Getsemiel

[Alberich]

[OOC: Vorwärts!]

[Jack Rothwell]

OOC Yeah, lets roll on. /OOC

[Drannin]

(OOC: Forge on.)

[Sareth]

[OOC]I absta... Er... aye.[/OOC]

[Porcelain Fish]

Maduin blinked as he spotted Bryce sprinting into camp, sweat running down his face and torso, chest heaving. The big soldier came to a stop. "We should - huff - leave. Giant six-legged lizard, some kind of three-armed mutant troll, and an ugly woman. You don't wanna hear the rest."

Maduin blinked again, and then nodded. "Fair enough. Well I packed your things, so whenever you're ready to go."

[OOC: By all means, let us forge ahead.[/OOC]

[Graybeard]

[OOC: OK, so on to Getsemiel... And PF, we have a thing or two to work out.]

Just as I remember it, Sister Rose thought, as the wagon descended the last ridge before the coastal plains bearing Getsemiel.

It was a large town by the standards of rural Veracia, with a population of maybe 10,000 or so, most of them involved with either fishing in the waters to the west, or agriculture on the fertile plains. The combination of temperate maritime climate and abundant natural resources made for a prosperous little place. It also made for certain ... unusual dimensions to the local version of the Church of Luminosita. Dimensions that included liberal use of products of the fertile soil that were definitely not part of the mainstream Veracian practice.

Speaking of which, Rose noted, a man wearing the Calfornican Church's distinctive robes was riding a horse up the road in their general direction. The man didn't seem to be in any big hurry. In fact, the horse seemed to be wandering all over the road. As he drew near, Rose could see that he had a wide, dreamy smile on his face ... and bloodshot eyes. Furthermore, the horse had bloodshot eyes.

"Oh, wow," this remarkable apparition breathed as he took in the wagon, pausing for a moment to squint amiably at Rose, who'd made the Sign of Luminosita; even the Calfornicans would recognize that. "Lu -- Lumy -- Luminosita's Blessings be on you dudes." His smile widened, and the unmistakable, pungent aroma of a certain burnt vegetable substance reached the people in the wagon. "Arnie's waitin' for you -- that's what we call Father Arnold, cause, well, you know. Love the hair, dude," he concluded with an appreciative nod at Rose's crown of flowers, then turned the horse around in a -- mellow gait, airily motioning for the wagon to follow.

--------------

This introduction to Getsemiel wouldn't have gone well with the angry woman still laboring her way up the other side of the coastal mountains. Of course, not much else about the place would have met with her approval, either.

[Alberich]

Tim had napped a little more in the wagon, but this encounter had pulled him into awareness. All right, the Church tolerated this sect. This was going to ake some getting used to. Now a couple of disturbing thoughts came together in his head.

"If," he said, addressing Rose. "If, ah, what Bryce saw is, is that woman who's after us, after our Tsuirakuan friends. Shouldn't we scout to the rear, see if we're still being followed, stand and fight? I wouldn't want to lead the enemy into a town like that. If that's the local cavalry militia...I'm thinking we don't them next to us, for giant lizards, ugly women. Err, witches. Whatever. I'd be glad to scout back myself."

He'd had time to remember Rose's shameful treatment of Fred Tarmage, and why he trusted her less now. Maybe she'd thought of this and maybe she hadn't. Maybe she cared to protect Veracian "peasants" and maybe she didn't. But, by the Good Father, someone had better mention it.

[Graybeard]

Sister Rose thought about it. "That's a good idea," she said. "Getsemiel is big enough that we can lose ourselves in it for a day or two, become hard to follow. Plus, we've been offered the hospitality of the Calfornican temple." A wry smile crossed her lips. "Somehow I don't think that's likely to be that woman's kind of place." And I worry about whether it's maybe not yours, either. "But it doesn't hurt to be careful. At the very least, a rear guard would be prudent. Bryce? Could you do that, go with Tim to keep watch? You're the only one of us who's seen her." The wry smile broadened. "Although I'd think the presence of a six-legged giant lizard would make her pretty easy to recognize."

------------

Rose had no way of knowing that the lizard was getting out of this area as fast as its six somewhat violated legs could carry it, heading in the general direction of Fort Lorenzel, where it would cause something of a sensation at first ... and then get integrated into a most unusual traveling carnival, until certain other, unexpected consequences of its hook-up with the Athach made themselves apparent.

Its mistress, however, continued her slow, dogged trek to Getsemiel.

[Alberich]

"Right!" said Timothy, and in a moment he was off the back of the wagon, making sure his swordbelt was tight. Bryce was a good choice if this stranger could be talked to. He was Veracian, and quiet by nature. Tim personally wondered whether it wouldn't have been good to send Eli along as well - with his hair on he could pass for Farrelian, which wasn't so bad, and the extra magic might prove a boon if they had to fight or escape. He did not raise the point. He couldn't be seen to argue with every decision she made.

At least he was being allowed his duty, as an Orthodox priest and militiaman, to try to protect the citizens. Mostly, of course, his duty was to protect them against spiritual dangers. So, naturally, we are bringing Desiree right into the midst of them. Eli, Eli, I hope your wishes come true. But this could be even that. He walked on.

[Graybeard]

I hope they'll be okay, Sister Rose thought as the wagon pulled away from the two men. Some rearranging had been necessary; Maduin was now riding in the wagon, while Brother Tim and Bryce stayed behind at the gates of the town with Bryce's horse. The ... mellow ... young priest escorting the wagon hadn't seemed to notice, or if he did, to care.

Rose sent a whimsical thought in Argus' direction. <"Once upon a time, you told me about a soldier you'd known who had a certain ... atmosphere around him. Brace yourself; his spiritual kindred on this side of the ocean await."> She really wished she knew how to transmit a wink in mind-speech, but there were limits to the medium, which was probably just as well.

A characteristic wisp of steam ahead of them that she remembered from times gone by (with, to be sure, that painful tug that accompanied any memory including Kenny) alerted her to the fact that they were approaching the Calfornican temple. It wouldn't be a bad idea to let her fellow travelers know what was in store for them. "Just a heads-up," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "This is probably going to be unlike any Luminositan temple you've ever seen in your life. It'll be ... colorful. Just remember that it's still a church of Our Lord Luminosita, and in many ways, the Calfornicans are actually closer to the mainstream Orthodox church than we Reformed Luminositans are. That's true in doctrine, anyway. As for their rituals ... well, just wait." She rolled her eyes, with a wry smile that she imagined she was going to be wearing quite frequently over the next few days.