5 sentence fics: Keithia and Chealyn, frantic

The fact that Chealyn always seemed to watch Keithia’s outbursts so calmly – possibly even with a hint of amusement – was even more frustrating than their enigmatic relationship was to begin with. 

“Why are you just smiling like that?” Thia cried frantically, watching her sister’s expression with anxiety and irritation. 

“You need to have patience, Baby Sister.” Chealyn replied, reaching for Thia’s hand only the have it pulled away. “It’s not time yet.”

Keithia hated that answer as much as ever, but no amount of frantic pleading ever seemed to get any more out of her. 

Session Recap, Sprin’toral Campaign: Secrets Within Secrets

The party is greeted by Lady Justiana Nethespire, the Lady of Albatross Reach. She is a very elegant, cold, and unreadable noble woman who seems to be quite focused on Whisper and disapproving of everyone else. With little to discuss at this time of night, everyone splits off to their own rooms, Whisper being left with an entire wing to herself due to Isao and Keithia wishing to stay together. 

Keithia and Isao take some time to discuss their current situation. Their fears, the finality of Chealyn’s goodbyes to them, and Keithia’s frustration with the promise that Isao made. She once again pleads with Isao not to sacrifice himself for her and the two of them reiterate their agreement to try and stay alive throughout whatever they’re about to face. Meanwhile, Shade goes off to speak with Whisper, prompting the DM to ask everyone but the two of them to deafen the call. 

When everyone returns, Shade leaves Whisper’s room to go speak with Keithia, first entering as a moth, but then exiting and knocking at the door when he realizes he may be interrupting the couple in bed together. Despite some annoyance, they quickly dress and let Shade in. He proceeds to explain that he witnessed a conversation between Whisper and Justiana, revealing that Justiana is Whisper’s mother, though only in the biological sense of the word. She treats her children (including, in addition to Whisper, her older brother Eamon, deceased younger brother Mordecai, and younger sister Maristella) as pawns, seeming to care more for her servants than she does for her children. Whisper, however, seems to be completely under her mother’s thumb and was willing to tell her a lot about her friends: their backgrounds, strengths, demeanours, and though she attempted to avoid weaknesses, caved when Justiana pressed for them. She did, however, attempt to leave out and personal relationships that had not already been revealed, suggesting that she is, to the best of her ability, trying to protect the party. Though Isao does suggest that Whisper could have been a double agent this whole time, none of them truly believe that. Especially Keithia, who remembers Whisper seeming to be conflicted over not being able to explain to her when they discussed her connection to the Nethespire’s in the past. She recalls Whisper’s words about some loyalties superseding others and some secrets not being her’s to share and while she believes Whisper may be being manipulated and divided in her loyalties, she does not believe her friend actively wishes them any harm. The three of them agree to keep what they now know between themselves for the time being, not wanting their knowledge to get back to Whisper and thus also Justiana. With the fire giants being the more pressing issue, all they can do is wait and see what Justiana might try to pull and hope that Whisper’s love for them may overrule her mother’s influence, should Justiana try to act against them. 

Although Shade seems to want to stay to keep an eye on them, Thia and Isao politely ask him to give them their privacy again. The next morning, after an awkward breakfast, the party is given a tour of Albatross Reach by Whisper and Eamon, who proves to be much warmer and friendlier than Justiana. Though he is unable to acknowledge Whisper as his sister, he does acknowledge that they grew up together and spends the tour telling funny stories about Whisper as a child seeming to show a genuine love for his sister and dislike of the situation they are in, which seems to put some of the party more at ease with him. His relationship with Whisper also seems to strike some jealousy in other party members, who regret not having such familial relationships themselves. 

