[Hopetoun] A Beacon for Hope

[Vega]

The grinding sound was the stuff of childhood nightmares for her.

Vega had lived all of her life on boats. She had seen boats struck by lightning, attacked by sea monsters and besieged by pirates. That sound, the scraping of the hull against something was the sound of the boat breaking. When vessels cracked and broke and made that noise, Vega knew, people died. Fear gripped her as she thought of her mother, of how terrified she must have been. As much as Vega knew she was being foolish, that it was a superstitious nonsense, as much as she was aware that her mother had died in childbirth, not because she was at sea, as much as she knew those things they simply didn't matter.

The sound threatened to freeze her heart, but Vega was who she was. Arlo was blessed by U'frek, Vega knew. If he had to, he could mend the ship, fix the wood. If he couldn't do that, then Vega knew from experience after experience. He wouldn't give up, he wouldn't stop. After all, he had pulled her broken body from Scalvoris docks and he had saved a half-dozen lives that night. So, Vega knew that the people above decks would be safe.

She also knew that her job was here. Here with the children. Wide terrified eyes looked at her and Vega smiled. She'd already started singing and they were looking better. Her head was starting to throb, her throat was dry and it hurt to swallow, but she sang. She gestured for them to sing with her and they did. What happened next delighted the young biqaj woman as the children began to sing. Their voices joined and Vega knew - without a doubt - that the sound which echoed across the water was enhanced by Xiur, by Qylios, by Daia. Her own heart lifted and she thought, into the lion locket. She knew that Arlo could hear her, too, thanks to their links ~ Ask Wren to sing, would you?, Vega thought. Ask him to sing a song of hope and welcome. All of you.

Her voice was drowned out by the voices of the children and Vega did not mind that at all. She sang until she could sing no more, until each breath felt like a monumental task in itself and she was sure that she would pass out. She was seeing stars in front of her eyes, she thought to herself as she felt consciousness threaten to slip from her.

And then, she realised that she was seeing stars, not because she was passing out, but because there were stars to see. Her hand moved to her stomach, to the child growing inside her which sang a song so beautiful that it brought tears to her eyes. Vega felt it, heard it, knew it. She smiled in greeting to Xiur and she knew, in that moment, what being truly content meant.

They arrived and she felt Xiur's hands holding her gently. She wasn't quite sure whether he carried her, or supported her, but Vega felt stronger with each step taken - she just didn't know whether it was his feet or hers which took those steps. But there was sand beneath her feet and she looked around. Her eyes met Arlo's and she smiled at him, but perhaps surprisingly, she didn't walk to him. Instead, she walked to the dragon and as she did she felt the glow of her 'magic freckles' "You did great," she said to the dragon and she smiled at her. It was a female dragon, Vega suddenly knew. "Come rest, now." And she held out her hands - she felt the dragon energy moving towards her, into her chest and she wrapped her arms around it. "Thank you," she whispered.

Then, she breathed in and closed her eyes. Her Nalos mark glowed and Vega turned to look at the children on the beach. She smiled. "Come on you lot," she said with a smile. "There's food an' warm beds over there. Let's get goin'. " And then, she moved to Arlo, her shaking hand slipping into his. "It's Xiur," she said. She didn't whisper - she spoke and anyone near by could hear her. "He made me his Champion. My magic freckle's a dragon." She grinned, suddenly, energy filling her and she flung her arms around him, kissing him without concern about the others around them. Then, she looked around at whoever else was there. "Bloody hell, I'm starvin' like Marvin. Lets get goin', an' get them settled down, eh?" Glancing at the boat which had been pulled up on the shore, Vega raised an eyebrow. "Everyone off the ship? Lets get folks settled."

As they got all the newest arrivals into the Inn, as their new lives began in whichever form they took, Vega watched and helped. Swirling eyes looked around for Xiur and then quickly turned to the night sky. "Thank you," she said to him quietly. "I won't let you down." Then, with a grin of pure irony, she added. "At least. I hope I won't."

[Doran]

While Hart and Darius set up the lights and prepared the longboats, and Wren looked after people (and was being looked after at the same time), Doran did what he could in order to make sure that everything would be ready by the time the people that were still on the ship arrived. Snaffle’s report came as no small relief. He had been wondering if they might be dealing with something more serious, but it seemed as if the elders only suffered from fever and scurvy, the latter of which was likely due to a lengthy boat trip, without access to fresh food and perhaps whatever they had been forced to endure during their enslavement.

