Veiled Trust

Year 18

*Emma and Lyra are walking around a potential rental space. A gnome waits in the foyer*

Emma: What do you think Lyra? You’ll even get your own room.

*Lyra speaks in a higher pitch while playing as Emma's maid.*

Lyra: I think it’s wonderful lady Emma. I think The others will be happy with the accommodations as well.

Emma: How much did you say it was?

Gnome: Fifty silver a month.

Emma: Any discount if we pay a year in advance?

Gnome: I don’t normally do refunds but if you pay a year in advance. I’ll refund up to two months if you leave early.

Emma: Okay, any rules I should know?

Gnome: This is near the center of town so make sure you’re aware of how sound travels. Break anything and you’ll pay a ten times refund of the items original value.

Emma: Okay, can we have the night to think about it?

Gnome: Maybe. You can stop by my house when you’ve made up your mind. Payment in hand please.

*The gnome walks the girls out of the house and they start walking to the guild.*

Emma telepathy: Why is everyone so ridiculous about their refunds and deals.

Lyra telepathy: I could threaten him into a cheaper option.

Emma telepathy: No, I told you killing shouldn’t be your first choice for anything.

Lyra telepathy: I still think you let people bully you around.

Emma telepathy: So? They can insult me all they want. I’ll pull the attention of the bullies to protect my friends and family.

Lyra telepathy: Doesn’t that make you have more weaknesses?

*The two walk into the guild with no sign of the usual groups the two sit down to continue talking over lunch.*

Emma: How so?

Lyra: If someone were to hurt them you might become less rational and slip up.

Emma: I don't want to but I can rely on the voice for those moments. Kind of.

Lyra: You’ve talked to it?

Emma: Yeah.. They can’t really respond. But, they’re hurt. I want to show them how to smile again. I think they’re our true soul light.

Lyra: And what does Archon think of this?

Emma: Robin keeps them off my back in exchange they give me jobs they don’t want. Or one’s that require a more civil mind as I put it.Laughs*

Lyra: He’s been using you to get stronger. Ever since he saw your vessel surpassed his.

Emma: What do you mean?

*Lyra explains that emma has filled the bottom ring of her vessel which until recently was the highest of Archon’s unit.*

Lyra: How many have you killed anyway? That much you’ve got to be getting close too triple digits. Or is it just the really evil ones?

Emma: too many.

Lyra: I get what you mean. After a while it’s hard to track.

*As Ariella and Ruddy walk in, Lyra steps away to prepare lunch for the group, she persuaded the kitchen to let her cook in her off time. Emma

describes the houses they visited and decide on a house they all looked at previously.*

Ruddy: It’s close to the guild and doesn't have any furnishing.

Ariella: We can use what we save from fees into furniture. Ruddy and Lyra can go.

Emma thinking: it seems the range of the collar is roughly a kilometer.

Emma: Yeah, Lyra can get any kitchen supplies we need.

Ruddy: Okay can we go after lunch? I’m starved.

*After lunch the group splits up Ariella and Emma head to the new house. The down stairs is a common area with a full kitchen with a window leading out to the public area. Upstairs there’s three bedrooms. Emma and Lyra agree to share one room as they finish decorating the house.*

Ariella: It’s not perfect.

Emma: But its imperfections are what make it perfect.

Ariella: Exactly!

*Both smile and giggle.*

Lyra: I'll start preparing Dinner.

Ruddy: They said the beds should be delivered in the morning.

Emma: Okay, I’ll stay here then.

Ariella: No fair that you get to stay here first!

Emma: I never said I was the only one doing it.

Ariella: Fine then I’m staying tonight as well.

Emma: Well Ruddy? What about you? Wanna spend the night here as well? It’s not like we haven’t slept without beds before.

Ruddy: I would, but it’s game night at the church. I haven’t missed one yet.

Ariella: What’re you gonna do when we leave for Glimmerfell? Like are you still gonna be able to play?