When they are eventually granted an audience with Justiana, preparations are made to deal with the approaching fire giants. The best course of action seems to be to go to the fire giants rather than wait for them to reach the keep. Justiana offers them travel arrangements, though Isao still attempts to contact Lyra and Lucien for help, though they are unfortunately busy and not in the area. In the background of their conversation with Lucien, Lyra seems to be engaged in a fight. Justiana’s offered transportation turns out to be another skypirate, a very grim man named Khafra, who is something of a rival of Lyra’s. The party wisely does not mention their association with her to him, though it seems agreed on that they definitely like her better. 

Khafra drops the party off about a halfdays journey from where the giants are currently camped and the party continues on foot, noting that the air is getting progressively hotter the closer that they get. As they approach the area Shade had sensed the giants, they are faced with a large and imposing figure that is unlike anything they have ever seen before. 

And that’s where we pick up next week!

Session MVP: Whisper

Whatever the Hell this Is: Upwards and Onwards

For those of you playing along at home, and/or wondering what all the screaming on Twitter is about, have a summary!

Kelsey I hope I’m not stepping on your toes too much here. 

Whisper heads into the ocean, and, after sobering up some, she casts Dream, contacting someone she hasn’t spoken to nor seen in almost ten years. Someone she was told more or less not to contact. But she gets confirmation of something she felt she desperately needed to know, and gets to finally cry out the emotions that have been building up in her since the Room of Secrets.

The next morning, there’s an awkward breakfast, as Oriana tries to get a brooding Isao and Adoraor to talk; Keithia comes down stairs eventually, and explains that her sister has been spying on them, and when she couldn’t find them over the last four days, she tracked the party to Dewsbury and now wants Keithia to return with her to Deerside.

Oriana tells her exactly what she said last night: follow your heart, Adoraor tells if he had more time to spend with his family he would, Isao asks Keithia to think about what she wants, to really think about it before leaving. They all fall silent, and it’s so awkward that Twiggy, when he comes down for breakfast, tries to avoid them all, only to be seen by Oriana, who is desperately looking for an out and practically forces him into her seat.

Twiggy, when Keithia tells him, tells her that he’d miss her, but she has to do what she has to do. Shortly thereafter, Keithia goes out in search of everyone else, and Twiggy also runs the hell away from the awkward. He finds his companion MoonMoon, and tells the wolf that Keithia might be leaving them for good.

Frank, bless his soul, comes downstairs and, unable to sense the tension in the air, tries to make small talk with a brooding Adoroar and an indifferent Isao.

Keithia (and Shade, who is following in bird form), goes out to the ocean to find Whisper, who sees Keithia on shore and tries to swim down the beach to avoid them, but is not nearly as stealthy as she thinks she is. She puts on a chipper façade though, when Keithia asks how she’s doing, but it falls as Keitha tells her what Chealyn wanted. Whisper also tells Keithia she should go home, citing the fact that they couldn’t protect her, that they were going somewhere dangerous and she should get out while she could… and telling Keithia that she would give anything to be asked to come home.

Keithia begins to return to the Inn to find Frank, only to run into Isao, who tells her that he’s sorry for what he did and how he reacted to the Dream, but that he wasn’t seeking forgiveness, since she was right to be angry about it. He goes on to say that no matter what she chooses—the party or her sister— she will always have a place with the group. Keithia notices the scabs on his hands—from where he was punching trees most of the night—and takes his hands in hers, healing them with a Cure Wounds spell.  

Meanwhile, Whisper swims out to the Adelaide to ask Arannis if he has some incense and ivory she can buy off of him—intending to cast Legend Lore and find out what the pocket dimension they were in was—but he has none to spare. Whisper tells him a little about what they faced before leaping back into the ocean.

Keithia goes into the Inn to chat with Frank, who seems confused and upset about the prospect of Keithia leaving them and him losing a friend. Keithia assures him that she wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye and she still has to think about it, and Frank in return gives her a bone-creaking hug.

With one person left to discuss it with—Shade—Keithia wanders the town, and eventually finds him, no longer Wild Shaped, by the edge of the water. She asks him what she thinks he should do and he tells her, simply, that he doesn’t trust Chealyn, but expresses sympathy when she says she doesn’t know what she wants to do.

