Part VII:Stagnant Waters
16th of Hematite, 371The day had turned already to the next when the companions sat huddled next to a campfire late in the night.
The sky was clear and one could see the stars shining brightly from between the branches and leaves of the kumquat and orange trees. A cool breeze blew from the west, rustling in the grass, mixing with the rumbling of the ocean's waves in a relaxing manner.
The companions were some ways off west of Tangledwisps, camped just next to a beach of stone and pebble.
Things had not gone exactly as planned in the monastery.
“She called me a murderer,” Suwu broke the silence. They had been sitting there for a while now, all sullen and morose, each staring blankly at the mesmerizing dance of the campfire's flames. It was only now that Suwu realised that her hands were shaking. She had held it all together this long, but now she could feel her body begin to understand what had happened and react to it.
“It was uncalled for,” Ova tried to soothe Suwu. He had noticed the trembling of the capybara woman's paws. He continued, “And all that spitting. You didn't deserve it.”
“Didn't I?”, Suwu turned to look at Ova, “For the sake of the gods, I could've stayed my hand. I could've just held Kisnast down.”
“She attacked you Suwu,” Cañar joined in, “She was part of the Umbral Scars. A bandit and Strohe's henchman.”
“Yes, that she did. It was her own doing,” the mandrill man continued to try and assure Suwu that what she did was right. Ova did not fully understand why Suwu was so disturbed by her killing of Kisnast -- he, himself, felt that it was grimly satisfying that the bandit was now dead.
“And, Suwu, do not forget that you
did try to get the bandits first to lay their arms,” Cañar said, walking over to Suwu and sitting down next to her, “Were it not for the provocative, but justified, words of the king, we might have been able to deal with them in some other manner.”
He put his hand on Suwu's cheek, then lifted her chin so that he could look her straight in the eyes, “But there is no use in pondering the 'whats' and 'ifs' in this case. No, life is fleeting, and they had their end coming. A just and deserved end is what those scoundrels got.”
“Yes, even Strohe's story of that heirloom spear was untrue,” Ova added to Cañar's assurances, “If you don't remember, before things escalated, Urwa mentioned that the spear was actually her family's.”
“I-I don't know...”, Suwu looked at the two. She was glad that her friends were there for her in that moment, comforting her. Yet, she felt that things had gone a bit too far again. This was not the first time she had acted rashly. She still remembered Finderblunts and how she had put down one of the abominations when it was not necessary. It made her afraid. Afraid of herself, what she could do.
“I almost feel like I
should find that spear,” she continued, “But it would not ease the pain of Urwa for loosing a friend... And I do not believe she would be grateful to get her heirloom brought back by someone she sees as a murderer.”
“Well, now listen, my friend,” Rin spoke up. He had been watching and listening to the discussion from the side, and felt like he should intervene, “It was a most gruesome affair at the monastery, yes.”
He paused for a second to gather his thoughts, before continuing as the others turned to look at him, “But did the dwarf prophet-king mind? No. He didn't. It was
he who practically caused the whole ruckus. He peppered the bandits with his cleverly chosen insults all the time when you spoke with him. Making sure they heard it. Of that, I'm certain.”
“Rin speaks true,” Cañar nodded in agreement, “And do not forget he told us where the bandits sent their patrols, their numbers. He
wanted us to rid these lands of them. And do not forget either the look in his eyes when you told of how we rid the ancient holds of his kin of the foul beasts of the depths. The look of hope. A look of a future worth living for.”
Suwu looked at her companions. She felt her burden become lighter with their calming words. She was glad she had friends like these. Her thoughts drifted to the words of the king.
“I can not express with words how this news delights me,” the king had said, his eyes gleaming with joy,
“My kin lost Drivefloor a long, long time ago to that beast. It was not even five years since the Smith of Life led by Zulban Oilportal founded the fortress when it fell. First, they faced a terrible behemoth, a colossal being of bronze that came rampaging from the wilds, from a distant time before memory. They drove Emepe Scorchedgrand the Superior back, only to be laid waste by Ustxu Bloatswam the Murky that crept from the dark while my ancestors tended to their wounds.”
And the king had been ever the more grateful when Suwu had told how the fortress of Ceilingyell, too, had been cleared of uninvited guests.
“You continue to astonish me with your stories, bold adventurers,” he had said and knelt before those of lesser birth than him. It was something one would not ever expect from a king, divinely ordained to rule the lands.
