Chapter 7 (17)

[Ringing and crackling - teleportation sounds]

Everyone's consciousness resumes somewhere in the ether.

[Whirring and wind]

The party feels reality rushing up from somewhere near their feet.

Ashe lands perfectly on the ground in a squatting position.

[Thump]

Gregor slams into the ground ready for battle.

Alexander lands into a handstand atop the edge of a well

[Thump! Crunch!]

Markus lands directly atop..

[Wood boinging]

The spoke running across uh- running across the top of well that suspends the bucket. Oddly enough, he doesn't fall in. He and everyone around are surprised.

Markus delicately shimmies over to the end of the beam and... makes a jump for the ground Marcus sticks the landing.

Though Marcus does trip a little bit a little bit into Ashe.

Ashe: Get a-!

Markus: Wblbhp

Markus: Sorry, sorry.

Ashe doesn't even move. She is just left expecting a bit more weight

Markus stumbles past.

All Ashe can think about how 'It was like a light breeze.'

Markus: Like an- like an iron pole set into the ground. I don't..

Ashe: I don't think it was me that-

Markus: Are you in hor- are you in horse stance right now?

Aftin: Now welcome to the village Doonlayan!

Ashe: Doonlayan?

Aftin: Doonlayan!

Markus: Doonlayan..

Ashe: Doonlayan.

Aftin: Doonla-

Gregor: Dune Lion?

Alexander: doodlayan?

Aftin: ..yan.

Markus: Doonlayan.

Ashe: Doonlayan.

Aftin: Doonla-

Aftin: yan!

Markus: ..yan.

Markus: Yan?

Aftin: Yan!

Gregor: Doonla..

Markus: Doonlayan!

Aftin: Doonlayan.

Gregor (quietly): Doonlayan..

Aftin: And if-

Markus: Right!

Aftin: We'll just go through town. This is a pretty quiet place. Nothing really happens around here.

Everyone hears a scream off in the distance.

Aftin: Yeah, it's pretty-

Markus: Ummm!

Aftin: ..pretty quiet.

Alexander: the screams remind me of home it's almost nice

Ashe: Ummm?

Markus: What was that- what was that, Aftin? Was that a scream?

Aftin: Oh, it's nothing.

Gregor: Like it sounded like a scream to me.

Markus: Did the uh.. did all the-

Markus: Did all the alcohol kill off the section of your brain that registers yelling?

One of the golem speaks up.

Golem: I believe that was probably a um... a rabid golem attacking one of the townsfolk. If you look-

Ashe: A- a what?

Markus: A rabid go- rabid golem.

Golem: If you look-

Gregor: ..Golem.

Golem: If you look directly ahead, I do believe you will see two of them devouring one of the townsfolk.

[Crunching]

Gregor: So I do.

Alexander: it really is similar to home

Ashe pulls out her swords. Her eyes widening.

[Laughter]

Markus raises one of his hands into the air, and it starts to waggle absentmindedly. Marcus attempts to ascertain if the man is alive.

The man is certainly dead.

Ashe glances back and forth between Alexander, Aftin, Markus, Gregor and the dead man.

Alexander just shrugs at Ashe and the others

Aftin: Yeah no, they're just like-

Markus: Okay.

Aftin: They're just like sssq..

Markus: We should go.

Aftin: They're just like squirrels.

Markus: In the opposite direction.

Markus: Over here perhaps.

Aftin: Yeah, they're just like squirrels. They're completely harmless... If you ignore them and walk really fast by them.

Ashe (quietly): He's fucking insane.

Markus: Just like squirrels.

Aftin: Squirrels.

Gregor: Uh-

Ashe keeps eyeing the golems

Markus: So reassuring..

Ashe decides to keep her sword drawn.

Markus: -to have you around, Aftin.

Aftin: There's a lot of rabid golems around lately. It's probably the breeding season.

Ashe: What?

Gregor: They kill that guy?

Aftin: Probably did, yeah..

