27th of Flamerule, 1491 Salt Marsh
Recovery from Revelation
27th of Flamerule, time of day?
Nevil’s Ritual
I’m going to assume that either Cirilli is able to give directions to an appropriate spot or, if not, that we walk along the riverbank near Ferrel’s home until we find an area with quiet water.
Atalaya glances around the area looking for any dangers. Seeing nothing that concerns her, she turns to Nevil and asks, “How about here? This seems like what you described.”
"This will work just fine," Nevil says, assessing the area. She turns to Atalaya, "I appreciate you coming to watch my back. Especially at this inconvenient hour. So much change at one time leaves me unsettled."
Nevil unrolls a straw mat placing it on a dry spot near the water. She explains, "this is a ritual of absolution and dedication. I may have mentioned before that these are best done skyclad. Is that ok? I've done these so many times before it doesn't phase me anymore.”
Atalaya looks around the area. The water of pond was calm and reflected the setting sun. The sky was a brilliant glowing oranges and pinks. The clouds drifted across the area, their darked blues and grays contrasting with the brighter sky colors. The forest ended about 30 to 40 yards from the pond, allowing a short strip of meadowland in the area that Nevil had chosen to place her mat. Birdsong could be heard around the clearing. Atalaya nodded to herself. This seemed a safe spot for Nevil’s ceremony.
“Whatever is customary is fine. Skinny dipping isn’t going to shock me. I prefer to swim that way myself. I’ll just move back a bit to give you some privacy. I’ll keep watch for you. Do you need me to do anything else?” Atalaya scans the area again, noting a large rock about 20 feet from the bank. It looked newish to her, like it perhaps the recent stormy weather had left it in its present position. “I’ll just watch from here.”
Nevil smiles, "This is a really pretty spot. Yeah that rock is fine." Nevil puts her hands up in front of herself, "hey, I'm just checking. I don't want to make things weird. Speaking of which, if you sketch this later, don't let Boz or Sorrow see it." With a more serious tone and turning to her preparations, "Yeah, think warm thoughts. This has never worked for me before."
Nevil waits for Atalaya to find her perch before she begins. She then faces the water and casually disrobes, placing her clothes and personal items in a neat pile near the mat. Her body is athletic with an obvious muscular definition, however; it retains the softness and proportions of a mother. Aside from the scar behind her ear, she also has a scar under her ribs on the right side and another across her left shoulder blade. Marks of battles past.
She kneels on the mat, sitting quietly on her ankles for some time and then she breaks the silence softly speaking to herself,
"Still Mother forgive my weakness. I have added to the suffering of the world... Her voice shakes, "I abandon my friends thinking only of my grief while they battled horrors alone." Nevil's voice chokes, "If I had stayed... Nathan, the girls, and now the master... I did not see... but I do now." Prostrating herself before the water, Nevil weeps quietly.
She returns to sitting and collects herself. With a firm certainty, "Mother we seek to destroy the Eye of Death and to cleanse the world of its corruption. I know its taint, and the wickedness of those who seek its use, are beyond your grace. I offer myself. Allow me to make this my life's purpose. Let my heart and mind be clear to serve in this way. Let me not be blinded again."
Nevil stands and steps into the water. Wading to her mid-chest, she bathes reciting words of ritual that cannot be heard. She raises her hands into the sky then dips below the surface for several moments and emerges floating face up to the sky. Her body still... She simply, is...
A dreamlike awareness swells. Forming within her mind are chaotic images; chasing, thick brush, breathing hard, struggle, panic... Then she breaks through into silence. Into a familiar grotto; the waterfall and willow tree from Atalaya’s sketch. She approaches to see a strong white stag and two pale fawns at the water's edge near the tree.
Then, rising from the water beside her, a presence she has never felt so strongly. A tall thinly clad woman with a radiance both stunning and deeply comforting. The two women stand together watching the family forage near the water unaware of their presence. Memories begin to flash into Nevil's awareness; the eyes of Nathan's pursuit, laying aglow in his embrace, the birth of their girls, rocking them, leaving them behind, news of the attack, entering their home to find... crushing weight.
Desperate to be near them again and to beg for their forgiveness, Nevil crashes forward into the water. The woman catches Nevil's hand. Swiftly drawing it in toward her, she pulls Nevil close and into her embrace. Falling into the woman's radiance and then to her own knees in the water, Nevil's soul weeps from guilt. Her head is cradled and resting on the Still Mother's bare stomach. Then entering into her mind, a voice, "be still child, they have been with me."
