Chapter 32: A Great Quest Begins

Lord Carlisle touched the mirror and recited the words with cold, firm stoicism. He meant them like a man who’d decided an oath and took them deathly serious, but certainly not from passion.

Follower conversion successful. 1 FE gained. 1 Daily FE gained (total: 14).

One more! One more and the next quest is complete. I wonder what level 2 will be like… still have to save the FE up, though. I’m a bit over 500 FE, and gains would be 330. Need quest completions still, probably.

He was taken aback by the effect of the REX, almost staggering as he moved away from the mirror, his hard face breaking a bit from the relief of tremendous tension. He moved to sit down on his bed. “That’s… some sensation…”

“It’s important to bestow an experience befitting the nature I intend to cultivate in myself and my followers. We all will… change together, my lord. What is in your heart, if true and right, I seek to make manifest in reality. I am the facilitator of your reflection upon it.”

He took that in, squinting and considering as he looked away, but there was no indication of conclusive belief. Just internal meditation, plainly evident on a face of angular lines and hard-boiled reason.

A tough sell. He has to come to his own conclusions.

“I will adjust that experience as a buff,” Samantha continued, “as needed. For you, I’ll likely have a blessing of martial prowess and protection ready to go for when trouble strikes. After this wears off, I will drop it on you so you can see it.”

Carlisle stood up at that point, giving her a nod. “It will be on the road, as it is time I left. Now, where are those mercenaries?”

“They’re arriving imminently. They’ll be rather exhausted… I hope you have extra horses.”

“Of course, my l-... what term would you go by? Your Grace; Majesty? I suppose you are higher than a queen, and you look the part…”

Sammy could not help but grin. “That’s correct: I am. It is Majesty, yes.” Not only does it create innate deference on some level, but I like it.

He made a brief, short bow. “As you say, Your Majesty. Yes, I’ll loan your mercs the horses.”

“Only loan?” It was teasing.

He gave her a sharp look with his head cocked. “Don’t push it, Your Majesty.” He made another short bow, then strode out swiftly.

Chuckling to herself, Sammy withdrew from the mirror. Definitely another unique one among her followers. Someone who could be a keen advisor, one that would actually embrace such a role.

As if she were somehow waiting for her to be done, Estara immediately connected to Sammy mentally with a call of her name, and she sounded quite trepidatious. “I’m sorry if I overstepped… but I spoke to Lord Carlisle about you, Your Majesty.”

“It’s quite alright, Estara. I’m impressed by your boldness and initiative. Well done. We have a success, after all.”

“I’m glad!” The trepidation was still there. “Um… Your Majesty… I… forgive me! I asked to go with them and-and Lord Carlisle approved!” And then the bracing for a scolding.

“What?! Why would you throw yourself into mortal danger?! Why would he agree?! Why-...” She cut herself off, at a loss, shocked, and angry.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty! I-I can talk to him again, we can change-”

“Just tell me why, please.”

After a pause to collect her thoughts and nerve, Estara sent, “I want to prove myself, Your Majesty. And I know how to ride, and I wouldn’t be expected to fight. I just… I offered knowing they’ll need volunteers to help with day-to-day things, as well as the inevitable treating of the wounded.”

“You can do that? Oh right. You helped in the infirmary…”

“Yes I can, Your Majesty! Miss Gladys has taught me for years. Sadly, she can’t go herself, and they need her here, besides… “

Sammy frowned, feeling the realization dawn that it made some sense for her to go. And why her lord agreed. If he was being particularly shrewd, it raised the stakes for Samantha as he would’ve known she was a Follower by the time she was asking.

This is Estara, here… I don’t want to risk her on this at all…

Sighing, shaking her head with her eyes closed, Sammy sent, “I’m sorry I… mind-yelled at you. I’m just afraid for you. I don’t want anything to happen to you on such a dangerous mission like this. But. It is your choice. I understand that you want to help.”

Estara seemed to feel warmth that Sammy cared so much, fighting through her distress. With sympathetic airs, she sent, “My goddess, that is true, but more than that, I want to advance and level and walk in the bravery you inspire in me. I want to make my own fate and boldly seize opportunity when it presents itself!”

