Prelude
(only part in 1st person - this is supposed to be a journal entry or perhaps the character telling someone else their origins.)
Entering the Chaos
I was just out running errands. Nothing special, short grocery run, picking up a few things to help me through the week. When suddenly the world went blurry and shakey. Never seen anything like it and going by the people around me it was not just me that saw it. But I am the one who fell through the hole that opened in the air, when I swerved to miss the idiot who slammed on his breaks in front of me. There was No one and Nothing in front of him. I felt like I hit something slick and then I was spinning and trying to regain control of my car. But I Felt and saw what looked like several different scenes pass around me as the car spun. As far as I can recall, I saw a renaissance looking town with people in period clothing and soldiers in half plate armor, a medieval fair complete with knights in chain armor trying to bash each others heads in, an open field near a mountain lake with 2 suns in the sky, several strange tree's and a group of primitive looking people running from a giant bear at one point. Then these viking looking people fighting a giant, whom my car passed through, that one was wierder than most. Then I hit a flight of 'angels' or maybe they were winged elves, but they and I never actually touched, just passed through each other, though from their reactions they saw it happening to, and the I was speeding down a ramp at one point, hit a strange man lugging a chest, which burst open and threw all these decks of cards in to the air, then I was going up a steep incline before finally passing out.
In the end I am unsure what all happened as I lost consciousness before the car came to a stop.
The next bit, well it felt more like a dream. Not sure if it was real either other than, well you know. *indicating her present form*
This strange woman, all in white, golden hair but I could not make out her face at all, it was there, just out of focus or something. The rest of her I could see fine, which is one reason I think it was in part at least, a dream.
She was sitting in my car, opening things, poking around and generally snooping through my stuff. I was kind of crushed over to one side. Could not move really, just my eyes and mouth a little. Head felt off, tired but not, thinking was difficult. She looked over at me and sighs, "Well that was a bit of a mess wasn't it. Looks like you got knocked around pretty hard, though your in better shape than your vehicle. It took the brunt of the damage." she sits back, staring at me for the longest time, like she was thinking about something. Nodding she states, "You got a strong mind, good grasp of the possible and good chance this may work. I am going to try something I have not done before. Well I have done it before, sort of, but well I normally do it through other agents. Again sort of done this, but well I am going to change things up a bit. Normally when I do this, the person comes out mortal, very few special features. But ok truthfully I need an agent in the world your in now. Someone cabable of doing things for me and help fight against some very nasty enemies who are attacking my people. Now just to rest assure you, you have free will. I am not going to alter You, the mind, just the body. Make you healthy, give you some special gifts, maybe more. Some random chance in this. One I don't know what race or profession you will be. I will give you a choice to. Though it's a live or die kind of thing, cause you are dying. Bleeding out in fact. But, well your choice."
Coughing a bit I ask, "Can I have some nice gear to ?" half laugh in to that, "magic if that exist in this world. Always wanted magical stuff or even the gift to do magic."
She nods, "Sure I can give you a few things. Mostly I think I will just enchant some things you have with you. Easier that way. I will even send you some help. Couple people I know, to help get you aquainted with this world. They are special in their own way to."
I shudder a breath, "Always wanted to visit another world, though not really the way this one went, all that bouncing. Babbling I know. I will accept your offer. Can I be tall to ?"
"Um, no idea. Like I said, random on some of that. Not even sure which gender you will be truthfully. Reincarnation fast track. Will try to give you a few skills to help in the new life though. I have done That one before with some success. Helps if you had some training in it prior, or at least knowledge of the skills. Give you a better chance at survival and all."
I try to nod, but it just made my head hurt worse. Next thing I know, well I come to, still in my car, but not in my old body anymore.
New World, Old Problems
Argueing like always, two women walk through the woods looking for something 'strange' in an 'out of the way place'.
Tall leather clad one, "I don't see why she sent us out here."
Shorter one in a skimpy outfit, "Cause having it appear in a town would likely cause a panic. Or maybe cause she is not the one who called it, just the one to got to it first ?"
The first, easily jumping a large downed tree, "Possible. Like how the enemy found all those strange people last week. Shame what those monsters did to them. So many children." she sighs at the memory.
"On that note we should probably hurry, it's getting on toward dark and I dread to think what will happen if they find the object before we do."
The problem with getting instructions via dreams, especially from a goddess who is not good at wood lore, is finding something in a large wood, in a timely fashion, is very difficult even for the two skilled hunters.
