather his thoughts. He looked to Laura and Kamose left and knew that Kamose was hesitant but he lead her towards Kamose first, and next would be Laura, and then finally Null. He wasn't sure where Obergg had disappeared off to but maybe he was just outside the tent? Poor old man had enough worries without worrying about Vistani curses!

[Rexleith]

Felix leads her to Grimquest and she reads his palm next. Somehow it does feel familiar if distant however once she finishes with him he looks at the others. None seem forthcoming so he went ahead and judged who would be next.... seeing Null was still having a trouble standing he decided to wait for him last so he had a bit more time to gather his thoughts. He looked to Laura and Kamose left and knew that Kamose was hesitant but he lead her towards Kamose first, and next would be Laura, and then finally Null. He wasn't sure where Obergg had disappeared off to but maybe he was just outside the tent? Poor old man had enough worries without worrying about Vistani curses!

Kamose watches them start to make their way toward him. He didn't feel ready yet, so he makes a pointing gesture at Laura. You should probably do Laura next. He still felt anxious and was putting off this situation as long as he could. Kamose would never be able to explain why it hadn't felt right, He just knew it wasn't time for them to have his reading. As anxious as he felt, he somehow knew that his anxiety was starting to slowly slip away. Everything about this was becoming surreal to him.

[Ryan Naylor]

"I don't want my palm read, old woman," said Laura.

"There's only one thing I want from you people. Take. This. Thing. Back." She thrust a smooth white pebble under Antonina's nose.

[Nemesio]

"I don't want my palm read, old woman," said Laura.

"There's only one thing I want from you people. Take. This. Thing. Back." She thrust a smooth white pebble under Antonina's nose.

With surprising agility, for a blind woman, Dame Antonina releases Felix's hand and lunges at Laura...

Before Laura can even react, Antonina has grabbed her wrist, causing her to drop the stone, which the seer deftly catches with her empty hand... Once she is holding the stone, Antonina's eyes narrow, and she addresses Laura, saying: "I will take this stone, but it will do you no..."

Shocked and incensed by the fact that Antonina dared touch her, Laura tries to tug her arm free, but the "old" woman is stronger than she looks...

...There is a far off look on the seer's face, and she releases Laura's wrist with a start... A moment later, she gives off an unnatural shriek and falls to the ground. Her teeth clench, and she quickly becomes very pale. Then she turns slightly bluish, and her arms and upper body start to jerk, while her legs remain more or less stiff...

Finally the seizure ends and Antonina falls into a deep sleep... Somehow through it all, she maintained her grip on Laura's stone, and it remains clenched within her fist...

[Rexleith]

Kamose grabs her as she falls. He puts her down gentley and tries to keep her still until the seizure passes.

[Metaflux]

After watching Laura give the woman something, Null jumped with a start as she collapsed into convulsions. "What have you done?" he cried. Stumbling over to the two and, with difficulty, bringing himself to a kneel, Null reached for the wrist that held whatever object was in it. With his other hand, the archer tore off the cloth that covered his hair and began prying the stone out of her hand.

Null could feel the fingers clenching with an iron grip, and try as hard as he could, none of them let go. "Dammit!" he roared in infernal. Looking up at Felix, the archer said, "Do you have any oil on you? Wait, forget that. We need something now!" Letting go of the cloth, he pulled out his waterskin, forewent his dexterity, and promptly emptied it over the woman's exposed hand. Seeing as the fog of ale was still affecting him, Null resorted to strength in order to get the object out. Now that her hand was watered down, the archer hoped it would make a difference. Letting the waterskin go entirely, Null resumed his attention upon the stone. Rather than prying her fingers off the stone, he pulled out his mace, flipped it around so the pommel was pointing up, and jammed the point of the handle into the pocket of her hand so as to push the object out.

[Zilfer]

Felix is surprised by the first outburst and Kamose catches her before she falls. He looks confused at Laura and then down at Dame Antonia. Without a second thought his fingers go through motions for a light spell which he places on the side of the tent to give everyone more light to see.

Then he kneels down next to Null who's trying to get it from her hand. He puts his ear towards her head and looks down her body in an attempt to see if her chest is still moving or air is still flowing from her mouth. He wasn't sure if it was common for humans to just drop like this but he had to make sure she was ok, otherwise the whole Vistani camp was going to have their heads.

"Someone grab Boris," shouted Felix after checking to make sure she was ok. He then looked to Null who was trying to force the rock from her hand. He turned to Laura, a bit of disdain showing on his face. 'More secrets.... I hate secrets.' "What is that rock and why is it important that you get rid of it? Does it have to do with that creature following you?"