Such conditions were easily treatable with the materials that the healers and he had at their disposal, and the potion that he had prepared would speed up their recovery. Hopefully, he thought, this place as well as time itself would help heal whatever emotional wounds they had suffered. There was something about Hopetoun that had had an almost healing effect on him, at least, he decided as he put his reagents away and briefly looked up towards the sky where Xiur’s stars shone. His eyes widened as he noticed the celestial dragon, and he watched it for a few moments, with a sense of wonderment.

He smiled as he thought of him, of Xiur, of the Immortal he had vowed to serve with everything that he had and inclined his head, in a greeting and a gesture of deepest gratitude. He was grateful, for Xiur’s forgiveness, for the chance that he had been given, and for his hope that he would share and spread. Eventually, he turned away again though. His work was not done yet, and it would not be done until all those people had been taken care of.

He had just finished his preparations when the captain approached him in order to lead him to the sick. He furrowed his brow in mild confusion for a moment – he had thought that someone would bring the sick to him and the other healers, but then he packed the potion he had just made, got his doctor’s bag and quickly followed him. The ship, he noticed, had been damaged, but the situation was not without hope. All the passengers had arrived on the shores of Faldrass safely.

“This is Hopetoun”, he told the elders in a calm tone of voice. “You are finally safe. I’m Doran, a doctor and a Blessed of Xiur and Daia. I have a potion that will alleviate your symptoms and make you feel stronger”, he explained. Provided that they decided to trust him and let him treat them, he approached, asking each elder for their name before he gave them some of the potion. As he went from one elder to the next, he invoked one of the abilities that Xiur had given him, to fill them with a brief surge of hopeful resolveThe Nalos ability "Flow of Morale". That would make them feel better just as much as medicine would and perhaps ease some of their worries.

When he saw the children that had been healed by Vega kiss the sand and play, a smile flickered across his face before he turned to her, and the dragon. When Vega told Arlo that Xiur had made her his Champion, his eyes widened a hint once more. He did not walk over to her right away, but stayed where he was, with the elders, so that she could share this extraordinary moment with her husband. He only approached to her when she looked around.

“Congratulations”, he said to her. “We built a beacon so that those people could reach Faldrass safely, but you are beacon of hope yourself”, he added. He truly meant what he had said. Vega had given him hope – he would always remember what she had said to him at the start of the Mummer’s Ball – as well as all the people around them.

When she said that she was ‘starvin’ like Marvin’ he chuckled. “Come. There’ll be food and drinks for every one of you”, he said to the elders, offering his help to whoever was still feeling weak and needed a bit of support. There would also be a means of continued treatment for those who needed it.

This trial, the new life of those people would begin, a life of freedom and hope, a life that was full of possibilities and that they could shape any way they wanted. He was looking forward to watching them find their place in this community and become a part of it, the old as well as the young.

[Darius Baer]

Darius was preparing for the ship's arrival when Hart approached him and asked him to take care of Wren.

"Aye, of course," he nodded immediately at the request, for he knew that by doing so, he was enabling the boy's father to take to the water in one of the longboats.

Another nod came at the suggestion of involving Serena, and he called the cook over.

"Wren here has a very important job to do while his da helps to guide the ship in," he told the brunette. "Can you keep an eye on things to make sure he's able to focus on the task at hand?"

"Certainly," Serena smiled, and she gently tousled the boy's hair as she lowered herself down to his eye level. "Come along and show me what you have to do."

There were certain sights and sounds that struck fear into the hearts of even the most hardy of sailors.

The sight of a red dawn hinted at the possibility of a coming storm; a hand poking through the surface of the water could be a Drowner, ready to pull mariners to their deaths; or the freezing waters of Synnefa Bay turning to ice and preventing ships from getting to the open sea.

But nothing sent a shiver through a sailor's spine more than the sound of rock against wood. The scraping noise signified peril. A creaking hull might frighten a landlubber, and seasoned sailors would laugh off the noise as the ship's unique personality, but a scrape would cut their mirth short immediately.

So as Darius watched from the safety of the shore, and he heard that noise, he felt his stomach sink like a stone. He froze, initially, as he tried to gauge where the ship was likely to stop, and then he had a sudden realisation.

"She's going to run aground," he said under his breath, before turning to the others who had been waiting with him and repeating it aloud. "We have to get over there."