Ashe: And..

Gregor: You can't just walk away.

Ashe: You didn't..

Ashe: Did you make the golems that did that?

Aftin: No! That'd be stupid.

Ashe: But-!

Markus: Gregor, he probably died from natural causes before any of this. It's the circle of life, really.

Gregor: But th- they're not alive.

Gregor: I'm so confused.

Markus: That is..

Markus: -a philosophical argument that we can save for another day.

Markus nods in the direction of one of the golems that can talk as he says that.

Alexander: Marcus they don't have emotions it's fine

[Laughter]

Gregor: You and your lawyer talk..

Golem: The number of uh.. rabid golems has been increasing lately.

Ashe: And I-

Markus: So...

Ashe: Eh- Do the paladins police the area or anything? Do they help the- Obviously not, actually. Why am I even asking?

Golem: They used to.

Ashe: They used to?

Alexander: well I don't they were always drunk idiot slavers they were probably a proper order at one point

Ashe carefully continues walking on eggshells.

Gregor: Uh hey, Mr. Golem..

Golem: Yes?

Gregor: Are- are rabid golems born from normal golems?

Ashe: Can we hurry along? Can we keep this conversation moving?

[Laughter]

The pat walks away as the sounds of crunching grow ever distant.

[Sounds of Crunching]

Aftin: Yeah, so uh.. I-uhh I-do.. rabid golems. They're just- it's just a seasonal thing. It's like snowfall or you know?

Markus: Yeah, sure what season do those come in?

Aftin (quietly): Probably... blood season.

Markus: All of them?

Ashe: That seems..

Markus: Come in all the seasons maybe, Aftin?

Ashe begins glances around.

Markus: Blood, did you said?

[Laughter]

At the mention of seasons, Ashe glances around at the environment.

The marshy environment

And the dead everything environment

Ashe scratches her head.

Markus: I dunno, that tree up ahead looks alright to me.

Markus: That tree looks good too.

Ashe: This place doesn't seem to be in um...best of condition. Was it... Has it always been like this?

Gregor: You're gonna complain about the trees?

Gregor: We just saw a-

Markus: Ashe, not-

Ashe: It's an observation!

Markus: Not all nature..

Markus: Not all nature looks nice. Maybe you should travel a little bit more.

Ashe: I know that not all nature looks nice, but dealing with...

Ashe pulls Markus aside.

Ashe: Dead nature just kind of makes me think that the paladins did it. I am already incredibly suspicious of these guys.

Markus: Look, a lot of the time nature needs nobody's help to die a sad, painful death, so..

Ashe: I- I know that. I know that. Fully well. But-

Ashe glances at captain Aftin, at his drunken sole uh- singular reverie.

Ashe: But look at that. You can't tell me that he doesn't- he probably doesn't cause problems, a lot of problems.

Markus: He must cause problems, but it's uh- it's one of those situations where it can be attributed more to uh.. stupidity and inebriation than malice.

Ashe: Uh, I guess..

Markus: I'm almost positive..

Ashe: That doesn't mean that it's still not a problem- Markus: There's not a bad bone in that man's body.

Markus: Not a bad bone in that man's body. He is too full of booze.

Ashe: Hhh..

Markus: There's no room.

Ashe: Yeah, but that's-

Ashe and Marcus join back up with the group.

Ashe: That doesn't mean it's still not a problem.

Markus: We'll burn that bridge when we come to it, Ashe.

Ashe: What?

Markus: Hmm?

Ashe: That's not the saying.

Markus: It's a turn of phrase, Ashe. Turn of phrase..

Ashe: Ugh.

Alexander: we burning bridges cause I'm in for that kind of fun

The group climb to the top of a great muddy hill. A low, ugly, fort sits atop it.

Captain Aftin motions forward.

Markus: Mmm! Probably gonna be a-

Aftin: Welcome to Fort Vilebrand!

