A Little Headache

Log Info

• Title: A Little Headache
• Emitter: Aryia
• Characters: Aryia, Verna, Acedia, Jinks
• Place: Soldier's Defense
• Time: November 30th, 2021
• Summary: One morning, Aryia seeks out some advice at the Soldier's Defense in regards to a building headache. She speaks to Verna and Acedia, both who were helping out in the hospital, about the mute elf catching herself doing things that her past self would have done. They speculate on ways to help allivate that as Jinks strides in, looking like he had been through a bar brawl. Services are offered to him to aid from the results of his personal ventures, but he apparently has a handle on it, his true purpose here was to seek out a fellow gnome. Which he goes to do. Verna departs to tend to her duties, Acedia and Aryia have a conversation about Eluna, the pugilist abrasive about the topic and ruffling some feathers. But in the end, the two head off to the Fernwood to speak further on the matter.

Soldier's Defense, Morning.

With the temple's services still being restricted, the Defense was busy as ever. Some enjoyed the shining morning sun despite the chill in the air, though the services inside still went on.

One such soul looking for services was that of a scarred mul'neissa woman in a verdant green buckle jacket, a hand pressed against the side of her head. Brows pinched together, it's clear she has some sort of headache. A minor thing, in the grand scheme of what injuries are sometimes mended here. But minor issues might be indicative of greater problems.

Moonlit eyes sweep the hospital, looking for anyone familiar.

For better or worse (opinions vary), Verna is not only present, but her duties currently revolve around tending those yet on the breathing side of the injury scale. This is better for her patients in one facet (namely that they are in need of medical care rather than funerary services), and less so in others (namely that they are receiving treatment from her).

Some may not appreciate the honesty in warnings of "You may feel extreme discomfort" before setting a bone. Others may not welcome the prescription of "Then do not bend your knee" to complaints of knee pain whilst bending. All told, those receiving treatment yet survive (despite the possible volume of complaints).

Verna makes her rounds through those requiring triage and eventually reaches the fullblood clutching her head. The Mourner's hood tilts in recognition, concern, or some combination thereof. "Were you bludgeoned, cut, clawed, bitten, or other? If so, by what?"

A wee person in white wanders by Aryia, carrying a stack of towels almost as tall as she. She's three steps past the Mul'neissa, before she stops, and backs up.

Her mouth opens, and then shuts again as Verna speaks. Her jaw shuts with a click of pointed teeth, and the mobile pile of towels continues deeper into the Soldier's Defense.

The full blood shadow elf glances off to the side, their gaze downcast behind her shaded glasses. She blinks, and tilts her head to the side. Vague recognition flashes across her scarred visage before her attention is pulled over to the Mourner.

Aryia chuckles weakly, and shakes her head. "Nothing of the sort. Just have a rather rough headache," she motions slowly, leaning against the wall. "Been building after the last time you helped me." <Handspeech>

Verna's hood tilts further. "Your concern is not due to a disgreement with something that attempted to eat you? That is reassuring news." She subsequently straightens to study the mul'niessa. "Have you rested properly in the interim? Remained hydrated?"

The same wee person in white returns, bearing a large basket of what are obviously soiled towels. She slows to navigate around people, shifting the basket about. "One would think that she would look ... chewed or something if she'd had a disagreement with something trying to eat her.", the Gobbo says with a scratchy voice.

Hersryia gives another weak chuckle from Verna's dry joke, her cracking a smile. "No, nothing tried to eat me, thankfully. Last thing that tried, my leg was thigh deep in its skull. Came out of that one hale."

She shudders at the thought, her glancing to the wee person and nodding towards them in agreement. But then answers the healer's questions. "Yes, I've been resting well, and drinking water. I've just... been remembering more, and I think my head isn't like it so... much.."

