In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 508):

Titus comes out of M'Kon's hut and takes charge of Enrei's press conference turning it back towards him and gets his shoulder checked up.  Once again calling attention to the bloodlessness of the bandage.
He takes Enrei by a shoulder and steer him towards the house of the sewing ladies.

My beauties.

He says by way of salutation kissing each of their hands in turn with a courtly bow.

I know you'd have to be deaf and blind not to have heard and seen but I must admit that I was not fully honest with you earlier.  Please know that it gave me no pleasure to do so.  We not a simple traveling band.  We are the vanguard of the Lord Fastbender.  The pebbles that herald the avalanche.  Forgive me my deception.  As you heard in my stories prior our lord is great in power but light in coin owing to his holdings being destroyed.  If I may ask for a favor of more clothing from you beyond the tabards that you are so generously making I would greatly appreciate it.  I would request a set of livery made up for my companions and myself.  Brennan is currently getting his leg stitched up and I have brought our islander.  We have two more that are not here one is a tall male slight of build the other more standard. 

Titus directs the ladies in the fabric, the cuts and the styles and allows them to do the measurements.  He picks something that is rugged and durable for Enrei, something that could maybe be put over leather and will replace his rags.  For himself he has something that is loosely fitting but well tailored something that will not hamper his flexibility but could also pass as dining attire.  For Brennan he requests something that could be used outdoors but also in academic settings.  More delicate than the others.  Deev and Bryce will have standard livery.
I know I am asking you for the moon, but your town's hospitality will not be forgotten and one day you will be made part song. 
This message was last edited by the player at 15:52, Thu 11 Aug 2016.

Enrei toddles along with Titus and allows the seamstresses to measure whatever they require.  Once freed of the ways of clothing he wanders the town a bit aimlessly, any townsfolk still interested in interrogating him don't have a difficult time of it.  Eventually he finds himself with one of the local goatherds asking about the finer points of taming goats.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 510):

Titus has his usual self-serving performance.  He will tell the stories of Enrei's slaying the serpent with the necessary embellishments to make it shine fairly well but then will go into fairly explicit detail regarding him getting knocked unconscious.

The crowd is sitting on the edge of their sites as the story reaches its Nadir with the giant subdued, the witch shifting her focus to the archer, the other witch lurking in the shadows and snuffling and shuffling coming from the corridor.  It was at this point that Titus and Brennan struck...

He describes how Brennan blinded the one witch with an ingenious trick of sand to the eyes and followed it up by shoving her into the fire.  Titus falls writhing onto the stage cutting loose the exact same wail that was heard in the town earlier that day.

And the witch in the shadows began to transform, demonic power growing her to fill the cavern with her darkness... Wings sprouted and her eyes glowed red and she loomed over the giant on the ground readying her finishing blow.  That was when I quickly and quietly from the shadows snuck behind her and climbed to great vantage (as he does this he... somehow manages to silently leap from a chair seat to the back of another chair onto a stack of barrels and into the rafters.  He perches there looking down at the crowd as they held their collective breathes as he leaps out of the rafters screaming

I VANQUISH YOU TO THE DREAM OF HELL IN THE NAME OF LORD FASTBENDER!

with an acrobatic 360 landing doing the splits bringing his wood sword in an overhand stroke he demonstrates his technique for cleaving the witch in twain.

Thereby saving our giant from certain death at the hands of a horrible monster.

Titus jumps down into the crowd and goes to Enrei and hugs him.  He puts a hand on the side of his head and the touch foreheads smiling he nods.  The crowd aaaaaws appreciatively and he speaks quietly to Enrei so his neighbors can hear.

Sorry this was the first chance I had to tell you what happened while you were unconscious.  I saved your life.  You're welcome. 

He turns back to the audience

Just before Enrei came to I saw the specter of the demon escape the tunnel in the midst of a lightning storm flying out to cause as much destruction in its dying throws as possible.  I watched unable to do anything and breathed a silent supplication that my lord might hear me and smite the monster.  As I did a beam of holy light pieced the demons chest and it burst into ashes, and then I fell into a fugue state.

I can only assume that my lord was able to use the ruby bracelet given to him by an angel at great distance, and great peril to himself to smite the monster.

Titus goes on to describe the bracelet that he conveniently 'forgot' he was wearing and the somehow caught the light earlier in the day.  He is not wearing it now.  That story turns into other stories of his conquest and how Titus and Brennan became pledged to Fastbender and some small information about their postions.  Enough to understand they are close to the lord and important but with plenty of room for imagination to spread.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Fri 12 Aug 2016.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 511):

The crowds do not thin much as the daylight fades.  Instead, chairs and tables are pushed aside and barrels rolled out, only the finest for their heroes!

All agree it is the best tale they've ever heard, and the ladies of the sewing circle especially agree it's the best told story they've ever heard.