From the mother's embrace, Nevil watches as the stag stands tall, surveying his surroundings. Then he turns, leading the fawns slowly through the boughs of the willow. The Still Mother, continuing to embrace Nevil, wades with her deeper into the water. Pulling Nevil off her feet to float, she cradles her weightless body. Everything but the Still Mother's presence falls away. Then the voice again, "go forth in my name, unburdened." Released from embrace, Nevil floats timeless upon a vast stillness until she finds forgiveness within herself.
Then like a single drop of water falling into a cup in the night, the pool loudly reverberates. Nevil awakens. Still floating in the river, she opens her eyes to find clouds in the sunset and swallows flying overhead. It has been about a half-hour when Nevil wades out of the pool. She is quiet and expressionless while she dries and clothes herself. She doesn't seem to notice Atalaya’s approach as she folds her mat.
As the sun sank lower in the sky, Atalaya watched over Nevil as she floated in the river. The sudden appearance of a pair of swallows flittering across the valley and over the river startled Atalaya. She quickly scanned the area surrounding them, but saw nothing that was out of place. When Nevil stood and made her way to the shore, Atalaya made her way quietly to her mat although Nevil did not seem to see her. She watched as Nevil dressed and then folded up her mat, waiting for Nevil to say something. The solemn feeling of moment pierced through Atalaya.
"My offering was accepted. This ritual has never worked before. But it did tonight. My path is certain.”
“I’m glad to hear that. What just happened? Something did, you were under the water so long I almost dived in after you. But just as I was about to move, I couldn’t. But at the same time I felt as if I didn’t need to. And then you reappeared and just floated in the water, unmoving for so long.”
Nevil only half hears what Atalaya has said. She turns to Atalaya, finally seeing that she is there too. Nevil's eyes water with relief and a softness falls over her face, "Atalaya, I rededicated myself to the Still Mother's service, specifically to our work to destroy the Eye. Then, I... I was visited. I have never felt her presence so... it was vivid. We were in the grotto you drew. She showed me Nathan and the girls. They are at peace and with her. They always have been. I..." Nevil pulls Atalaya into a hug, "thank you.”
“You were in the grotto I drew? How can that be? I just drew it. It reminds me of the headwaters of the Unicorn Run, but it isn’t …. I haven’t… You saw your family?”
“Yes! Come. I will describe everything while we walk back. It was like a heavy dream…”
Nearing the bridge “... and then I woke up to find two swallows overhead."
Nevil turns to Atalaya, I don't have to understand it all to know I am where I need to be. You have my sword until the Eye is destroyed or... until the Eye is destroyed."
As they are about to take their first step on the bridge, Nevil watches as Atalaya shudders, takes a deep breath and resolutely steps forward. She doesn’t say anything until they have crossed the bridge and moved slightly away from it into the town.
“It does sound as though you have truly been in the presence of your Still Mother. Does knowing that she has your family in her care bring you the peace you have been seeking?”
Nevil stops walking, "No, not yet. But I feel like it's ok to... " Nevil voice strains, "I can see myself getting there and I fear less.”
Nevil asks, “If you have never seen the headwaters, how do you know that's what it is? what does it mean?”
“The headwaters of Unicorn Run are a very sacred place. The whole river is. It is said that the headwaters are the Font of Life, that it is where the womb of Chauntea brought forth the different races of the land… the elves, halflings, humans, dwarves etc. Mielikki often roams along the banks of the river. She often takes the form of a Unicorn when she does so. I’ve seen the headwaters once, during a Greengrass celebration. Mielikki brought the unicorn herd to Olaescoa and I was able to ride one on that night. She brought us to many places throughout the Sword Coast and throughout Cormyr. Some that I have been able to identify and some that I am still uncertain of. We stopped at the headwaters and were able to make an offering there before we proceeded to the other places she showed us that night. I have made the ride a couple of times now, but that was the only time we stopped at the headwaters. Perhaps because we had no one making the ride for the first time.”
Nevil thinks on Atalaya’s words, "well, Meilikki and Eldath were sisters. Maybe that was a nod from Meilikki? or maybe that part wasn't for me? It's hard to say.”
“What an amazing festival that must be! Was it like a renewal of faith?”
