Yonara

Last night, I had asked Mister Malopher to wake me for his watch shift. He agreed, and so I sat beside him at the camp’s fire after being awakened. I wished for him to know that while I do not experience the same manner of prejudice that he does on a daily basis, I nonetheless have experienced a similar level of implicit hatred. I wanted him to know that I am willing to hear his troubles. We spoke a bit about such things before he pointedly asked if that was all I had wanted to speak about. He is very astute, and I am consistently impressed with the ease with which he seems able to read me.
 
I shared with him a brief summary of my birth and subsequent life with the man my mother married. And then I showed him the current state of my body so that he might better understand my position. Though my vestments conceal much, I knew that I could still convey the situation without being forced to put it to words, or worse, being required to disrobe. Mister Malopher was quick to understand what it was I was attempting to communicate, and he asked if anyone else in our group had been made aware. I informed him that Miss Avalissa noticed in Alluminos and that I suspected that Captain Siesko was also aware. Mister Malopher offered me his pipe so that I might calm my nerves.
 
I accepted the kind gesture, but choked on the smoke. I know not how he uses the device, or what he fills it with, but it does seem to help him keep calm. He took the pipe back from me and shared some of the intimate details of his own past. Details which I shall not recount, but which have given me a window into the life Mister Malopher had led in his youth. Afterwards he told me that I ought to go back to sleep. Though I quite enjoyed the quiet serenity of the moment, he was correct. Furthermore, he was awake in order to protect us all from potential threats and not to keep my company. I returned to my bedroll, a bit more at ease knowing that at least one of my companions is more aware of my struggles.
 
I awoke this morning to a Sending from Sensei. It feels as though it has been months since I have felt her presence upon me, yet it has been less than two weeks’ time. As I worked through my response, Priestess Sophia approached. So consumed by the task ahead was I that she nearly caught me. She must know that I cast a spell in that moment, but so long as she does not know which spell, my cover remains. She eyed Sensei’s letter curiously, but left the matter alone. I do not recall what it is that she had wanted in the first place, but she left after a brief exchange.
 
Once Priestess Sophia had left, I sent my response to Sensei. I received another Sending shortly afterwards. Sensei wishes for me to find a fully realized Druid and have a Dream spell cast upon me so that we might communicate at length. The prospect is exciting, though I must wonder what it is that Sensei wishes to speak about at such length. My mind has been wracked with numerous possibilities. I hope that I have not upset her, or acted unbecomingly. Perhaps she is concerned about the goings on of our journey thus far? If that is the case, how much am I to tell her? Am I even ready to see her again? As much as I have longed to do so, I am concerned that I might embarrass myself yet again.
 
As I fretted over such thoughts, I fumbled with my makeup, producing an undesirable result. Before I could correct it, Mister Joy, a youth who had joined our group as we left Bend River, stumbled upon me and promptly left. I made haste to pursue him, but I mishandled the situation and believe I may have upset him with a poor choice of words. Before we broke camp, I spoke to Miss Avalissa about the state of affairs in Bend River and the need to send word to the lord of the land. Miss Avalissa informed me that she has met one Lord Melchior, and that if we can find someone who can cast Sending in Yonara, she can send a report to him.
 
Soon enough, the caravan was set to leave. I spoke to Mister Joy one last time in an attempt to salvage our interactions earlier in the morning. To my surprise, he had thought little of it. He asked if he had seen something that he was not supposed to, to which I conceded that I am sensitive about my appearance and he simply caught me at a bad time. He stared at me an awful lot, though I cannot say why. Had he noticed something amiss? Or was it something else? I did not ask.
 
He expressed some difficulty understanding my speech due to the complexity of my language, and some discomfort with me referring to him formally, so I made efforts to speak more plainly. I explained honorifics to him briefly and he said that I must be very smart to remember so much. I told him that while I may be more gifted than some in such regards, I am far from the most gifted individual I have met in the clergy. I also told him that everyone must learn new things from time to time, and that I would be willing to teach him anything if he wished. He asked me to teach him to read and I agreed.
 
We parted ways after that, and I spent some time in the wagon. Soon, however, we were beset by assailants. Goblins flying through the air on serpents. I heard them called Ta’LeSharo. They spoke a tongue which I did not recognize, and so I cast Comprehend Languages upon Mister Malopher, so that he might be able to relay the enemy’s stratagems to the others. They flew wide of one another in an attempt to encircle the caravan. One of them bore some sort of alchemical fire. Mister Malopher shot the person with the fire dead, while Priestess Sophia fired a spell at the one approaching from our other flank. He told his associate to kill the spellcaster.
 
In seconds, the Goblins and their steeds were upon us. They swiftly felled Priestess Sophia, but Mister Sivu emerged from the caravan and healed her before taking a position to protect me. I felt something within me snap like a twig underfoot when I saw the malice with which our adversaries attacked Priestess Sophia. Without thought, I found myself running past Mister Sivu and unleashing the most powerful spell I could muster, allowing the storm to carry me back to safety. I wounded the Goblin who had felled the Priestess and killed his animal companion. Mister Malopher would later tell me that he called me Storm Sister and expressed indignation at my attack.
 
His companion attacked me with a knife that cut deeply. The wound began to bleed profusely. With a thunderous explosion, Mister Malopher fired his weapon into my assailant, killing him. The last of our attackers, whom Priestess Sophia and I had attacked, rushed past Mister Sivu in order to attack me, but Mister Sivu struck him dead before he could. With the threat managed, I rushed to Mister Malopher’s side, letting him see my face so that he would know that I had no opportunity to fix my makeup in the morning. I told him that I feared that someone might notice if they drew close enough to heal me. He tore a piece of cloth and bandaged my wound. I asked him about what our attackers had said and it was at this point that I was made privy to certain details. The area was scouted for additional threats, but none were found. Thus, the caravan continued on its way to Yonara.
 
