Twelfth Sword -- Action -- November 1st to November 8th -- OTA

[warriormouse]

[Soulfasting is a strange time for Martin.

He isn't sure of the exact day he woke up, but he knows it was around this time of year. He remembers going to his grave after leaving the medical center and seeing the remains of the offerings left by the more traditional members of the Swords, clearing them away and explaining to the temple that yes, he was that Martin and yes, he wasn't exactly dead.

It was odd. It was uncomfortable. He hasn't been back in a year.

It was weird having a birthday after dying; this is still stranger, however. He isn't sure how to participate anymore. Is he a reveler? Or is he one of the spirits that the holiday was originally about? Tiria and Aubretia think he's overthinking things, but Boar understands. Boar is still going to go around pranking everyone and stealing food because that's just Boar, but he understands. He keeps the rest from following when Martin leaves Redwall every night to wander around the city with Sunflash or Tammo. He usually ends up in some quiet part of the city, just thinking or eating whatever Sunflash has decided to go beg from someone to bring back to him.

She does that.

Martin can be found just about everywhere at night during Soulfasting.]

Comments

[bnw_ax_npcs]

[At some point during his wanderings, Martin will find himself being approached by a beautiful, if somewhat strange looking woman. Her eyes seem to glow in the twilight, and are focused rather intently on him. Lips quirked in a half smile, she seems to glide over to him.]

Why so serious, stranger? Is this not a night for revelry and merrymaking?

[warriormouse]

[Martin hardly reacts to strangers anymore. There's so many of them in Union that it'd be tiresome. Instead, he just smiles at her. Calderan?]

For most, yes. I...have a strange relationship with Soulfasting.

[Tammo snorts. That's an understatement.]

[bnw_ax_npcs]

[A reasonable assumption, but her accent is something completely foreign, an odd drawl to each syllable.]

Oh? And why is that, good sir?

[Her attention shifts to Tammo.]

Or perhaps your friend can answer for you?

[warriormouse]

[He gives Tammo a look. Tammo just yawns]

I died last year. I came back to life not long after Soulfasting, suddenly a Ghost-type Enlightened. I'm...not sure how to celebrate the holiday anymore, if I even should.

[bnw_ax_npcs]

[The woman reaches out and pokes Martin in the shoulder. her fingertip is hot, but not painfully so, and retreats just as quickly.]

You seem alive and whole to me. Being a ghost doesn't necessarily mean you aren't living and breathing, you know.

[warriormouse]

[Tammo snickers. Martin is used to it....though usually it's the children who poke him when they learn he was dead, not adults.

And her hand is hot.]

I am alive...I think. It's honestly hard to tell. I have several Ghost-types and at least two of them were alive before dying and becoming Pokémon, but I died and came back as me. No one's ever done that.

[bnw_ax_npcs]

That's not true. I have died and been reborn.

[She smiles, proud and genuine.]

I haven't changed, as far as I know.

[warriormouse]

You-you have?

[Martin stares a little, surprised]

There's no records of it happening...but you aren't from Union, are you?

[bnw_ax_npcs]

No, I am not.

[The woman smiles, genuine and polite.]

But it is a fine city.

[warriormouse]

Where are you from, then? If you need a place to stay, I run a place that has rooms for newer arrivals, if you need one.

[bnw_ax_npcs]

I come from across the sea. Far, far from here.

[She takes a seat on a nearby stoop.]

And I have a place to stay, stranger. But only for tonight. If you would be willing to offer me temporary shelter, I would be most grateful.

[warriormouse]

[Martin smiles]

Of course. There's flyers up, but Redwall is...rather hard to miss. The stone is, well, red. It's in the Residental District, and almost anyone should be able to point you there. My name is Martin.

[bnw_ax_npcs]

Ah! I have seen those. Is that your home?

[Her head tilts to one side, studying Martin with a curious expression.]

You may call me Kiho, Martin.

[warriormouse]

[He nods]

We opened it in the middle of last month, thankfully before it got too cold and just after people came back from Glacier. It's not entirely finished, but it's too late to start planting anything in the gardens, really.

[bnw_ax_npcs]

Ah! So a commune? Is that right?

[Her eyes seem to light up, curious.]

And is it too late to start planting? I would think that greenhouses and hydroponics wouldn't be too difficult in a city like this.

[warriormouse]

[He nods. That's it exactly]

I know nothing about hydroponics, but greenhouses are something I'd like eventually get. They're just so large and I'm not quite sure where the regular garden will be just yet.

[bnw_ax_npcs]

So you're relying on food from outside?

[That seems strange to her for some reason. Her words convey confusion at least.]

[warriormouse]

Yes. We have donations, thankfully, and there's not a lot of people living there right now so I don't think there will be any trouble for now. It isn't ideal, but it will do.

[bnw_ax_npcs]

Good. That's good. I certainly would not want to burden already strained supplies.

Do you accept gold or jewels as donations? I have a few baubles I would gladly part with in return for your hospitality.

[warriormouse]

I will accept anything, but there's no need.

[bnw_ax_npcs]

It would be rude of me otherwise.

[Reaching into the folds of her robe, she pulls out a small bag and presses it into Martin's hand. It seems to rattle, like there are three objects inside...]

[warriormouse]

[Martin wants to open it because that sounds odd, but he doesn't. He takes it and instead pockets it]

Thank you very much, Miss Ki--Tammo, no!

[Screw manners, the Umbreon is curious and yanks the bag out of Martin's pocket to tug it open and see what's inside.]

[bnw_ax_npcs]

[Tammo's yank reveals two perfect, plum sized rubies and a small golden bauble, shaped like a candleflame.]

Consider it a token of my gratitude, and a...birthday present as well. To celebrate a rebirth.

[warriormouse]

[Martin gapes as Tammo purrs with pride and nudges the bag and baubles over to Martin. He scoops them up and puts them back in the bag, still stunned]

I....I will. Thank you, Miss Kiho.

[Who are you?]

[bnw_ax_npcs]

[She inclines her head and rises again.]

Of course. I will come to your commune at dusk tomorrow, though I must take my leave now. There's so much to see. This is such a grand celebration.

[She is the terror the flaps in the night just an honest traveler, who happens to be fabulously wealthy, beautiful, and obviously powerful. And friendly, of course. Though she could be some horrible monster in human form too, that's certainly possible.

But that might just be your paranoia talking.]

[warriormouse]

[In the time since Martin woke back up, he has traveled in time, spoken to the Savior, heard rumors of gods, and had friends fight them.

He is almost positive he just spoke to some non-human.

What the hell.]