“On the nights of Greengrass, Midsummer Night and Shieldmeet the goddess gathers herds of unicorns that those of the faithful can ride on that night. They carry us bareback on that night. The herds gather in sacred places in the many forests that Mielikke watches over. The place of gathering in the High Forest is not that far from Olaescoa.” Atalaya thinks for a moment. “I had not thought of the ride as a renewal of faith, but in a way I guess it is. It is a time of celebration and adventure certainly, and is for those of the faith.”
Nevil smiles warmly, "this has been a good ending to a shitty day. Time to check in on the boys, or should we pretend to take longer?”
“It started out okay. We found the dagger we were searching for, a statue that we can sell to Captain Zendros and a scrying altar. I would say that is a fine day’s work.”
Atalaya considered Nevil’s question. “I think you should check on Inman. He probably doesn’t want to see me right now. Let’s get back to the ship.” Sneaking a sideways glance at Nevil and smiling wickedly, she added, “Besides, I have a couple of special pictures to draw.”
"You're right, it wasn't all bad. Hell, I even bonded with Sorrow a bit." Nevil sighs, "oh poor Inman. I'll see if he wants dinner alone."
Nevil laughs, glad to lighten the mood again. Then caressing her own rear, turning it to Atalaya, "well, make sure you capture my best side."
Atalaya laughs, “If that is the side you want.”
Back on Board the Hond Ebrath: Nevil and Inman
The two board the ship and go below. Nevil grabs two hot cups of regular tea from the galley and approaches her cabin. She respectfully knocks and then opens the door slowly to find Inman sitting on the storage crate near the wall. The journal is closed on his lap. He turns to look at her as she enters.
Nevil approaches and draws near, handing him a cup of tea and placing her hand on his back. "Do you feel like taking dinner with the rest of us? what can I do?”
"Yes, I'll join you for supper. No point sitting in here stewing." He touches her arm, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "Nothing. I'm alright. It was just a lot to process." He gets up, stretching his back and handing her the journal. "Thank you for being there."
Nevil catches his arm before they leave. With a kind tone, "What you said earlier, I get it, and that concern goes both ways. So, if tonight is too much to ask, or if you want space after today's revelations, I'll understand. So much has happened.” Nevil smiles playfully. “It does beat a ship's hammock though.”
Inman smiles warmly at her. "Thank you for that. But I promise you, I'm alright. Or, I will be, at least."
Nevil smiles at Inman reassuringly, squeezing his arm gently, and nods.
Nevil and Inman appear from her cabin, both carrying cups of warm tea. Inman sits at the table placing the journal on the table. Nevil enters the galley looking to see where she can help or at least to begin coffee preparations.
Dinner
Atalaya places the sandwiches she prepared on the table and then sits down next to Inman. “I’m sorry to have been the one to bring you such hard news. But if I had withheld it and then you found out later that I had, you would have been upset not only about the information, but also because I had not told you.” Placing her hand lightly on his forearm she added, “And I want you to be able to trust us to tell you truthfully what we know.”
After a moment of silence she continues, “Do you know Kay? If not, would you like to meet him? We will need to stop in Riverport on our way south.”
Nevil brings hot coffee and fruit to the table behind Atalaya and sits. Adding, "That might be a good idea. He is the only one remaining and may be able to provide answers or insight the journal cannot.”
Inman nods and manages a smile at her. "It's alright. You're right I needed to know. And sooner rather than later. I am embarrassed to say that I never connected the name. I have spoken to him, and all this time, I had no idea who he was. So yes, I'd very much like to meet him officially."
“And I am sure that he will want to meet you. He was affected by that adventure too. He lost his memories in that place. But they have been slowly coming back to him since we recognized him and have shared what we knew. I think that it will be very good for both of you to meet each other.” Atalaya awkwardly pats his arm again and then moves over to the other side of the table to sit with Vasilya and Cirilli.
"Any idea what caused the memory loss?" Nevil said, reaching for some grapes.
"Where is Sorrow? We've been teasing him all day about playing.”
After Dinner Music and talk of Books
"Speak of the devil, am I right?" Sorrow takes this cue to come back into the common area, plucking at his fiddle strings and looking pleased with his own wit. He swishes his tail, settling it around his calves, humming to himself as he bounces his bow on the strings and then tests the tone again. "New E string." he mumbles. "The cult that killed Elaria's group and took over the library was a cult of Vecna. Vecna is the Lord of Secrets. The cult used dark magic to render the tomes inside unreadable and destroy the memories of the...guardian...inside. I suspect Kay was inside, still alive, when that happened. Alright, Atalaya, here's your song."
https://youtu.be/sjLyRTwaEp4?si=-0GOOF59tBty3hRE
Okay, here's the filk. I wrote it for our Lord of the Rings Online game, because characters can play music in that, but the words work well enough for this. Shoulda remembered it.