She turns to the small folk. "I'm sorry. It's been a while, and I don't remember names all that well. Who might you be?" she motions to the small one, her so focused on trying to communicate, she didn't check if she could be understood from her signs. <Handspeech>

Acedia pauses, eyeing the fingers moving back and forth, and she frees up a hand. Her fingers flick back and forth slowly. "Ace.", she replies. Clearing her throat, she pulls the basket more closely to her hip. "I do not recall if we have met. I have not been here often of late, though if you were around back when the ooze plague was in full force, you'd probably have met me then." <Handspeech>

Aryia strains her already hurting head to remember. She shakes her head at the suggestions. No, she wasn't here for ooze thing she's heard about. But then- She snaps her fingers. "Were you there to pay a visit to Cryosanthia in the temples? I was there. I'm A-R-Y-I-A." <Handspeech>

Verna nods to Aryia as she listens, then falls quiet briefly at the exchange with Acedia. Her lips purse at the combinations of memory concerns and the wondrous plague that most all would consider decidedly unpleasant. "You are fortunate that you were not present for that. As for the headache, I cannot prevent you from remembering more, if that is the cause."

The Gobbo's eyes look down at the floor a moment, and she nods. "Yes.", she says softly, "I recall you now. Aryia." She grins then, and her head cants slightly. "Let me put these into the wash.", Acedia says, gesturing to the basket. She strides off, and disappears down one of the many hallways. After a few minutes, she returns, sans the white outfit.

Her hands flash quickly. "So you have a headache from remembering things from your past? Ace looks to Verna then, "Can you help her with the pain, though?" <Handspeech>

Aryia smiles weakly as she's remembered, her nodding as the gobbo heads off.

The mute woman provides more for Verna, along with a sigh. "Remembering more isn't the issue. I've just... been catching myself doing things I used to do," she supplements. Then adds for Ace's sake. "Yes, sort of. But it's less about the headache and more about... well. Getting out of bed and running into a wall because that's what the opening to my closet used to be. Or... trying to say some pleasantry in Undercommon. Or, ugh, I curtsied yesterday, and didn't realize it until I got home." <Handspeech>

"Yes, I can ease the discomfort," Verna notes as much to Acedia as to Aryia, followed with a light sound of exclamation. "Colliding with a wall would tend to cause headaches, indeed. As well, I venture that your memories are returning rather in force; both consciously and subconsciously. This would surely answer many of your remaining questions... yet could be quite disorienting. I suggest that you might limit your activities until you have time to acclimate."

The Gobbo giggles and snorts. "Well, curtseying isn't terrible, you know.", she replies, her wingers moving a bit more easily now without the basket in one hand. "One supposes running into the wall is where the headache came from?"

Acedia giggles at Verna then. "Thinking along the same lines.". She raises an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware that you were missing memories, but then, we haven't exactly had much interaction. Is this a recent memory loss?". <Handspeech>

Aryia waves a dismissive hand at the notion of recieving some sort of aid to relieve the pain. "It's fine, I can visit an apothecary for that. I've had worse headaches before."

There's a sigh, and more motions. "I just wasn't sure if you've ever run into something like this in your time. Feels like the old me is popping up." She chuffs. "No, it's not the wall. Trust me, I've bashed my head into many things, a wall wouldn't stop me." She cracks her calloused knuckles at that one.

The shadow elf addresses Ace, her pensive for a moment, unsure of how much to share. "... they weren't missing. Just... smeared and obfuscated. It wasn't recent. I know what caused it," she answers with a glance to Verna before continuing. "Let's just say there's about thirty years of lifestyle difference that I wasn't aware I used to live in." <Handspeech>

"Oh. I see. Well. I can't offer any advice or anything. I throw the occasional healing spell or three, and help with the laundry. But uhm, if you want to talk about it...", Acedia pauses to wiggle her ears. "I'm all ears, as they say." <Handspeech>

Verna nods in agreement with Aryia to Acedia. "The cause is known; rather, Aryia's concerns were more upon what was not known as a result." She considers a long moment before advising. "I expect the disorientation will pass once the influx of the past slows or halts. On the matter of that past, your past, it remains your choice as to what you do or do not incorporate. You are not bound to one aspect of your past any more than any other."