Over the course of it, however, Keithia seems to come to a decision, for afterwards she goes to find her sister on the shore. She tells her sister that, as flattered as she is by the offer, she can’t leave her friends. Chealyn seems to take it badly, already starting to turn away, when Keithia stops her, saying that just because she isn’t coming with doesn’t mean she doesn’t want a relationship. She asks for a way to contact her, and Chealyn promises to have one made up.  

Keithia also tells her a bit about the dream the party shared, and tells Chealyn that she’s worried she too might get assassinated, but Chealyn waves her sister’s worries away, saying “I am protected by forces I don’t think you are aware of just yet.” Keithia tells her sister that she loves her, and Chealyn leaves.

Shade follows Chealyn back to the inn she’s staying in, and spies through the keyhole, seeing Chealyn with James. Unable to hear anything, he returns to above the inn, where Keithia has returned and tells the party that she won’t be leaving, that she’d miss them all too much:

“You all said something about a family, and yes Chealyn is my sister… but when I think of home I don’t even think of the forest anymore. I think of the keep we’re building. [Oriana] and Whisper are closer to being my sisters than she is. So I’m staying.”

[Insert bawling here].

Whisper buys everyone a round of the best damn whiskey in the joint, and we all toast one another, during which Whisper reveals that she’d named the group “The Susurrus Society.” And that she’d already bought business cards.

Oriana is the only one who knows exactly what that means, and staring at her incredulously, spills the beans. “No, you didn’t. You seriously didn’t name us after yourself?”

After that, apparently the name isn’t any good anymore, but no one could think of anything better, so it remains for now.

They are woken up the next morning by Yuan-Ti—the crew of the ship they’d hired—and brought up on board to be introduced to Lyra Cooper, Captain of the Star Song. She and Whisper haggle price before the Star Song goes to pick Arannis up from the deck of the Adelaide. That done, the Star Song turns North, and they begin the long journey toward the lair of the Frost Giants.

Session Recap, Sprin’toral Campign: Vows

As the year comes to an end, The Susurrus Society travel to Deerside for the wedding of Keithia’s sister, Chealyn Kingsnorth, and James Kumand’r. The castle seems very busy with final preparations and the party is more or less left to their own devices while preparing for the ceremony the next day. Isao seems to express a lot of concerns about safety and possible attacks on the wedding, speaking with the guards and introducing them to Shade so they don’t mistake him for a threat while watching for anything else. Whisper heads off into town in search of some drinks, Adoraor following after to find a gambling table. Despite ending up in the same bar, neither of them acknowledge each other. Twiggy later attempts to flirt with Whisper, asking if he could share her room, but not quite making what he’s really asking clear, leading to an awkward, anxious, and sleepless night for him. 

Early the next morning, preparations begin for the wedding ceremony. Thia and Whisper get ready together, sending Twiggy off to Adoraor. Seeing how tired Twiggy is, Adoraor makes the mistake of giving him coffee, leaving the elf wired and aimlessly wandering for a while until Keithia has to call Adoraor to come and collect him again. When everyone is ready, the party makes their way to the wedding chapel. Isao still seems very on edge at the ceremony begins, despite Thia’s insistance that he try to relax and enjoy himself. 

The ceremony is long and formal, different from the usual sort of events that the party would usually attend. Chealyn and James deliver their vows, which are exceptionally sappy though seemingly filled with little nods towards the party, whether intentional on their part or not.

James

Chealyn, I'll always remember the first day we met. Introduced by some friends at a party. They goaded us into singing together, and next thing we knew, we were tangled in each other's arms. I knew since then that you were going to be the woman I marry. And here we are now. Since then, our life has been a series of ups and downs, the strings of fate pulling us wherever they saw fit. Yet, they could never pull us apart. And I swear to you before all the gods that I'll never let them even if it should mean our deaths. I swear to be with you through every rough note and off key. To be with you in sickness and in health. When everything in the world is against us, I swear to be there with you, hand in hand to face it all. In life and in death, I will never stop loving you, the melody that keeps me rocking.