With that simple instruction, he jumped down from the proposed landing place, expecting the others to follow. He left the line of lanterns behind as his boots splashed through the shallows, white foamy water creeping up the beach with each successive wave, before retreating from the shore. As he moved, a sound carried across the sea breeze and he recognised it singing. Confused, he stared out at the ship, even as he ran, and what he saw caused him to stumble onto the wet sand.

On hands and knees, Darius stared at the dragon of stars. The mariner's mouth was agape at the sight of the constellation creature guiding the brig across the water. It was still coming towards the shore, and as it neared and the damage became more visible through the thinning fog, Darius could see why.

He had managed to regain his footing by the time the vessel carved through the sand on the beach, and he waited for it to stop before he rushed over, wasting no time in clambering aboard and helping passengers down onto the beach. Each person who he helped - older folk by bracing their arms as they stepped down, and children by carrying them to the beach himself - he tried to reassure, telling them they were now safe.

When the last of the passengers were off the ship, Darius made his way back down, but not before assessing some of the damage. After he made it back onto the sand and checking that Serena and Wren had not come to harm, he sought out the captain.

"There's a lot of damage," he acknowledged the obvious, "but you and your crew are welcome to stay in Hopetoun until you've been able to repair her - or longer, if you prefer. You have brought hope to these people, and as such, you are honoured guests, unless and until you choose to move on. I will ask the Hopetounians to help repair your ship and make you feel as welcome as possible."

And with that, Darius joined the throng of people that were moving off the beach - but not before surveying the scene once more of lanterns, dissipating fog, and the wrecked ship. He shook his head in disbelief at the sight. His body was full of adrenaline, and he knew he wouldn't be sleeping much that night.

[Hart]

56th Ashan, 721

Hart and the others were pushing the longboats to the water when Vega spoke through the locket.

"Wren!" Hart said, and the young boy -there with Darius and Serena- looked over at him. Wren ran over, and Hart noticed the hope in him; hope that Hart would let him go out on the longboat with him. Wren hadn't spoken of it, but Hart knew Wren wanted to go with him.

It would be dangerous on the water, though, and Hart brushed a hand gently at the boy's hair.

"Vega says that we should sing," Hart said, and Wren looked momentarily disappointed that he wouldn't be going out on the longboat. But something about the words were important to him, as well; Hart noticed that too. Wren had been worried before, about Vega going on the water, about Hart going on the longboat, about leading and speaking to the new people, people Wren didn't know. But something about Vega's words, something about Vega, alleviated those worries.

"What kind of song?" Wren asked. Before Hart was able to respond, the young boy murmured, "Hope's Song."

They heard the song drift over the waters, and in the darkness, with the stars beginning to glimmer in the sky, Wren began to sing.

His voice was soft, and Hart knew Wren wasn't accustomed to singing. But he sang softly and gently, and he knew the words. His singing reminded Hart of something; but it was a foggy reminder, of something Hart had forgotten. Hart didn't know the words, but he breathed the notes of the song Wren was singing; he was singing the notes of the song when he got the longboat to its position on the waters.

Out on the waters, Hart was in position to witness the ship's collision. There was the screaming breaking of wood, the sound dampened by the water and the fog, but unmistakable nonetheless. With the sound of the collision, Vega would get a brief commotion of thoughts from Hart.

But nearly before he'd managed the thought that the longboats were on the water, that they'd be able to organize to get to the ship and get to the people,

that they'd be able to get to Vega and that she and her baby would be okay,

the dragon dove from the sky like a jacadon diving to water. The brief commotion of thoughts from Hart went quiet. He looked at the dragon, and in the dark and the fog the dragon glimmered like a thousand thousand stars, like a thousand thousand of people's hopes gilded by prayer and longing, and Hart was quiet, breathless.

"Oh my gods," he murmured, and the dragon guided the broken ship to shore.



When the ship was grounded and its people were there on the beach, the longboats rowed in. Hart memorized where the rock was -approximately- in the water, and would speak to Darius about marking the rock with a buoy. But not in this moment. In this moment Wren ran to him, and Hart swept the boy up into a hug, lifting him briefly from his feet. He hugged him tight, and Wren said excitedly, "Did you see the dragon!"

"I did!" Hart smiled, and hugged him. When he set Wren back down on the beach, Wren ran over to Vega and hugged her like he'd hugged Hart.

