It's all just academic

[Faith Augustin]

15th Vhalar, 721

They needed to take advantage of all the sources of information that they had and, as such, Faith had made her way to the docks in Almund. It was not somewhere where, to the casual observer, she seemed at home but that belied a number of much more nuanced realities. She had spent more than her fair share of time in places just like this - as a healer, Faith was usually found in the poorest areas, not the most wealthy. As a charity worker, too and, when she had been a slave, she had gone where she was told. So, she was at home here as she was in any of the seedy docklands and she walked with the calm confidence of someone who was not nervous.

Her Adunih cloak helped, Faith knew - she was afforded a lot of protection from that and she made her way through the crowded streets. She knew Knots' usual haunts and so she went to find him. The old former pirate had helped her before and Faith was sure that he - and his friends - would be able to help her now. So, she made her way around, asking in one pub, then an Inn and, finally, she spotted Knots in the garden of a ramshackle building, with some others of his crew, or friendship group, or maybe book club Faith thought with a smile.

She walked up to them and smiled. "Good trial, gentlemen," she said with a nod and Knots lifted his head in surprise.

"Faith Augustin! What're you doing here?" He didn't sound pleased to see her, but Faith saw the twinkle in his eyes as she heard his gruff and rugged voice and she moved over and kissed him on the cheek. "Get off me, girl, my women will be jealous!" There was laughter from the others, some of whom had started to look a little uncomfortable at the mention of Faith's name. But, the friendly greeting - on both sides - seemed to mollify them.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Knots," Faith said, speaking quietly and respectfully. "And to interrupt you, all of you. But I have need of some help, and I wonder if you might have some information for me?" Knots raised an eyebrow and gestured for her to continue.

"I'm trying to discover legends," she said. There was an almost sense of relief among the men. "About barriers or strange occurrences around the world. You helped me, a few years ago now, with legends about strangeness in the north east, and I'm researching the same around the world. I was hoping you might help me?" Knots looked at her and raised an eyebrow. Faith smiled. "I was thinking that we could open up some of the whisky I brought, and talk about it?" She couldn't and wouldn't pay him, but trade? That worked for them both - she hoped.

[Faith Augustin]

15th Vhalar, 721
~ 1 break later~

And so, a break later, Faith was sitting and listening to Knots and his friend as they talked. There were drinks on the table and the conversation was meandering and pleasant. There were a number of people coming and going, but the core group of four of them - plus herself and Knots - remained. They'd discussed all sorts of things, going around and chatting. Faith was happy to do that it seemed like it was needed in order for Knots' companions to be genuinely trusting.

However, they'd gotten to the point in the conversation that Faith was interested in. "Aye lass," the man who spoke was wrinkled and had a shock of white hair. He had gaps in his teeth and merry blue eyes. His name was "Fingers" although Faith didn't ask why and she smiled at him as he spoke. "It's not a secret, what you're askin' but it's summat as eachuv us knows, but not oft talks on," he nodded. Faith had picked up a little of the strange ways of speaking among the sailors, a sort of accent mixed with a pattern of speech. She listened carefully and she nodded. "An' what ev'ry sailor knows is that the world ends, an' yet the water don't run off. There's not land nor wall what you can see at the edges, but the edges be there, an' it's a bad omen to go to them." Faith raised an eyebrow. "I hadn't considered the water running off," she said. "But there are those who say that Idalos is round."

She expected a more negative reaction, but Fingers nodded. "Any sailor wit a half-brain an' one workin' eye knows that if they've been out in the vast. She's curved an' round like a beautiful woman, an' we know that. But if she's round, then why can't we get to where we started by goin' in a straight line?"

Knots interjected there. "There's stories, Fingers, of the East to West," Fingers nodded. "That there is, but it's abou' bein' taken or transported. You know how tis when you're facin' Chrien's wall, as'um we all do." Faith looked at Fingers with interest. "Chrien's Wall? I haven't heard of that," she said and Fingers leaned forward.