In this case they are late finding the object. One of these strange vehicles, though it's all banged up, windows broken out, and the drivers door hanging open and to one side. The seat covered in dried blood. They find a blood stained and very torn shirt a little from the vehicle. A careful check shows the insides have been cleaned to some degree, as it lacks much in the way of items.
There is a blue and white chest in the back, looks like the lock was broken off it but it's full of trash and junk, like someone cleaned the vehicle and anything they could not use they put in the box for some reason.
The leather clad one looks it over, dumps out the junk and takes the box with her. It's a nice box even if the lock is broken.
The smaller one is sniffing around the door and the vehicle, "Odd mix of scents, mostly human but also the smell of an elf. The Elf is a newer smell though. Seems to have headed in to the woods, the odd bit is there is no scent of either coming to this vehicle."
The tall one looks at her, "Ess, they were probably IN the vehicle when it got here. That shirt looks to large for an elf, but sized for a large human."
The smaller woman sighs, "Your right, sorry tired and well new moon." the taller one just nods.
They turn to track the elf as that is the scent leaving this place.
Does not take them long to find the elf either. Unfortunetly the enemy has found the elf first.
They are taunting her.
Tall night stalker, "Lookie here boys a lovely little snack."
One eager fellow tries to jump on the elven woman. She suddenly spins around, her leg shooting out as she hums some kind of chant. The vampire screams as her foot connects and he is consumed in her now very evident Holy Aura. The burning footprint in his head makes it very obvious to just how strong her Aura is. That one, holding his burning head runs around and around till the Holy destroys him utterly.
The two, from the tree's, watch as the girl hums and chants in strange words, rolling her hands in front of her, like she has an invisible ball. The leader scoffs, "Your tricks won't save you Meat!" he snarls, pulling out a rather large sword.
She calls out, "MAAA KAYYYAAA KAYYYAAA!" and throws the 'ball' at the laughing Night Stalker. He exploded in a shower of gore and blood as what ever spell she threw blasted not only through him but the tree's behind him, which are blown apart by the invisible force.
The sight of that is enough to make the other two turn tail and run as she is making another such ball. She looks around at the fleeing night stalkers, "COWARDS!" she yells after them, not that any in that moment would disagree. Facing an appoinnent with high holy power and unknown but devistating spells is not something most of these sorts are willing to deal with.
The girl, she is slowly looking around herself, still humming but now its more a straight ohm kind of sound than the more devistating one she just used. She picks up a wheeled blue and white box with strange colored cords tied around it while still scanning the surrounding woods. She stops, stareing directly at the two women, despite them hiding in the tree's. "You may as well come out, I can see you two hiding back there." she states.
The tall one looks at the shorter one then shrugs. She walks around one side of the tree she was behind while the other moves off to the other side so they can't both be taken out at the same time.
The girl, she watches them carefully but other than the humming does not seem hostile.
To the girl they both have this golden halo around their heads, same as the Goddess who reincarnated her. She recalls the words the Goddess told her about sending a couple of people to help her. She sighs, "You all took your sweet time getting here."
They pause and stare, the tall one, questioning tone, "Pardon ?"
"You bear the mark of the Goddess with the Golden Hair. She told me she was sending people out to help me. I got tired of waiting so I decided to strike out on my own."
The shorter one almost barked about how foolish that was, but then the sight of the destroyed tree's and splattered marks of the dusted night stalkers points out this one may be New here but is not defenseless. The tall one points to the Hole, "How did you do that ?"
"It's called a Chi strike. Focusing ones aura and spirit in to an attack. That one is just called the Makaya kaya, there are different kinds of such attacks. Martial Artist from back home developed them for various reasons. Fun part is all it takes is training. No 'knack' or magical abilities required. Just lots of hard work." she is presently channeling Dragon Ball Z, martal arts movies and Wire Fu type idea's in to her mind, in case of mind readers. Images from some of her favorite movies on the topic. She grins, "The grand master of that style once vaporized a castle with it." she has the movie image of Goku doing that crossed with a fantasy movie of a wizard using a powerful spell. Reading her mind is a tricky thing, Lots of strange imagery and very quick thought. The short one looks incredulously at her taller companion, whispering 'is she serious ?"
The tall one just nods, "I am Edora and my companion is Esmerelda. The Goddess Suine sent us. Sorry it took so long, she tends to use dreams to communicate and well she is not known for her wood lore skills."
The elf slowly nods, "Oh so that is what that was. The Sun Goddess, the golden aura makes much more sense now." she pulls the unweldy and slightly to large wheeled box toward them. Up close she finds she is tiny compaired to them. She sighs, "Ok so did not get the tall part of the wish."