"We did it!" Wren told her, his voice quiet but breathless with excitement, and fiercely proud. There was something about Vega, Hart thought, walking over to them and Arlo and the others on the beach, that made Wren glimmer like the dragon.

"You're okay?" Hart asked Vega and Arlo. But though he asked, he thought they were okay; they, and the people from the ship.

[Arlo Creede]

Fog did funny things to light, no matter the source. What might have been distinct points of light on the water on a clear night, would be blurred and expanded under circumstances like this. But better the lights, than none at all. Arlo was confident enough in his skills as a navigator to believe he wouldn't inadvertently run them aground, but he'd rather not stretch those skills to their limits on this particular night.

Those skills didn't completely go untested, nor his observational skills either for that matter. It was as much the dark shape in the water that caught his eye, as the way the fog parted in that section of water, swirled round and folded in on itself again. It took a few quick calculations to help the captain readjust his course, and even though they took the thing at a glancing scrape. It could have been worse. Not that it was much comfort to those on board who only felt the tremors throughout the ship. But if there was any real damage, he could call upon U'frek's blessing in order to make some minor repairs. The very one he'd have called on in order to heal minor wounds, had there been any to treat.

Nonetheless, he held his post and did what he could, and still, couldn't help but smile when the sounds of Vega's, and then the children's song reached his ears. What she urged him to do, he did, calling out to Wren wherever he was, and all the others on deck. "Sing!" he urged them. "A song of hope and welcome!" Glancing up, he stared in wonder at the stars aligning themselves into something awe inspiring, before setting his full focus back where it belonged. And in the blink of an eye, that same starlit creature that he'd seen taking shape, had dived down and was carrying them along towards the shore.

"Well I'll be damned," Arlo muttered. Since it appeared that the ship was in capable Immortal blessed hands, he could briefly turn his attention to doing what he could to patch the ship here and there. Though his U'frek given ability could only go so far in that regard. Had he been aware of what was happening with Vega, however, and how poorly she was feeling, that was exactly where he'd have been at that moment.

But to finally see her smile, one that told him she was alright, was really all he needed. When finally they were ashore and her hand was back in his, he grinned when she said it was Xiur. And her freckle? "Well, I'll be damned," he said again as she wrapped herself in his arms and they kissed. "You're a wonder, you know," he said. As for Xiur making Vega his Champion? "Of course he did. He knows a good thing when he sees it."

But yes, food, comfort and lodging for all those who'd been aboard ship for too long now. "Never been better," he said, grinning at Hart and ruffling Wren's hair when they joined them on the beach. "Worked up an appetite though and we've a hungry crowd to feed. There's plenty to go around and then some."

[Pig Boy]

Vega

Knowledge:

Caregiving: x 5
Singing: x 10
Leadership: x 5

XP: 20 xp no magic.
Renown: 30 for becoming a Champion of Xiur.

Rewards: Champion of Xiur with the following powers unlocked:

Powers

Meteor Shower This ability is granted only to those who become Xiur's Champion, as it requires the ancient tongue to activate. The Blessed takes a full break to call down starlight from the heavens in either a devastating barrage of anti-personnel missiles, or a single massive meteor intended to smash structures. As this requires actual starlight, it is no faster during the day or night. If the ritual is interrupted, it must be started anew with loss of previous time spent.

Constellation This ability is granted only to those who become Xiur's Champion, as it requires the ancient tongue to activate. The night sky of Idalos has many glittering constellations. As the Blessed grows in devotion, his mark takes on the shape of one of the four most well-known of them. His boon depends entirely on which constellation forms during his growth as a devotee. The Blessed can use no other Nalos abilities while a constellation is in effect.
The Galleon - The Blessed can form a Great ship of pure starlight that can transport a normal count of men or troops. It does not require a crew, following the will and direction of the Blessed, and remaining intact to complete its journey even if the Blessed should be killed. It can only be summoned once per cycle, and can not go to more than one destination. It travels at a greatly increased speed, resists supernatural hazards like the following wave, and can cruise right through a calm. However, it can take basic damage from any source. Damage however does not breech the hull or harm the masts or sails. It only disperses that small bit of light causing the entire form to shrink slightly and "fill in" the damage.

The Dragon - A Great flying reptile, formed of starlight, lands before the Blessed and flies himself and one passenger to any destination. Neither rider can be knocked from its saddle, though disorientation from quick aerial maneuvers can render them unconscious. Damage does not "kill" the beast, but like "The Galleon", enough damage will cause the entity to shrink until it will no longer be able to support its riders. This entity can only be summoned once per season.

