A matter of failures (solo)

[Lyam]

Lyam had been on the dark for too long now. His conscious came back slowly and so did the disorientation. Where was he? Under him, he felt a cosy mattress, nothing to do with the hard rock of the mountain. His back ached more than ever. Far, so far away, Lyam heard Nadya’s voice and another he was not familiar with. It took him few more seconds to understand it was Gilmore’s, and that they were arguing. He was back in Zeltiva. He was only half aware when Gilmore finally went out with the flower he knew to be the rare one, but it was sufficient to understand how angry Nadya should be now. Lyam kept his eyes closed, hopping to gain some time before having to face his mentor. But Nadya had decided otherwise. “I know you’re back Lyam, don’t cheat.” He opened his eyes with apprehension. “Nadya I’m…” he tried to say, but his throat was dry and Nadya interrupted him. “It was not enough for you, Lyam? First you try to catch a dissident wizard, knowing perfectly well that you have absolutely no magic powers, and then you decide to go alone through the mountain to find a stupid flower? Have you really no sense of survival or are you just as fool as stupid? Is that a game for you, risking your life?” Lyam could not look at her straight in the eyes. “I’m sorry.” he whispered. “I hope you are!” Nadya exclaimed. “Seriously Lyam, what did you have in mind? What’s wrong with you?” She gave him some water to drink before he could answer: “You said you could cure anything with that flower… I think that if I could bring it to you…” Nadya understood at that very moment: Lyam had stupidly risked his life for her to be able to save other people. He had done this horrible journey for her to be proud of him. For her to forgive him of his precedent mistakes. “Well, after all you’re certainly both.” she released. “What?” “You are stupid and you have no sense of survival.” Lyam smiled despite his pain and fears. Nadya was angry, for sure, but she was also glad he came back. She was finally like the mother who had to tell his turbulent son. She turned and went to the big cauldron over the firewood and took some green-coloured water from it. Then she melted it with a strange paste and ordered Lyam not to move. The application of the paste on the wound was certainly more painful than the original ache, but Lyam did not dare even to groan. “You stupid… ” Nadya finally continued. “And you gave him the rare flower. Tell me, you made a mistake or was it on purpose?” “He saved my life.” Nadya shook her head but smiled. This kind of kindness could easily be taken for stupidity and ingenuousness. “At least you know now where to search…” she gazed at the wound and the infected skin around that was now covered with green paste. “Well boy… I cannot avoid a scar, I’m sorry, but you’ll recover. You will be able to stand up in about five days, and you will be able to move in a normal way with about ten days. But please, do not do anything stupid until a good month.”

[Cascade]

Adventurer's Loot Lyam's Loot : Lyam Skill XP Reward Climbing +2 Herbalism +1 Land Navigation +3 Unarmed Combat +2 Wilderness Survival +1 Lore: Attacked By Wolves Unable To Betray Your Savior A Rare Flower's Location Trying To Make Nadya Proud Items or Consequences: Item: A flower that can treat migraines. Consequences: Lyam has acquired a nasty back wound. As Nadya said, he will be able to stand up in about five days, will be able to move normally in about ten days, but it won't heal completely until a month after... and, a scar will stay. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to PM me!