Spiritual Journey

[*Zadara]

For the first few moments, only the redheaded fey managed to project her form onto the realm of spirits. Zadara made somewhat of a show of “trying very hard.” It wasn’t too long before she, too, was able to accompany Gwynnithe on the Spirit Journey.

And that’s when everyone noticed them… inconsistencies in Zadara’s “ethereal form: Whereas Gwyn’s body adopted a ghostly, pale blue hue, Zadara’s was more a subdued gray. Whereas the fine detail on Gwyn’s features became ghostly and blurred, Zadara’s was sharp and discernable. Whereas Gwyn blended in with the surroundings, Zadara stuck out like a Slaad in Mechanus. The strange, beautiful woman casually dismissed the contrasts – perhaps she simply wasn’t “performing the ritual correctly…”

As the initial awkwardness regarding Zadara subsided, the women found themselves within a setting that escaped most adjectives. InitiallyÂ… they saw no one. Then glimmers of hope arose amongst those gathered as spirits began to respond. Hope did not linger. The spirits that answered were either barmy, utterly unhelpful, or in one odd case: that of another blood named Jach. GwynnitheÂ’s morale waned as the search continued. Disturbing encounters with those who had experienced particularly painful deaths began to tear away at the fragile edges of her sanity. The wails of the departed penetrated Gwynnithe, reverberating within, assaulting her very soul. Throughout the madness, there was no sign of the man she loved. Travel to this realm was profoundly taxing. She may well slip into madness if she remained for much longer.

The Spirit Walkers were very nearly ready to return to the plane of the living, and resume the Spirit Journey after resting their minds.

Then it happened.

At first, Gwyn wasn’t even sure the form was Jach’s – as the subtler physical nuances which distinguished him had been dulled much like everything else in this realm (save Zadara). A turbaned silhouette of pale blue – approximately Jach’s height and build- was casually haunting one of the various baked-goods stalls in the Bazaar. Even as he turned to face Gwyn, all that could be discerned was the figure’s basic facial features. The find was inconclusive … that is, until the figure opened his mouth. Two simple words rang out to shatter the dull silence like a beam of light tearing through the darkest crevices of the shadow-plane. Two simple words, blanketed those gathered with a sanguine wave of relief. Two simple words that Gwyn had not heard spoken in a long time:

“Hello Hello!”

[*Knightoftheradish]

A bereaved Gwyn looked on towards the apparition with swollen metaphysical eyes from tears she couldn't shed in this form. She took a deep breath to calm herself before responding. At first done with just the sweetest smile a girl could muster, but then made proper in words.

"Did you really think you could leave without saying goodbye? You're going to have to do better than death to get away from me silly."

She mused in her mind how to pose the questions that lay ahead and she did what made the most sense to an illogical fey girl and said everything all at once... Possibly even in one breath.

"Kalina wants to have a memorial soon and well there might be a petting zoo but... yeah... anyway! We're going to have a wake after by a campfire and tell stories and I was thinking maybe you could talk to people through me and they'd all say goodbye, or hello, or nice rack... Or well... Yeah. Also! ... Umm... There's a whole lot of people who want to know what happened... and there's vengeance to be had... Everyone is safe for the time being and we just generally miss you."

Exhale.

[*Knightoftheradish]

((*Bonks self* I completely forgot when I wrote this at 4 am that this gathering has already passed a number of days ago, please disregard this post.))

She asks as well...

"The crafting world has gone topsy turvey without you around Jach. Some of us are banding together to fix it.. Can we use the Sensbane name for the business?"

[*Zadara]

At first, Jach did not recognize the woman. Only after hearing her speak did he loose an ear-piercing squeal of joy. After greeting her as “GWYNNIEPOO!” he took the time to exchange pleasantries with Zadara. Soon thereafter, his joy subsided for the most part and transitioned into that of a mixture between wistful yearning and resignation.

“My darling, I have missed you and the others more than words can describe!!! I’ve wanted to say goodbye as well.

There is a brief pause as he swallowsÂ…hard.

“My soul… cannot be channeled into another form sweetie, ever. It was one of the terms of the Contract I signed.

His demeanor capriciously changes to one a stern yet gentle father might adopt when lecturing an unruly child:

“And as for vengeance, you must promise me that neither you nor anyone will search for my killers. He squints and shakes his head as if trying to suppress a terrible memory: “Doing so will not bring me back, and serve only to endanger you all.” Jach lifts thoughtful hand up to the barely discernable scruff on his chin and strokes it before continuing: I am certain that Ceszar has attempted to discourage you all from investigating my death. A scowl of profound distaste creeps onto his lips: ..and though the man is a coward, he is RIGHT in doing so! You all shall be safe as long as you do not. I-I am at peace here, dearie – that should be enough for you all. So…so PROMISE me that you will not seek vengeance, pumpkin. Jach’s voice trembles with a mighty sob, adding weight to his impassioned plea.


Zadara, meanwhile, silently watches the exchange with keen curiosity.


It appeared that Gwynnithe would not receive the answers she sought.

[*Knightoftheradish]

"I've missed you so much too... Everyone has. If it's really your wish that I don't pursue your killers... I can abide... but... won't you make an appearance at the wake? Something? Shake a table or two? Cover us in slime?"

She whines.

"Everyone wants to say goodbye somehow."

[*Zadara]

“Say, would any of you pumpkins have a diamond on hand?!”

The mercurial Merkhant could be going nowhere with this abrupt line of questioning - either that or he had made some profound realization, it was always difficult to tell.

“I do, Sir.”

Zadara’s delicate, tanned fingers reached down into an unseen pocket on her midsection and promptly produced a finely cut, thumbnail–sized gem. Like the rest of her, this gem had a grayscale quality to it, and did not “fit in” with the otherwise pale-blue, blurred atmosphere. Whereas a normal diamond would trap and refract light, adding to its brilliance - this one seemed to absorb rays as it was gray and dull – at least it was here on this plane. Without a thought, she handed Jach the gem.

“Thank you, sweetie!”

The turbaned fellow briefly examined the item, gave a careless shrug, then just as abruptly began murmuring arcane syllables while he had it clasped firmly around his left palm. A short while later, he opened his palm to reveal a brilliant yellow glow. There was a certain raw beauty to the diamond, akin to that of a newly-bloomed flower. The master-enchanter giggled merrily as he handed the item back to Zadara.

“W-what did you do, Sir?” The gray-eyed beauty exhaled softly upon receiving the item.

“Oooh you know, I just thought it’d be nice for you all to communicate with me once in a while!! Mhmm! Oh oh, and with THIS, you cuties can do so eeeevery day! “ He giggled. “ It’ll play my thoughts out loud when activated! I erm.. also imbued it in a manner so that it would project an illusion of me - just so you can look at something pretty tee hee!!! …He giggled some more. “Oh… erm…. I’m not sure if it’ll always work, or work correctly outside this plane though, honey.” He scratched his turban.

Zadara nodded, as if understanding, then immediately handed the glowing gem to Gwynnithe.

“This gem now belongs more to you than me, Gwyn.”

[*Knightoftheradish]

She takes the gem covetously before saying her goodbyes.

[*Zadara]

Jach then hugs Gwynnithe and offers her a wet smooch (well, it would have been wet were they not ethereal) on the forehead. Zadara, too, gets a hug from the affectionate fellow. Soon thereafter, the two women begin to make their way back to the plane of the living.

Recorder gems aside, Gwynniepoo knew that though though they may never be together again, they'll never...ever be apart.