Next morning, pain is gone, thank you Regeneration. To bad it's not good for dealing with the constant cause of the pain, saddles. She put her folded blankets on top of the saddle and it kind of helps. But SO want to just fly instead. Can't though as that would tip her hand to far just yet. So many things to keep straight.
Talking to Da'Rune about the spell books warning, "Poppa Corellon ? That's the spirit who would come and teach me magic and special things at night when my 'parents' weren't around to force me to do Boring things. Liked the metal working though, excelled at it and that pleased them for a time. Except I did To well at it, Mastered it at a very young age. My intelligence scared them."
This is part of the story they worked out in the dreams last night. That and the fact that the 'Father and Mother were not 'little flowers' real parents, she had been stolen from her real parents because of her gifts. The others wanted her gifts crushed but were not evil enough to kill a child. So they tried primitive psychological methods. To bad the child could read them better than they knew. She pretended to be what they wanted as she grew older. Gained more freedoms because she was turning in to a perfectly ordinary child with good musical skills and a flair for art that she kept in the good range. Purposely acting like what they wanted her to be. An Average child. She let them think it, they gave her more freedoms, let her learn to drive, to have average friends, friends who were in their employ and spied on her. Reported anything to them. But she knew, she always knew. So now, she is free. Free to have real friends. Cause the Gods pulled her from her old world and set her free.
Hidden words in the spell book. The story is set. The traps all set. No telling how long the enemy will take. She just has to keep the story straight and not add to much to it.
It's important, so she can see to her mission. Help fight the Darkness and save this world.
Da'Rune shakes her head, "So when you said the note from Corellon was sweet you did not mean the God."
"Don't think so, I am not That special. He was a spirit guide who came to help me in my studies. Not sure who sent him, or his real name. Could be an imaginary friend, except the magic is real." balls of light rolling between her fingers. "An Imaginary friend could not do that."
Da'Rune nods, "True. Someone was certainly watching out for you. To bad they could not get you back to your real parents."
oops - "True, don't know anything about my real parents, except sometimes in my dreams there was this nice man. Heavy set, called me Little Flower and said how much he and mother missed me. But I think he was a ghost. I don't know if something bad happened to them or just him. Allot of this is just conjecture you know."
Da'Rune nods, "Oh I understand. I had a couple in friends in school who had been adopted, but they lucked out and had good parents. I have heard the stories of children like you before. Really smart but their parents hated having kids smarter than them and so treated them badly."
"Wanted an Average child and tried to force me to be Average or a little above in something simple like art but anytime I did something of master piece level, in their opinion mind you, they burned it. Anytime I did anything TO good they got upset with me and I got at the least a stern lecture about it."
Aysun shakes her head, "And I thought my family was strict. In my homeland the whole family teaches the children But if we find someone who excells at something that is encouraged. Unless its like triing to burn down things."
Giggles, "Yes Arson is not a trait you want to encourage. Put them in to smithing get to look at all the fire they want then." Da'Rune states and laughs.
Aysun and FlameSinger shake their heads but let the others have their fun.
Hel snickers, "Give the arson a fire starter kit and send them in to enemy territory, 'look those are where the bad people are, go burn down their places."
The others groan at Hels suggestion, Mel pointing out, "Fast way to weed out fire happy and stupid, to be sure." the rest nod to that.
7 days down the road, with less bitching from FlameSinger about needing more padding on the saddle, they see a town in the distance, "Wellen coming up, Finally." breaths Brani, "Its not a big town, palasade wall with watch towers, no temples, I think maybe a shrine or two to some minor local gods, but a couple nice inns, black smith, some nice stores, so you can get some proper clothes. It's a Merchants stop that slowly evolved in to a town." she explains to FlameSinger.
FlameSinger sighs, "New cloths, that would be nice. having only the 3 shirts that were supposed to be gifts for my uncle Vaagu to wear and all."
Her 'uncle Vaagu' she told them when they noticed the stylized V (V) on the horses was the one she was going to see when the portal happened. He was the only family member she liked. He was nice, always had some kind of pastry on hand, was the Fattest elf she had ever seen. Loved horses and toys and stories. Had a huge library of stories, all fiction and fantasy stuff. Let her read any of it she wanted to. Her coat was his, left at her parents place by accident. She did not know exactly what he did for a living but the V was the same as on his front door, so maybe these horses came from him somehow. She would like to think so.
