Solo Fulfilling Promises And Breaking Curses III

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A lawless town of anarchists, built on the ruins of an ancient mining city. [Lore]

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Fulfilling Promises And Breaking Curses III

Postby Kelski on December 1st, 2018, 4:38 am

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Timestamp: 22nd of Fall, 518 A.V.





Kelski squinted through the jeweler’s loupe, studying the puzzle ring. At first it looked like a mass of woven wire intertwined with random loops and twists that ended up weaving back over itself until it looked like a woven basket made of metal formed by a master weaver. Kelski blinked, and moved the loupe to her special third eye, the one that Leth had granted her. She peered further and suddenly froze. The pattern became clear then, in that moment, and she hissed slightly letting her breath out.

She could feel the man under her hands who wore the collar tensing.

“What is it?” He asked, cautiously, as if he were afraid to hope.

“It’s a beautiful piece of masterwork. And I see the trick of it.” She said suddenly. Slipping the loupe from her eye, she moved away from him, dug around in her toolbox and pulled out wire cutters. “You’ve been held soundly in place for over two hundred years by a single thin wire.” Kelski said mater-of-factly. Then she slipped the loupe back into her eye and reached into the woven wire with the smallest most delicate pair of wire cutters ever. They opened their jaws even as Gilthas and Kelski took a singular deep breath together. Then they bit down hard, driven by Kelski’s grip on their handles. And with one solid bite, they cut through the wire.

The intricate weaving fell apart in Kelski’s hands, and the puzzle ring snapped open, releasing the collar from around Gilthas’ neck. She expected him to surge away from her, to leap up, to do anything. Instead, he blinked, and tears began to fall. He lifted his hand to the collar that Kelski gently pried off his neck, and handed to him. The chain attached to it which stretched off into the distance suddenly flared and was gone in a bright flash of sparkling dust, as if it were pure tasked djed that had been suddenly released from its task.

“By the Gods, Kelski…. Thank you.” He said softly, setting the accursed thing down on the work table and reaching up to touch his neck. Kelski expected him to hurl the thing away, maybe toss it into the fire crackling across the workroom. But instead, he seemed to hold it in some high regard.

He was painfully thin. She could count every vertebra in his neck. Gilthas was almost monstrous in his emaciation. Studying him now, it was hard to equate him to the man he’d described who’d thrown away the love of a Champion of Semele. After hearing the full tale, she was still a bit lost in the past even as her future had snuck into her awareness and sat quietly before her.

“Why aren’t you tossing it into the fire? I once wore one and when it was opened and I was freed I gifted it to someone who wanted to see me free.” She said, staring at the collar. Gilthas turned, and joined her in its study.

“Honestly, it made me who I am today. How could I throw away something that is so much part of my past? I’ve wore it most of my life, Kelski. For all the important parts of it, anyhow, perhaps besides my fall from Leth’s realm.” He said softly, then reached up with a bony arm to rub his neck.

Kelski studied his features, undecided if he was attractive or not. “You should eat. You look like a Skeleton with fresh skin stretched over it.” The Kelvic said candidly causing Gilthas to laugh.
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They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


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Kelski
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Fulfilling Promises And Breaking Curses III

Postby Kelski on March 6th, 2019, 12:26 am

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“Actually, that’s not a bad idea. But I need your help for it.” He said gently, and turned to look at her. His eyes were beautiful, compelling, and Kelski felt genuine in his need. “Will you carry me to the surface and put me in the moonlight? I haven’t been in Leth’s light since Syna cursed me… and that is what ails me.” He said softly, looking thoughtfully. “I… have a bit of energy, enough for a simple spell. Give me a moment.” He said gently, concentrating. Then slowly, painfully slowly, his body started to warp. It twisted and contorted, even folding in on itself, contracting until he literally shrank into his clothing. A tiny little white mouse, only skin and bones like Gilthas had been, carefully stepped out of the clothing pile left where Gilthas had stood.

Kelski suddenly understood then how it was she was supposed to get Gilthas to the surface. For she’d been about to protest his size verses her size and how she couldn’t carry him. But instead, she reached down and held out her hand. She left everything she had in his workshop, only taking a small ombre scarf out of her backpack. She wrapped it around her neck and knotted it. Then once the tiny mouse stepped onto her hand, she reached up and tucked him into the scarf where he could securely ride and hold on without falling, leaving her the use of her hands.