The other two grin at each other, "Hoping we would be smaller close up ?" Esmerelda ask. The girl just nods. Up close they can now make out she is topless, save for her long white hair covering her chest. Otherwise she has on these strange pants and black shoes also of strange design. She is pale with white or ice colored eyes. Hard to tell in this light. The tall one, Edora, she pulls around her pack and digs through it. Pulling out a short robe with a hood. "Here, the Goddess said you may need some clothes but this is all I could get on short notice."
The girl takes it, looks it over then shrugs it on, "Kind of an initiates robe, for the sexy inclined." she states as she looks how it fits on her.
"Called a slit robe actually. There is normally more to it but as we did not know if you were going to be a man or woman or even what race, well she brought 3, that's the smallest one." Esmerelda says with a grin.
The girl sighs, "Well given the shape my shirt was in, this is much better. But somehow I suspect people will be hitting on me more now than the way I was dressed before. Or not." she states in a solemn way.
Edora looks perplexed, "That was your shirt ? But ..."
The girl sighs, "The Goddess Reincarnated me. Said she needed an agent to help against these people invading her lands or something, truthfully I was a bit out of it, given I was bleeding out at the time."
Both women nod to that. The shorter one sighs, "So you came here from another world and she saw something in you worth trying this gambit on."
The girl nods, "Well I am a trained exorist, but not of the priestly type. Mystic type mostly. Was born with Spirit sight you see. Still have it now, only it seems to have gotten stronger. I see more than I used to. That or it's being an Elf. See I was human before this."
They nod and sigh as one. Edora grunts, "Well now your in our war. Though given the way the enemy acts, had they managed to capture you, well you would be walking the night and happily killing people."
She shrugs, "The way they burn when they get anywhere near me, I am really not worried about that happening."
Esmerelda nods, "She has a point there. Nice Holy Aura. The Goddess really looking out for you."
"She is not doing that. I learned to do that on my own. No Gods needed for how I do it. I just channel the Power of the Universe, through my body. Do it pretty much constantly these days. 50 years of training, it's second nature to me now." she shrugs, waiting on them to pick a direction to go.
They though are trying to wrap their minds around That concept. Holy Aura with out a Gods blessing ?
Esmerelda, "Sorry no God ?"
The elf nods, "Mystic, so no god, I tap in to the source of all Life and Creation, some call it the Light, or Universal Consciousness and such. Pretty much how many gods get their powers, or so I was taught. Not sure in this universe as some of the natural laws are different."
Edora nods a little, "How do you know they are different ?"
The girl sighs, "Some of my devices don't work here. At all. Nothing physically wrong with them but it seems the magic is interfereing with the flow of energy or something. Also some of my skills at energy manipulation are stronger here than back home. That Maya attack for example, back home I generally could only build up enough power to kill bugs. That back there, I was trying to knock that loud mouth out, not blow him up. Which tells me I am going to be doing a Lot of practicing with my skills for a time. Till I can do it and not inadvertantly blow everything up."
They both look at the devistation and can but nod. That was a lot of force.
Focusing her mind back on track, Edora ask, "What is your name ?"
The girl looks at her, "Cosmic Child."
They both give her a long look.
She explains, "Yes I know, not a normal name. Believe me I have heard so many comments or jokes on the name. But it is what it is."
They just nod then Esmerelda, "well we should head back to the temple. Not safe to be out here right now. Some of the enemy forces are not affected by Holy and you are otherwise unarmed."
Cosmic looks at her for a long moment, "I am trained in unarmed combat, so in that sense, I am never unarmed."
They just nod but lead her back through the woods. Her lugging the wheeled and unwieldy box that is almost to large for her. She has not said one word about Edora having her other box.
They lead her to a huge walled compound. From what she can see it looks like a church and it's out buildings and in many ways, a small town. Lots of guards and priest about, lots of visible wards on the outer walls. Light with in is all candle lanterns and torches with a few fancier places sporting magical lights (brighter, don't flicker, differing colors). Edora tells Cosmic, "Now stay close. Just because this is our home base does not mean there are not dangers here to. Since the undead epidimic more people moved in here, including some shady dangerous folk. Now we are going to an Inn where we have rooms. The place is not the most saviory of places, lots of rough sorts there. But the food is filling and the rates low. Given you have no money or much worth trading."
"I have gems" Cosmic tells them. That stops both of them in their tracks.
Esmerelda ask quietly, "What kind ?"
"Opals also some jewelry and such. Grandfather was a jeweler. I had them with me as I was going to get them appraised." she states calmly, "Anyone tries to take my box though I will hurt them as everything I own is in it. That I am not wearing that is."