Some harbor clinging doubts, and M'kon indulges them by performing the nightly ritual of the barrier.  As before, men armed with torches and spears take up their patrols as the rest of the town revels with Titus and Enrei at the center.

Brennan largely passes the time alone with the journal.

"Old habits die hard," M'kon says with a shrug.  "The return of our messenger from the mountains will lay the rest of our fears to rest."

The townsfolk don't have much in the way of money, but anything else they have is yours for the taking.  You are given beds to sleep in, your wounds and clothes are mended, your weapons sharpened, and your thirst and hunger sated.


It is the 16th Day of the Queen's Month

The morning is chilly and to the South dark clouds gather.  The people say there will be rain on the morrow.

You are given an impressive feast to break your fast, and the questions do not cease.

Brennan slips out at first light to spend some time with M'kon in his hut.

In reply to GM (msg # 512):

Brennan smiles contentedly as he traces his fingers across his map.

"Thank you," he says to M'kron. "I appreciate your assistance."

He will then wait for word from Bryce and Deev, or their arrival. If nothing is heard by early afternoon, he will gather Titus and Enrei together and discuss traveling back themselves.

"This town is hospitable and friendly, but what we need are nonperishable food, water, blankets, tents, rope, and firewood. Our journey next takes us north, to Lost Helm and the ruins beyond."

He smiles at them, the first time he's seemed truly happy since you met him.

"I finally know the way."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 513):

Titus makes a pained face

Great, but, here is the deal, I have the seamstresses making up a whole mess of Fastbender clothing.  Though it will take a few days.  I assume once we go to Losthelm there is no coming back here... so I need to wait until its finished.  This is an integral part of the story we are telling and will open many doors for us.  I promise you will be glad to have it.

While the ladies are making up our clothing I can put together provisions of food and camping equipment.  What are we deficient in?  Once we get this set up then we can be on our way.


/ooc how long will my project take them?/ooc

"Days?" Enrei, who has been fairly calm and amenable to the drinks in the evening and feast in the morning pales suddenly at Titus's statement, "But we have to do mercenary.  There is no money to collect.  We are heroes here, now we have to go into sunset.  To the north," Enrei waves vaguely to the east as he frantically looks to Brennan for confirmation of their urgency.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 515):

"I'd rather get going sooner than later, myself," Brennan confirms. "And if Bryce and Deev don't show up in a few hours, 'sooner' is going to mean 'today'. How long do you need, exactly, and... why do we need such clothing?"

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 516):

Titus assumes the exact same scolding tone that Brennan did with him in M'Kon's hut.

Brennan, I thought you were supposed to be the smart one.  People believe that Fastbender is real now they need to see him or he will lose much of his power and become apocryphal.  We've worked too hard for this and I don't think we can spin the wheel again for a new  identity.

Also clothing changes perspective thats why costuming is 3/4 of performance.  We come walking out of the woods filthy and ragged up to a farm and the farmer says

I don't want not trouble.  And your dark giant there scares me.  Move along, please.

...now we walk up to a farmhouse dressed in matching livery of Fastbender *Titus acts starstruck*

I've heard of you!  Is it true that you know the name of the wind?  Does it come when you call?  Oh Titus I've heard that your voice can make an angel weep.  Come in!  Come in!  I won't stand to have you out in the cold.

What if you need a book or.... *stumbles thinking of academic tools* or.... stuff from a school or from the inquisitors.  Do you think they are going to let filthy mercenary leader Brennan in on his word that he belongs there?  Or do we show up in livery the principal of the school is so taken with having THE lord Fastbender under his roof that he gives us the run of the place for days.

This gives us credence to EVERYTHING I've been doing since we left. This lordling has been born backwards... legend first, then life.  I've planted our reputation, its time to sew it.

By the time Titus ends he has lapsed from teasing exasperation to impassioned.  He throws a look over his shoulder at Enrei

...also... we are going to run out of people who are excited and curious to see Enrei.  Soon people are going to start getting hostile and afraid.  You know this as do I.  I'm accepting of Enrei as we had a Cha'li strongman in my group, and he is the only person I know who was nicer than Enrei.  Don't act so insulated that you think there is no difference between the way people will treat a giant black mercenary and a giant black retainer in service to a powerful lordling. 

/ooc I will tell him how long I expect it to take once the GM tells me /ooc

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 517):

The full request will take at least another day.

In reply to GM (msg # 518):

Brennan will begin to head back once it becomes clear his allies won't return by early afternoon, with the promise to be back the next day.

OOC: Based on the previous conversation, I presume we meet up with them part of the way back, at which point Brennan will return to town with Deev and Bryce.

Once everyone's back in town, he will attempt to gather everyone together in a private space, assuming one can be found.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 519):

Once Brennan starts looking for an empty space Titus easily clears out the people in the area with a combination of smiles cajolery and threats of insanity if they listen to their conversation.

