Not long after seeing the Kohlar, Priest of Anashar preach, Telosh signals to Alexis and behind a hand quietly mentions:
“Perhaps the good friar would know the right thing to do with Raff’s tooth.”
Telosh makes the signals, Priest, Law, Sword.
“If it is broken, surely he’d be the right one to deal with it.”
Twice Break, Sword. Three times.
About a week after Barra has defeated Utiog, Alexis is waiting for Gus as he returns from his morning shit.
“And what a fine day this has started out to be. Before I go back to my studies, I was hoping you might tell me a little something about your new ‘magics’. We have been talking about the gods a lot recently, and I would be curious to know where your ‘magics’ come from.”
“Before you try and bullshit me, play dumb, and stonewall me, I have a reason for my question: if Earyka targets your ‘god’, I want to know it; it’s important.”
Alexis stands in front of Gus awaiting his answer.
Sometime during the two weeks after Utiog has been destroyed, Alexis is walking with Ethelred through what used to be the village green.
“Having seen the sword in action, do you still think it is very fragile and easy to break? From what you’ve said, Barra bashed it several times against the ground while destroying Utiog. A layman like me would think that a powerful being like Barra smashing a sword on the ground would destroy a weak sword.”
Sometime during the two weeks after Utiog was destroyed, the group is in the old Inn of the River Village for a meal. Alexis addresses Telosh.
“While I admit there was some intellectual interest in the idea of killing all the gods, you seemed particularly interested in the idea. Do you still that strongly?”
Somewhere along the way, on the journey from Sutheron to the Copper Hills Fort, Lucius, complete with Sutheron accent, strikes up a conversation with Alexis:
“Say my fellow Sutheroni, I heard an interesting speculation in the Five Winds Inn and Tavern between a couple of priestly types, and it nearly started a fight with some Westy horse traders, apparently one of the horse traders is from a farming family…
“Anyhoo, the one acolyte says to the other, ‘Oo-rin is THE Harvest God, and Hood harvests souls, seems like may be two facets of the same gem, the scythe is associated with both as well, right?”
“Now, the Westlander overheard this and started yelling, ” ‘arvesting gray-en ain’t da say’m as peoples!” and whatnot… no Hoodites were to been seen to stand up for their Patron, but there certainly wasn’t much more discussion of the issue that night!”
“What is your learned opinion, Esteemed Alexis Laelius? Is Hood connected to Oo-rin? It seems odd to me, I always thought Hood was just the… children’s name for Erlik…”
The giant white wolf has left the group and morning is fresh upon them. Alexis asks for a memento from each as appreciation for the help through the night. Ethelred pulls out one of the spearheads from the stink lizards and starts working it to be more like a fang. While Ethelred works, Alexis takes the pickax and starts digging a relatively shallow hole out of the way, Telosh takes out the goblin potions and decides which to part with, and Gustav finds a stone and starts carving a wolf-head on the stone. After Alexis finishes the hole he brings out one of Nock-Moss’ river rocks and draws a tear on the rock.
When everyone has their offering, Alexis takes each one in turn starting with the stones from Ethelred and Gustav.
“As small tokens of appreciation for you and your wolf, our protector last night, we dedicate this fang and this fierce visage.” Alexis sets Gustav’s stone first and places Ethelred’s on top of it.
“In the name of the wise woman, we offer this tainted potion. May you use the taint as a poison or the potion for it’s power.”
“With the ink of humanity in this remote place, we remember how you have saved humanity once again, and mark it with a tear.”
When the last item is placed in the hole, Alexis looks at his companions. “Now a moment for each of us to silently give thanks.”
The period of silence extends, and extends. The period is too long. It feels awkward.
Finally Alexis breaks the silence with a whispered “thank you.” Then he turns to the group “those awkward silences always make me uneasy. Let’s cover this hole and get over that saddle. May we be blessed across the river and not be stopped by the smooth cheeks.”
Alone an on watch, shortly after the ambush and giving thanks to the robin, Telosh pulls out his small supply of Aegirian coins. He sifts through the coppers and silvers, feeling each one carefully in the moonlight.
Alexis said only a fool fails to worship the gods… each in their turn…
He holds a silver in his hand, tracing the rune of TyLin on the crown side. Almost silently, the words clear in his mind, he intones a prayer:
Tylin, Great Goddess of Wisdom and Insight, Patron of Heroes, I beseech you, guide and protect me in my all my journeys.
He places the coin on his right thigh and selects another.