They both nod, that making sense. Edora sighs, "wish we knew about that before now. But I know people who can appraise them."
"Honestly ?" Cosmic ask, with a knowing grin.
"Yes, honestly. Just harder to contact them after dark." she sighs, not that it makes much difference now anyway. They are both sure the girls home currancy will be worthless, except as oddities maybe.
From their experience the few they have seen from other worlds have strange paper or other strange substances of money. None have had any coins with any copper or silver in them. Granted there have only been 2 others to come to their holdings. But they are poor and have no skills worth anything here.
Now the girl, she can fight, has some formidable skills and the goddess has blessed her. Still they know she will have a hard time just because of the difference in cultures.
She starts humming as they reach the gate. Other than when they met her an hour ago, she has been silent. Esmerelda thinks the humming has something to do with how her powers work. She is not totally sure, but they seem to get stronger, increasing her senses or the like she thinks. Or it could just be something she does when she is nervous. At this point she does not know.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Esmerelda ask, "Why are you humming ?"
"Something Feels off, I use the humming chants as a way to focus my mind. In this case, trying to determine what is wrong here." she says as they get closer to the gate. About 20ft from it she comes to a dead stop, mutters something in a language neither of them knows. She starts to softly glow, silver and golden radience, spreading slowly out from her, the two, they Feel the Holy Power eminating from her, spreading from her. Things on the road only 15ft from them, things they took to be shadows, start to move strangely, then before their eyes, they see the forms writhing, they start to moan, then scream as the Holy Aura flows outward, at 30ft the aura stops, but everything ahead of them with in the aura is screaming in pain, even the guards at the gates. One tries some kind of spell, only for the aura's power to consume it, then turn it back on these evil Things with even More force than it had coming at them. Cosmic has changed the nature of her chant to a song like form, 'Hallelujah Child of Light, come forth and bless the darkness before us, Halleujah Child of Life, Come forth and bless the Darkness behind us, Halleujah, Child of Love, Bring your forgiveness to the Darkness around us'
Now Cosmics understanding of the word 'Halleuja' to her means 'Joy of the Gods' of Light, Life, and Love - the forces of Creation, which is what she worships in part. The Gods of Creation that stand against the Darkness that seeks only to end all things. That is what She is calling on. It works to, better here than in her own world to simply because this world is more in tune with those forces. THIS is Her Holy Trinity of Light, the forces of Her belief, Her Understanding and the Power behind Her Blessings.
These demons, who have slipped in to this world through the Shadows, and in to the hearts of so many, can not stand against this Belief. This absolute Understanding she is creating. The Forces she is calling on, which is amplified by the Powers of the Goddess Suine, here in this her Holy Place, are destroying their connection to the world and forcebly removing them from here and those they have taken control of.
She, Cosmic, starts to slowly move forward, each step Ripping the darkness not only from the land, but the People who have been Possessed by this sly Evil. By the time she has reached the gate, those possessed, who can, are running before her, calling on mortal forces to stop the attack as they can not. The guard so called comes forth to stop the magical being, only for the Light, when it passes over them, brings them a calm serene feeling.
To the two guides, they are precieving her to be a Master Exorist, driving the Evil before her, removing the Enemies that managed to get in despite their best efforts. They don't know why it's working. They just lack the Understanding, but they can see and feel the power of it. They realize thier Goddess has chosen very well. That is till the archers come out. They see them and well They find cover, thinking it was good while it lasted.
The arrows rain down on the unprotected Cosmic Child, only to Stop 10ft from her then just drop to the ground. Cosmic moves forward, slowly, like a holy glacier, striking down all the Evil and ignoring all the attacks that come her way, as None can reach her inside her powerful protective aura.
About 100 ft inside the gate Cosmic stops and looks around. Her guides are behind her, watching and not guiding, she breaks her chant, "Guys, I don't know which way to go here ?" She states, before resuming the Humming song.
Esmerelda, smirking, runs up, "Sorry about that." she decides to lead her to the main temple. Cosmic nods and still in the tune of her chant quietly says, "that's ok, you can pray to your gods to, it may help with this."
Esmerelda, grinning at how she got around talking and keeping her prayer going, starts her own prayer. To the Gods of the Moon, those who protect the world at night. Cosmic listens, finding the idea of the Shadow of The Moon to be a protector of the Minds of Mortals an interesting concept. Not one she has heard before, but she likes it.
Edora on the other hand uses her own abilities to get out and around to the city guard, who are even now working a way to stop the strange elf. She drops down next to the force leader, "Stop attacking her." she tells him, "She is Casting out Demons. The Demons are the ones who want you to stop her."