Chealyn

James, every time I look at you, my hear is aflutter, and my mind goes blank. When I see you, I see love in its purest form, and I never want to let that go. I swear that I'll be with you through it all, and that nothing - whether person or god or whatever - will be able to pull us apart. If I have to find my way into the deepest of hells to save you, I wouldn't even bat an eye at it. And gods save anyone who would stand between us. You're the rhythm to my soul, and I'm never going to stop loving you.

After the ceremony, everyone makes their way to the reception, still keeping to themselves as there are very few people they know here. They meet Ed, Ignatius’ son sent to the wedding in his stead, and spend some time talking with him until Chealyn and James make their entrance. Shortly after, Chealyn pulls them off to another room, telling them that they need to leave immediately. She had a vision that the giants will make their move on her friend, Lady Nethespire, in three days time, forcing the party to leave for Stromthar immediately. Despite their differences, Chealyn gives Whisper a present of a scroll and a piece of chain, saying that she can’t explain, but hopes that Whisper will know when the right time to use them is. She says her goodbyes to the party, having Isao promise to protect Thia for her and telling Thia not to let Isao go before returning to her party. 

The group rushes off to change and prepare to leave, Whisper sending a message to Lady Nethespire, asking if she can explain anything to the party now. The answer she is given is no. Despite Thia and Shade’s continued concerns, she states that she trusts these people and that she will explain as soon as she is allowed to. Reuniting in the teleportation chamber, the party teleports to Albatross Reach, being greeted by an elegantly dressed woman who simply states “I have been expecting you.” 

thia & isao: encircle

Kethia was trying not to make the frantic expression on her face too obvious, but the more this guy seemed to follow her around and the more neither Chealyn nor Whisper were nowhere to be seen, the more anxious she grew. She was almost prepared to turn and flee the ballroom - flee the castle, if she had to – when she felt his hand grab onto her’s. 

“Come on, Keithia, dance with me.” 

Relieved though she was to hear a familiar voice and allow herself to be led to the dancefloor and lost in the crowd, the realization of who it belonged to still make her cheeks turn pink. 

“Thank you.” She breathed, forcing herself to meet his eyes as Isao’s arm encircled her waist. 

“Don’t mention it,” he replied, a smirk that fit the still slightly tense air between them appearing on his face. “You looked like you needed help.”

Microstory: Thia, 15

“Trembling Hands”

If everything had been moving in slow motion around her while her sister (Chealyn. Her name was Chealyn. She knew that now.) had been in front of her, it all seemed to stop the second the other woman released her hands and disappeared into the crowd once more. 

She is confused. 

More than that: she is terrified. Not just from having been in Chealyn’s presence, but from not understanding what had just happened to her. What sort of magic had Chealyn done to her?

Or – had she done to herself?

Nothing makes sense and Keithia doesn’t even know where to begin trying to process what just happened. She isn’t even sure how she is remaining on her feet as her entire body is shaking in panic. 

A part of her wants to reach for her bow. To clench the curved, gilded weapon in her hands even if only to reassure herself that she is not powerless or defenseless. 

But, of course, she does not have it with her. 

Even more so, she wants to reach out for Irusan. To feel the soft, dark fur of her beloved companion, friend, and protector between her fingers, grounding her in the world around her. 

But, of course, he is not here with her either.

Instead, she is standing in this crowded ballroom, in a dress that cost more than everything else she owns combined, shocked and afraid, her hands trembling with nothing to reach out for. 

She is still shaking when first Oriana, then Whisper and a very colorfully dressed man, and then Isao reach her and she has to force herself to try and focus enough to speak.