Journal #77: Have a Little Hope.

After a short but long journey, which I cannot go into for reasons, I will not explain.
 
Notably, Burdyr, Tal, Syrin, and Azsire had appeared to stop us from making their work worse. Azyel tagged along and can't be trusted with any magic artifacts tied to souls. Anti-magic increases our connection with our champion powers. Malina was taken from our group by the Shard. As I said before, many more minor details won't go into detail. Still, those are some of the more critical bits.

Before I forget, we have been plagued with dreams again. All of them, including our Mothers, but faces concealed. I was in a cavern as a child, a familiar sight given my upbringing as an assassin in the Underdark. My sister was on the other side; it might have been her. It was one of those few moments I had to remember my mother spent time with me. I crossed without issue and with confidence in my ability. A wind picked up in the cavern's silence above a yawning abyss below, tossing my dream self into the dark below. As I fell into the abyss to finally see the rocks below, only to be caught by my mother's magic. Though it wasn't my mothers burning gold eyes, I saw pale ones. White as death. As Death had been the one to save me. Still having issues wrapping my head around being adopted into the family of The Mother of Souls, but here I am. Celuriel and I's tattoos glowed, never the best start to a morning.
 
We found ourselves in front of a bustling city street. Most of us had some form of hiding our true selves. I chose to take the form of an Elf, while the others had taken different disguises, Celuriel had just put on a hat, and her pirate outfit was complete. Importantly Azyel had used his champion powers to become a blue wolf humanoid. Still already, even outside the city walls, guards were approached.
 
Marik, one of the two guards, let us pass with a bit of a coin in their hand. I only mention this guard's name because Azyel stole his name for his whole persona and only switched one letter becoming. Garrik is a blue wolf from the northern plains of the Azure Moon. I swear this elf's antics no know bounds. Marik had recommended a bar with a blue roof, telling us to tell Marik sent you.
 
Burdyr had warned us the Shards had already affected the food and water, so avoid this as best as possible. Crossing the gate, I had expected some food, given the announcement and festival. Masdarat looked like they hadn't been affected by the lament, so much food right at the gate's entrance. The Divine Queen had limited the number of goods sold to help her city. Still, she allowed her people to sell their food again without regulation. Though Gaia's Lament has affected its people, this place had it far better off. Is that because the Queen or the Shard effects differ within the same city? A combination of both could be possible. Azyel, within a second of entering Masdarat proper, had bought a singing eight-foot fish naming the fish Gerald. I swear, even if he was Azyel was a wolfish form, the grin as he walked back to us was nearly the same.
 
The streets were packed as they were, as the others looked through some stalled. Celuriel and I walked down the streets, trying to find the bar. Usually, I am rather good about finding taverns and bars; today took some effort, but I eventually found it with Lost Ones close behind. When I saw the place, I sent out a mental thought telling them I had. Yet when I entered, the last thing I had expected happened.
 
I was behind the bar.
 
Or another Aniks, still a drow. The barmaid tavern owner had said something, but I said no. She was some Oread woman who looked a little overworked at the moment. Given that I or the other Aniks had just left, very quickly, her with a rather busy bar, I almost felt bad for her. She wasn't completely alone. There were a couple of other works. Shocked, I watched the Barkeep rush to the back and disappear.
 
The others had walked in, seeing the other Aniks disappear into the back and then telling the Tavern owner Marik had sent us. Or we knew Marik. Something really, I wasn't paying attention. Honestly, I couldn't remember. My brain was wholly consumed by the idea of the other Aniks. I knew my soul had been shattered but I… I thought the others had been lying. I had seen documents with my handwriting on them; Alvir had said I had done the reports. I did the same check anyways because I hadn't written those. All those people in the bar that said I look so Familiar!

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?
 
Despite the chaos going through my mind, I had simply asked to speak with that barkeep when he returned. I would have answers. When I would get them, I was unaware, but still, I would get them.
 
Rooms were ordered, and we eventually decided who would pay for what room. Celu and I are currently in the second largest of the available three-room, which is good since she often takes up a blanket if she's not using me as a pillow. We had a brief break to discuss the events in town and how the Queen's Consort might be in the room next to us. Which Azyel, Garrik might have offended with his song about the Consort's Cock. Quickly a plan was formed to apologize to the trio next door to see if their theory would be proven correct.
 
They were.
 
The blue wolf of the north and our dwarf had taken the lead, knocking on the door. One of the consorts retainers? Handmaids, the technical term is Man Servant. I'll just go with his name. Terrik.
 
To gain their trust to even speak with all of them. We walked the crowds, played games, and, strangely enough. Had started a local legend about Garrick and his traveling rat company Jim Joe the Almighty. I wish I could make this up, but I swear Azyel has an all-consuming aura of chaos. Jim Joe is Cid. Only some people could create a decent design, so Kraia had the brilliant idea to transform some of us into rats. Mostly herself, Licia for a time, and of course, Cid. When we returned, I won a stuffed parrot for Celu and a stuffed snake for Ava. What I had not expected was the fortune teller.
 
While I was initially skeptical of this old lady, her fortunes were more than usual. Celu had confirmed that she was not a charlatan; I could see no cutting of the card. She was not some oracle, but she was in tune with fate. She had even noted my connection to Pharasma; a suggestion was given to visit one of her temples in the town. In seeing the link, the fortune teller told us of a special reading she would provide us alone. She had a deck of many things…
 
Only our new friend Terrik had drawn a terrible card. Celuriel drew The Desert, and I drew The Keep. While I do not currently have the funds to further this Demiplane. It will eventually be a place just for us, but it isn't more significant than our house. Celu was pleased when I told her about this as she ran out of shelf space in our library.
 
