Esterson Session 22
General Summary
What makes life so worth living?
Downtime in Esterson
Sidresk’s Visit
During the night, the party is visited by Sidresk. The aim? To taunt some while listening to the woes of others.
Aaron’s Visit
For Aaron’s EyesThe air becomes cold, color begins to drain. The presence of a shadow watches you from afar, “Inquisitor Sergeant, is it? I worry the light has begun to fade,” it steps forward, “What you hold dear is at stake. Ridgewater and… the inferiin…? A scandal to have a bastard child amongst the Revered. An inferiin no less. Such Households similar to the Fell: a place where love is a facade and any pleasantries are overshadowed by the cruel demands of life.”
The shadow sighs, “To think the possibility of a child so far off in this world? You will wilt before he may even become aware of who you even are. A poor thing born as a mutt and a symbol of impurity to those households. I know of your righteous standing. For if you will not let me listen to your woes, I’m sure he will…”
Altor’s Visit
The air becomes chilly as a sorrowful being stands across from you as you lie back on the couch. It leans forward to you, “Altor, I can hear you loud as ever! Your bloodline grows ever more cold! But… Is this what you want? The allure and awakening of that Fell power will only draw you away from Morrovan!”
The entity steps forward, you see it as that terrible Bleak overlord! “You may rightfully question why I take such interest. In the end, consider it my own warning. I know Fell power and what it does to mortals. With time, you will feel no joy or hope. The only means of keeping back the pain that pulls at you is to be numbed to it all! To feel nothing would take away so many splendors!”
Sidresk steps closer, “I ask you this very important question to you. What makes life so worthwhile to live? Consider it greatly when the joy is taken away.”
Darwin’s Visit
For Darwin’s EyesDarwin’s Visit
In the darkness as the air grows cold and desolate, a shadow glides slowly in view. It looks to you as it holds Johan’s old flask, dangling it by the cord, “You must miss him to keep such an item, your Reverence,” it then places it on the nightstand next to you. The entity’s empty cowl turns to you, “It must have hurt quite a bit when he departed. I know such pains well and, perhaps, we needn’t be enemies, you and I. One of the hardest things you poor members of the clergy endure is to put on such tough facades longer than you would like.”
The shadow then sits down at your bedside, “So many followers look to you for strength that the arms grow weary as so many people need you. So who are you to turn to when you need strength? Caels? They tell you everything will be fine! You know they are to say such things by design. We both know your troubles are dire. That is why I step in to hear it as it truly is.”
The empty cowl of the shadow turns to you, leaning closer, “Tell me, your Reverence, I may be one of the most detestable creatures out there but I have my own interests outside of Maledict. I wish to know something. What makes life so worth living?”
Maedhros’ Visit
For Maedhros’ EyesIt all goes back to Maedhros meeting with Queen Dundragon, alone in the dining hall. The air feels itchy and cold.
Maedhros, you turn to her, "Is this a position you would like to have?" you ask.
She tilts her head a bit, looking to the floor. As she thinks, a grayness sets into the scenery. Walls, floors, and even the light through the windows just provides sight. As Amelia looks up, she doesn't see Maedhros. She instead sees a council of the five Dukes and Duchesses of Ardentry.
Duke Wester speaks up, glaring at Shakar, "She is a Dundragon, taught at Civarion, and even the caels support her. What more do we need to provide her the crown? All the more sooner to get rid of that terrible regent!"
Shakar shakes his head, "She barely had any time to give real delegation. She is far from ready for a position such as this!"
Adresille nods, "Precisely. I worry she would be far too idealistic during her reign. Caels and the Auxiliary cannot be sent to solve every problem after all."
Daralna chuckles, "With experience, Amelia will learn! So long as she sticks with the wishes of her people of course. All of us have learned the hard way that governing is far from easy."
Tekeree stands up, "Agreed. The people need a familiar name to cheer on and who better than a qualified Dundragon? I support her as the new Queen."
Shakar groans, "Fine. She better learn fast or I will be the first to call on a regent to take her place."
One by one and with hands up in unanimous support, the leaders of Ardentry appointed Amelia as queen.
The image comes back to the dining hall, with gray still being the dominant color palette. Amelia shrugs at Maedhros' initial question, "It's an honorable position I wish to uphold." With time, Amelia stands up after the end and walks away with Emulon in tow.
A familiar voice of Sidresk creeps, "The weight of a kingdom and the doubt of those close to her. Perhaps worst of all is that a cael will always tell you everything is alright. How could that be, she'll wonder. Shakar's voice is a legion of many, Tekeree can disarm a hostile with a crack of a joke, and Adresille's cunning can pinpoint the integrity for a plan of action! She is but a fraud. A rich simpleton who needs babysitting from a soft man who coddles her. I know she strains and slowly cracks for the easy life again because I listen. To step down from a family tradition in disgrace. With time, that shame will build. The pain of it may become grave enough that, with her being faded into obscurity, it will make it all the more easier to follow her father's footsteps... Because sometimes the worst tragedies are ones that I do not even orchestrate by my hand.”
You see a lone shadow leering at you, “Tell me, for I wish to know in a grand cosmos rife with pain and turmoil, I inquire what makes life so worth living?”
Recovery from the Dreams
In the morning, many were discomforted from what they endured during the night.
Darwin reassured Antharine that they would better incorporate Anthell into activities or think of something to help him better.
Maedhros invited Anthell to a proper duel using fists. Anthell won fairly.
Altor also tried coordinating with Zalleen about how she stays so optimistic. In truth, her attention span is so short that she doesn’t really dwell on being sad.