Ruddy: well no. But, I do it for the kids. They get to stay up late and have fun.

Emma: HEY! Before we leave we should all go!

Ariella: We could go after Dinner.

Lyra: I’ll start moving things from the Guild to here.

Emma: Oh, come one Lyra. It’ll be fun.

Lyra: Thanks, but no thanks.

Ariella: That’s fine. But you’ll join us another time right?

Lyra:*Sarcastically* If my Lady orders it of me.

Ariella: Technically I have more authority than her. What if I order it?

Emma: I told her. I’d never force her to do anything against her will. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone.

Ruddy: Well we have a year before then. I hope you’ll join us Lyra.

Lyra: Maybe next time.

*The group finishes dinner and as the sunsets you can see the ring of sunlight quickly escaping the falls above. Lyra heads off to begin moving things and the others head to the church. When they get inside a bunch of kids are running around. A small group of kids of different ages and races run over to Ruddy.*

Kids: Ruddy!

*Ruddy picks up one of the smaller kids.*

Ruddy: Hey guys. These are Emma and Ariella. The two party members I’ve mentioned before.

*The kids stand around the group; Amazed.*

Kids: Woah!

*As Ruddy walks off to see some of the other kids, a small beastkin boy runs up to Emma. Ariella watches some children play with some toys.*

Boy: Is it true you met the wandering guardian?

Emma: Who?

Boy: Father David told us about a wandering beastkin who protects people. I wanna grow up to be just like him.

Emma: It might’ve been. He was gone before I woke up, so I never had the chance to talk to him.

Boy: If you were asleep how do you know he saved you?

*A girl beastkin walks up to Emma.*

Girl: Father David said he doesn’t speak because his voice hurt people.

*Lily pops out and the two jump in surprise. The girls feathers stiffen for a moment and the boys fur stands on end like a cat.*

Emma: Lily here was the one who saw it.

*The children quickly calm down.*

Girl: She’s so pretty. Can I pet her?

Emma: *Smiles* Of course. She really likes head scritches.

*As the girl pet's Lily, she purrs and follows the girls hand, much like a cat.*

Boy: So how do you know he saved you if you were asleep?

Emma: I can talk to Lily. She also understands anything you say to her as well. After I woke up she told me everything.

Boy: So she can talk too?

Emma: Kinda, She talks into my head with telepathy.

Girl:Tell-uh-puh-th-e?

*Ruddy laughs as he walks back over to Emma.*

Ruddy: It’s a thing that elves do with their spirits. Were they talk with thoughts.

*a young elf child walks up with a totem in his hand.*

Elf: So I’ll be able to talk to my spirit when they get older?

Emma: Yeah, when you turn ten. They’ll be the one person who you can take with you anywhere you go.

Girl: Can I have a spirit when I’m older?

Emma: Maybe not a spirit, but I know a beastkin who can communicate with most animals. He uses it to make his animals happier to produce better tasting cakes for his bakery.

*The group ends up spending the time telling the kids about elves before they all head home.*

David: Thank you girls, The elven orphans here don’t know much about spirits because we don’t have any elven teachers.

Ariella: Well every once in a while we can stop by and help teach them. At least until we leave.

Emma: I can leave a list of books that helped me learn.

David: I’m sure they’d love that. Thank you both.

Ruddy: Well Father, I’ll see you tomorrow.

David: That won’t be necessary, Take the day off Ruddy. I know you don’t rest properly and They told me you still have to move furniture tomorrow.

Ariella: Don’t worry father, Well make sure he sleeps.*laughs.*

*The group leaves the church and heads back home. Emma and Ariella start stopping by the church on their off days to help teach the children.*

—----------------------

*6 months later*

*The party is walking through some paved tunnels on their ‘C’ rank promotion quest.*

Ruddy: They said the nest was up ahead. Emma, do you sense anything yet?