Markus: Oh, I was gonna guess Doomspire, but-

Aftin: This is the fff- tssch- headquar- current headquarters of the paladins of Varyndir.

Gregor: A real headquarters!

Ashe: I- Markus: I barely understood that sentence.

[Laughter]

Aftin: But wait.. but wait before you can go in- wait, stop! I know you're excited to go into our awesome party hole, but you can't yet..

Ashe and Alexander both kind of shutter at party hole.

[Laughter]

Aftin: You gotta be.. you gotta be official apprentices first.

he motions with his hand in Gregor's face.

Gregor: What?

Aftin (whispering): You gotta be official apprentices first.

Gregor: Oh, yeah.. Yeah, initiation! Initiation!

Aftin: So we're gona.. we're gonna.. We're gonna administer your test right now, so you can come inside, and we can have big party, I... I mean a big "ceremony"! With a lot of alcohol...

Markus: I have to warn you that I don't hold my alcohol very well, so if we can do a test other than drinking endurance, I would be very grateful.

Aftin: No, you're gonna make a golem..

Aftin: ..The drinking contest comes later.

Markus: Oh! I can do that.

Gregor: I can't.

Aftin: Okay..

Ashe: I have never tried.

Alexander: I wouldn't mind trying

Gregor: Markus! Help me out.

Aftin: So uh Mr. Tiller? Mister- administrator- admini-

Tiller: Instructor.

Aftin: Instructor Tiller, if you would administer the test.

Markus gives Gregor a little thumbs up.

Markus: Don't worry about it, buddy.

Tiller: Okay, so as he said my name is instructor Tiller.

Ashe is immediately surprised at his sobriety.

Tiller: Yeah. I uh- No, I'm...not so into the drinking thing myself.

Gregor: Me neither!

Tiller: Frankly, I'm just happy to be here.

Gregor: Me too!

Tiller: I was just b-

Markus: I'm into it, but it's not into me.

Ashe: Why?

Tiller: I was born in Alaran. Bought as a uh.. bought as a slave.

Markus puts a hand on Tiller's shoulder.

Markus: I'm so sorry.

Tiller: Yeah.

Gregor: Not me!

Tiller: Yeah.

Markus: Was it on account of your hair?

Tiller: Yeah...

Markus: Was your hair deemed to be too perfect for a human?

Tiller: How did you guess?

[Markus sighs]

Markus: We've had experiences with the Alarani.

Tiller: Well regardless, I'm uh- I'm currently the only one even capable of administering the test anymore so uh.. if you'd follow me.

Markus: Or basic sobriety, I imagine.

Tiller: Yup.

Tiller: I mean most of us in Fort Vilebrand are Alarani slaves.

Ashe: Really? About what percentage of you are actual paladins from Altreia? And uh pardon, but I- I couldn't catch your name?

Tiller: Tiller!

Tiller: T- I- L- L- E- R

Ashe: Tiller.

Ashe: Tiller.

Markus: I heard killer, but that was just because of the captain's drunken-

Tiller: Yeah.

Ashe: I really wasn't sure what he said at all.

Tiller: Yeah, no um.. I don't know if there are actually any paladins left from the order. They all kind of wandered off at some point.

Ashe: Even Aftin isn't a paladin?

Tiller: Aftin's the only one left.

Ashe: Oh. So wait they left. Where did they go?

Tiller: That's a good question.

Tiller: Frankly, I don't really care.

Ashe: Huh..

Tiller: I got a warm bed full of things other than sand and death. And a lot of, uh, booze which I can't drink. On second thought, this place isn't that much better than Alaran. Well regardless, we're gonna administer the test, so uh...

In his right hand, he holds a ball of clay. In his left a uh- a potion that glimmers faintly.

[fizzing]

Tiller: Yeah, in my left hand here I've got a um... potion of Aeos. Yeah, it'll uh- temporarily give you the um.. the power to shape life. Little bit of a divine magic punch, you know? Most of the paladins around here can't actually channel divine magic naturally so we have to resort to these potions. You make your golem once, and you're done. Call yourself a paladin.