“I’m not good at climbing, but I’ll do my best. I’ve only began to learn.” Nightstalkers had no issues in low light or places shadows were cast. But in total darkness there were no shadows to step through or hide within. So, she had to do everything the old-fashioned way. Kelski gathered her gear, put on her harness, and slung her rope over her shoulder careful of the mouse’s sling. Lighting her lantern from his fire, Kelski held it aloft in one hand. Then she turned back around and made her way out of his workshop and into the stone cavern once more.

The Kelvic held her lantern high and began walking as fast as she could back the way she came. It was a treacherous pathway, for certain, and before long she had to strap on her harness and start an ascent to the top of the first big cliff she’d repelled down. Climbing slowly, she put her knowledge to work as she paused to drive in anchors and tie herself off as she moved slowly up the wall. “This would be…. So much easier… if this wall just had stairs…” She panted, carefully using the rope to walk herself up the wall where she could. Kelski had no inherent fears of heights, but wrapped in clothing and a harness she had no access to wings. Nor did she have access to infravision or night vision.

“If I ever learn morphing as good as you do, Gilthas, I am going to first learn how to adjust my eyes to night vision and infravision like those Akalak have. I can see just fine as a Nightstalker, but actually flying through something like this – which would be easy as an eagle – is very hard just being able to see into the shadows. You need more.” She said quietly, getting to the top of the cliff and leaving her rope there. From where she was, it was an easy jog to the surface near where The Midnight Gem was located. Kelski came out from the crumbling basement of a collapsed building, and moved through the streets of Baroque Bay. It didn’t take her long to decide she wasn’t putting the little mouse down in the moonlight in the middle of the streets of Sunberth.

That just didn’t seem right.
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They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


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Fulfilling Promises And Breaking Curses III

Postby Kelski on March 6th, 2019, 12:27 am

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Instead, she decided to take him to the dunes above the beach and wait for the clouds to open up. Keeping her stride smooth, Kelski ran through the streets in an easy collected jog. She took him out of all the ruined filth of Sunberth… out past the wreckage of humanity and into the wilds where the wind caressed the tall grass and the clouds were broiling enough that sooner or later they’d see the light of Leth.

When she found a quiet secluded spot in a dip in the dunes, Kelski slowed her headlong jog and settled on the side of a dune deep in the tall grass though a place where they could see the moon kissed waves. Then she reached into the scarf where Gilthas was clinging on for dear life, and gently cupped her hands for the mouse to jump into. Then she lowered him to the ground. He looked around, sniffing, his whiskers twitching and circled as if looking for something.

Then the clouds parted, as if somehow scheduled to do so, and both Kelski and Gilthas were bathed in moonlight. Later, Kelski would be hard pressed to describe it. But it was truly as if Gilthas absorbed the moonlight. He actually moaned as a mouse and threw himself on the sand, rolling in the moonlight, even as Kelski watched his emaciated little body began to swell up. Muscles fleshed out, bones receded into flesh that she swore hadn’t been there a few moments ago, and the mage’s entire body filled out as if he hadn’t been starved.

It only took moments.

And then he was a man again. With him there was no dissolution of form in a swirl of colored tiny little firefly lights. Instead, his transformation was smoother, almost elegant as his bones grew, his form morphed, and he became a man. He was crying again, and oh so incredibly beautiful.

Kelski had never seen anyone so beautiful. His face was chiseled as if a master sculpter had put tools to marble and coaxed him out of the stone with only a hammer and chisel. Graceful horns swept away from his brow and curled protectively around his ears, made of some luminous translucent material that seemed to glow with an inner light. Long full hair swept off his head and across his shoulders. His skin wasn’t white, not as she thought it would be due to the mouse’s color. Instead it was a luminous golden tan. It seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. He had a smattering of hair on his chin, and jaw as if he’d let it grow. His hair was dark, brown gone black in the dark and gently wavy, just brushing his shoulders. He had a strong forehead, and thick full lips. His eyes were the same luminous glow as his horns.

Furrowing his brow, Gil reached out and ran his hands across his face and horns. “I… feel less dead suddenly.” He said, the corner of his eyes crinkling revealing laugh lines and signs of a frequent smile. “The only way to starve an Eth is to keep them from the sunlight and moonlight. I am afraid its been ages since I’ve felt… full.” He said, reaching his hands out and cupping the moonlight as if he were standing under a waterfall and cupping water to drink.

Perhaps he could, thought Kelski, smiling amusingly at him.
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They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


Painted Sky Jewelry (The Wildlands) | Crossroads Jewelry (The Outpost)
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Kelski
Freedom is earned. Fight for it.
 