I took some time during the last leg of our journey to check on Priestess Sophia.Thanks to Mister Sivu’s healing she was stable and alert, although I do not doubt that her body aches from the shock of her wounds. The moment I approached her she looked as though she was ready to leap at the opportunity to heal my much less serious wound. It was a firm reminder that while the Priestess has a tendency to pry where she perhaps ought not to, she holds a genuine compassion and care for others. I gently declined her services and informed her of the events that unfolded after she withdrew to a defensive position. She expressed gratitude to me for defending her and I told her that I knew that she would have done the same were our roles reversed. She grew weary from conversation at that time and, not wishing to tax her body more than necessary, I asked her to relax for a while and withdrew myself from her presence.
 
Not much longer afterward, we had arrived in Yonara. The town is quite beautiful. A lovely, refreshing sight after all that we had dealt with to arrive here. I spied a chapel devoted to the Father Moon and, whilst my companions went onward to gather supplies, I stole away to the church. It was there that I introduced myself to Bishop Malgrave. He welcomed me warmly and spoke fondly of Sensei. Apparently they met while they were still non-denominational and have retained contact over the years. I procured some basic supplies from the chapel’s stores and was invited to lunch by Bishop Malgrave, provided I would accept alms as lunch. I informed Bishop Malgrave that I would take no issues with such a meal, and enjoyed some conversation with the Bishop as I ate.
 
Bishop Malgrave mentioned matters within the town a few times during our time together, but despite my interest in assisting he always expressed that he wanted me to enjoy my time in Yonara rather than becoming involved in such things. When I told him that he and his followers were doing excellent work, work that seems to be difficult to encounter in this region, he said that they would not have been able to do so without assistance. The local Akacheta tribe, the Rosenfields tribe, has been assisting the settlers in maintaining the land. Their leader, Vides’de, is a druid. When I asked if Chieftain Vides’de would be able to cast a Dream spell, explaining the circumstance, Bishop Malgrave said that he could arrange it. He asked for nothing in return, despite my having offered services in exchange. He also told me that he and Mayor Sonya Bonnoura are capable of Sending.
 
When our business had concluded, I bade a fond farewell to Bishop Malgrave, telling him that I would visit him again while I stayed in Yonara. I reconvened with the others near the center of town, and was invited to see a theatrical adaptation of the White Rose Chronicles’ first volume. Miss Avalissa seemed to be particularly interested in seeing it, and Priestess Sophia, Mister Clem, and Mister Sivu had also agreed with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
 
Mister Malopher approached our rendezvous point at this time and Priestess Sophia had gone forth to meet him. I know not precisely what had transpired, only that Mister Malopher seemed discontent with Priestess Sophia’s company. She attempted to lock arms with him, but he pushed her away when she touched him. Fearing an escalation of conflict, I approached. Two guards approached as I did, apparently with similar concerns. The guards asked Mister Malopher if he was being bothered, to which he said that he was not. Priestess Sophia excused herself and took Mister Clem with her. The guards dispersed, and Miss Avalissa and Mister Sivu had matters to attend before the play. With it just being the two of us at this moment, I offered to purchase a drink for Mister Malopher if he would join us for the play. Though it was early, we walked together to the venue, Lidda’s Meadery, to secure a position for our rather large group before the meadery became congested.
 
I found a place for us to sit while Mister Malopher purchased food and drink. The steamed buns at Lidda’s Meadery were authentic and delicious. Upon my first bite into one I could feel the storm begin to stir restlessly. I felt as though I had been transported to another place. A place that I had called home. But when I looked up to see that familiar face, Mister Malopher was there, sitting in their place. The Nameless Beast howled, and the clouds threatened rain, but I maintained control. At least, I kept the storm from overtaking me. I believe that I had betrayed some of my sentiments, but Mister Malopher has more tact than to address it in public.
 
I looked at the mead which Mister Malopher had bought me. I deliberated for a few moments, but decided that I would try it. I felt confident in that moment that I would not lose myself, and that Mister Malopher would know what to do if I did. The mead was subpar, but I was not certain if that was a quality of the beverage or if I simply was not accustomed to the flavor of alcohol. I looked to Mister Malopher to gauge his response, however, a passerby spilled his drink at that moment, causing a bit of a commotion.
 
In time we were joined by our companions. Miss Avalissa eagerly explained the premise of the White Rose Chronicles to Mister Sivu as we awaited the start of the performance. The adaptation was abridged, of course, but generally faithful to the source material. Some of the subtext of the original was brought to the front and there were some creative liberties, including an ably performed but narratively redundant musical number. The group of performers clearly lacked experience and resources, but were quite capable. Ultimately, the play struck every point in plot and in theme which one might expect, and I would say that the experience was an overall pleasant one, at least to my casual viewing.
 
Some of our group, such as Mister Malopher, had decided that they were uninterested rather early on. I provided him with some funds so that he could procure another drink for himself. He spent the remainder of the performance at the bar. I also spied some interesting behavior from some of my other companions, however, those matters are not ones which I shall devote ink to at this moment. It is none of my business.
 
When the play concluded, we walked to the inn together. It is wonderful to have a room of my own. It feels like it has been a very long time, but it has been less than two weeks. Though as I write this journal I can still feel the storm stirring. Something about the performance had struck me differently than reading the original volume. Was it the theatrics? Was it my companions’ presence? Or was it me? The storm thunders rhythmically with my heartbeat, but below the thunder I can hear the Nameless Beast growl. I feel a sleepless night coming. It is moments such as these in which I am reminded why it was that I could not remain.