Ashe: And... oh, wow.

Tiller: Yeah, so uh.. who wants to uh..?Honestly, I'm just gonna test one of you guys, and then I'm gonna say you can all do it. It'll- it's fine. I don't really care. So uh- who wants to take the test?

Ashe glances over at Markus.

Markus: Yeah, I wonder who should..

Markus: -probably take that test there.

Gregor: I think I know, actually.

Markus: Do you?

Gregor: Yeah. Why don't you do it?

Markus: Oh, Gregor, I'm flattered. I can't possibly refuse.

Alexander: if you don't mind can I also take this test

Tiller: I don't mind just give me a second

Tiller reaches into his bag pulling out an extra set of materials

Tiller: Okay, so uh- any pre-in.. pre-existing conditions you got here like I don't know...Got-

Ashe glances at Marcus's demon horns as Tiller says pre-existing

Markus leans in a little bit and in a stage whisper

Markus: I have pre-existing wizardry.

Tiller: Oh. Yeah, then probably you shouldn't uh- shouldn't do this. The potion doesn't really agree with you wizard types. I think you're allergic or something?

Markus snags one of the bottles out of his hands and down it in one.

Alexander not missing a beat copies Marcus

Tiller: Oh.

[Gulp]

Ashe: Ohh, great.

Tiller: No, that's uh- you see that's divine magic, and you're like arcane. It kind of conflicts. It's-

Markus crushes the vial.

Cracks run through the vial. It begins to vibrate wildly and detonate.

[Glass shattering]

Marcus feels a warm presence deep in his gut like fine, fine alcohol. Marcus's mind feels clear. He feels energetic. Powerful.

Alexander feels a warm bubbling in his gut and a glow similar to the potion's color can be seen from under his skin it clearly is affecting him on a much stronger level than Marcus

Tiller: I uh.. ooh. This ar- are they glowing?

Ashe: I think they're glowing.

Tiller: Yeah.

Ashe takes a step back.

Tiller: Normal-

Ashe: So uh..

Ashe: Tiller? Is there- is there any risk of death or violent um- expulsion of...

Tiller: I don't know what happens when wizards drink divine magic mumbo jumbo.

Ashe takes another step back.

Markus begins to run in place.

Markus: Hoo!

Alexander: haven't felt like this in years

Tiller: So uh..

Markus: Tons of energy all of a sudden, wow!

Tiller: So uh- I don't know how this is gonna go but um..-try to shape this clay, you know? Just take it! Take it for a second. I'm gonna be back here.

Markus takes this lump of clay, and holds it into the sky, gazing at it with the eye of a master crafter

Alexander hold his clay and examined it thinking of the shape he wishes for it to take

Tiller: Okay, first you need a- you need to lend it a little bit of flesh and blood. A golem's built around that a little bit of life that flows through all of us. You wanna put it into the clay and then spread it.

Ashe: Can I straighten something out here?

Ashe: Just a quick question?

Tiller: Yeah?

Ashe: He's creating sentient life right now?

Tiller: Yeah, that's the business of divine magic.

Ashe: And-And it's treated so..So- like it's something so mundane? He's creating sentient life right now. Nobody else is amazed at this?

Gregor: Your parents did it!

Everyone present looks back at Markus and Alexander. Both of their balls of clay have already been drenched with blood.

Gregor: Oh.

Ashe's eyes widen.

Where it came from is not entirely certain as neither seem to be injured

Tiller: So uh- yeah, the next step is you need to shape that life. Draw out the energy in it. Try to supplement what's there with the Aeos running through your body.

Markus: Great. Okay, sure. Gregor, you're gonne wanna stand back.

[Ashe clears her throat.]

Markus plops the clay down on the spot that Gregor was just standing at, raises both his hands into the air and begin to focus while waving my hands in strange motions. Marcus focuses on the sheer greatness that makes up the Velafi name,

and the clay begins to move as though..