So close no matter how far
The boundless night will fill with stars
Remember this as darkness falls
And nothing else matters
Don your breastplate and your greaves
'gainst starless darkness from the East
Stand with song, with sword in hand
And nothing else matters
Trust in starlight, bright in view,
Trust your fellows, steadfast true
Trust most in the strength of you
And nothing else matters
Always watch for what they do
Always hear for what they know
And we know
So close no matter how far
The boundless night will fill with stars
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters
Always watch for what they do
Always hear for what they know
And we know
When the night is full of eyes
In our ears are whispered lies
Turn your face to the shining skies
And nothing else matters
Wipe away the tears we've cried
Square shoulders against the tide
Drive shadows back to hide
And nothing else matters
Always watch for what they do
Always hear for what they scheme
Always watch for what they do
Always hear for what they know
And we know
So close no matter how far
The boundless night will fill with stars
Remember this as darkness falls
And nothing else matters
Nevil is entranced by Sorrow’s playing. Obviously impressed, "Did you write that? I can see why they have you back year after year. Well done sir.”
Atalaya’s eyes sparkle as she tries to listen to the words of the song although the music itself has her entranced. She sat quietly as the song faded away. “Would you play that again please? I didn’t quite catch all the words, and I want to remember them. They are beautiful and I think something that we all need to hear right now. At least I need to hear them.” Attempting to make puppy dog eyes at Sorrow. “Please?”
"Of course," Sorrow says. "Anything for you, you know that. I'm glad you liked it so much." He nods at Nevil, fitting the instrument to his shoulder again, "I did. Thank you kindly for the compliment." He launches into the song again, the sweet notes from the strings filling the dim crew quarters.
(Kathy, if you want to hear the original, here it is.
https://youtu.be/tAGnKpE4NCI?si=MDlpBIa1xwc2aJcA
Atalaya was right. With the second pass through all the lyrics, Nevil looks around the table at the group she will be trusting with her life. Come what may, this will be her new family. She smiles to herself.
Atalaya sits quietly, listening to Sorrow’s voice, quietly subvoicing the chorus to herself as she tries to learn the words. As Sorrow finishes she smiles at Sorrow. “Yes, a very appropriate song for all of us right now. I like it.”
Looking around the table her gaze returns to Sorrow. “You said to go into the library at Candlekeep that we needed to provide an ‘appropriate’ book per person. Did you actually find any that you think they will find acceptable while you were searching in Riverport? Or do we need to recheck that library before we head south?”
"Well," Sorrow says, shuffling over to the stove and poking around absentmindedly. "Cirdan's given me a few he thought might work. I'd like a pretty good assortment before we get all the way down there. And of course, Kay is at the library at the Entertainer's Guildhall finding us a few he could give us."
“Where else should we look for books? There are a number of towns as we travel south along the coastline. Blue Haven, Somerset, Baldur’s Gate to name a few. I’ve heard that Baldur’s Gate is a really large city, surely if we haven’t found some books before there, we would have plenty of places to look there.”
“We also need to check out the area around the Pillars of Pelagia to be sure that the storm giant is not actually impacting any of the towns. I think that they were all far enough from the wizard’s tower, but we should be sure of that.”
You hear the grate on the front of the stove open and then close. "Captain Eliander has a small library, but not sure how willing he'd be to part with any books. I understand we might have better luck in Blue Haven. " He comes back to the table chewing on something. His teeth are coated in black crumbs. "So, he says, licking his lips and crunching thoughtfully. "Might not be a bad idea to hit as many places as we can on the way south. Baldeur's Gate would have a lot of books...but it's also pretty close to Candlekeep, so..." He shrugs.
Boz settles his elbows and the table and rubs his beard. "We're going to have to be careful going around the rocks near the Stacks* in the boat, yes? Of course, the weather will be bad."
*The Stacks is the nickname for the sea stacks occasionally dotting the shallows between Riverport and Blue Haven, of which the Pillars of Pelagia are the biggest and most notable.
“We will have to warn Annie. We definitely don’t want to get the ship caught up in the storm. I’ve grown quite fond of Hond Ebrath. … When we must be at sea anyway.”