So they as a group agreed they came from her Uncle Vaagu, to help her journey in to the wider world. It was a really nice gift. To bad the bag with her clothes fell off somewhere. (Brani's contribution to the cover story).
FlameSinger has a whole senario in her head about her Uncle telling her parents about a magical version of the Teenage Ninja Turtles. How as a young child they were her Favorite stories to read. Humans who wore giant tortoise shells as armor, then cursed by their eternal foe, in to half man half turtles. The spell was Supposed to turn them completly in to turtles but Donny threw his staff at the sorcerer and disrupted the spell part way through. The same sorcerer turned their Master in to a rat. They got a wandering hedge mage to try and counter the spell but it only worked part way. Made him a RatMan, but he retained his Grand Master skills. So he and his boys became heros fighting the evil Foot clan.
Some nights, when she was in the mood she would tell these stories to her friends. Some taken from remembered comics, some just made up on the spot. It's pretty obvious they are just stories but they are fun. Aysun loves how they include actual things from her culture mixed with things from other cultures, making a 'believable fantasy world' as she puts it.
The town is as Brani describes it, with a large Merchants caravan in town bringing news and fresh supplies. Hel finds the lead merchants and informs them of the ransacked towns further up. Which ones they know the enemy hit and drove everyone from. They are upset as those cities were on their route. Good customers like the elves are hard to find.
FlameSinger manages to talk some of the clothes merchants in to showing her their wares. She tells them because of the raiders she lost her own clothes but she was able to grab the presents for her uncle. So she was down to wearing her uncles gifts and 1 set of undergarments. She left out the portal and being in a magic carraige though.
She got 3 very nice sets of clothing in good colors, some nice undergarments and some nice talks with the merchants. They were also glad she was able to save her purse but still gave her a little discount (about 5% on average) for her hard times. When asked about the cloak she explains its magic, though the magic works a little 'wonky" its a Fire Resistant cloak, that is water resistant because of the way its made. Its also supposed to be self mending, but for some reason when it mends itself it gains a patch. She has counted almost 200 patches by the time she got it. Still Magic Cloak. May look bad but she is keeping it just the same. Most agreed with her sentiment. (the ones who didn't agree wanted to purchase it).
Later she and her friends are settled in to the nicer of the towns two Inns, (nice beds, no bugs, good food) and she is able, in one of her new outfits, to go out and about. Mel goes with her to keep her out of trouble, she being an extremely attractive girl and all, certain kinds of trouble will find her. They decide to see if the smith has a better weapon for FlameSinger than the dagger she keeps strapped to her leg.
The smithy is Huge, several smiths work it keeping the caravans in horse shoes and other nessisaries. They also buy and sell weapons and armors brought to them by adventurers and those down on their luck. They have a couple mages on staff to check for magic items and to make minor magical weapons. FlameSinger following some unnamed instinct (Aura Sight) heads in to the deeper part of the shop, looking over the selection of staves and pole arms they have. In a barrel marked 'fancy display pieces' she finds a staff of grey and steel metal the top is large and looks like 3 glave blades around an intricate inner design. She knows Exactly what it is and can understand the confusion about it's nature. Its a Psion focusing weapon. Made to focus certain kinds of psion energies and make them more 'potent'.
She looks at the price. As they think its a display piece its a lot less expensive, only 10 gold coins. Worth far more to her than that. she takes it to the sales clerk, and Smiles at him. Can almost see the steam rising from him for that smile. "Just this please." normally they try to up sell, but he is so stunned by that smile that he just takes her money and wishes her a wonderful day.
Outside Mel confronts her about it, "Why that unwieldy thing ?" she complains, "It can't even hold an edge."
"Its not supposed to Mel, its a Psion weapon, a Focus. With this I can direct my powers better and even increase the out put of my more dangerous abilities. Also its made of high grade steel and Mythril."
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Mel just stands there with her mouth agape before shaking it off and catching up to her. "Your kidding."
"A lot of people don't know it, but Mythril turns grey with age. When mixed with steel it does not rust either. So it also works as a fairly heavy cudgle to, I smack someone with this and its really gonna hurt."
Mel can see that to be true. "Kind of like a long handled war hammer." she says.
FlameSinger gives her one of her Brillant smiles and nods, "Exactly, and as I am trained in both staff and pole arm fighting, I can use this pretty well."