The Captain jolts, looking surprised, "What ? But the gate guards .."
"They are possessed. She is casting a very wide Aura against Evil, forcing demons from their host. She is Doing it as she is a Master Exorsist, sent here by Suine. We went out to meet her and bring her in to the temple under Suine's orders."
The Captain knows this woman works for one of the Priestesses to the lady, so he takes her at her word and calls off the attack. Though his men stand their ground, under orders, as he wants to see what happens when that silver light meets his men.
Fully a quarter of the men charge her, weapons drawn before she reaches them. None of those who attacked are conscious by the time they reach her, having dropped when the demons who possessed them are cast out of them and the world. Esmerelda can Feel the power of her Gods amplifing the powers of this girl. They are thrilled this one is Doing this, pushing this Evil From the world.
Cosmic keeps it up till they make it to the main alter of the Goddess Suine. There she drops to her knees and the aura fades. Sweat is pouring off of her, her eyes are half closed and her voice horse. She mutters, 'ok limit found' then falls forward. Not unconscious, just to exhausted to move.
The Goddess eggs the High Priestess forward, telling her the elf is one of her special people and to treat her nice. She has come a long way.
The priestess, having felt some of that powerful blessing has to agree. This one is someone special. Which makes her wonder why the goddess sent those two misfits to get her. A daywalking blood drinker and her pet werewolf.
----------------------------
A few hours later, after a bit of rest, some good food, a mix of vegitables and breads and some mediocre tea that the high priestess seems to think elves all love (not this elf though). With her two guides there as witness, Cosmic tells them her story (the prelude). They listen with out commenting or interrupting till she is finished.
The priestess leans back, reincarnation, done by the goddess herself, but with some added gifts. Explains the aura and the feeling of paladin like peace she is giving off. Though she seems to lack the arrogance most of those in the knightly orders have. The explenation that she was an exorcist in her last go around, and from a world with a much weaker magical field explains a lot.
She is not surprised by the fact that demons got in to the city, only HOW they did it. They don't have a lot of protections from That source, that will take some work to get around.
As the priestess is thinking, Cosmic opens her chest, taking out some items. She puts this strange metal device over a cup, puts some kind of mesh cone in it. Then pulls out a bag of something dark with a potent scent to it, carefully scoops some of it in to the mesh part. Then gets the pot with the hot water and pours it over the top, letting the water filter through the strange smelling substance. Once it is done. The girl puts the drained metal device on a plate, to keep it from dripping on everything. From a black bag in the box she removes a tall narrow box and pours cream from it in to the cup. Then measures out some grains of light brown looking stuff. Stirs it together, then sits back and happily drinks it.
Edora and Esmerelda sniff the remains from the mesh part and give her an odd look.
Cosmic sighs, "Southern Pecan Coffee, one of my all time favorite blends. Glad I still like it."
Her guides just shake their heads. To their experience Elves hate coffee. Though they admit they have never seen any this finally ground or with this particular scent either. So that may have something to do with it.
The Priestess looks shocked, "Uh, Cosmic, Coffee is poisonous to elves."
Cosmic waves her off, "One of the Blessings Suine gave me is the ability to eat pretty much anything I want. Immune to ingested poisons. Means I can eat or drink almost anything with no side effects. I know this because she put all my new abilities and stats in my head, in a format I understand. More or less it turns out. Problem with working from a numbers to a reality point of view. In my minds eye I can see a page with all the information about myself written on it. Skills, powers, gifts etc. Some things are better this time around, not as good in other area's. My wisdom seems lower for some reason. Though that could just be from the cultural differences between how my world worked it and here."
Edora, tasting the coffee off the plate, "What skills did she gift you with ?" she licks her lips, then carefully pours a little water over the remaining grounds to get herself a cup of the coffee to.
"Well, Alchemy, Enchantment, That one allows me to know and understand everything that goes in to making something that can be enchanted, all the prep work and such. Also means if I use that along with the Alchemy my potions will have more potency. Um, Carpentry, I knew some from before, but now there is more in my head. Before I just knew enough to carve staves or do repairs, now I got all this other information I did not have before. Um, Tracking is better, cooking has been adjusted to this world. Which is good I suppose. Spell Lore, which I need in order to work magic. Seems my new professions are Warrior and Mage. I had Some combat training before, bit of a mixed bag there, but this is like I have had some serious training over several years in my chosen fighting styles. Magic is new to me. I was a Mystic before, Spiritualism and such. Specialized in fighting legion demons really. Some people scoff about that cause many think they are a weak kind of demon. But they Feed on Fear, Anger and the negitive emotions. They are very good at causing that in people to. Which makes them so much stronger and if they can get enough of it, well they become very dangerous. Also they Always work in groups."