Alexander hold his ball of clay in his right hand and begins to focus on the creature he wishes to form though the energy that is flowing through him

[Magic crackling]

[Magic crackles, then stops]

Marcus's clay turns into a perfectly miniature bust of his own head which then begins to talk.

Alexander's clay takes the shape of a single eye with a pit of wings attached to the back of it which quickly begins to fly

They both feels energy welling up through the busts. Both feel it through their connections. The creations begin to feel emotion. Experience the world for the first time. All the wonder and joy that is life.

Tiller: Ok, now you wanna uh- You're probably feeling pretty good right now, right?

Markus looks up. There's a big smile on his face. Marcus's eyes are wide.

Alexander has an equally big and goofy smile spreading across his face

Tiller: Okay. Okay.

Markus nods vigorously.

Tiller: You want to crush all that emotion in the golem.

Tiller: Crush it.

Ashe: Uh!

Tiller: Crush it until it's nothing.

Tiller: Make it cold and emotionless.

Markus: Right.. aha?

Tiller: Kill it. Kill that emotion dead.

Markus: Okay?

Alexander: umm.. no

Markus closes his eyes.

Ashe slowly turns to Instructor Tiller.

Ashe: What ?

Markus closes his eyes.

[Glass shattering]

Markus: Annnd done!

Ashe glances at Markus, eyes wide, mouth open.

Ashe: What?!

Alexander: what the hell Marcus

Marcus's golem- the- the bust's face falls to a static, straight face. It stares straight ahead.

Gregor: Ooh, regal.

Tiller: Yeah, that- that's the most important step. If you don't crush its emotion, it kind of comes out a little human like. Most of-

Markus: Oh! Is there an issue?

Tiller: Yeah, most of the peop- uh paladins around here found human-like golems to be a little weird. Emotion's generally considered to be a defect.

Ashe: Weird!? And that's the only reason that you rob a sentient life, that you yourself chose to create, of emotion?

Tiller: Yep.

Ashe: Because it's weird?

Alexander: right when I thought their might be hope for this drunken order

Tiller: Yeah.

Markus picks up the bust of himself which is-

Ashe: Wow...

-mouthing words now.

Markus: So how do I undo this? I'm feel- I feel bad about it now.

Tiller: Well, you could break it.

Ashe: Yeah, you could kill it.

Ashe looks at Markus.

Gregor: It's not alive.

Markus: I don't know... We're standing on grass, and I don't think I could throw it hard enough.

Gregor: There's a wall over there.

Markus: That's a good point.

Markus chucks it against the wall.

The bust shatters.

[Clay shattering]

[Laughter]

Ashe just stands there shaking her head aghast by the display from Marcus

[Laughter]

Markus: Ashe, I know what you're going to say..

Ashe: What, nothing?

Markus: But it was emotionally-

Markus: It was emotionally crippled already.

Ashe: Yeah, because you-!

Gregor knowing what she's going to say too, covers his ears.

Markus: I was only following instructions, Ashe. Now...

Markus: I passed the test. Ashe: That doesn't mean you-

Markus: Can we please go inside. It's starting to rain, and it smells of peat out here.

Tiller: Well, congratulations. You're all paladins or something. I don't care.

Gregor: Yeeeaah!

Markus: Hooray.

Gregor: Good work team.

Markus: See, Gregor. I told you that I had your back.

Gregor: You sure did.

[Ashe sighs]

Ashe As she is walking back inside, stares at the shattered pieces of the bust. And Alexander's still flying eyeball creature who is happily hovering around Alexander's head

Blood trickles out of the shattered clay creation. A little bit of blood.

Ashe: H-hhrg.

[Ashe sighs]

Gregor: Party hole!

Markus: He will be known as Markus the lesser Jr.

[Faint laughter]

Ashe: The late.

Markus: The late, yes.

[Laughter]

Alexander: I'm name mine lefty as I molded him after my left eye