Late into the two weeks of contemplation, exercise and study, Rask approaches Ca’armine while the others are busy with their work.
“Ca’armine, do you have moment to talk?” Rask asks quietly and nods his head to the side a bit to indicate privacy.
The two step away from the others a bit and Rask continues quietly.
“Things have changed. This… is not the same world we left. We all can see it, I can feel the raw power of Aegir again, you can feel Raiden again right?”
Rask pauses for Ca’armine to affirm.
“I have been focused on stopping the Dark Hand, stopping Bandesing, it’s why we joined this group. What if Bandesing doesn’t exist here Ca’armine? Did we defeat the Dark Hand by changing history? Is there a new enemy we don’t even know about?”
Rask is confused, uncertain and concerned, even vulnerable.
Author Archives: Rask
Meditations and Movement
Rask helps set up camp, hunts and gathers with Gustav and Ca’armine. He prays to Raiden joyfully everyday, and does the short forms of exercises as usual until enough stores are gathered. Once stores are gathered and camp is set, he prays even more often. Whenever it seems appropriate asks the others questions about nature, plants, survival, focus and concentration.
His solo prayer and training become meditative. He talks deeply with Ca’armine about strength of will, how to maintain focus and resolve. He speaks of these same things with Alexis and Ethelred. He watches Gustav but only asks the ranger about nature, tracking and the like.
He talks with Ethelred about the crafting of weapons and armor, sharing his perspective as a warrior and learning about the basics of the methods of building, shaping, joining the materials to make arms and armor.
He sets aside his spiked gauntlet entirely at some point as the weeks pass. He makes it clear that he is happy for it to become raw materials again if no one is excited about using it.
Those who know go to look for such things may notice that most of his fighting maneuvers are focuses on subduing the opponent with the flat of the blade, the pommel, even and knee or elbow. The moves are precise and clearly powerful, there are no movements that sacrifice precision for power, and his focus is clearly not on deadly slashes and thrusts. He is steady and deeply focused throughout the forms.
Rask is calmer, more focused at the end of the three weeks. He walks a bit more quietly, reacts a bit more quickly, and is more nimble.
History Lesson?
Four or five days into Elthered’s Compass project, Rask approaches Alexis while Alexis is between tasks and the group is resting after Ethelred has been working on his Magic ‘Compass,’ the in the misty first ‘room,’ or level of this strange place, he waits for Alexis to acknowledge him and then respectfully speaks:
“Alexis, do you think it would be useful to us all to better understand what you know or have heard about Sasherak, this King Illceros, and that ‘Kobos’ place the dwarves,”
Rask pauses and glances down, a little ashamed of having slaughtered the dwarves so brutally,
“mentioned?”
Rask pauses breifly, before resuming his inquiry.
“The Dragon and Spider,” the warrior glances at Alexis’ ring briefly, “they are connected to King Illceros, right?”
“Was… Handonis telling the truth about the Time Magic? Do we really need giant hearts as anchors?”
Rask is confused and perhaps even a bit frightened.
Cut Off From the Raw Power of Aegir
“There’s something happening here, but what it is ain’t exactly clear.”
While Ethelred crafts his magical compass, Rask keeps watch, cleans his gear, tends to camp, and does his exercises much as he always does when the group camps. He prays to Raiden before and after his exercises and before he settles in for the night. He often joins Ca’armine in ritual prayers to Raiden. Those that might notice such things may see the look of concern and disappointment that occasionally flashes across his face when he uncharacteristically falters during his exercises, or even more rarely stumbles during chores. It is similar to they way he carried himself in the Grasslands on the way to the First Gate, but missing the bitter fury he carried then.
After a few days, and shortly after a round of prayers to Raiden, before settling in for the evening, Rask speaks to Ca’armine and Gustav.
“Ca’arm, do you understand what is going on here?” The question seem somewhat Rhetorical, and the warrior continues before Ca’armine can start to answer.
“I’m cut off from Raiden, or Aegir I guess?
Rask looks to Gustav briefly.
“Mage-Eye did say that my tattoos channeled the Raw Power of Aegir… Like I was in the Grasslands, I’m not as fast or as tough here. It feels like part of me is missing. I’m getting more used to it, but that… worries me that much more.”
Rask pauses and looks at the ranger and then the priest, more sad that worried, really.
“You two can stall call on The Power though, and when you do, I feel that connection again…”
Rask smiles wanly, recalling the comfort Raiden’s protections bring.