Emma: I can sense some scouts up ahead. At least 3.

*Three goblin scouts are talking to one another when the head falls from one, The other two jump back as they grab their horns 2 arrows zip past freezing them. The group moves forward, as they continue clearing the scouts they come across they eventually enter a part of the tunnel that becomes a cave.*

Ariella: This is where the workers were last seen.

Emma: There’s a large room up ahead. I’m sensing at least 25 goblins. A queen and some orcs.

Ruddy: Some? How big is this room?

*Emma peaks around the corner to see what looks like an underground tribal temple, with 4 towers at each corner. Lava flows along parts of the walls giving a natural lightsource.*

Emma: This is ‘b’ rank at least. We should head back.

*A horn alerts the city to intruders back down the tunnel the group came from. Emma uses stealth to cover the party as a large group of goblins and an orc head back the way they came.*

Ruddy: There goes our exit. Now that we’re closer, how many units are we seeing?

Emma: five orcs, without counting we should expect no more than 60 goblins. The Queen is protected by goblins and the orcs seem to be spread into the four towers we can see. The humans seem to be in a prison underneath the main building.

Ruddy: We’ll take out the group on our way out.

*a scream can be heard from up ahead and Emma dashes out before the others can stop her. A large horn blares alerting the rest of the temple. Ariella creates an ice wall blocking the exit, Ruddy runs to catch up to Emma, Lily stays with Ariella keeping her stealthed as she fires ice arrows. Emma runs through the front door killing as many goblins as she can. Ruddy gets to the door before an orc steps in front of him. Emma looks up at the queen two hobgoblins guard her with a smaller group of archers aim. A larger male orc walks in from above.*

Orc: You people entered our home. Leave now and we won’t kill you.

Emma: Not without the prisoners.

Orc: We keep them for you entering our home.

*The queen says something to the orc.*

Orc: Shut it cow. We only keep you for more orcs.

Emma: That's rich coming from you tubby.

*The orc gets irritated and charges Emma. As we swings down on her the copy disperses and Emma stabs the orc in the side and slashes down. Disemboweling him. She looks up to the goblins. She looks up and her eyes sparkle.*

Emma: I’ve been wanting to train my Vessel.

*The hobgoblins step forward both with black souls. As They dash towards Emma the archers let loose arrows. Emma casts darkness filling the room with a black fog. The sounds of clashing metal can be heard from outside. After a moment Ruddy and Ariella run in as the fog clears Emma is pulling the necklace of the queen, Blood starts to form around the queen's necklace as Emma uses the queen's shoulders as leverage. Emma gives one final pull and the queens head drops. As she hops down Ruddy starts healing Emma’s hands, They’re covered in slices from pulling the necklace.*

Ruddy: I don’t know how we made it this far, but we have three orcs left. And you didn’t mention hobgoblins.

Emma: They’re hard to tell a difference when sensing them. You don’t see sizes it like an aura of them. at least they're weaker than the orcs.

*Another scream comes from a nearby door.*

Ruddy: Hurry back Ariella and I will guard up here.

*Emma nods and runs downstairs. She find a goblin grabbing a young female dwarf.*

Dwarf: Please no! Stop! Someone Help!

*The goblin rips off the clothes of the dwarf and grabs her legs as he squeezes his way in between them The dwarf lets out Another scream.*

Dwarf: HELP!

*Blood drips down on the dwarf and the goblin falls back. The dwarf looks up at Emma, She starts crying. Emma Unties the prisoners; eleven dwarves.*

Emma: Stay down here until someone comes to get you.

*Emma leaves a couple of knives behind. And runs back upstairs. Ariella continues to get each goblin as they slowly enter. Until one sneak behind her. As they jump on her Emma throws a knife killing them. Ruddy holds his own against an orc when a large explosion is heard. The fight goes quiet for a moment when a familiar voice is heard yelling.*

Hakhir: If you’re still in there Little ones make a sound!