Nevil, perks up and grins. "I''ve been around a ship a time or two. I'm not saying I'm a professional sailor, but we can be taught like a green crew. If Annie needs more hands, we can learn the basics to let the more experienced crew handle the hard parts.”
“This is when we are going to miss Ivar. He has a long history on the sea and we kind of kept this boat because of him. I wonder if we will run into him when we get to Riverport, or if he will be on his way back here. We seem to keep missing him.”
Nevil considers, “We can have a message sent to him, or left for him, in a variety of ways. If you think he will return, we can let him know our general port schedule.”
Turning to the bard, “Sorrow, got a lively tune in you tonight?”
If I may recommend**…
**I may say, some of the best pickers alive today.
This is excellent. The house of Tom Bombadil, too!
I was going to say this, but why not both?
https://youtu.be/jvipPYFebWc?si=4TI31MRaVQISAO4n
Nevil and Inman Bedtime Conversations
Lightly groaning, Nevil stretches to audibly crack her back. Her muscles are tightening from the day's work. "I'm going to throw in and see you tomorrow. I was up before the sun." Nevil, stands, clears several items from the table, and after a few minutes in the galley, enters her cabin closing the door behind her.
Expecting Inman to follow her at some point, she changes clothes and readies for the night before sitting on the bed with a prayer book. Her mind replays the revelations of the day and she never opens the book.
"Deep in thought, I see." Inman enters the berth and closes the door softly behind him.
With Inman's arrival, Nevil gets up to place her book back in her pack, "a hell of a first day wasn't it?."
Inman laughs, placing a few items on the table. "At one point I wasn't sure which would happen first; either Atalaya was going to throw me off the ship, or Boz and Sorrow were going to jump the table and throttle me." Inman rolls back the covers on the far side of the bed and gets comfortable. Stacking two pillows, he props himself up and smiles. "I like them. They are already protective of you."
Nevil looks at him with apologetic eyes while she takes down her hair. "They have reason to be cautious. Besides, I knew you could handle yourself." Nevil laments, "I wish we had known them sooner. Maybe things would have been different."
With an arm outstretched and lifting the covers, Inman beckons her to find a place with him. "No more of that," he directed, "come here." Then under his gaze, Nevil snuffs the lamp and comes to bed. As she slides her feet under the covers, his heart quickens. For before him was something he thought he would never see again.
Nevil draws near, resting her head on the side of his chest with an arm draped around his stomach. He is careful with her; only moving when she does to find a comfortable fit. His arm curled around her back with a hand resting over her waist. She can't help but to notice his breathing and the beat of his heart. Understandably, he was as nervous as she. Not long ago this would have been an unthinkable transgression. So much had changed.
Despite that, it did not take long for them to soften into each other and for warmth to come upon them both. While they had been parted as a couple for nearly a decade, habits of familiarity returned unconsciously. Such that neither of them thought it strange, when, after a few quiet moments, the fingers of Inman's idle hands lightly traced lines back and forth over her back. Nevil melted. For whatever this would become, in this moment, his familiar scent and touch was as close to home that she could be.
Nevil sighs deeply, "I am so sorry about your grandfather. Given what we face, knowing what the master faced alone... You should know I rededicated myself in service to Eldath tonight for the destruction of The Eye. As long as it takes, I will help you find justice for your family."
"And you must know that I won't rest until we find that for yours," he says quickly. "I swear it." He pulled her against him so that her back rested against his chest, and closed his arms around her. "It will be alright, Maggie. You're not alone."
"I need you to tell me. Did they ever find enough evidence to prove who was responsible for the death of my family and our friends? There can never be justice for "traitors" can there?
"No. Not yet. But Maggie, we've not given up looking. That's one of the things Poppy...sorry, Seraphina...is relentlessly investigating. We won't stop."
Though gently spoken, Inman's words weigh heavy upon her. Her breath becomes broken and her few tears fall on his arm.
He tightens his arms around her, making sure she is surrounded by strength and warmth. He gently, softly, kisses the top of her head and settles his chin around the curve of her head. Some time after, Nevil's breath becomes the regular and slow rhythm of sleep.
Then, for a time more, Inman measures his own thoughts. In truth, he had no way of knowing if Maggie's request would end up being too much to ask. Though content for now, he keeps her close and follows behind her into sleep.
sorry had to plug a song
*I have always said that when the government forces us all to get gay married, I absolutely have dibs on Melissa Etheridge.
forces us to get gay married?! what? oh but no, you're going to have to fight me… why wait? not freebie 5 but maybe freebie 10. :-D
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