Ask a Mourner
Tenebrae - Thursday, September 27, 2018, 6:23 PM
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A05: Warehouse District *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The freshness of the Tornmawr River cuts along this section of Alexandria. Its broad expanse creates the district's eastern border. Ships and barges dot its surface. Some make deliveries here and up the river, while others dock for repair. These vehicles move slowly over the water, their sails colorful and proud. No few bear a nod to Rada, or three, for luck's sake. Many also bear the colors of different nations and city-states, all of them coming here to bring trade to Alexandria.
Warehouses line the district's streets, dotted with the names of shipping companies and various industries. These, mixed with the occasional sailor's tavern, set the tone for the area. Overall, it's bustling, busy, about what one would expect for a city of this size.
To the south, the great Sea Wall and the Port of Alexandria. Both are considered wonders of the modern world.
"Heh. Well, that's not s'bad." Kerbasi holds a paper in front of him, a paper that wants to whip, and fly away with the wind. The Mourner stands nearby one of the warehouses, near a door. A woman stands in the doorway, and watches. Kerbasi looks towards her. "I'm sure w'can work somethin' out. You've got enough goin on right now, an' we wouldn't want t'cause any more troubles," he's saying.
"KERBASI!" Munch doesn't really want to cause trouble... it's just how he is. Spying the Mourner, the metal man bellows, and waves, heading towards him at a fair clip. With any luck that's a happy smile on his face, it's hard to tell with golems.
"Aaauu--uuh. Uhm, huh. Ah..." Kerbasi looks at the paper he'd dropped. He bends down to get it, and that act reveals the rest of the doorway. Light-filled, it projects into the street, illuminates the woman standing in the middle of it. ...a woman who looks at Munch with wide eyes and...
Slams.
The.
Door.
Shut.
"...ah, heh. Did you--?" Kerbasi is asking, as he feels about now, in the darkness, for the fallen paper.
Munch buzzes softly, aware he caused that. "...sorry. Stop. Right hand, foreward three inches, two to your left." His magicite eyes glow faintly in the dark, able to see quite well in the gloom. "Have a problem, you're the best expert I know." He buzzes again. "...I don't know many experts..."
"I...heh. Three inches..." Kerbasi says. He moves his hand forward, pauses. "Then two?" he asks. It's rhetorical though, and his hand is hovering over the paper soon enough, just like Munch had said. He picks it up. "An expert? Well, I'm glad t'be of service. What is it y'need?" he asks.
Munch says, "Ghosts. Well, just the one. I-" he buzzes softly, and starts over. "Couple years back, the giant spiders of the Felwood started attacking me. Like, me, personally, hunting me down, seeking me out. I figured I just smelled good to them or something. After a while, the attacks stopped. Figured they'd elarned better or something. couple weeks back, started up again. Spiders tracking across miles just to find me, thorw themselves at me in a suicide charge. no disrespect to spiders, but I'm a LOT tougher than they are. Then the ghost showed up. Ettercap I killed back with the first attacks. I'd forgotten all about him until he showed up again. Seems he's been sending the spiders after me. And now that he's a ghost, I don't know how to stop him. And the druid types are getting worried. All those dead spiders are adding up, doing bad things to the eco-balance."
Throughout the story--Kerbasi reaches up to adjust his glasses. Blinks a few times. Adjusts his glasses. Then just...looks at Munch, his brow furrowed.
"You're...when did this start happenin'?" he asks, a touch desperately.
Munch buzzes again. "Couple weeks back the spiders started showing up again. Ghost popped up about a week back. He um... he pops up every evening, right about sunset. Even if I already killed him again the night before. That's bad for ghosts, right? I mean, he hasn't hurt me any, not sure he can, but pretty sure other people have gotten hurt in the crossfire. Bandits, mostly, so I don't feel too bad, but might be innocent people if something doesn't happen."
"...Ettercaps aren't known for their reason, I'm afraid. But they like t'set traps. If one is after you...heh. Well, I suppose you may need an exorcism." Kerbasi glances at the paper he'd reclaimed, then folds it. Looks cross to Munch in a worried, though thoughtful fashion. "It may not be pleasant, though I'd wager it'd be easier'n being chased by spiders th' rest of your life."
Munch shrugs. "I exist to fight, so not a bother in and of itself. It's people getting hurt along the way. But yeah, and exorcism sounds along the right path.... how does one of those happen? Every ghost I met before needed something done so they could rest. Pretty sure this one wants me dead, and I'm really not okay with that solution."
"I don't know a lot about'em, myself. You might need t'speak with th' Gileans for that. They'd know more than I would. Hrm." Kerbasi says. He looks to Munch consideringly, as though chewing over something. His hair's slightly askew, as though he'd forgotten to comb and care for it. Again.
Munch's 'hair' wiggles of it's own accord, so he really has no room to judge. "Okay. Do you know anyone specific? Talked to a couple Hunter of the Dead, most of them deal with physical type undead, so ghosts they weren't sure about."
"...I was just thinkin, talkin with it may not be your best option," Kerbasi says. "I'm afraid it may not be much of a conversationalist an' well...somethin' happens once they cross th' other side. Most ghosts aren't quite there, in more ways than you'd think. ...do you remember Saint Rarvin?" he asks, and takes the step down from the doorway to the street.
Munch nods. "This ghost mostly just says it hates me and asks why I don't die. Pretty sure was stupid before he died. And I think I recall the name, but not the details."
"He...well...th' good saint had a shovel. I'd be willin' to loan it to you, temporarily. It's a great responsibility, now but...th' legend has it, sometimes, th' Lady's blessin gets channeled through it. If that happens, an' th' Lady smiles, you'd be rid of them. Mind, there's always a long an' complicated ceremony..."
"...but I thought y'might like to try this, first."
Munch nods, and considers. "I appericate the offer, but wouldn't feel right using someone elses weapon. Plus it's been re-killed by a couple people now. Ga'Elian has a bow that worked pretty well. i mean, it came back anyway, but it went away really quick that time." He might not quite be grasping the power of the relic.
"Heh. Munch, this shovel has th' Lady's Blessin," the priest says. He looks at Munch directly, and there's a certain other-side there. A death...ness. The smile doesn't reach the eyes, though the features are warm enough. "She doesn't have much love for th' thing you're facin'. It may be worth a try, but that's up to you." The warmth is back, and he leans back on the heels of his boots.
Munch buzzes softly, and considers for several moments. "I think In understand now... but... it doesn't seem right. I've certainly sent plenty to the Lady, but I'm not one of Her's. It doesn't seem right to wield something in her name." He blinks with a soft click. "Would it work to keep the ghost busy and focused on me while you hit it? Not that I'd have to try hard, it seems to ignore most people."
"I think you'd do alright. If you'd feel better me bein' there, why. I guess I could. I'm grateful you came to me with this, as well. It must be rough, bein' chased nigh on nonstop." The priest reaches up, and adjusts his glasses.
Munch shrugs. "Sorta figure the turn about is fair play. If it were just me to get hurt, I'd be okay with it. And the Fel has always been dangerous, long as I've known it anyway. But if the ghost of spiders start heading outside the woods because of me, that would be bad."
"Heh, I could see that. I'd be some extra work at any rate, wouldn't it?" Kerbasi says as he looks over at Munch. "Well...just pick a day, or evenin'. Then we'll go see this ettercap of yours. Say hello or somethin'."
Munch nods. "Figure sooner is better, and not like I have much by way of other plans."