Aryia weakly snorts at Ace from that. "I'll... keep that in mind," she motions, tapping the side of her head. "I'm just as clueless with the spell stuff. Can only do a little bit, hence why I'm here just in case."

The mute swivels around to heed Verna's advice. Her face pinches some, torch-bright gaze shifting slightly aside. "... I know Verna. I just worry I'm going to end up asking around for nefarious temples without realizing it, or invoke questions that might come back to bite me." She smoothes her ivory hair back with a hand, fingers brushing through it. And continues downward despite lack of further locks, and brushes a hand against her hip. <Handspeech>

"Well maybe you could do some daily mental exercises when you wake up. Remind yourself that you are you, what day it is, and things of the like? And also keep a journal. Write down what you experience, and if you can remember them, write down what you dream." The Gobbo's hands move more quickly now. "It might help you see a bigger picture forming. If not, you could allow others to read it, and perhaps they can make something of it. The more eyes, the better to see, yes?" <Handspeech>

"If you are concerned of ...losing who you are to the memories of who you were," Verna notes, hood dipping towards the gobber and her advice, "those activities may aid you greatly; perhaps especially in the involvement of your friends and allies. I would not expect that you would engage with nefarious temples, then or now. As for consequences to inquiries, there may always be such. What you are experiencing, now, could be considered one. This does not make it a negative result, overall."

It's a simple suggestion, the Gobbo lays out. Yet, it takes Aryia a moment to consider it. She rubs at her throat, and flexes a few fingers against her jaw. "... th-t - -m m-..." she near silently hisses to herself. There's a breath, and she motions, slower now. "I can try that. The journal thing. Not sure if I want others to read it though. Well, except for a couple of people." She glances to Verna at that one.

Though. Aryia stills at the Mourner's words. Seems like she hit the nail on the head with the pugilist's worries. Her motions repeat once more, with more conviction. "Yes, I'll try that." Though, she couldn't help but point out, "I did though, back then." <Handspeech>

Three people stand in one of the Soldier's Defense's many halls, gathered close, and talking.

The shortest, a Gobber of the deepest black skin, wiggles her fingers quickly back and forth.

"Well, you don't have to share it, but, if you can't work out what's happening, then maybe one of your trusted friends could? Or, you could seek out a wizard, or a cleric, or maybe a sooth sayer. It can't hurt anything. And it might at least give you some closure?"

Acedia pauses then, and stretches at length, which elicits a yawn. <Handspeech>

Jinks rounds a bend and comes into view buttoning his his coat, announced aurally by the clack of his boots before the first bit of glittering jewelry can be espied by even the sharpest of peepers. He's humming and half-singing to himself, the lyrics playing coyly through the halls as he inspects clothing now on the wrong side of a tavern brawl. "Roses have thorns... shining water's mud..." A finger probes the clean cut at his that's through the shirt, stained darker than the rest of the plum-colored jacket. He turns his head and tucks his chin at a sleeve tearing free of its shoulder seam. "'n cancer lurks deep in the sweest hmm..."

The gnome sniffs and smooths his goatee, narrowing his eyes subtly as he steps into an illusion. The coat mended and a longer cut, gold buttons instead of a matte black. He steps through the sunlight and brings it with him, wrapped in an orange leaning closer towards red. He sidles a step back to catch his reflection in a mirror through a door ajar, taking a good, long look before continuing.

"... eclipses... stain the moon and the sun..."

Aryia rubs at her temple, fighting off a frown that plays her lips. "I don't want closure, I want answers," she motions a bit bluntly. "Just don't want to lose myself in the process." A moment to collect herself, then signs a bit more slowly. "Sorry. Thank you for the suggestion. Just, if either of you two see me do something out of the blue, bring it to my attention, please."

Her gaze swivels over to the entrance, the scarred mul'neissa squinting against the light. She rasies a hand, a brow raised with a tinge of pain on her visage. "I hope the other guy looks worse," she gestures to the gnome. <Handspeech>

"Are you alright?", the Gobbo wonders of Jinks. "It appears as though you've been roughed up a little. Do you require any help?"