The High Priestess was about to scoff at that part, but she can Feel the Goddess nodding about just how dangerous it is to battle That sort of demon and how many underestimate them because a starving one is Easy to defeat. It's the well fed ones that are the terrifing type. Which the Goddess explains the kind of prayers this extraordinary child is capable of.
"A few skills I had from before have been added to or modified to allow me to still use them here. Like I now know how to drive a wagon, which I did not know before. I got a better understanding of riding horses to. Only ever road 2 horses in my life prior to coming here. Higher tech world, we used machines to get around. My present machine is partially wrapped around a tree in the woods here." she sighs, "I really hate that. My father left me that car, after he died."
Esmerelda nods, understanding about losing something precious even if she does not understand the device itself.
"Uh, I can now read and write in elven and the trade language as well as my native language. No elves where I come from, other than in stories, so that is a new skill."
The idea of No Elves, pauses the others. The High Priestess looks surprised, "No Elves ?"
"Only humans left in my world. Legends speak of the other races, but they left or were killed off before I was born. Stories of them boarding flying ships and sailing off in to the stars is all we have left of them. Or passing through gates to other worlds."
They all let that sink in.
Cosmic sighs, "Got blood drinkers and shifters though, but they hide really well. To my knowledge I never met them. Did meet a dragon once though, he was astral projecting, using that to explore the universe."
Esmerelda, shaking her head, "Ever meet any gods before Suine ?"
"A couple times. Tiamaat a couple times. Knew a priest of her's and she had an avatar who watched over him as her faithful were few and far between. Talked to several Angelic types, more than a few demons, devils and such to. An old nature god once, did not tell me his name, but he was nice as I was trying to clean up a water fall some people had vandalised. He appreciated the effort."
Cosmic is watching their aura's seeing how much they believe about her stories. So far as she can tell, they believe all of it. Don't seem to surprised by some of it either. Thing is, she is lying just a little bit. Not sure if she met Tiamaat or if that was a hallucination, some of it she is unsure of as she had trouble with her memories do to a few minor strokes. Now though, one of her Gifts is Natural Story Teller, the ability to tell believable lies or really good stories. Her skill level is shown at the low God end of the craft. Still she decides to keep things down low and not push it.
(Note: The High Priestess of Suine - Everone just calls her High Priestess - Given name is Brallek'th Natrollin'Tek, as its a mouthful, high priestess is prefered.)
High Priestess, "Half way expected you to embellish that or make things up but you did not. Which is nice and shows a bit of humility."
"No humility there" Cosmic tells her, "You asked a question I answered it. Just stating the facts as I know them. Though I admit sometimes I wonder if things actually happened like I remember them or not. I am 60 years old. As a human that is up there, I know as an Elf it's not much. But my memories are from my time as a human."
Esmerelda and High Priestess just nod. Edora is testing out other flavorings in her coffee (cream, sugar, one with one of each, then blended till she finds the mix she likes.)
Cosmic ends up having to hide her supplies from the thirsty vampire as they are limited and she can't get anymore she is sure. "I only have what is here and I really doubt I can get this replaced around here so please stop sucking down all my cream."
Edora sighs, "You can get cream here."
"2% pasturized half and half creamer ?"
Blank looks from the other ladies, High Priestess ask, "What ?"
"This creamer has only 2% fat in it, it's been pasturized, which is a way to cook it to remove potentially harmful things from it, then its mixed with low fat milk and cream to get it this way."
They all slowly get it. So Not getting any more like that Here as no one in this world even knows how to do any of that.
"Pasteurization is a process in which certain packaged and non-packaged foods are treated with mild heat, to eliminate pathogens and extend shelf life. For milk as an example, you cook it in a double boiler at 145 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring it to keep it from skalding, then placing it in a cool or cold place. I know it increases the shelf life of the milk by a couple weeks, provided its kept in a cool or cold space. Like the insides of my Thermal Bags here." She opens one and they can feel the cool air coming from it, "They are designed with a combination of science and magic to keep foods longer." she explains. What she does not explain is Suine is the one who made them that way. She was nice enough to include How she did that in Cosmics memories. In case she wants to make others like it at some point.