The Lurker - The Blessed can summon a giant construct of light, similar in shape to the dreaded "Lurker of the Cliffs". This construct treats damage taken in the same way as "The Dragon", until it is reduced to the point of being harmless. However, it can deliver devastating strikes to those that attack it. It is completely controlled by the Blessed, rather than being guided by feral rage. If the Blessed chooses, The Lurker will simply stand and block a passage without striking back at those wearing it down. If the Blessed should be rendered unconscious, the Lurker will continue to perform the last command given it. This entity can only be summoned once per season.

The Brux - Unlike the other three constellations, activation of this, does not summon a creature of light. instead, the Blessed takes on the form of one, complete with the glowing light aura. This Brux form can run across land almost as swiftly as "The Dragon" can fly. Like "The Lurker", the Brux form can fight back against its attackers, using a deadly goring attack with its glowing horns, or a flurry of kicks with its hooves, front or back. It's speed and agility make this form quite formidable, and because it is an actual transformation of the Blessed's own flesh, damaging the Brux is not so easy. The creature possesses whatever degree of armor the Blessed was adorned in at the moment of transformation and enjoys its full protection. This form can only be generated once per season.

Qyllios was also impressed with Vega's performance here, her leadership throughout the building of the Beacon and the light she brought to the world, and has granted her the next few powers in her adored line:

Powers of Celarion

Lead the Charge The Adored is able to empower and bolster the morale of those who follow them. If the Adored is at the head of any group of individuals, they and any mounts they ride are less likely to flinch during a charge. The number of targets affected by the aura is equal to the Adored's Leadership skill.

Flash The Adored is able to detonate any orb created with Guiding Light, and blind anyone who is actively looking at the orb. The blindness lasts for 10 trills. The Adored can only detonate one orb per break.

Bathed in Light fThe Adored's wounds heal faster while in a bright area. This ability requires the Adored to meditate in an area of bright light, and focus on their body and wounds to function. The Adored's healing is dependent on their Meditation skill.

Comments: This was a long time coming, and I doubt anyone else worked as hard as Vega for this level up of a mark. I know, I know, it's champion status, but still. You wrote damn near a novel length of content to qualify for the Champion status, and involved all kinds of players into the bargain. The planning and effort involved was huge, and I look forward to seeing the final results of the Beacon on Hopetoun.

Vega is such a terrific character, and you really played her well in this thread, and throughout the lead-up to the event. I'm really glad you brought her out of retirement, and hope she finds the next big thing to do

Enjoy the rewards!

Arlo

Knowledge:

Seafaring: x 5
Navigation: x 10
Logistics: x 5

XP: 20 xp no magic
Renown: 25 for being married to the latest champion of Xiur.
Rewards: U'frek is impressed with Arlo's daring in piloting the ship carrying the sick, and his ability to navigate in Pea Soup, and narrowly avoiding a direct collision with a rock pillar. He's awarded the final two powers in his Favored line, and granted Adored status.

Water Bubble (Minor) A thin hemispheric protective layer of water can be cast by the user around the size of a small ship at most, but can be smaller. The water spins at such high speeds, it deflects thrown or shot missiles, such as crossbow bolts or arrows. Anything larger than a bolt/arrow will still do the same damage, if launched with force. This can be used twice a trial and lasts for thirty trills.

Barrage This ability allows the user to cast small 1' (0.3m) diameter hemispheres of water, from a chosen source, towards a victim as far as a hundred feet away. The damage is akin to getting struck by large rocks. At Adored level, the diameter of water increases to 3' (1m) and at Exalted, to 9' (2.7m). Several can be cast within one break.

Sky Map (Moderate) Activation of this skill will cause a silvery aurora to rise from the user upward to the sky, during either daytime or night. This will highlight a map of Idalos in the sky, revealing the location of the user within it.

The Following Wave (Moderate) The user can now turn a regular Wave Crash ability into a wave that can follow a selected target, also known in the Meridian Main as 'The Following Wave' phenomena. This ability lasts

Seafarer Skills II The character is granted an extra six skill points which may be spent only on the following skills: Navigation, Seafaring, Woodcraft, or Swimming. Any skill points granted by this Mark can break the 250 (or 100 if fast track) point cap on skills. Within these skills, the points may be spent how the pc chooses.