He flips the second silver across his fingers, like Alexis used to do before his pendant turned red…
Telosh moves his lips with out a sound, and forms the words clearly in his mind:
Tymora, Goddess of Luck and Fortune… it has been some time, I’m sorry. I thank you for your blessings, and accept both your push and your pull.
He cycles the coin across his knuckles again, and then puts the coin back and selects another, he rubs the engraving and again silently forms another prayer
Raiden, Protector of Humanity, Chosen by Anashar, may your valor and heroism guide me and aid us in our efforts against the fouls creatures and treachery that threaten us.
He rubs the coin again, and places it back in his pouch.
With some trepidation, he selects a copper coin from the pouch, holds it gently, rubbing the edges.
He takes a deep breath. An in his mind, silently forms words again as he holds the copper
Av’v, Crone-Mother, Keeper of Lost Knowledge, I have felt Your power and seen Your work. Please watch over us as we seek ancient artifacts to aid humanity in it’s time of need. Please accept my humble apologies for my part in the death of Your one-time servant Nandra, she was corrupted by kossen and I ask that You see my efforts to aid all of humanity.
Telosh shivers and places the copper coin on the ground at his left side.
The Westlander takes several deep breaths before picking up the silver on his right thigh again.
He runs his finger along the edge, and traces the rune of TyLin on the crown side again with a finger and quietly voices another prayer.
Tylin, Great Goddess of Wisdom and Insight, Patron of Heroes, I thank you for your guidance and protection in my all my journeys. I thank you for watching over my family, my father Okken, my mother wherever she is, my uncle Dakun, my cousins Sven, Gorf and Dirk and my companions now, Alexis, Ethelred and Gustav.
I beg you, Great Goddess of Heroes, Protector of the Wild and Free, to aid Gustav especially, he his kind and cares for us. I beseech you if you see Gustav as your servant, guide me in what ever way you see fit to bring him closer to you.
Telosh places the coin on his right leg again and draws out a small file provided to him by Ethelred. He picks up the coin again and begins to etch the rune into the coin carefully and with TyLin and Gustav on his mind.
While the group is resting, waiting for Telosh to fully recover. The glow of the dwarven crypt surrounds the group. Alexis is sorting through his equipment and organizing it. As he pulls out his old holy symbol to Tymora he looks at it a bit wistfully. The glow of the room seems to help bring out the shine of the simple silver disk. After turning the disk over several times, Alexis addresses the rest of the group.
“Is Tymora of any interest to any of you? This was given to me by my father when I was eight. He wanted me to have something to help with my luck. Promised to beat me if I lost it.” Alexis smiles at the memory.
Alexis turns the disk over for the rest to see “when I studied with Publius I hired a silversmith to modify the coin with the name ‘Tyche’. There is some evidence that Tymora and Tyche are the same, or Tyche was the older name. Or possibly Tyche was a lost daughter of Tymora. Or…? At the time I was sure I would someday find the answer to this riddle.”
Alexis looks expectantly at the group.
Telosh drifts in an out of consciousness as Gustav cares for him. Thoughts drift in and out of his mind…
…
Gustav is more gentle than Sven was when Sven tending to Telosh’s wounds.
…
Av’v, Ath, Torr-vann, Tylin, Raiden, Tymora, Dian-Cect, Kahru, Lomont, the Anemoi… some of these Gods Telosh has heard of before, some he has not… but what Alexis said rings true, praise and beseech them each in their turn…
…
“Ath does not view himself as a betrayer,” isn’t that what Alexis said?
TyLin, guide me as you have, that I do not become a betrayer, that I may protect my companions. Give me strength to be open an true with my friends.
…
Alexis thinks upon the feeling of slaying the scar-cheeked orcs.
Torr-van guide me to strike down my enemies swiftly and finality.
Raiden, guide me to protect my companions and humanity.
…
Telosh thinks of the billowing spores of mold, how he was affected in a way that Ethelred was not.
Tymora, I accept you push and pull, and am grateful for your support and the lessons you teach.
…
Telosh senses Gustav’s caring attention. The ranger is kind, provides for the group, cares for their wounded. He does not rush to fight, even against orcs and stink-lizards. Goblins may be his weakness, but even there, he listens to the counsel of others.
TyLin, see Gustav, aid him if it please you. If his path is not to you, I beseech you, please help him to find it.