“I think Hadonis may not have been completely lying Brothers. This place… something is different here…”
He pauses, clearly asking for Ca’armine and Gustav’s thoughts this time,
“What do you think is going on here?” Rask guestures broadly
Hadonis’ Inevitable Betrayal
Rask settles into the comfortable chair, having scraped his battle-weary battered body off the floor. He slows his breathing and closes his eyes and seems to be on very of sleep when he mutters, “Hadonis… giants…”
His eyes open and he sits up.
“Hadonis was in league with the giants from the beginning! It was a win-win for him,: if we survived great, we are more powerful allies, if we died, potential rivals were neutralized and he would gain our treasures.”
He pauses, clearly tired to his very bones.
“His hearts-anchor thing must have been ruse…” Rask trails off, tired and deeply body weary.
He looks around for a moment to see if anyone registers that he has shared what he, in his exhaustion clearly believes is an important revelation, and collapses back into the chair. The warrior begins to snore softly.
Cleasing the Taint
While resting before tackling the round room with seven pillars, Rask approaches Alexis.
“Alexis, if I may, I hoping we can talk more as a team about the… magic here… the treasure we have and the treasure we seek?
Rask waits for Alexis to accept his request.
“You said that the crystal ball is corrupted and the magic here is corrupted, right? It seems like this is all connected… The Tear must be corrupted too, right? If it is corrupted, can we really use it against… our Adversary uncleaned? Can we cleanse the taint of the Tear? Can we learn how by trying to cleanse the taint of the the crystal ball? Do you think we have to cleanse the taint of the Maiden to do so?”
Looking In Your Crystal Ball
“My apologies Alexis, I am just wondering if you have learned anything from gazing at the crystal ball that would serve us in our next move against the traps in the Mountain or perhaps our enemies and allies?”
“And perhaps… if you would be willing at some point to look in upon the refugees from Thater? I am curious about their fate… Alikimo’s as well… It is not pressing of course, and if it would put you in danger…. I would never ask that… but… if it’s not too much trouble…”
Rask Joins Raiden’s Rangers
The Crimson Calling decamps to recuperate and solidify what they have learned from their recent adventure after their initial forays into the ensorceled dungeons of Nodden Torr.
Rask asks Gustav and Ca’armine to teach him more about survival and ranging, he wants to help the group more and better connect with the horses and other animals. Whenever they will let him, Rask prays, studies, hunts and gathers with the two Holy Rangers of Raiden. He learns from them what berries, mushrooms and plants can be eaten, the basics of tracking, and how to connect better with animals. He focuses much of his time hunting with them on being stealthy. His ability to hide and move quietly both improve over the two weeks the group spends in the forest.
Rask continues his practice with his sword, fists and other weapons. As has become his practice, he does so in his loin cloth, and he prays to Raiden before and after, and many of his forms focus on less than lethal applications of his weapon. He meditates afterwards, and makes a point to sit near Alexis when when he does so, his back, chest and thighs exposed, the arcane Iron Tree runic tattoo visible.
He spends the every moment of his remaining waking hours tending to and working with the horses. He feeds and grooms them daily, and works with them to better understanding their training and commands. He talks with Gustav and Ca’armine both about animal training methods and how to connect with both tame and wild animals. He is kind to Gustav’s crow, but always deferential to the grumpy ranger, and pays close attention to how Gustav treats and trains the magnificent corvid.
By the end of the two weeks, Rask is noticeably quicker with his attacks, somewhat able to to track and gather food from the forest, and much more connect to the horses and other animals. He is more centered and at peace than he has been, other than the evening in the Grove of TyLin.
World: Rocked
Before venturing up the stairs above the Monasterynof the Eagles, Rask approaches Ca’armine:
”Ca’armine, those giants… if it weren’t for you sending me Raiden Blessing in that moment, I’m sure I would be dead. They are… it’s almost like they’re made of stone. Strong like stone too. Getting hit by the boulder they threw wasn’t as bad as the blows they dealt up close.”
Rask is a little nervous. It has been a long time since he last took a beating like the on the stone giants delivered.
”Anyhow, thank you.”
Of Tears and Rain
In a moment of rest after entering Nodden Tor, Rask address Alexis and the rest of the group, but mostly Alexis.
“What IS a Tear of Avv? More than the rain that falls on our crops, shepherded by Oo-rin?
“Sheyeeni said her true boss had two? Hadonis said some Nalcir tribesmen betrayed him and may still hold it?”