“So you have, Nightsong. Alright. Okay. I accept and bless your decision. Okay. Just be careful, be safe. Don’t boldly get stabbed, please?”

With a bubble of excitement, she sent, “I will not, Your Majesty! Thank you!”

Sammy disconnected, feeling dread in her gut. There just wasn’t anyone she wanted to protect more than Estara. It was like her younger sister heading off to the front lines of a war. Just yesterday, all she was worried about was the road to a city and if she could secure the girl a side gig.

Dax and Merril soon arrived at the manor, received amiably thanks to the forewarning about it going out. They’d pushed well beyond what the endurance buff could handle by running hard, but it had also prevented them from falling out while doing so.

Lord Carlisle ordered a temporary rest and had them brought water and food while they discussed terms. Sammy sent a quick mental notice to the two runners that Carlisle was one of theirs now.

Panting and sweat-soaked, Dax sat on a wooden bench under a tree, pulling out her little wood-framed mirror shard and setting it on the far side armrest before leaning back and dumping water over her head from a clay jug. Merril was also leaning on the bench more or less flopped backward, eyes closed and sucking in breath.

Initially, there were others around, but the lord dismissed them so a private conversation could be had.

Arms crossed, Carlisle waited a while longer on them to drink and partake of the bread and cheese brought to them, but even as they were stuffing their faces, he said, “So you two are hard up enough for work to come running at the slightest scent of it, eh?”

Dax laughed, eyeing the gray-haired man and nodding, swallowing a piece of bread and washing it down with water. “Merril can sniff out gold for leagues and I can track trouble for days.”

“I… wish…” Merril muttered, around a big piece of cheese he was eating without even holding it.

“Look, let's keep this short and simple,” Carlisle said. “I’ll loan you the horses, and pay you seven silver a day. Two gold marks bonus if we rescue her. And no free wine. Rations otherwise provided.”

“Double it or we walk,” Merril said, trying to cross his arms like a tough guy as he devoured the cheese with enormous, loud chomps of his jaw. “And an extra wedge of cheese.”

Both of the others scowled at him, then Dax turned to Carlisle and said, “Nine silver, and three gold marks. And the bloody cheese. For old time's sake?” Dax smiled sweetly.

Lord Carlisle sighed like he was getting fleeced by relatives. “Fine. But the wine is still extra and limited for all mercenaries.”

Dax nodded with satisfied airs and called, “Deal!” while pouring water over her head again, soon blowing a spray of water out of her mouth. She also shook out her ridiculously matted red mop of hair, much to Merril’s growling annoyance. “Old Massick’s crew really fucked that up for everyone, even years later, didn’t he?”

Carlisle frowned in answer. “He’s dead, by the way. Bit off more than he could chew in the Graycrags. Drunk off his ass as usual.”

“No shit? Huh.” After a brief contemplative silence, she said, “Well, I’ll have to buy a draught and pour a little out for the shitbrain.”

He shrugged. “It’s your money, Dame Daxerris.”

“Not a knight anymore, my lord. Just Dax.”

“Mmn. Old habits.”

“You sure you have the coin after the robbery and damage?”

Carlisle barked a dismissive sound, almost a laugh. “I have two hidden, enchanted, underground safes. They didn’t even find my upstairs stash. Naturally, there’s naught but a few scraps and cobwebs in them, but it’ll do.”

He claimed the last utterly deadpan, and Dax burst out in laughter, shaking her head.

“There is no time to waste here,” Lord Carlisle continued, “so I’m going to get everyone ready and loaded up. You can stay here until I send someone over with your horses. Clear?”

Dax and Merril both saluted him, and after glancing once at the mirror to bow his head briefly, the lord strode away.

“Sooo,” Dax said as she squeezed water and sweat out of her hair, finally smiling at the mirror she knew Sammy was behind, “You snagged old Rockpile Carlisle, did you? I’m damned impressed.”

Sammy made sure her audio was practically a whisper in volume. “Rockpile Carlisle? Did you come up with that yourself?”

“I sure did.”