FlameSinger suddenly turns and walks toward the workers camp (poor side of town) Mel almost missed it, "Where are you going ?"
"I got a feeling of something I need to do down here. I get them from time to time. When I don't follow those feelings I always end up regretting it. Just so you understand, I don't know what I will find, just that I Need to do this."
Mel nods, having seen people like this. The Gods, for what ever reason send people to do things from time to time. If they ignore it then something happens and they regret not answering the call. She can see that FlameSinger being more sensitive to the workings of the world would be more likely to listen to those feelings. The few Psions she had met in the past were all like this to. The good ones listened, the bad ones made things worse. FlameSinger is a good one she thinks.
They end up at a small building that is set up as a shrine to Vag the Hermit, god of the poor and wanders. She walks in, looks about and smiling approaches the shrine, a simple lantern with an everburning candle in it and a donation plate below it with a few copper coins in it and an empty cup to one side and another small plate with a piece of very dried out bread in it on the other.
FlameSinger pulls out her strange bottle of spring water and pours a measure in to the cup. Then pulls out her purse and drops 10 silver coins in the dish, finally she takes out the last of her special sandwiches (she shared them on the road with her new friends) and places it beside the other bread. Then she approaches the priest and smiling hands him a small purse, "For your service and to help the people" she says. He thanks her with a kind smile. Loves how she knows the proper proceedures for her prayer to Vag. She bows to him and leaves.
Mel follows looking perplexed, "How did you know all that ?"
She shrugs, "I am a follower of Vags teachings. Most know him as the god of the poor and wanders but he is also the god of the Seeker, most higher ranked Seekers are Psions. It goes hand and hand as the more a seeker knows the closer to the divine they become, and that unlocks more of the psion abilities."
For Mel a little 'light' shines in her mind. The more she learns of her friend the more remarkable she becomes. "What was in the pouch ?"
"Recipe for some good bread, couple packets of yeast to help it rise and enough coin to buy the needed flour and other ingrediants." she says quietly.
Just as she says that the priest and two pretty healthy young men go jogging by toward the merchants square. The priest smiles and nods to her on his way by.
Mel comments, "The poor around here will eat well I think."
FlameSinger nods, "If they are smart, some will go to the poor, some they will sell so they can feed more people."
They are out of workers town when Mel ask, "Ok I can't figure it out, what kind of bread recipe did you give him ?"
FlameSinger leans over and whispers, "elven way bread."
Mel almost tripped over her own feet. That is a very expensive bread. 2 gold on average for a small loaf. Much sought after by adventurers for its high nuetritional value and long shelf life.
{Exert from Whole Realms Catalog: This is the lightest, sweetest, finest-grained bread you will ever taste. Tales are told of its extraordinary nutritional values. Elven bread: 2 gp/loaf.
nutritional values, indeed! This bread acts as double-strength iron rations, providing twice the food value with half the weight (and many times more taste!)}
Mel shakes her head, "I thought that was a secret recipe known only to the elves."
FlameSinger nods, "It was. But its actually pretty cheap to make. They make a killing selling it at 2 gold a loaf, while all the increadiants in one loaf cost maybe 5 silver. So I thought to spread the wealth to those who need it more."
Mel smirks, "You just.. I don't know. Sometimes you come across as sweet as a saint, other times not so much. "
"They have had the recipe for hundreds of years, been over charging for it just as long. Also its one of the many such recipes I know so I don't mind sharing." she states before spotting a specialty shop, "ooo Cheeses." and in she goes, followed by an amused Mel, who likes cheese to.
FlameSinger gets a couple wheels of good cheese that will work for those who travel for a living. One she likes and one Mel likes. A short run to a bakery and getting some nice pastries and bread for lunch and it's back to exploring the town and seeing what sort of things they can find.
