Then and Now
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_{yawn blink stretch blink} the day is quiet and he rises from the first full nights sleep he has had in a month. He thinks about the dreams he continues to have. He thinks about the herbs and of the kindness and strength in the woman that gave them to him. laughing a little he tells himself he must let her know he is, at least, sleeping through the night. He gathers his armor and weapons and marches off to the temple to training. As he walks through the inn, Drudo comments on his appearance asking what is different and he just gives a little laugh.
The Watchknights not on duty offer assistance with his swing and stance giving him suggestions and advice concerning different foes. The cleric Sigmund then takes him into another room and listens as he recites the eddicts, correcting him when he is wrong and praising him with a smile when he is right.
Time has come to leave once again and take care of his duties as a Legionaire. He gathers his gear once again and thanks the Cleric for all his help, leaves an offering of gold at the alter, then heads out into Jiyyd._
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_Temple of Helm, a tired halfelf has been praying for days. to look in his eyes means to see the strength in him that has been renewed.
He is steadily attended to by the Cleric Sigmund while his prayers continure.
"here I am Lord Helm. on my knees, your relic upon the alter as instructed. tell me your bidding, show me your path. Thank you for your many blessings and for your direction to whom I should follow and learn from. you see not elf or man in me, but me, Calen your servant. may I continue to please you and be vigilant in my persuit of becoming your Watchknight.
Watch over these lands and the people in them that they may be strong and stand well against their enemies. "
Sigmund lays a hand on the young mans shoulder and he rises, then is lead off to one of the rooms to rest and sleep. he is told he has done well then swallows some herbs and feels the familiar calm they give him, then he falls off to sleep_
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_what have I done?
Central Plains, a regular patrol, no problems, no bandits, no bugs. the sound of birds, clear sky, calm. Twas as if the lands where being healed by the Gods. Reminding me of my dreams. Exactly like my dreams.
I walked, looking around, there was no threat. the cave was normally empty, except for an occasional bandit or bug. Not this time. something was wrong and I was not quick enough to escape. the darkness was thick and surrounded me, then a shock and I could not move. the spiders came from the darkness larger than two men and angry. the noise they made filled my ears and I could not move. Reach the light, just fall back into the light, nothing, my feet would not move. and a low emotionless laughing voice. "you were warned". then silence.
A bright light and I am on my knees clothed in nothing but a robe. Not able to move my legs I lay my forehead on the ground as a cloud forms around me and a sharp toned voice. "Ever watchful means always. Stand, Watch, Wait, means taking time to assess. Your patrols are watched and you do well in assuring others protection, but not of your own, especially not this day. As penence, you will not have the gifts I gave you until you have proven yourself and have earned them again. My servant Sigmund has been told, as have others. Now return and be the knight in your heart the one I called upon in the forrest so long ago. Someone awaits you though they do not know it yet. silence._
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_after patrols through the last few days days he returns to Jiyyd and his room, he lays down and and consumes the last of herbs given him. Once again the dream surfaces in his mind though the pleasant parts get bigger and bigger and he isnt feeling as tired when he rises.
standing in the cool morning air he looks around from the Temple tower enjoying the peace and quiet of Jiyyd. {nod firmly making decision and enters the temple when the sun rises over the horizon}_
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_{heavy eyes watch the fire dance. the conversation still fresh in mind. the herbs in hand. mix the herbs in the water and drink quickly to avoid taste. then a sigh. anyone watching him would think he was troubled but he is surprisingly calm and at peace. he writes, looking up from time to time, to the blazing flame in the inn. lean back eyes heavier. large deep yawn slow rise then up the stairs to a room dropping a few coin on the desk on the way. }
{mumbled} e> sleep finally. {smile thinking about the conversation}
{the bed calls in the quiet room and he lays down hopeful of a quiet slumber. over the next few days his dreams are of a peaceful sleep. warm sun and gentle breeze. looking down on his armor placing a hand on the symbol of the gauntlet with an eye in the center. a smile.he knows he is dreaming and his body rests finally. faces of friends pass. the calm sweet and enjoyable. close eyes feeling sun on face. then cool breeze. opens eyes expecting bright blue sky and there is none. dark cloud cover. and the voice}
c> {laugh } not finished fool
e> I am a warrior of Helm.
c> {laugh} Not finished with you weakling
e> you have no power over me.
c> yet
e> I stand vigilant!!
{silence. clouds clear. sun shines warm again}eyes open. no fear. no trembling. only strength. {nod and kneel, he prays} your servant thanks you Helm, thank you Torm._
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_Helm has blessed me! I have been given gifts from him that Sir Sigmund stated I needed to understand and learn more of before using them. He is wise and has much patience by letting me practice in the temple and sometimes on him to make sure I am using the gifts correctly. Sigmund came to me and sent me on a quest to return with the bones from four undead creatures using my new talent on each.