Posts: 1598
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Joined roleplay: July 3rd, 2014, 11:08 pm
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Fulfilling Promises And Breaking Curses III

Postby Kelski on March 6th, 2019, 12:27 am

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“I bet you didn’t think you’d be here this morning when you woke up.” She quirpped. Gilthas laughed and shook his head.

“My kind don’t sleep either. That makes a life sentence below ground even worse.” He said, rising and stretching. Kelski noticed then that he didn’t have a stitch of clothing on. “Come on… I’ll show you where I live and borrow some of Ebon’s clothing. Then we can walk the city if you’d like.” She said gently, not sure what he wanted to be doing now that he was free. They both rose slowly, Gilthas now suddenly looking around curiously. The ruined city of Sunberth was at their backs, the sea was at their front, and stretching out to either side of them were tall grasses of the dunes that separated the beach from the city. Distant docks glittered with bobbing lights that indicated occupied boats.

Gilthas took a long time to study their surroundings before he finally turned and turned his scrutiny on her. “You are taking this awfully well.” He admitted curiously, wondering why it was that Kelski was taking such a calm approach to meeting someone new underground – magical at that – and seeing his transformation in such a short time. The curse. The story. The truth of it all and his ultimate freedom. It was a lot going on, but she believed every bit of it. Her life had been made up of things that hit notes of fantastical and yet were true. This definitely fit into one of those times.

Lifting her hand she pointed up the dunes towards The Mudway to the Midnight Gem glittering in the dark gloom. “We are heading there…” She said abruptly and offered him a smile. “Do you need a ride or are you feeling better now?” She asked, arching a brow.

Kelski was still processing so much… Gilthas was a lot all in one evening. Finding his workshop and then escorting him to moonlight had been a lot. Showing him her home… was going to be a lot too. Kelski took one step forward, then another, and Gilthas moved beside her. He was comfortable in his nakedness, and for that Kelski was glad. They strode side by side, sometimes across solid patches of tall grass, and sometimes in sand. They had to climb small dunes as well, since there was no path. Kelski figured it would be easier to move down to the beach or up to the street, but with Gilthas being unclothed, they were better were they were.

They both took two steps forward, when the sand beneath their feet began to shift. Kelski held out her harms, because the sudden shift in sand gave her vertigo… and for a moment she couldn’t tell if she was actually sliding or standing still and just the sand around her was sliding. When she lifted her arms, she realized she was on solid ground, and the sand around her was streaming by her. She froze, then slowly turned to see where all the sand was streaming too. Gilthas did the same and at about the same time they both gasp.

Rising out of the sand was a woman… a beautiful woman… made seemingly all of sand. Wild strands of sand streamed out from her head like woven locks of a braided hair. It swirled around her, almost a separate living thing, even as the sand condensed more on her face and began to form actual features.

Beautiful. Breathtaking. Kelski had no words for her. And rather than run or address the woman of sand, the Kelvic gently dropped to her knees. “My Lady” She said in a deferential greeting. Kelski had seen a few before, but never this one. However, she was absolutely certain this was a Goddess. And when the woman opened her eyes, Kelski was certain of it. Instead of clear orbs of blue or green, she had gemstones that were cut to look exactly like eyes. They even moved and gleamed like eyes.

The Kelvic was mesmerized.
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They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


Painted Sky Jewelry (The Wildlands) | Crossroads Jewelry (The Outpost)
User avatar
Kelski
Freedom is earned. Fight for it.
 
Posts: 1598
Words: 2015452
Joined roleplay: July 3rd, 2014, 11:08 pm
Location: The Wildlands of Sylira & The Empyreal Demesne
Race: Kelvic
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Medals: 11
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
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Fulfilling Promises And Breaking Curses III

Postby Kelski on March 6th, 2019, 12:28 am

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Gilthas bowed low. “My Lady Semele… I… I do not know what to say. I am free. This woman generously freed me. Her name is Kelski. She found me in the dark and released me. She is the master jeweler you required. Have… have you come to re-harness me?” He asked solemnly as if he truthfully expected it.

The Goddess laughed lightly, studying Gilthas intently and then finally shook her head. “No Gilthas. You long ago learned your lesson. You are not the man you were when I bound you within my earth. Dwelling within my form changed you. I could see it daily. You are honest now, far more than ever before, about your strengths, weaknesses and your ethics have had a complete rehaul. I dare say you are even trustworthy with this Kelvic child.” Semele said gently and reached out and touched Gilthas.

