CH. 04 - Written in Blood

[Daos]

"Yes, I can confirm that," Proclaimer Ward says.  "I was the one who chronicled Culley's drowning in the Awakening Song, after all."

"Well, that is mighty odd," Uncle Polder agrees.  "Not sure what to make of that."

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, if you haven't seen any crazed people with red eyes, then we should be on our way," Ha Yun says. She had a hypothesis as to what might be going on, but she didn't want to quite voice it yet because she was hoping she was wrong.

[sarcastiksh0rtee37]

As we leave, Vulpi will ask Proclaimer Ward: "Can you clarify what you can confirm? Was it a response to Ha Yun confirming Culley drowned or was it that there are stories of necromancy but the practice is frowned upon? If the latter, what does Culley's song have to do with necromancy?"

[Daos]

"The drowning of Culley," Proclaim Ward clarifies.  "I know that part of the song, as well as the other drownings that have occurred at that cursed lake.  But I know nothing in the song about any kind of necromancy."

[Bishgada]

Chispa coughs and intervene, "I think it is strange the woman would be happy to see a resurrected Cully. Either it is a different Cully or something is wrong with her. We should hurry, two weeks is long period. Can you guide us to that other pact? And also if you can scratch a map showing where other pacts are positioned in the Rattle we will check all posts for problems. Oh, I'm not sure if I got it right, but the lake Cully drowned in was also around here, no? If so, please mark it too." She asks Uncle Polder.

[Igordragonian]

Zencho just sigh and sip a drink.
"Will, small sitting with a cup of tea matter this much? Mmf. Fine. I guess we should get going then"

[Daos]

"Guide you?  No, I can't leave my farm on its own," Uncle Polder says to Chispa.  "Damned coyotes would be right back.  I don't have a map, but it's not far, I can give you directions.  And Cradlelace Lake?  No, it's much further in the Rattle.  Never been there myself, but it's about a day or so travel from here."

[HorizonsDream]

"It is possible that she found a way to raise the dead, which in turn might be affecting other people," Ha Yun says. "There is probably a price to pay for such high level magic."

[Bishgada]

"That's what I meant! Directions. Guidance. Same!" Chispa rumbles. "Paying a price? Well, I assume it depends on the god will, but I do not feel I pay any toll for worshipping and following Quetzalcoatl. The opposite! I feel joy with the creation around us and the sophistication of machinery, the beauty of art and the imagination of new ideas. Everything is forged by it's hands so perfectly. No, I don't feel any toll on myself." She looks at Ha-Yun and smile dreamishingly. "Do you feel like you have to pay a price?" She put a hand on Ha-Yun's shoulder and search her eyes in concern. "Anyway, if raising the dead involved in here, it's a real dreading task to deal with. I hope Kiana's soul is intact and that she has not turned evil by her own grief."

[HorizonsDream]

"There is an exchange between you and your God," Ha Yun says. "You give worship, and your God grants you powers," she points out. "With darker magic, the same happens. Though, that might not be what is going on here. It is just my guess at this point. I hope I'm wrong."

[Bishgada]

"Lets go and find out. And worshipping comes naturally and willingly when you feel the touch of god. Can't you tell?" Chispa answers Ha-Yun as they return to the wagon.

[HorizonsDream]

"I don't worship a God," Ha Yun says. "Most of my people don't worship Gods like many other people from other worlds do," she explains with a shrug. "So how could I feel the touch of a God when I don't worship a God?" she asks.

[Daos]

Lady Dre waters the horses and let them eat a bit of hay, then has them take the wagon back out to the road so the party can continue on their journey.

[Bishgada]

"You don't need to worship God to feel it's touch. You just know it! You feel that you are in the right place in the right time. Either to help someone, fix something, say the right words someone else had to hear." Chispa says, maybe answering Ha-Yun, maybe herself. "You follow your 'hunch' more times than not in our adventures. Haven't you noticed you are always correct, while others sometimes are correct and sometimes are wrong? Haven't you wondered about this special gift or *luck*?" She rolls her eyes with the last word. "Part of the puzzle falls *right* when you are around?" She smiles and whispers, 'touch of God'.

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm not always right though," Ha Yun says in amusement. "I mean, I do have a lot of hunches, but not all of them are right. Like, this hunch I have now could be completely wrong. Matter of fact, I hope I am wrong."