Voice cracking with humor, Sammy said, “I do think it was impressive, honestly. And somewhat lucky. But I had help from a brave servant girl. Who is coming with you, by the way. She conspired it herself…”

“Estara, I think it was? That doesn’t sound like a good idea. It’s going to be a nasty one. Then again, we might just fail the quest and get nowhere. I guess in that scenario, it’s a nice solid lesson in disappointment for her in life.”

“Please knock my socks off some more with your boundless optimism, Dax.”

“Do you even have socks?”

“Well no, not even stockings- that’s beside the point, Dax! Look, would you just watch out for her? It’s really important to me that she not get hurt on this mission. And perhaps help figure the best way she can defend herself, then teach her.”

“Will do, boss lady.”

Merril leaned forward so he could gaze over at the mirror. “I will see about her as well. Not much sense in having some silly, useless git be at the maximum of useless on this kind of mission. She sounds quite silly, anyway, but we’ll see. I hope she isn’t a complete idiot.”

Sammy appeared in the mirror, briefly making sure she wasn’t seen by passersby, just to adequately glare at Merril. “Goddamn it, Merril, do not bully one of my Anointed! It’s not appropriate!”

Merril’s ears twitched and piqued as he leaned in, cat eyes dilating with interest. “What is that? What does it do? Does it give more power? Stronger buffs? How do you get it?”

‘Tsking’ loudly, Sammy shook her head at him. “Are you serious? Just forget it, Merril — it's not for you. It requires additional faith and dedication. A special, personal vow. That sort of thing.”

Merril’s eyes squinted in consideration. “Is that it? And I’m not really bound or anything? Well, at that point, why not? I can probably come up with someth-”

“I said just forget it!” After taking a deep breath, she turned to Dax to say, “I’m withdrawing, as I’m sure you can handle it from here. Safe travels. Note that I will continue the endurance buff for a while longer, but we need to wean off of it eventually because of the cooldown issue. I want the buff free for emergencies.”

“Makes sense, Your Majesty. Until next time.”

Withdrawing and pausing for a few moments, she was vaguely still aware of Dax trying to coach Merril about things, but it quickly devolved into their typical bickering.

It was just an annoyance with Merril’s attitude that got to her, not to mention feeling the recent stress related to Estara. As she sat and thought about it, she was conflicted about what the Devout aspect meant. Nothing? Wasn’t it technically just a no-brainer if they were willing?

Am I just buying too much into my own bullshit? Is it bullshit? Well, sometimes it is, but maybe not complete bullshit. I actually do want to help and inspire people to be great.

Reaching out to a Merril that had seemed to walk off and sit away from Dax, Sammy sent, “Anointed is my current word — possibly subject to change — for Devout, which is a quality grade of Followers. It has small benefits, like improving this link I think, and provides me with more daily energy.”

Annoyed himself, he seemed like he was holding back from being pissy with her. “Again, if there’s no drawback, then why not? Don’t give me some ‘worthiness’ crap.”

“Fine. Later, though.” She disconnected, sensing that had pretty much satisfied him. She didn’t particularly relish the same sort of conversation with him about Ordainment. Would he want that too? It wasn’t clear.

As the party soon gathered their horses to head out, Sammy related to Lord Carlisle what she could about her mirror tracking and the relative ‘heading.’ He took the first mental communication between them mostly in stride, despite an initial shock. He just responded with, “I know where they’re going, Your Majesty, but keep updating me.”

The mission — the quest — was soon off, somewhat grim with all the death involved. The challenge inherent in what was ahead was seemingly understood by all.

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Samantha, Virgin Goddess of Mirrors
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Goddess Level 1; Fledgling Deity

Domains (1/2): Mirrors
Faith Energy: 508/1000
FE (Illusion): 16
Followers: 9 (Daily FE Gain: 13 [14])

Brute: 0
Rogue: 0
Wizard: 0 [8/10]
Bard: 0

Special Skills: First Aid, Tarot Reading, Priestly Ordination

Special Traits: Token User, Immortal, Demiplane Domain, Conceptual Body, Fueled By Faith

Powers: Faith Energy Utilization, Mirror Sense (at will), Mirror Communication (at will)

Status: Token User Promotional Bonus (2/30), New Deity Grace Period (2/7)