Hel and Da'Rune check in with the local Adventurers Guild, give their report, get thier crap pay (men groups get 3 to 4 times what they get) and they wonder once more why they choose to do this for a living. Other than the perks for being in the guild, its barely worth it. They were encouraged to get their new companion to sign on to the guild. (The guild does not like free agents as they can't control them. Can't stop Guild Adventurers from having them in a party either. Their one 'selling' thing is getting paid to do adventures - though any female guild type would council not joining up cause of the way Women adventurers are treated. The 'Old Boy' network is strong in these kinds of guilds, women are allowed of course but they get the crap pay unless they are in a man heavy group. [1 woman for every 2 men on average])
Having heard all this FlameSinger told the women she already belonged to a guild, The Womens Liberation Legue - Equal Pay for Equal Work. She read about it in a book about women in a largely human country called England. They spent over a century fighting for that one right, never completely got it, but did manage to get the pay up to 3/4s from under 1/3rd so it was progress. She admits the book was old and she believes from another dimension. Still liked the idea so she will use it to annoy the sorts they worked for. Of course being Free Agent meant she got to keep All the treasures she found and not have some anal waste try to over charge her for things she can do herself (Mage so Identify her own items, Armor and weapon smith so make, repair or evaluate any weapons. These being the things that cost the most for the average adventurer.) The only thing she could not do 'yet' was make potions. She is young yet, only 55, so she has time to learn that to. The ladies all laughed at her impressive list of skills and goals to be the perfect adventurer. So with her in their party they could get around those things. Also she could make low level magic items to. Definite perk there.
Everyone meets back at the inn that evening. Mel and FlameSinger share their cheese and bread with the group and FlameSinger shows off her staff, explaining its true purpose and the fact that it cost but 10 gold. Had the smiths known what they had she speculates it could have cost hundreds. She is not one to sabotage her own purchases. They also found some items in a pawn shop that she will need to identify- minor magic items.
Mel explained that FlameSinger has the Collectors Compulsion when it comes to magic items. If she can afford them she will get them. In this case the merchant did not know they were enchanted.
Items purchased for 20gp total
*Necklace (Adaptation, allows person to breath poison gas or underwater)
*A beaten up kite shield (+3 - 15% better protection) Given to Mel. A little smaller than her old one but the magic makes up for it.
*Small black book, blank inside (Infinite Spells - much coveted mages travel spell book)
*Silver ring, some elven writing around it. Wizardry 2x 4th and 5th level spells.
*Cheap looking copper ring with 6 garnets on it. FlameSinger checked it over 5 times to be Sure, then laid down for a while, looking a bit stunned. (6 wishes, intermediate God level - Neutral alignment)
Da'Rune sits on top of her, "TELL ME!" she can't stand the strain of not knowing.
FlameSinger, "I was expecting low end stuff, I was wrong. Very wrong. I got very good stuff."
Da'Rune looks at Hel, "Get her to tell me" she all but whines.
Hel, "Get off of her Rune, she is just in mild shock at what sounds like some good fortune."
FlameSinger holds up the small black diary, "Infinite spells, empty at the moment."
Da'Runes mouth drops open, "oh that is a lucky find."
Silver ring, "Wizardry, 4th and 5th rank ability."
"Dang girl" Da'Rune sighs, "I can use 4th rank spells."
"I am a 9th ranked spell caster, so I can use 5th." FlameSinger tells her with a smile. Da'Rune sighs, "darn it"
Hel, "And the last item you were going nuts over ?"
"I had to be Sure, but all my abilities and spells agree, God level magic item. Neutral power. To dangerous to use so I am putting it somewhere safe." she puts it in her bag of very deep pockets after saying a strange charm over it to keep it safe.
Hel and the others agree, god level items are not something you want to use much as they attracted the enemy and others who would do anything to get it. even if they could not use it, just to keep anyone else from having it.
Thinking on it, and because Brani has this 'I am going to borrow it look', "Its a Ring of Resurrection. 6 charges. Looks like it used to have more at one time, two uses gone. I am betting who ever sold it stole it from its proper owner. Has to be used by someone Not the dead one. But it garentee's to bring the dead one back to life, but not nessisarly in the same body or occupation. That is the big difference between Raise Dead and Resurrection. And if its from a Nature Diety there is a chance the person affected will return as an animal. Nature Dieties tend to be Neutral, which is what made me think of that."
Da'Rune smirks, "Hear that Mel, you get yourself killed we can bring you back, maybe as a mule." she snorts at her own humor.
No one else is laughing and so she sputters out.
Hel nods, "An emergency only kind of item. Good to have in any event."
After some thought, FlameSinger gives the spell book to Da'Rune, cause she was keeping the ring of wizardry for herself. Da'Rune is so happy she hugs the elf before she goes and starts transfering her spells in to it.