*Hakhir shows up with a group of dwarves clearing the rest of the goblins and orcs. As things calm down Hakhir walks up to Emma her legs have given out now that the adrenaline from the fight is over.*

Hakhir: Is that you Emma? I happened to be in the area when I heard about about the situation. I thought it might be you.

Emma: Uncle Hakhir?! What're you doing here?

Hakhir: Bell of course. She told me you'd be around here. thought I'd stop by.

Ariella: Bell?

Emma: Ariella, Ruddy. This is Hakhir, he was Isabelle’s …

Hakhir: Mentor, father, teacher. Whatever you wanna call it is fine.

Emma: Isabelle was my first teacher.

Hakhir: how’ve you been kiddo?

Emma: Tired, and reckless as always.

*Hakhir laughs and the two catch up, after a while the group heads back to town. upon reaching the guild Emma and Hakhir head to receptionist.*

Emma: *Irritated* But we still cleared the quest you gave us. Shouldn't it count towards our promotion. it's not my fault you messed up.

Hakhir: They killed the queen before we even go there.

*The receptionist looks at the two suspiciously, then heads to the back for a moment. When they return an older dwarf arrives with her as well.*

Dwarf: Hakhir? What're you doing in these parts?

Hakhir: Nordear! Great to see you old friend.

*After explaining the situation Nordear, the guild master, allowing Emma and the Party to rank up. Afterwards Emma and Hakhir meet up with everyone else to celebrate.*

Emma: Hey Hakhir, Where all have you gone in the world?

Ariella: specifically have you been to Glimmerfell?

Hakhir: Course I have. I used to live there before Bell came along. I’m sure things have changed since them though.

Emma: what’s it like?

Hakhir: That’s right Bell mentioned you were gonna go explore the world. Glimmer fell look for a place called the stacked lakes. It’s three lakes that formed over each other. One at the top of a mountain, one under the mountain, and an underground spring is deeper under that. I’ll write down all my favorite place I used to visit.

Emma: So what brought you in the area anyway?

Hakhri: After I dropped off the cart I met an old party members grandkid. I was helping teach him while I was there. I was headed home when I got wind of a large goblin nest. I remember about 200 years ago there was a goblin temple we had buried. We thought we killed them all but when I heard about it I had to come check. When I asked the guild they told me you had accepted it. They never told me the name but, two elves and a human in whispering falls is kind of a give away. I grabbed who I could explained the situation and headed out. When we go to the Ice wall we started to get worried.

Ruddy: We were running on empty if you hadn’t showed up when you did we wouldn’t have made it.

Lyra telepathy: Am I mistaken or is your vessel have more? I could’ve sworn it was just at the line.

Emma telepathy: I mean I can’t check my own. Maybe it slowly increases over time?

Lyra telepathy: No. you didn’t kill anyone?

Emma: Not directly.

Hakhir: What?

Emma: Sorry, I was talking to Lily.

*Lily perks up and looks at Emma confused.*

Emma(TL): I was talking to Lyra.

Hakhir: You elves and your secret conversations. What’s she asking?

Emma: something I’m not exactly comfortable sharing. *Emma acts embarrassed and hakhir decides to change the subject.*

Lyra telepathy: If we can get stronger by killing monsters this could change everything we could start the prophecy early!

*Lily speaks to Emma telling her what to say.*

Emma Telepathy: I killed a prisoner, they begged me to. They had been used as a sexual plaything by the goblins and begged for mercy. She saw it as karmic justice because she cheated on..

Lily: Her spouse. I decided to help put her out of her misery.

Emma(TL): Thank you Lily. We can’t let them figure that out.

Lyra telepathy: That’s right you don’t like killing. Dammit I thought we finally could get this thing moving.

*As the night continues the group shares all their different adventures. The next few months the party decides to take it easy and relax. They take lighter quests to save up for the start of their trip. *