“Ceilingyell was where the Mighty Ship was born. My grand kingdom of old, now in ruins and all but forgotten. Indeed, it was there where the founding ceremony, the Celebration of Abbeys, was first held: a grand procession to honor Kogan Fogcrafted becoming our First King. Recitals of poems, the burning of fragrant incense and many a performance. Ah, to have lived and witnessed it and then grabbed a mug or ten of plump helmet wine at the Armored Cakes!”“But, alas, Ceilingyell was doomed to fall. The first of our fortresses of old. It was two years before the founding of Drivefloor when Xosun Murkguts the Mangy Pus slithered up from the darkness and befouled the halls,” the king had sighed, then looked up with hope,
“That beast, too, has now been put to an end. These are words that greatly warm my heart, capybara woman.”
“And Suwu, do not either forget what he said in the end,” Cañar continued recounting the events and words exchanged, “He said, 'What you have done is truly legendary. You have done a great deed for me, and for the few of us -- the Mighty Ship -- that survive to this day. You have given us hope. This is why Us the Brass Charcoal led me here. You have my gratitude, White Fountains.' Do not think he said those words lightly, for he is king. He might not have a kingdom, no, but he is
king.”
A faint smile came on Suwu's lips. Everything her comrades told her was true. It was good to get their insight on these matters.
“Thank you, my friends,” she said and stood up, “I am weary after the day, but I still have some spirit in me. How about a song? Something different this time... Like 'the Birth of Lessons'?”
“A fine idea,” Cañar replied. He too smiled.
And like on so many nights before, the companions sang.
And Suwu sang well.
They slept not long before the sun rose from the east, casting its warm rays upon the companions and relieving Suwu of her last bits of regret of how things had gone -- at least for the time being.
While the weather was fair and warm, a heavy fog shrouded the sea to their west. Only the sound of the crashing surf revealed its presence next to them.
They were headed back north along the coast, for they intended to visit Beardbank, a large forest retreat and a place where the Druid of Múya Loré resided. The place had been mentioned by several elves before they went to Tangledwisps. It was their hope that the Druid might know a thing or two about the unholy artifacts they carried.
But they had also been warned that one must be wary there. For even the Druid's home was not safe from the activities of thieves and criminals, and a sprawling organisation of such evil-doers made their lair there.
Ova looked at the dead lion, its head badly crushed by Cañar's hammer. Suwu was preparing to butcher it and take its meat for the road.
These lands reminded him much of his home of old, which lay north of the forest retreats of Múya Loré, if his memory served him well. Yet, those lands were now overrun by the Darkness and all things foul Kadôl and the rest of the sorcerors had wrought upon the land.
The mandrill man felt tired. It was more than once that he had fallen back during their long journeys from place to place. He had to stop and rest. Despite him using his crutch as a natural extension of his leg by now, he was beginning to understand that he could not go on like this for longer. He was of no use during fights any more.
And he was tired of the excitement too. It was something he had never been comfortable with, and no matter how many a battle he faced, he didn't get used to it or learn to like it.
“This place reminds me of home,” Ova opened his mouth.
“Waterlures?”, Suwu lifted her head, still crouched as she butchered the carcass.
“No. My home of old,” Ova replied, “Before I came to Waterlures. The lands where I grew up, farther to the north.”
The mandrill man looked around, at the fruit trees and palms, the green hills carpeted in lush grass. The gentle breeze blowing. It felt like... Home.
“I am tired, Suwu,” Ova spoke to the capybara woman, but he directed his words at the rest of his companions too, “This wound of my, while I may be able to still travel and go on adventure with the lot of you, it wears me down. Have you not noticed me stopping to catch my breath, to gather my strength?”
“Yes, I have noticed,” Cañar answered, slightly worried where this discussion might lead, “But it does not hinder us. We are blessed to have you with us still, Ova.”
“You are a good friend,” Rin joined in. He understood, or at least thought so, what the mandrill man was trying to say. And while he did not like the idea, he felt he needed to support his friend in his decision, “But if you are trying to say you want to settle down... And retire. Then I will help you in it as best as I can.”
“Settle? Retire?”, Suwu looked genuinely surprised. She was not expecting any of this, “Do not say that is true, Ova! What about Lór's quest? Our promise? We need you! We can not finish this without your help!”
“I...”, Ova began to reply, but then turned his eyes away from his friends in shame.