“There is truly no price that can be paid to make up for Zaraka’s sacrifice. And we both know you are the root cause of it. But you’ve been through enough, far more than most mortals or even immortals go through. I am content to unleash you on the world again, or at least stand back and let this jeweler do so. You owe her a great debt now, Gilthas. You owe her teaching and guidance and direction in a world that has no place for her kind.” She said simply, and then quietly turned to Kelski.

She reached out and touched Kelski’s forehead, musing over the third eye. “Ah. Leth’s work. No wonder you got my puzzle ring open so fast. He gives great insight and even bigger gifts to those that take notice. Rise, Kelski, and give me your hand, little jeweler.” Semele said.

Kelski immediately did so. And without preamble, Semele pressed her thumb made of sand into Kelski’s hand – right in the center of the back of it. When she released the hand, a beautiful pale opal shimmering with a multitude of colors slowly rose from Kelski’s flesh. It looked like it was embedded in the back of her palm and growing off … something… beneath.

The Kelvic stared at it, speechless.
She expected the thing to burn, to hurt, to feel unnatural or add some sort of odd pressure. Instead, it was somewhat comforting. She held one hand cradled in the other and ran her fingers across the back of the affected hand. It was hard to wrap her mind around, to pull herself out of the moment and to look sideways at it. But her brain wasn’t cooperating. Kelski needed to ground in the here and now. She was trying but her ears still rang with the sound of the rushing water from Zakara’s tale. With the Goddess standing here, it seemed ever so much more real.

Gods.

Some people existed. And some people truly lived. She understood so much more now. And in a way it haunted her. The Kelvic lifted her eyes to the Goddess and the quicksilver of her irises burned. “May I ask, my lady, what this is?” She said, barely able to speak.

The Goddess smiled. “It is my mark. And my thanks for freeing this mage. He’s dwelled too long in the dark. It’s time he rejoined the world and dwelled in the light as well. There is a lot to do, and so much to set to rights. He has his work cut out for him and you will help him.” Semele said gently, then looked around.

“But here… here is not the right place to do it. Here… civilization dies. Very soon… oh so soon.. within half of a year I would say… you will know where you need to be. Don’t hesitate. And you two… stick together. Claim like souls and invite them into your circles. Dedicated individuals can move mountains, but dedicated groups can move the very world. My gifts will help you… both of you.” She said firmly. And Kelski glanced over, suddenly seeing that Gilthas had his own mark as well.

“What do you want us to do?” Kelski asked bluntly, curious and somewhat Semele would say.


Image
They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


Painted Sky Jewelry (The Wildlands) | Crossroads Jewelry (The Outpost)
User avatar
Kelski
Freedom is earned. Fight for it.
 
Posts: 1598
Words: 2015452
Joined roleplay: July 3rd, 2014, 11:08 pm
Location: The Wildlands of Sylira & The Empyreal Demesne
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 11
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
Mizahar Grader (1) Trailblazer (1)
Overlored (1) Donor (1)
One Thousand Posts! (1) One Million Words! (1)
Sunberth Seasonal Challenge (1) Power Fork (1)

Fulfilling Promises And Breaking Curses III

Postby Kelski on May 5th, 2019, 3:02 pm

G R A D E S
Kelski

Strategy +2, Tactics +2, Logic +1, Morphing +1, Climbing +1, Endurance +1, Running +1, Investigatinon +1

Jewelcrafting: Breaking A Goddess’ Metal Knotwork Construct, Morphing: Witnessing A Mage To Mouse Transformation, Eth: Require Moonlight For Health, Gilthas: Morpher, Eth: Starve Them By Keeping Them From Sunlight Or Moonlight, Eth: Don’t Sleep, Semele: Appearance & Mannerism, Gilthas: Owes Kelski A Debt, Third Eye: Gift of Leth, Semele: Being Marked By Her, Semele’s Mark: Pale Opal Center Of Her Hand, Interrogation: Questioning A Goddess, Semele: Receiving Instructions From A Goddess, Semele: Being Tasked By A Goddess,




PM me with questions or concerns.
Image
They laugh at me because I am different.
I laugh at them because they are all the same.


Painted Sky Jewelry (The Wildlands) | Crossroads Jewelry (The Outpost)
User avatar
Kelski
Freedom is earned. Fight for it.
 
Posts: 1598
Words: 2015452
Joined roleplay: July 3rd, 2014, 11:08 pm
Location: The Wildlands of Sylira & The Empyreal Demesne
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 11
Featured Character (1) Featured Thread (2)
Mizahar Grader (1) Trailblazer (1)
Overlored (1) Donor (1)
One Thousand Posts! (1) One Million Words! (1)
Sunberth Seasonal Challenge (1) Power Fork (1)


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