This post has the following content warnings:
View Flat HTML
View Metadata
Search Post
She doesn't know where she is, except it's certainly not anywhere home. The last thing she remembers is that they were trecking through Forbidden Lands, to a spot where Miquella chose to build his haven, and now, she's somewhere else entirely.
Miquella is here too... and it looks like he is wounded and in a lot of pain. There seems to be a city nearby, maybe someone there can help. She picks him up, and walks towards the city.
The guards will see a large red-haired woman approach, helmet covering her face, one of her arms and both her legs replaced with golden prostheses, carrying a smaller blonde person in white cloth in her hands.
The Malformed Twins in wotr
like-a-river-flows
Shiiiine.
Everyone in the village stops what they were doing as hope hope hope is beamed straight into their hearts.
Some of the neathers hug themselves, or each other. Some start shaking, or praying, or both.
Chief Sull blinks away tears from his bad eye. "Sho it'sh true... the angel did not forshake ush. Back, back from the dead he came, to shave ush and our children."
"I'll shend a messenger to gather all the tribesh. It will take time, but they will all come, for the Light. Wait, Lann. Wait, uplandersh. Resht a while in our hutsh. Our home ish your home."
that-which-does-not-kill-us
"If you lead everyone into the Maze without even scouting ahead, they will be massacred," Wenduag says coldly, "and I will have no part of it."
so-awesome
"She's right, Chief. And we can't wait until tomorrow to rescue the kids. The uplanders want to go now and I think Wenduag and I should go with them."
Chief Sull sighs. "If we must follow without sheeing the Light, we will follow. Go, Lann, Wenduag. Make ush proud. Remember we are the underground crushadersh."
somebody-has-to
He was hoping a bit that it would, but he does know that the properties of his home aren't universal.
"We can stay for about an hour for me to figure out healing, or go to the Maze right now. Wenduag, do you expect it to make a difference for the kids?"
so-awesome
"We'll want healing ourselves when we go into the Maze, not just for Anevia. It's probably worth waiting for, but are you sure you'll have it in an hour?"
somebody-has-to
"I think so. I know how the spell works, I'll just need to adjust it to work here..."
no-graven-image
"Then we should probably wait. I have a few lay on hands but not enough for six, and the children might be wounded too. We don't have any wizards, so we can keep on fighting as long as we have healing."
the-word-for-world-is-golarion
They are welcome to rest in the tribe's huts and buy supplies from its trader and cleric-of-Abadar Dyra!
to-quine-a-quine
But first, they are accosted by an older human man in fine dress.
"Finally, someone else from the surface! I was beginning to lose hope!" His eyes dart to Camellia's face, and then stay firmly away.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Horgus Gwerm - no doubt you have heard of me if you've spent any time in the city. And I have a proposition for you: if you lead me safely to the surface, I will pay you a thousand crowns."
cannot-be-false-to-any-man
Anevia smiles ruefully. "Of all the people to meet down here... I am glad you survived the fall!"
to-quine-a-quine
"A miracle of Abadar, to be sure. And I am sorry to see you wounded; that makes two of us who need safeguarding."
no-graven-image
"Miquella's going to heal her! We're waiting for him to, uh... figure it out, but he says it'll only take an hour. But we're going into a dangerous situation; we can't in good faith take civilians with us."
to-quine-a-quine
"My offer stands. If it is too dangerous now, then come back for me after you've cleared the way."
somebody-has-to
"Of course. We'll set off for the Shield Maze once I can get Anevia healed, it's supposed to lead to the surface. Once we have a safe route, you're welcome to come."
to-quine-a-quine
"I will wait here, then." Anevia is welcome to sit and chat with him to take her mind off her leg while she waits for healing.
no-graven-image
...they are welcome to rest in the tribe's huts, etc!
(Seelah gently intercepts Dyra, who is very eager to trade with surfacers, so that Miquella can have some quiet to concentrate in.)
somebody-has-to
He'll sit down, and focus on rederiving healing magic from fundamentals, which to outside observer looks like tracing golden shapes in the air with his finger.
like-a-river-flows
Malenia sits next to him, unclasps her arm, and removes her helmet, revealing her face to be also consumed by disease, including both her eyes.
She looks tired, but is still ready to fight, should anyone threaten them.