“Give him a break, Suwu!”, Rin snapped at Suwu, “If he is tired, he is tired! And if he needs to rest and retire, that is what he shall do!” The goblin then turned to Ova and continued, “You will have my support and help, if you so desire. And even if you don't, hell, I'll still help you -- like it or not.”
Suwu sighed and stood up, “It would sadden me to loose yet one more of my companions... Of my friends... But I will not stand in the way.”
“Thank you,” Ova finally got words out of his mouth, “It is great to have friends like you.”
And so it was that Ova, the mandrill man, companion and friend of the White Fountains, decided to settle in the Dipped Hills, between the hamlets of Fragrantrain and Gooddaub.
It was not the land of his birth, but it was a calm and peaceful area, still untouched by the evil of the sorcerors or the wars tearing the land. It was maybe not Waterlures, but here in the north, one could hope for no better place. For the land was teeming with wildlife, the soil was fertile and the weather was fair.
Despite Suwu's reluctance to at first accept Ova's choice, she gave in and offered to help the others secure Ova a place where he could rest his head and spend his final years. In a way, she was slightly envious of the mandrill man, but more than that, it gave her comfort to know that her dear friend would be safe.
And so once again the companions set to work.
Trees were felled for building material...
...a suitable location for Ova's home of retirement was chosen...
...and dirt was dug out for a good, comfy burrow where to build it.
23rd of Hematite, 371A week had passed and the companions were just laying some finishing touches to Ova's new home. It was midday and the sun shone brightly from a clear sky. A warm, peaceful and wonderful day.
But that peace was interrupted, when she heard the horrified screaming of Ova from up the hill, and then Cañar's voice called out, full of distress.
“NO! NO! Rin! SUWU! Help!”, the elephant man yelled. Something was terrible amiss.
Suwu dropped what she was doing and run with such haste up the hill that she thought was not possible.
And when she reached the summit, she saw Ova and Cañar next to the small pond, staring into its waters as if petrified.
She approached them, her heart pounding and it felt like she had a huge lump in her throat.
“Rin... Rin is dead,” Ova said with a quivering voice, sounding like he could break any time soon.
Tears began to well in Suwu's eyes as she stared into the pond: Rin's lifeless body could be seen through the stagnant water, its rippling with the wind distorting the visage.
“How fragile we are...”, Cañar broke the silence as the three stood aghast, “Why? Why Rin?”
Ova fell on his knees and planted his face in his palms.
“Rin Fisthearts the Robust Flesh of Charring is really dead...”, Cañar, once again, was the only one to get any words out of his mouth. And his voice sounded broken.
In the bottom of the stagnant, murky pool of Ova's new home lay Rin Fisthearts. Unmoving. Lifeless. Dead.
His time in the Enchanted Dimensions had come to an end.
=====
Umm...
Okay. I wasn't expecting THAT.
I seriously considered save-scumming, because that happened during a "start working" phase of Adventure mode building or possibly during advfort (doesn't really matter which one, since I've had it previously happen on both).
...But then again unexpected things happening due to bugs or what-not are something that I feel are a big part of DF, and instead of always trying to work around them, I'd rather try to figure out some way to fit it into the narrative.
I mean, Rin didn't know how to swim. It's entirely possible that while he was working and the others didn't see, he slipped on that narrow wooden bridge into the water. And weighed down by his steel gear couldn't get out. And when panicking and gasping for air couldn't yell for help.
I had lots of plans for him and now they'll get scrapped, but hey, that's DF. These things happen.
Still, he was possibly my favorite character of all who've been in the story this far.
Anyway, I was supposed to continue longer today, but...
This is the place to stop this update.
So, the question is now:How do you think the rest of the companions will react?What will Suwu do?What about Cañar?And, most of all, what will Ova do? For he was certainly a good friend of Rin, and he kept all the time during our travels saying "It's good to have a friend like you" to Rin.
As a note, I'm very much ignoring the "didn't feel anything because of someone's death" parts of descriptions. I feel like the stress "fix" nerfed that part way too much, so I'm going with how characters reacted to deaths with pre 0.47.05 versions.
(And, I'm not sure if I'll continue yet tomorrow. This might need some extra thinking on my part, since this very much changes my plans. Though, it depends on your answers of what to do, too.)
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Topic: Waterlures - A Capybara Man Fortress & Adventure [DF 0.47.05] (Read 68662 times)