House Sarter’s Inquiry
Rolem Sarter, Elema’s brother back in Dakarran, came by in hopes of bringing Elema back home. After a tense back and forth of discussing opportunities Elema missed out on as a handmaiden, she eventually renounced her position within House Sarter. Tense, she went to Maedhros in hopes that he would have a plan and that they could meet with Albert Mayhew soon.
Aaron’s own Inquiry
After those of House Sarter left, Aaron asked Elema about the possibility of him looking for a child he was unaware of. Elema assured him that once she had the resources, she would be fine to ensure that the half-drow would be safe from inferiin households if possible.
Character(s) interacted with
- Anthell
- Elema
- Rolem Sarter
- Antharine
Sidresk Visits the Others in the Hall
Antharine
The shadow paces around Antharine as she sits on the floor. “Oh dearest aetheriin. Because that is what you are in the end. After all, the great flaw caels have is that they do not know despair. They would sooner overlook the problem and force a smile than confront the inner turmoil. But I know what it is like to be in a bleak situation.”
“What are you here for?” Antharine asks.
”To listen as you do not. Because I hear how helpless you are to see how your brother fairs. He believes as those of Alkaran’s following does: A stain in your perfect image. You are a light that shines down to reveal so many flaws, don’t you see? Imagine your wedding portrait! Everyone is so full of hope and splendor and there he sits, looking on with a meager smile as if he was never meant to be there.”
Antharine is clearly infuriated, “He is and you know it!”
“Is he? As you bask in the light, your friends will either forget he was ever there, or worse, they do recall him. They turn to him, wondering what he has done in turn. That is the suffering you do not hear! For in his darkest moments, I wonder, what would you tell him that makes life so worth living?”
”All life is sacred! Our burden is to prepare the next generation for what is to come! You leave him alone, creature! Go back to the shadows!”
”My dear, my friends, like your brother, dwell in shadows. I would hope there never comes a day we become closer than your bond is to him…” The shadow then slinks away.
Anthell
As Anthell sits and tries meditating, he squirms at the presence of a leering shadow, "Go away..." he pleads.
"But Anthell, why would I? Who else listens better than I could? Do you think your sister is? Her gaze is drawn away from you and toward who she holds dearest instead. Because you know it's not you in the end. When time comes, who will you be with? Living with her and her lover would be outlandish."
"I can stay with the Monastery when the time comes..."
"There is no faith in that answer, is there? My dear boy, you can always come to my aid to escape it all. The weight of being an equal to your sister, the weight of being with the Candescent, and the weight of life nonetheless. Your actions, after all, don't convince me that you'll go up into Haven to see your lost master in the end. So, you can always come to me to escape it all. This drudgery is taking its toll on you ever so slowly."
Anthell winces, "I will never give you that satisfaction..."
"Still resilient to the last. I must wonder, what makes life so worth living for one such as you?"
He's silent at first, hesitating an answer, "I'll find one some day..."
The shadow puts a hand on his shoulder, "I would hope. For an elf, you have time to find one but also plenty to be proven wrong. With current patterns, I fear for you wellbeing most of all... My offer still stands to join me some day."
The shadow then slinks away, heading off into the darkness.
Elema
The shadow looms over her as she sits alone on the couch. The room turns a dull gray, “Elema… A poor creature running from a poor circumstance that has wound up in another poor dilemma.”
”I know what you are, Sidresk. Leave me be!”
”Why would I? Your family is either relieved to be rid of you or miss your talents. Now you trust Ardentians? My poor Lady Sarter, you will have to relearn so much! An ultimatum approaches you cannot run from. You can always run to me when things look so bleak…”
”Never! I know the stories!”
”And are they so terrible? What makes a terrible fate such as yours, Levander’s, and even possibly Dent’s under my care have changed? It would be no different in the end. After all, why endure it? What makes all this suffering so worthwhile to live life?”
”Because I have vision, unlike your followers, Verita, Desideri, all of them! Maledict is nothing more but a club for those who were dealt a bad hand in life or are greedy psychopaths who go into euphoria just pushing their power onto others! At least with the Reverie there is the chance of helping those in need!”
”And you, Elema, are one in great need. I hope you make the right choice, because you can always escape your fate through my hand…” The shadow then slinks away.
Evantil
Evantil works in the planning room. With time, when he looks up, he gasps seeing the decor change to symbols of Renaki and footsteps roaming outside the halls. When he looks down, he’s wearing the signature robes of University students. He gasps as everything goes gray.
”Evantil…” a voice slinks about.
”I know what you are, monster! You cannot convince me otherwise!”
”Then why so frightened by being back at Renaki University? I thought you missed the silence.”
”I recall why. You made sure I was never alone.”
”You chose to leave your friends behind for your career! Who else was supposed to keep you company?”
”Shut it!”
”Like you shut doors on so many others. When the regrets piled up so high, only then did you try reaching out to your peers. But they peer reviewed your social life and found you unrecognizable from the original material they knew! That’s why you abandoned the University after all! Can you even say you’re happier with the Savvy Strays?”
”As if you would know…”
”Because I do. You and I are well acquainted after all with so many hours shut in your dorm room. Is it any wonder why you dread such small spaces? You remember our heart-to-hearts on those days you longed to be with another person.”
”There is nothing to speak of!”
”Shut me out all you want, my friend, but there is something that has always intrigued me as we mingled together. Why do you believe life is worth living? You’ve spent so many years in that cramped room of yours after all…”
”Because people need me! You saw how the Strays disbanded without me!”
”I wish I could believe you. For you see, you said the key word: need. Whatever happens when they don’t need you? You become forgotten, unwanted! It’s why you shied away in your dorm because no one needed to be tutored. No one needed your help. Those you saved before will forget you, my friend. But I? How could I ever forget that we spent the most time together overall?” There’s a feeling of the voice then slinking away, awaiting the time they have their next meetup…