I have completed the quest he sent me on and returned the bones of the slain undead. I placed them and my holy symbol of Helm on the alter and then kneeled and prayed as instructed. With my eyes closed thanking Helm, I heard Sigmund praying outloud and then felt a touch on my head. the thoughts in my head cleared and I felt the words "Well Done" through my entire body. when I looked up all that was left was my holy symbol on the alter and Sigmund told me to take it. Then he explained that because I proved myself in the quest Helm had granted me the ability to scare the undead with his power and strength but that I should be careful and watch for when it was most needed. Not to let the gift be my only defense and that I should continue to train and follow Helms eddicts.
The dreams still haunt me and I am tired, so tired. Helm will watch over and I pray for his strength. Kyoko is dead, the answers I seek gone with her. The message from Torm strong in my mind. Helms gifts growing. I will find a way to talk with the one who can help as suggested.
Perhaps I can sleep tonight…............................................._
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_evil eyes. kind then peircing. the calm voice, soothing. then the pain. can not see coming. can not get away. air thick. heaviness I feel it.a tender caring touch,
c>please stop! scream through pain, no voice, no words - panic-
e>why? not strong enough? missed it? how could…......
c> know u, know u? voice crackle from dryness.sleep invaded dreams, no escape. then thoughts gone; Like a whisper only heard for a moment but not clearly. faces - who did this? answer - sorrow and honesty - not sure.
Dis-belief, betrayal, pain, anger, healing with renewed faith, prayer, duty, peace, and love. the strong and guiding hand and voice, a tender touch, a consoling hug, the priestess, her knight by her side, the touch of a god. the quiet friend and his comforting words, the shock of some, the disbelief of others. To look her in the face, eyes to eyes, no cringe or wince. Can not wait.
open eyes, alone {kneels} Thanks be to Helm for his watchful eye and to Torm for his grace in healing and words._
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_then,
in rags, the severely beaten and injured legionaire, Calen, was seen being lead by the hand, like a child, to Jiyyd by another Legionaire, Benji. the halfelf did not seem his alert and strong self as they were seen walking through the the Jiyyd west gate. Basha, of the Watch, shed a tear, and Vroka the healer was shocked when she saw his wounds. Benji made sure Calen was taken care of and then was seen leaving the healers grumbling about something, as Calen falls asleep.
I am here. why can I not tell him? my head still pounds and nothing Vroka does helps. but she is so kind.
c>you know it is not over. you know they will find you.
e> stop it. I am free now, free and safe.
c>you just have to be careful. very careful.
e> why wont you just let me sleep. we are safe now
c> not yet. Not until all is settled with Alice…....{well made glove smashing into his face, hearing inside his head the bones crunch. the pain -punch-. i must endure. -slap punch- i can not see. the light from -punch- the flames} open eye, calming to her touch and feeling her care for him. Radriel... fall off to sleep again.
Now,
still dark -punch slap- "speak common, you know I can not understand you" -slap punch- {do not forget, obey her commands, face bones can not hold much longer} "yes M'am"
BRIGHT LIGHT floating. silver blue clouds. free. no darkness. no pain. distant cloud forms shape. smile watching it relaxing. cloud moves quick turning dark, form face woman scarred}"not done with you"
eyes open._
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_After Eldoih´s last meeting with Calen he had wonder what really was going on…
Calen had been slayed by a gang of bandits after defending a Half-Orc and when Eldoih returned to the Temple of Helm to pray for his brother, he prayed that Helm would guard and watch over Calen´s soul. what happened the next seconds could not be explained, Eldoih where so focused and concentrated in his praying, When he opened his eyes he could see his brother Calen laying on the floor before him.
After helping Calen up and tried to talk to him he notice that Calen only spoke in elvish, with was strange because Calen normally spoke the language of humans. Eldoih asked Calen about this and found out that Calen didn´t even know he spoke elvish.
They whet to the Inn to talk about what had happen to Calen for a while, After a few hour´s did Eldoih leave Calen to rest, because he needed patrol the lands around Jiyyd.
That is the last time he saw Calen._
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_concentrate. blood. tangy water. my head still throbs. I can not breath through my nose. it feels like a weight sitting on my face. the beatings continued and the chains hold. what can i do. i am weakened. there is nothing and no one around and my cries go unheard. Helm will watch over me. I am not dead and that is something I am grateful for. i can only see out of one eye so i keep them closed. the pounding in my head does not hurt as much then. I wait in disbelief.
that is now, concentrate on the good. stay awake.
my brother Eldoih's prayers to Helm were heard {painful smile} and Helm brought me back aft i had given my life for another. Though He held onto my understanding of common, why? Then Felix cast a spell that {painful laugh} did something, though I am not certain what and my speech changed again. Frustrated I ran back into the Inn, then Kyoko…... {passes out}_