Eventually, when we drew the cards, we said goodbye but eventually returned to the Inn. We meet the Divine Consort, who was, as their little trio has said, absolutely drunk. When Burdyr casually mentioned that people were looking for them to start the announcement, we quickly sobered up the consort. Pulling out a magical carpet and soaring off to the announcement ceremony. Terrik eventually promised to return to continue with more adventurers.
 
We soon left to find a spot to get a good view of the announcement. A task strangely harder than we thought, but still, we found ourselves on the walls looking at an empty space meant for the announcement. Celuriel had taken advantage of our new mental link while we waited. She had a smug smile when my face flushed.
 
The merits of the speech were a lot on me. It was a decent political speech with all the familiar beats that would hit in times like these. Gaia's Lament is as prevalent in this country.
 
The Lost One's attention was partly on the Holy Princess handmaid or the new one. Malina was standing beside the daughter of the Divine Queen. The Sorcesses's gaze had quickly turned down when she saw us as a collective. Regrettably, it was apparent she would always be here, connected to the Shard somehow. Giving her watery disappearance; nothing is ever easy when the lost ones are involved.
 
Then came the much-anticipated announcement.
 
The land had chosen the princess as their consort.
 
An avatar had chosen a consort. Go paragraph, all the average public might have been lost on what that means. A fair amount of concern started as the Divine quits words hit us. At the end of the Divine Queen's speech, the flying platform vanished alongside its writers, a simple illusion hiding the entire platform in those who rode on top. Read quickly and return to the end as we only had so much time to speak freely before the man Servants of the Divine consort returned.
 
The idea of a mortal Avatar hybrid complicated things significantly. Well, I thought to check to see if it was indeed true that the princess had, at the very least, pregnant. Given the family's proximity to The Shard, I decided not to use the Champion's powers. Since it might single me out with divine power. Like some brilliant lighthouse, the shore was full of deep Black Water. We discussed various topics and how one would enter the palace plan. We quickly got our answer in the form of a letter for the ball. Never had a trap been so obvious; it was our only sure way into the palace without any political Fiasco involving our nations. I doubt Aletheia would need any extra stress put on the Empire.
 
Next came dealing with those who would attend the ball, as they would likely be the most problematic. A handful of ideas were tossed around; we tended to steer away from anything Azyel had concocted. We had to acknowledge that there might not be an easy way to remove them without causing an issue, especially since they will also likely be within the Shard's grasp. Well, we do have some ideas; as usual, when dealing with shards, we'll have all of our ideas tossed out the window when we have to improvise something on the spot. Especially given the fact that once all of this is done.
 
You can only really plan for some inevitabilities when what we are trying to find is an artifact that warps reality. All one can do is simply hope for the best and prepare for as much as possible.
 
Strangely enough, when Tarik eventually came back, We decided to split up a handful of us and went with Tarik and, more importantly, watch over Azyel or Garrik to ensure he wasn't getting himself in too much trouble. I commend him for staying in character for so long. we eventually found ourselves inside a Casino where we were offered drinks but declined them. Even though we were watching our resident Wolfman add, I suspect he uses some trickery to win the jackpot, as I doubt you would so easily when having only been there for a handful of games.
 
Not going to the Mother of Souls Temple was a slight annoyance, but somebody had to watch over Azyel. We got periodic updates as the night went further along to the point where it became evident if they had met a certain psychopomp Usher and they were acting strange. It piqued my interest; I couldn't necessarily leave. However, as the night went further, my attitude towards the situation unfolding at the temple was souring. No Usher I had met well in Death's Realm displayed that sort of nihilism that was being described over our mental link. Tarik had noticed the souring in my mood, and when asking about it, I gave him a half-truth.
 
I wasn't proud of the half-truth I gave, but it was true, just not the reason for my sour attitude.
 
I told him it was always tricky this time of year as I had lost my wife and child. All though the official day was only less than a week away. It wasn't uncommon for my thoughts to lean in that direction. Celu, thankfully, while I spoke on Claire and Alain, had kept herself by my side, comforting me well as I said on topics. She knew it was difficult for me to express. I took that and decided to excuse myself.
 
It was shocking how quickly I found the temple District; finding Pharasma's Temple was even more accessible. It held all the Gothic architecture one would expect from the Lady of Graves. When I entered its cold interior, the soft light emanated from a handful of the Holy symbols as I passed them; Atropos was the only one I actually nodded towards, which seemed to have a slightly brighter glow. It seemed as if I was a ghost inside that temple unseen; well, it was occupied. None of the occupants seemed to notice me or the slight glow that had appeared that quickly faded with time. With a few issues, I found Licia and Burdyr still trying to converse with Ceyanan. With little luck, it seemed. The one I entered, the Usher, seemed to acknowledge my presence which was concerning when I looked upon them.
 
No psychopomp I have ever met Had been nihilistic, and I have learned about all the ushers so on seeing Ceyanan in this strange black robe hiding their face. Their current form differs from the description I have ever read of the demigod. They didn't even have their wings. They claimed that everything was hopeless and that we needed to leave. At every word, but they may God speak, my agitation grew, eventually joining the demigod on a raised Stone platform they sat down upon. It only occurs to me now what happened here.
 
But I looked down upon a demigod.
 
As I pulled back their hood instead above them.
 
The face I saw was the pale white eyes of Pitch Black, the beginning crumpled like a strange porcelain mask. This was different from the demigod I had read about or learned about. No, this is what's the husk I want. Gaia's lament had already drained them up far too much, they didn't answer when I asked if they could be saved, and I was quickly talked out of it, despite my stubbornness. Before being dragged off the stone platform, I'd simply told the demigod one thing.
 
"Have a little hope," and we left.