"Pasteuriztion kills the organisms that cause diseases like typhoid, tuberculosis, and diphtheria amoung others. I imagine its a bit harder here to do as you all lack some of the technology my people have for measuring tempetures and such." takes a deep breath and pulls her mind back on track, "As I was saying, some of my memories, I don't really know if they happened the way I recall or not. See I had a series of strokes in my mid 20's. Left me damaged and hard for me to find work. If not for my family I would have been in worse shape. I still did things, odd jobs and such. But because of this I could not hold a normal job for very long. At anyrate it's why I don't fully trust my memories especially during that time of my life."
The ladies all nod, the goddess tells her priestess, most of those memories are real, though some things have been forgotten. Still her own look in to this childs past shows her she really did meet an avatar of Tiamaat and the Dragon Goddess counts Cosmic as one of her students, in matters spiritual. Old soul and all that, very enlightened, which is one reason her exorcisms are so powerful here.
"Oh, um do you know where I can get gems appraised. From the way the ladies acted I get the feeling my normal money would not be worth much here."
The High Priestess nods as she notes down what Cosmic told her about pasturization, "I can do some myself. I am a trained jeweler. As for your money, well we have had 2 other travelers from far realms come here. They had strange money, one something called Credit, strange card of odd substance, the other these papers. Both insisted they were proper currancy."
Cosmic grins, "Got both of those but even I know they are not worth anything in a foriegn country, let alone another world. But I got some coins to." she pulls out her coin purse and pours out an assortment of coins. Points to them and names them, "Pennies, mostly made of copper, little brass in the mix. Then the nickles are just that, nickle over copper, worth 5 pennies back home, the small silver coin is a dime, 10 pennies value, the large coin is a quarter, worth 25 pennies. We used a 100 unit money system. A dollar is 100 pennies as an example." she picks up a quarter and points to it's middle, "These are silver with copper sandwiched between them. The ones with the bird on the back have more silver in them than the ones with scenes on them though. Though I could see those selling for more from an artistic point of view."
They look them over and the High Priestess sends for someone who can appraise the metal value of the coins. The small man who shows up is happy to look them over and in the end states the nickles are worth about 2 copper each just for the metal, maybe a little more to a collector of foriegn money though, the pennies are worth a penny, same amount of copper as their own currancy. The Dimes have enough silver to be worth exactly their face value, which tickled Cosmic to learn that. The quarters are worth about 1 silver 5 pennies each from the mix of metals, but he agree's with her assessment of the skill of the artistic scenes on the back and states she could get more from a collector of such. All in all not a bad bit of money though.
20 quarters, 10 dimes, 12 pennies, 20 nickles = 45 silver, 2 copper (10 copper pennies to 1 silver Crown - so 5 silver crowns, which is good money as silver is the main currancy here. Average laborer gets 1 silver a week as an example, that's unskilled. Skilled brings in more and can vary from company to company with an average being 4 silver a week.)
Cosmic looks over the conversion, "So on this alone I would have the rough equivallent of 9 weeks of work for a skilled person." The others nod, "More though if I can sell some of these more artistic coins ?" They nod again. She considers, then puts back 2 older pennies and one each of the artistic quarters. Then lets the man convert the rest. "I am keeping the pennies as a keep sake type thing. Also this one" holds it up, "was made the year I was born." she points to the date. Which is when she learns they use the same kind of symbols for their numbers to. Which makes things a little easier for the foriegn mage.
After he leaves Cosmic digs out the purse with the gems in it. She pulls out 6 gems, 3 fire opals and 3 Dragon Breath opals, called Dragon Eye here she learns.
The High Priestest about had kittens looking at those 6 gems. All oval cut, perfect formed, and worth a Base of 1000 gold each, Selling price, meaning if she were to buy them they would cost More. "These are the average stones I have." Cosmic tells her, watching their aura's and the HIgh Priestess near subsonic whimper.
HP, "How many of these do you have, in total ?"
"50, half fire, half dragon. I also have 25 pieces of mixed jewelry, most made with opals for the stones."
All 3 women look close to fainting. The goddess is giggling in the priestesses mind. Fire Opals are a sacred gem here which ups their value in the church considerably.
Esmerelda, seeing the High Priestess going in to shock explains, "Fire Opals are considered Holy around here. Makes them worth more than their face value. The idea of you have so many seems to have broken our Priestesses mind for the moment. Dragon Eyes on the other hand are much coveted by mages as they hold enchantments very well. That makes them worth a great deal more to an enchanter than is normal for the gem. Mind you those gems are worth a great deal of money anyway."
Cosmic just nods as she calmly sips her coffee.
The HP sighs, "We don't have the kind of money to even afford one of those gems at face value, which is 1000 gold crowns, or 20,000 silver crowns just so you understand. We used to have more money, but with the crisis and all, well." she sighs.