Comments: Arlo is a great character. I very much enjoyed what he brought to this thread. It could've failed without his involvement in truth, this was a true team effort. Arlo's involvement in this Beacon-building was second only to Vega, being her support, helping with the set up of feeding the people, and so on. I loved the description of the fog as Pea Soup, which was pretty spot on and yet amusing all the same. Great job and enjoy the rewards!

Doran

Knowledge: Logistics: x 5
Leadership: x 5
Medicine: x 5
Caregiving: x 5
XP: 20 xp no magic.
Renown: 25 for his part in building and alchemificating the beacon.

Rewards: For his part in building the beacon, and his involvement throughout the event leading up to its activation, Xiur has granted Doran the next three powers in his adored line:

Fulcrum of Fervor The Blessed can select a single word to empower with the ability to spread optimism. When he cries it, those nearby may take up the cry, compounding the power and range of it's uplifting effect. The fervor generated by this collective outcry will last until dawn of the next trial. This can only be cast once per cycle. At "Exalted", it can be cast three times per cycle.

Starlight Key Once a season, the Blessed can bring down starlight to form a key that will unlock any key-type lock. This hardened starlight will stay this way, for use on this same lock, for the remainder of the night in which it was formed. It is bright however, and could give away stealthy movements. In the alternative, this key can be left in the lock to ensure it remains unlocked, but is easily seen by any hostiles. Covering it will help greatly, but the presence of something covering the lock will be suspicious in and of itself. This key can not be used on combination locks, nor will it remove a simple bar from a door or unlatch mechanisms.

Shadow of Doubt The Blessed brings clouds overhead to create a dusk-like atmosphere that strips the morale from enemies over a broad area. Those of only Novice Discipline or Resistance throw down their weapons and run or surrender. Competent level enemies back away, promising no aggression. Expert level enemies stand their ground, but do nothing unless attacked. Master or higher are unaffected, but will probably reconsider any aggressive act if many of their support troops are demoralized.

Comments: Doran did well here, being a calming presence among the general chaos and panic that abounded. His Medical expertise was invaluable, as the man in charge of setting up the healers nad making sure they'd be ready to deal with the elderly sick and others. I'm glad he was here for the lighting of the beacon. Good job and enjoy the rewards!

Hart

Knowledge: Caregiving: x 5
SInging: x 5
Leadership: x 5
Navigation: x 5
XP: 20 xp no magic.
Renown: 25

Rewards: Xiur gave Wren a pendant at the end of this. Nobody saw Xiur giving it to him, but Wren insists that it happened. He gave him a starlight pendant made of silver. When holding it up, if he can see a star in the sky he can contact anyone bearing a lion locket of Daia.

Rewards for Hart!:

Ability: Wish Upon a Star: Whenever someone has a wish that Hart feels he must grant, ZIell and Xiur together have granted him an alternative option. He can send up the wish to a star in the sky. Should the star fall or blink the person making the wish will have vivid dreams the next time they sleep, full of advice and methods detailing how to achieve their wish without the use of supernatural powers. This will also alleviate and mitigate Hart's compulsion to grant a wish to that person.

Comments: I'm really happy that Hart was present for this thread. Wren has been such a big part of Vega's lead-up to the actual activation of the Beacon, and his lighting it was really a poignant moment. You've done well, meeting the deadline everytime every week, and I wanna commend you for it (as well as everyone else). Hart's posts were absolutely beautiful throughout the event, so full of emotion and heart (for lack of a better term). I hope Hart sticks around Hopetoun for a while yet. Good job, enjoy the rewards!

Darius

Knowledge: 10 x Leadership
5 x Seafaring
5 x Athletics
XP: 20 xp no magic
Renown: 25

Rewards:

Daia has noticed Darius, and granted him a boon for building a community that is positively thriving:

Ability: Inner Voice Once activated, Darius has the ability to make themselves heard clearly by any and all in a radius around him, without having to yell or scream. If they do yell or scream, the radius doubles. This ability is active for up to one hour a trial. The radius on this is roughly the size of a tavern.

Comments: Darius, your writing is dazzling I have to say. The way you weave prior events into current ones is really something that helps weave a story, and in fact every post you make feels like a complete chapter unto itself. Darius' actions here were very in character for him, and I really enjoy how true to the character you remain in all your writing.

He showed good leadership and diplomatic acumen here, as the Founder of Hopetoun. Let's hope that the newcomers are a good addition to the settlement! Good job and enjoy the rewards!