…
“My father spoke little of Ath, Avv or Torr-van, nor did my Gran. My nuncle, though… Sven and Dirk and Gorf’s dad?” Telosh’s voice rises in question, wondering if the others have paid any attention to his stories of Amara. He moves on quickly though,
“He was the part of the town militia, and while he was a farmer that praised Oo-rin first, he spoke of Torr-van more than he spoke of TyLin when he was teaching us how to fight to protect the village from kossen. Anyhow, the little bits I know about Ath and Torr-vann, seem to come together a bit like this…
Torr-vann, the mightiest and bravest of the gods and the most valiant in battle, has, since time before time, fought with his great two-sided ax against dragons and dark gods and great evil powers to protect humanity.
When the world was young, and so was Torr-vann, Av’v, the mother of… us all, gave birth to a half-human, half-god son, Ath. Ath was an exceptionally clever boy, being both god and human, and Av’v was a strict mother but a great teacher, and taught him many secrets, and most of all how to keep secrets and keep his own counsel.
Ath grew rapidly, and was clever and quick, and in no time at all, Torr-van noticed the young half-god and, hoping to make sure his cleverness would lead to good and bright things, took the young half-god under his wing.
Ath was a quick study, and learnt how to fight from Torr-van quite well indeed. Ath was skilled at exploiting his enemies weaknesses, and positioning himself for the best advantage in a fight. It was no time at all before Ath and Torr-van both felt Ath was ready to join the warrior god in his battles against dragons and giants and other great evils.
Even though Torr-van was the mightiest warrior of all the gods, and he swore he would protect Ath, it took much work to convince Av’v that Ath would be safe with Torr-van.
But, She had given birth to half human because of her great love for humanity, and she knew that, fighting to protect humanity was part of his destiny, so in the end, she agreed to let young Ath adventure and fight beside Torr-van.
She kept back a dark foreboding knowledge, though, and did not warn Ath or Torr-van about the true nature of the unease she felt. Av’v knew that these adventures would lead to Ath’s death, she knew with dark certainty that his death would be a great tragedy and that the origins of this tragedy lay in Ath and Torr-van’s adventures.
She made the two swear a powerful godly vow that they would always protect each other in hope that she could somehow prevent the tragedy she knew would unfold.
The stories of their travels and battles are no longer well known, but they defeated many great enemies fighting together. Ath was a natural strategist and did not hesitate to strike down their enemies when offered the chance, and the two gods saved each other’s lives many times.
Along the way, an evil dragon, perhaps the father of all Wyverns, poisoned the two gods, with it’s powerful wyvern-like tail, and Ath, with the secret knowledge his mother had taught him, saved himself and Torr-van, but turned his experience and knowledge to his own advantage and began to use poison himself.
Some say that Ath was always corrupted, others say it was the poison that corrupted him, him being half-human, perhaps he was more susceptible, perhaps it was the nature of his mothers secret teachings and their shared secretive nature, but Ath’s poison is part of his corruption. Along with the poison, jealousy, doubt, and mistrust began to infect Ath.
Eventually these battles became something more, the Great War between the gods and the forces of Evil. The forces of evil knew that the Ath and Torr-van were an undefeatable team, but they also knew that Ath had become more like them than like his battle-brother.
So they conspired to capture Av’v.
Once Av’v was captured, their trap was set. They had long used the door in Ath’s mind open by his embrace of poisons, and dreams and nightmares and deceit to grow his jealously and double his mistrust.
Together, Ath and Torr-van battled their way to the dark cavern where Avv was being held captive and tortured and defeated the beasts that were guarding Her. Many say that she was held in deep in the mountains where the Red Wastes are now, and that it is her suffering there that lead the red color and curse on those lands.
Ath, being cautious by nature, and filled with mistrust, moved forward with care, keeping an eye out for traps and treachery.
Torr-van being brave and trusting, rushed forward to free Av’v.
Av’v, her power weakened by the forces of evil, and their foul tortures, saw Torr-van but not Ath, and praised him for rescuing her.
Ath became enraged, and no sooner had Torr-van freed his Mother, Ath treacherously cut the great warrior down from behind with a poisoned blade.
Av’v was free, and in her rage, her power flowed freely and she slew her treacherous, oath-breaking son, his blood flowed out across the floor, and the taint of his poisons gave life to all manner of poisonous vermin there.
Av’v power continued to flow, and with it she raised Torr-van up, returning the valorous god to life again.
As soon as she calmed down though, she saw that she had slain her own son, her gift to humanity, and she also understood her dark and foreboding vision of his death.
“Alexis, do you know any more of this story? I wish I knew more details, which dark gods they fought for example? Malor? Maglubiet? the Arrul No’roth?”