Things that are best left untouched.  Cherish you ignorance, I still mourn the loss of mine to this day.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:39, Thu 18 Aug 2016.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 520):

Once everyone who's coming is gathered in the private room (with or without Bryce and Deev, though assuming they either arrived or told our messengers they would remain at camp for a while longer), Brennan unfurls a map, lays out the journal, and sets one of his two stones nearby.

"It's time we talked about our mission in earnest," Brennan begins. "Please listen attentively, and if something confuses you, I will be happy to answer questions about it or repeat it."

He glances at Enrei.

"I can speak in your native tongue for the complicated bits, if you would find that helpful."

"Perhaps you don't quite know what to think of me. Am I huntsman? A scholar? A priest? A mercenary captain? Or maybe something in between?"

He smiles slightly.

"I am less concerned with labels than most... but I would, if pressed, profess myself to be a prophet. I have the gift of tongues, and have had it since well before we were granted our other powers. Before I knew the name of the wind. And I attended the Academy, where I learned many wondrous philosophies... each flawed, tarnished, imperfect."

Brennan motions to the stone on the table.

"This stone is engraved in both Fell and Angelic. You may believe the former language to be taboo. If so, you are free to take your leave of this mission. The hard truth is that it is a necessary evil... if a language can ever be inherently aligned with an ethos at all."

"It is through mastery of the Fell language that I learned how to discern and pierce the doors that connect our realities together. And it is this familiarity, combined with my gifts, that has now allowed me to become the only living person I know who can understand Angelic."

He points at the journal.

"I say living, because the madman who wrote this journal spoke it. Or at least transcribed it, word for word. As did whoever carved this stone, and whoever inhabited the ruins at Lost Helm.

The Angelic tongue is necessary to get the other side of the story, and see the other halves of the doors. This has been my quest."

Brennan takes a deep breath.

"I am telling you this because you need to understand the perils that await us. There will likely be demonic encounters. Some will end badly for us... and some will work out in our favor. The Inquisition will eventually catch up to us, as well. I can see through their eyes, and have been able to do so every since the incident at Thorngate. I suspect it is possible they can, at times, see through mine as well."

"I truly believe this world is in danger. The madman's journal states that Baal and his agents work toward equilibrium, toward allowing the Dream of Heaven and the Dream of Hell to linger as long as possible, thus preserving Baal's reign in Hell.

There are others who seek to awaken the Gods, smashing the dreams together and replacing all that is with a new consciousness.

I disbelieve all of this. I believe there is no Dream. That Heaven, Hell, and our own reality coexist as three sides of the same coin. I believe the First Men and certain others possess the power to shift between realities, granting them great power over all three. And I believe we are among them."

He points at Losthelm and grins.

"If learning more about the Truth appeals to you, I'd be glad of your company on the next leg of our journey. I cannot promise wealth or fame, but I can promise power and knowledge -- which are often the same thing. And I will not stop you from procuring one or the other along the way. If not... well, then I release you from your contracts with no hard feelings, and wish you the best of luck on your next journey."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:06, Thu 18 Aug 2016.

Enrei tentatively raises his hand, "I have question.  You are profit.  This means money yes?  I do not think you are money?" he quickly redefines "the complicated bits."

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 522):

"I'm... no, Enrei. I mean, yes, profit means money. But prophet means... er... seer. In a way."

Brennan debates explaining the concept of homophones to the man, thinks better of it, and switches to the words 'profit' and 'prophet' in Enrei's native tongue, hoping the establish the distinction that way.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Thu 18 Aug 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 523):

Titus falls on the table laughing at this (literally IRL could not breathe)

As Brennan speaks Titus goes from sitting to squatting to standing to pacing around cagily.  His shadow twitches like a cats tail (real or imagined is unsure).  He starts dancing a coin around his fingers preternatually.

His spell is broken By Enrei's interjection.  He raises his head up from the table once he recomposes himself.

I've got a label for you...

He looks directly into Brennan's eyes looking very serious and he pauses for dramatic effect.  Once Brennan starts composing himself for a volley he says

Damn interesting. 

He gets back up and resumes his pacing and walking his coin down the back of his hands.

All right... I've got questions.  Lots of them.  Many we are probably trying to answer...

First and foremost, GodSSSSSSS?  I have only ever heard of the one.  What is this plural business?

So you say doors... I assume these doors are metaphorical?  Or can you actually see them with your eyes?  Touch them with your hands?

and you can see through the eyes of inquisitors?  Like what the other ones are doing?  Where they are?  How close are they to us?  How many of them are there?  Can they see the auras?

If the first men can shift between the worlds thereby granting them great strength are some aligned more with one side than the other?  Why can't I see the doors despite the fact that I am able to utilize the power on both ends?  So I am an angel then?