"An'm I'm ner surprised, lass, fair lady like yerself. It's these barriers what you speak of, I wager. A storm an' all the chaos our sea-bitch causes, an' she'll demand that respect," Faith nodded. It made sense that he associated what happened at the barrier with Chrien - it had been a storm and then some. "Is it the same no matter where you are? Are there Chrien's Walls everywhere and do they do the same thing?" Fingers shrugged. "I heard it sayt what she did were to harness the chaos of Aelig, but I don't knows about that. There's tales of those what carry her talisman an' they can sail through, but I never met none."

Faith frowned. "Her talisman?" Faith pressed her hands together and wondered at this. "Where do you think those tales come from?"

Knots nodded. "I heard 'a'em too. That there's a talisman of Chrien an' all it brings you safety at the Wall but I don't know an' I've heard no ken of any'as worn it." Faith considered it and nodded. She had a Talisman of Chrien, left to her by Zvezdana Venora. She hadn't taken it with her to the barriers, but had that been what she needed? She'd be examining that, certainly.

"What of the stopping of magic and such there, and the breaking of dreams?" Faith asked and there was a sudden hawking cough from a quiet man called Rat. The others respected Rat, Faith knew, and he leaned forward and spat out some phlegm, then he spoke.

"It's no'jus' magic, girl," he said. His voice was gravelly and just above a whisper. "It's all them blessin's you wear an' it's potions an' items. But more'n that, I heard say that it's a place where not even Immortals can live." Faith nodded. That made sense since the Mortalborns were slowly dying. "I heard somun say as its holdin' the Immortals in. That we're a prison for'um, an' those are the bars," he said. It wasn't a viewpoint Faith had considered, but now that she did, she could see why it made sence.

"Who's the gaoler?" Faith asked, expecting a smile and Rat looked at her solemnly. "That's the question innit lass?" He took a long, slow drink and then a longer puff of his cigar. Then, he continued. "If there's places past this Wall, which you seem to be suggestin, then is that place Idalos too? Jus' Idalos without Immortals?"

Faith looked at him with a flicker of surprise. "I haven't said anything about that," she said and Rat chuckled. "Not with yer mouth, lass no, but you talk with more'n that an' I had 'n only an idea, till you jus' confirmed it." Faith grinned at him. "Well, I suppose I did. Yes. I've been beyond one of those barriers, and I want to go back, but there are dangers that we need to be careful with." Rat nodded. "So, is it part of Idalos, then lass?" Faith looked at him and sighed slightly. "I think so, yes." She didn't know for absolutely sure, but she thought so.

"Then its naught t'do with Chrien, lass, not if its her they're keepin' out." Faith sighed. It was a puzzle, certainly. "That makes it more complicated, certainly." She smiled then. "But then, I like a good puzzle." It was interesting information. She hoped it would prove to be useful

[Doran]

Faith:

Knowledge: -
Loot: Information!
Lost: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: -
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 10

- - -

Comments: I haven’t read a thread where Faith is researching and investigating in a while. I liked the way that you started the thread, with her making her way to the docks in Almund in order to find Knots and referencing the past – and how you used a NPC from a previous thread.

The scene where she kissed the old pirate on the cheek – and Knot’s reaction to it – made me smile!

I could almost see those scenes in the pub in front of my inner eye. You described the atmosphere very well in my opinion, and I like that you gave Knots, Rat and Fingers an accent!

The Barriers are a fascinating topic. The men that Faith talked to seem very knowledgeable – which makes sense. I like that you also included certain misconceptions though – such as that the world is flat, and had Fingers wonder about the water not running off.

I can’t help but wonder if we are really in a prison now, if Idalos is a prison for the Immortals and the Barriers are the bars. I hope that Faith will eventually find out the truth!

I wish her good luck with her research!

Enjoy your rewards!

P.S.: I might have added “Investigation” to the list of skills used. This thread seemed like a mixture of Research and Investigation to me.

P.P.S.: The date of this thread is wrong in my opinion as it was started in January. It should be “15th Vhalar 720”!