"I highly doubt it... unless someone avenged me after being thrashed into unconsciousness and then did away the bodies of the three tallmen. Which, admittedly, is an happy ending worth entertaining." Jinks smiles up at Aryia, offering a shallow shrug. "I wasn't robbed, though, so it's not all bad news."

"Do I place assassination contracts with you?" The laughter doesn't quite reach his eyes-- so he might not be entirely joking. "No, I'm fine. They got me roused and then the Hymn did the rest... At least until the tailoring bill arrives."

Aryia lightly huffs in a chuckle and shakes her head. "Who'd you piss off this time around?" she inquires, rubbing the side of her head. "Usually you're not the kind looking for a scrap." <Handspeech>

Acedia peers at Jinks, her expression plainly displaying her confusion. She frowns. "I am not an assassin. That would be most unseemly of one of Eluna's own." She crosses her arms. "I would suggest you contact the city guard if you want the ruffians dealt with."

The Gobbo glances back at Aryia, and her hands begin moving quickly once more. "But the path to closure is full of answers, isn't it?", she wonders. "It's quite okay. Your frustration is obvious, so, it is easily forgiven. And if I see you doing something ... weird, I will let you know."

"Some people are just jealous... or sore losers... or don't appreciate you sticking your nose into their business." Jinks counts off heavily beringed fingers as he posits. "Which, frankly, makes things all the more uncertain when you beating begins without so much of a 'so'n-so sends his/her/its regards.'"

The gobber earns a quirked eyebrow, "Does Goddess Dreaming have something in her tenants forbidding contract killing? That actually makes the Lady Serene a little less terrifying..." He abandons the look of serious consideration and winks, grinning at Acedia. "No, sorry, I know. I'm being facetious-- I'd use another near-death experience as an excuse but I think it's just my personality."

"On a slight detour of a vaguely-related topic; if you pretend to only speak Gnomish your chances of getting a Person looking after you is considerably higher." He leans back, looking up and down the hall to make sure he's not revealing secret insights to a crowd of eavesdroppers before leaning back in. "And there's a dockworker who volunteers here with the most adorarble braided hair. And broad shoulders... shoulders that could make a case for the distant racial relationships with the Khazad..."

"You might consider offering the Gray Harpist gratitude in lieu of her judgement, in that case," Verna now, belatedly, suggests to the gnome. To Aryia, she asides in likewise late comment to her concerns, in hand gestures, "Did you? For the times and places I witnessed, you sought nothing nefarious." <Handspeech>

Aryia's shoulders fall some. Another sigh. "Yes, you're right Ace. Thank you." Though, something that Ace makes Aryia shift on her feet some. "... actually, I think you might be able to help me. I have some questions that would be better suited for a later time..."

The mul'neissa turns to Jinks, a brow quirked. "Fair point. Maybe you should walk around looking like someone else so that doesn't happen as often? Seems like that might be a reoccurring theme as of late."

The mute shifts on her feet some, her curious. "... I... think I may know who you talk about, Jinks. Work the docks myself, you know."

The pugilist glances to Verna, her brow raising. "Well, considering I was double dipping in both the The Tyrant and the other bitch back then, I figure I might have." <Handspeech>

"The Goddess' own paladins are not murders for hire.", the Gobbo says flatly, her eyes narrowing. "Nor is the Soldier's Defense a place to pick up people.", she says to Jinks, her frown returning.

Acedia huffs in annoyance, but her expression improves as she looks back to Aryia, an eyebrow quirked in curiosity.

"Well, you can find me at the Temple of Eluna during the day, and the Fernwood Pub after dark. I'd be willing to hear what you have to ask." <Handspeech>

"Ah, well, fair enough." Jinks concedes, raising two hands low in mock surrender when his flippancy is corrected by the gobber. "And I will, though at this point I'm sure the Harpist is tired of me loitering in Her foyer," he grins at Verna.