Also you don't believe in the dream you said.  Yet Baal is trying to establish an equilibrium in with the dreams.  How does this work?

This is a story mashed together from parts of other stories... incomplete and fragile.  It has holes in it... too many holes.

I'll be asking more questions later...  Thats a promise.

He straightens himself

You provide the truth... I'll see to the fame.  The money will have to sort itself out. 

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 524):

To fill in the day:

In the afternoon, the apprentice smith returns with Deev.

They explain that Bryce was wholly unconvinced to leave camp, both due to lack of trust for the smith and a "concern" about the villagers in general.

He agreed to continue loafing at camp eating your food, however.

In reply to GM (msg # 525):

As Brennan talks, Deev's eyes grow wider.

"Wow... that's... complicated an' all isn't it?  That's not what the priests say but..."

He looks down at his hands, observing his own aura.

"It makes more sense'n anything else."

In reply to Deev (msg # 526):

"Yeah... Gods," Brennan says quietly.

"You see, I think all three realities simply ARE. And that the only Gods, per se, are those with the power to manipulate them. The First Men themselves."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 527):

So are the first men still alive?  Does this make us demigods?  Or is that Demagogue... whatever it is I think I might be both now.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 528):

"Why do you think you're a demigod or an angel, Titus?" Brennan asks softly. "Is it not enough to carry the blessing of the First Men? For it is through us that they manipulate this reality."

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 529):

Titus puffs himself up

No its not.  If you have a choice of enough money, or all the money you'd rather all the money.

He smiles endearingly like a child who is coming to grips with an unexpected birthday present that was not what he wanted but actually a better gift.

Though being imbued with their power is pretty neat too.  Is this just a case of right place right time?  Or is there a greater scheme afoot?

Also your not planning on starting a new religion are you? 

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 530):

From the look on his face, Deev would clearly join such a religion.

In reply to Deev (msg # 531):

Brennan gets a strange look in his eyes.

"Don't think of it as founding a new religion so much as... revealing the truth to a populace long deceived. Lord Fastbender, in his infinite wisdom, saw the distinction between philosophy and theology when he brought me on."

He winks at Titus, then continues.

"For my part, I have been gathering tales of the Dreams and the First Men since well before we met. I have compared every account I've come across, but something eluded me until the moment I learned the name of the wind. A door in my mind was opened, and the clarity staring me in the face poured forth.

I was, in many ways, reborn. As were all of you.

The First Men's power flows through us, in us, with us. Their influence guides me, as it guides us all. We are not Gods, Titus, but we are as close to it as can be. There are three realities occupying this same space, in three parallel planes. Demons inhabit one. Angels another. And humans the third. Just as there are Demon Lords and Angelic Commanders, there are greater and lesser humans. WE are the greater, and we are privileged to protect the rest."

He sketches Lord Fastbender's yin-yang-like symbol with a flourish.

"There are no accidents," Brennan says confidently. "Look at your chosen crest! You perhaps thought it depicted the Dreams of Heaven and Hell, but I see the larger picture.  Your banner depicts all aspects of reality as it really is: Unified. It is a white banner with black markings on it. It is a black banner with white markings on it. It is both, and it is neither. And that's the entire point."

Brennan takes a deep breath and holds it before exhaling it with a smile.

"Titus. Enrei. Deev. The road before us will not be easy. The people of this world are led by the blind. But join me, and together..."

He turns to Titus.

"... we will paint the landscape with the banner of Lord Fastbender, the once and future king, and the patron of the ancient wisdom."

He turns to Enrei.

"... we will battle the monsters that threaten the peace in this realm and beyond. We will end destructive conflicts perpetrated in the name of god and king and country. We will be a force of unity. In doing so, we will become heroes. And we will collect many tips."

He turns to Deev.

"... we will gain wealth, power, fame, and more. But most importantly, we will gain our legitimacy. We will bring an enlightened end to the flawed Inquisition, and we will walk the streets without fear. Without persecution for being who we are."

Brennan looks at each, gauging their reaction, before continuing in a softer voice.

"This is a critical time. That's why it's so important that we proceed toward Losthelm with all possible speed. But as Titus said, clothes make the man. We can afford to wait perhaps one day more if in doing so we will gain the means by which to speed our journey along from here on out."

He turns to the three and extends a hand.

A prophet is only as powerful as the company he keeps. I value your friendship, for this and greater reasons. Are you with me? Can I count on your help as we work toward our inexorable destiny?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:07, Fri 19 Aug 2016.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 532):

Titus is the first to take Brennan's hand

Oh your good.  You're very good.  Are you sure you weren't a trouper at some point too?

Titus is positively glowing.

/ooc no further actions other than thoroughly soaking up any and all adulation.  /ooc
This message was last edited by the player at 15:00, Fri 19 Aug 2016.