Cosmic considers, then digs out a silver and fire opal pendant, holds it up, "How much ?"
The HP looks it over, "Simple design, smaller stone but still nice, 1000 gold crowns." she sighs, looking at the wonderful craftmanship and the gem.
"Tell you what. How about we work out a line of credit. The value of that necklace vs items and services in trade." sips coffee while watching the High Priestess.
She grins, "That really is not a bad deal or idea. Will take a bit more paperwork to do. I could put in a fee to appraise the rest of your items to. But it would not take all that is worth by a long shot."
Cosmic carefully lays out all the gems and jewelry pieces on the High Priestesses desk. The sight of a few of those pieces about makes her faint. One web style platinum and gold necklace with alternating fire and dragons eyes necklace, she puts a value of 25,000 gold crown (500,000 silver) on. She stares at it, "Goddess, people would kill you for that one alone. I would keep it somewhere safe."
In gems alone she is worth over 1 million silver. The assorted jewelery pushes that closer to 2 million or a little more. Not that they can buy any of that now. But still nice nest egg to fall back on.
The Deal they eventually make is 50 gold crowns and the rest in services or gear from the temple stores for the one pendant. The Major Domo, a monk in service to the Goddess, is brought in and made aware of the deal. He is shown the pendant to and is impressed with it. The High Priestess also informs him that Cosmic is one of the Goddesses special people, Resurrected by the Goddess herself and in service to the goddess just from that point. The girl is a highly skilled exorcist and has already cast out many hidden demons. How ever she is not a member of their faithful as she answers to Allies of the Goddess.
Cosmic tells him her power comes from the Gods of Life, Love, & Light and one of her purposes is to fight the Darkness. Suine is a Goddess of Light and Life under her understanding and thus partly under the perview of the Gods of her people. All there can understand that.
At any rate she has a line of credit with the temple worth 900 gold. The Major Domo and after he wakes up the head exchquer for the Church will have to help her with that.
It is after all that is done that the high priestess let Cosmic know the nature of her guides. Whom just look around the room and act like she is not talking about them.
Cosmic slowly nods, "Cool. The Goddess told me they were special in their own way to. Given what I am now, well I can see why she chose them. Better able to keep up with me than a normal mortal would."
The High Priestess, it's obvious she had not thought of that. She stares at the two, then this exceptional woman before her and really see's it for the first time. No normal mortal would be able to keep up with her, so having two supernatural sorts who are also loyal to the goddess, yes, that makes a great deal of sense now.
She grins, "As the Goddess wills. Very well, I hope they do well by you none the less."
"They have so far. Esmerelda's prayers really helped with my exorcism tonight to. With her help it increased the effectiveness of my work by a good 50% boost to the blessings." stated as a fact.
Esmerelda smiles, happy to know she and her Gods helped. The High Priestess nods, "Excellent." Cosmic then yawns and they smile, "Time I think they got you to your rooms."
Edora nods, "We got a room at the Inn we are staying at for her. I just hope she does not hurt any of the other clients to badly." she is grinning as she says it.
-------------------
The Inn is called Fields Inn. Has a picture of a corn field on the sign, with a corn shaft carved in the door post. The inside is large, fairly crowded even at this late hour, but not terribly loud. The two women take Cosmic to the bar and introduce her to the inn keeper, Hal, a huge, round man with a permanent scowl and a scar across one eyebrow. He grunts but nods about the room being for the elf. He points at her, "I expect that room to be in as good a shape as you find it before you leave, understand ?"
"SO no painting it pink and planting flowers in it then ?" Cosmic ask with a grin.
The man jolts, then grins, "no, no painting it pink or adding flowers. You can clean it though if you feel up to it." he grins at her. That is the friendliest anyone has ever seen him be to anyone, ever. Cosmic nods, "Ok. No painting or planting, maybe cleaning." He nods even as he passes her the key. The other two shake their head even as they lead her to the room. It's small, just a bed, small table and a empty chest but it's warm, no outside windows and next door to their room. She looks it over, yawns, then Blesses the room and the surroundings so strongly that all the insects in the building Flee for safer environs, as well as every demon, and astral pest with in 60ft of her present location. She waits a minute while her companions stare in awe at the sudden vacating of all the creepy crawlies.
After that, Cosmic pulls out a nice blanket, a small pillow, and a strange silver and blue tarp with pockets on it. She puts the tarp over the mattress, the pillow on top, then pulls the blanket over her and is asleep soon after. The ladies locked her door and shake their heads. She is certainly prepared for all kinds of things they see.