"Sorry for interrupting," he taps his eyebrow and gives a quick salute. He starts down the hall, twisting on his heel to walk backwards and talk at Aryia, "These are dark times, tallman, I can't deprive the city of such a bright spot by hiding my face away..." he laughs and tilts his head, spinning about to resume walking face forward.

Verna's hood pans to Aryia and lingers there pointedly. Gloved fingers also point similarly before she notes, "In Abyss'a, that is considered completely normal; expected, perhaps. Thus there was nothing nefarious about it. In contrast, interest in The Seer, there, would be considered blasphemous, but not nefarious by any standards here." <Handspeech> Taking note of the mention related to that between the mul and Acedia, she adds, aloud, "Not to mention most proper, perhaps. They could well offer you more insight on that topic than I. As well, I must soon resume my rounds."

Aryia rolls her eyes at Jinks' antics, her waving goodbye from the hip. "Catch you later."

The mute wheels back to the duo, a certain scowl resting on her face at the mention of the Temple. "Well, I would, but I haven't been able to since they've been closed for fuck knows how long. Guess I'll run into you at Fernwood."

The Mourner gets her attention, and she sighs. "Yes, I know, I know... I just meant of the flip of it here happening. I'd rather sit through an Eluna temple and a Taaran one. See you later, Verna. Let's get some tea sometime," she waves off before turning to the remaining soul: the gobbo. <Handspeech>

The Gobbo watches as Jinks makes an about-face and heads out, and then offers Verna wave as she makes her way out as well.

"Oh. Right. There is that, isn't there?", she signs. Acedia glances about, and then up at Aryia. "How about right now?".

The mul'neissa blows some air out, cheeks puffing as she rubs at the side of her head. "... sure."

The mute's hands are silent for a spell as she gathers her thoughts, her lips pursed. Then, "... so, I can do this." She raises a hand, and soon it becomes awash with a moonlit glow, the same hue as her eyes. The hand moves, it casting odd shadows on the wall as the light source moves about. "And one of my memories pointed towards the moon. Verna suggested looking into Eluna. But I can't, you know, go in there." She frowns. <Handspeech>

"Oh.", she says softly. "Hmm." The Gobbo rubs at her chin, and nods. Her hands begin to flutter. "Well, I can try answering your questions. I also happen to know someone who would likely have more answers. I can arrange for him to speak with you. Have you heard of the Silver Guard by the name of Seldan?"

The name makes a mixed expression flick across the mul's scarred visage. "... I... think I'd prefer to keep my distance from him until something gets resolved..." she slowly gestures, pursing her lips. "I guess really my main question is: what would make Eluna give her blessing to someone? I'm ignorant of her tenants and whatever." <Handspeech>

The Goblin's expression softens, and she reaches a hand out, to lightly touch at Aryia's forearm. "She knows that you are perhaps feeling lost. You.. you probably feel like you've awoken from a dream, or nightmare, one you've lived so long in that you don't really know how to live outside of it."

"She is worshipped as Rada is, for she is the Moon, and helps guide people through the long night. People pray for a safe journey through the night. She is the Light in the Darkness, a pale candle that gives hope. She would guide you, and aid you. You, too, can be a candle of hope in the darkness." <Handspeech>

Aryia's brows tighten at the touch. Allowing it for a beat, but she subtly shifts back to regain that personal space. Acedia was not on the 'approved gobbo list' just yet. There's a fine line Ace was walking, and it was clear in the mute's expression she didn't particularly like Eluna. Or the topic in general.

"Because she's done such a good fucking job guiding me all those decades," she motions sarcastically with a frown. "Listen, Ace, I know you mean well, but I don't need a pick me up." <Handspeech>

"So she guides people with the moon?" she points out, trying to find out what they actually do. "I thought she did more than just that." <Handspeech>

It is obvious that the Gobbo bristles, though she shoves it back down, and offers a slight nod. "Some Gods and Goddesses are more subtle than others. She often works in dreams, and shadowy foresight, and sometimes she is as bright as the Sun. Taara is a greedy, covetous Goddess, who would strangle Eluna in eternal night if she could. Taara covets every one of the Mul'neissa, so it is no wonder the Mul'neissa do not hear Eluna's message."

Acedia straightens. "You could easily accuse me of not being around when you needed help most. I would answer as Eluna herself would answer... I am here now. I can help you, now. Would you accept her?"

She nods lightly. "She would govern the use of magic wisely, and she bids those who use magic to do such as well, use it wisely, for good. She bids her followers to hunt those who would abuse magic, and who would darken the night. Wise use of the power, and quest for knowledge, that is what she wants us to do."

Aryia crosses her arms and leans against the wall, lips pursed as she watches the motions and signs. To her credit, the elf's face scowls at Taara's name as well. Seemed like her vernation choice didn't go either way. Or, if it was aligned with any way at all. "I've had no strange dreams of the sort, so I suppose your theory may hold up."

The question comes for acceptance. And instead of a snarky 'no', she answers with a more... conviction laden response. "I've thrown myself at every fucking name in the sky, ground, water and plant for most of my life. And I get nothing but silence. So forgive me if my answer is, no, I would not accept her. Or anyone, for that matter. But I can accept *you*," she points at the gobbo intently.

Again, she leans against the wall, listening to the list. But then she grows confused. "... none of that lines up with... being accused of being an Elunite..." she gestures slowly. "I may have used some magic in the past but... would she just... brighten a spot in Taara's darkness to make a point?" She speculating at this point, and grasping at straws. <Handspeech>

"Gods often work in mysterious ways.", the Gobbo says aloud, before her fingers begin to work. "She might do it to get your attention, yes. Gods are not allowed to intervene in the world directly. She can't just reach out and tap you on the shoulder. So they send signs and portents and dreams, bad weather, and so on."

Acedia cants her head slightly. "Someone has accused you of being an Elunite? Since she is not evil, nor is it illegal to be part of her faith, I wouldn't put too much weight on this... accusation. And yes, she might brighten a spot in Taara's darkness just for you. Taara is always trying to snuff out light with her darkness, why shouldn't Eluna put the light back in?"

The mul'neissa huffs, and stares a long while. Slowly, and mechanically, she says with her hands, "The accusation matters when you're at a party surrounded by Taaranites and Maugrim folk, full expecting you to conduct marriages in their name, then Eluna's moonlight comes out of nowhere and makes you and your family run out to save yourself."

"So yeah."

"Kind of a big deal."

She makes a gargling sound, yet her face shows a frustration and anger. A deep seated one. Seemed like a growl, if she could make one. Though not towards Ace, just at everything in general. "... feels like I'm getting fucking yanked two ways." <Handspeech>

"You know, it would be helpful if you explained these things beforehand, yes?", she signs, curtly. "'Cause there was nothing to keep me from assuming that you meant someone here, in Alexandria, you know, recently."

Acedia's expression is sympathetic. "Life is often like that. However, that said... it may be entirely possible that it is not Eluna's doing at all. One of your ancestors may have been of a race that could naturally cast such magics. You might have the blood of an angel, or a dragon, or some other highly magical creature in your veins. It's how sorcerers come to be."

Aryia snaps back with a few signs, the light in her eyes dimming some. "Well excuse me for not saying much to try and keep myself safe from whatever or whoever wanted me erased!"

She simmers.

She peters out.

She sags.

"... you're right. I'm sorry. Maybe it is something else. Getting nowhere is just frustrating me is all," she motions slowly, looking away. A touch ashamed that she let her emotions roil like that. <Handspeech>

The Gobbo offers up her hand, and a light smile. "I understand.", she says softly. "Your frustration is obvious in your eyes, and posture." She runs a hand over her chin for a moment. "Come with me to the Fernwood. We can eat, and there are enough quite little nooks, we can talk without being overheard."

Aryia rubs her arm, and sighs. A glance is stolen towards the hand, letting the words hang there for a moment before she weakly reaches out and shakes it. "Fine. Just... don't be surprised when I get mad at something or another."

She motions off to the entrance. "Let's go." <Handspeech>

-End Scene-