Chapter XXXIX - The Calling of Arkay31 Morning Star (Day 169) to 4 Sun's Dawn (Day 173) During this time, Joan spends a couple days in Gnisis. She attempts to restock her supply of potions and rations, before giving up and heading off to Ald'ruhn. With over 300 gold in her possession, she's hoping to purchase at least ten potions of healing, magic-restoration, magical-resistance, paralyzation-curing, and so on.
Unfortunately, Gnisis does not have its own Mages Guild, nor is there any sort of magical shop to be found. The chaplain of Fort Darius sells a few items, but they're weaker stuff: potions sold for a bargain, or for cheap. The sort of libations one would quaff after a meager fight with an alit, perhaps.
If she were to be entirely honest though, the crusader from Cyrodiil had become impatient. She'd been bested by a lowlife patron of foulness who dwells within darkness, and now she's in a hurry to get back and defeat him. It took maybe a day for her to realize this, as she shopped and prayed within Gnisis. Once she sees the situation more clearly, she comes to the conclusion that it'd be bad strategy for her to quickly head back to the isle of Vas. Not every foe can be beaten right away. The necromancer known as Daris Adram lives remotely, with little chance of harming innocents. Vas's nearest main Sheogorad inhabitation, Joan notes, happens to be Dagon Fel, whose residents hadn't even heard of Daris. Perhaps it'd be better for her to wait a bit. Gather her wits, before rushing into a series of traps and bad decisions.
She forces herself to slow down. Makes some plans. She decides to walk to Ald'ruhn, where there'd at least be a Mages Guild to visit. She'd also be able to gather all the potions and medicines she could carry, and mostly for free.
Still, Joan finds herself overcome with guilt concerning the death of Ulyne Henim, the Tribunal Armiger she'd literally just met. Henim had been waiting outside of Vas when Joan arrived. They had sparred a bit, comparing each other's fighting styles. They even practiced their methods of warfare on a rabid rat, before stalking into the tower, defeating that skeleton.
Joan's incredibly saddened by this. She feels regret. What could have been done to prevent the Armiger's death? Was she at least partially responsible for Henim's demise?
Maybe it's the fact that things were going so well, at first. Several others had been lost at Joan's side over the past few months: two Imperial guards, one Imperial archer, Jub the orc adventurer, and finally, the Argonian she'd met in Molag Amur, who'd been stranded by that ash storm. All of these folks had willingly followed her, unknowing their fates were soon to come. But for some reason, the crusader cannot get her latest fallen companion out of her mind.
"...And Ulyne, though she attacked with valiance, apparently had not the forethought to temper her assault within the tower, for the menaces of Vas were too great for the both of us to besiege," Joan confessed at one point to Chaplain Ogrul, Fort Darius's priest. "I... found myself choosing to
spare myself. Perhaps was this the way of the coward?" she asked the priest, facing the truth head on. "Perhaps. But, it was my presence of mind that one must also divert oneself at such times. To fight another day, as the saying goes."
"Your actions show promise," Ogrul answered, apparently unsure of what to say. Not all big, burly orcs command battlefields, after all. Some of them maintain shrines for the Imperials. Or run their own bookstores. But, maybe due to the average orc's upbringing within Orismer culture (in which such traits as aggression and intimidation are often preferred), sensitive words aren't as likely. "Fight well!"
"I wish to," Joan admitted. "'Tis why I am in such a frenzy to make my return. I feel I must avenge the falling of my short-lived comrade."
Every wager of warfare, when he or she took up whichever oath or cause or calling was placed upon their shoulders, also knew that one of the outcomes of such a cause could possibly be their ultimate demise. When it came to combat, the phrase 'every man for himself' often did apply. Sure, it was pertinent for armies and factions to fight together, to assist one another. But ultimately, each individual also claimed his or her own responsibility, when it came to mistakes and mishaps, such as what just occurred up in Vas. In some cases, things did not go as planned.
Perhaps it was due to this way of thinking that Joan did not experience much remorse when her earlier travelers had lost their lives. The guards she'd persuaded to leave their posts, they'd come with her knowing (it was assumed) they could someday meet their fates. Same went for the orc she'd hired just outside of Molag Mar. He had joined for typical reasons: eager to find gold, adventure, and fame. Yet he'd also fallen, despite referencing all his past accomplishments.
Joan had called for the final rites of each of them, hoping to send them off into the afterlife with dignity. It was the best she could do, considering her faith. But that was all. These others had joined her, they'd fought by her side, they'd eventually succumbed to final destinies. And Joan Marie, former acolyte of Arkay's temple in Cheydinhal? - In each case, she had moved on.
For some reason, the death of Ulyne Henim is different. For some reason, the need for contemplation concerning Ulyne's death is great, is in fact necessary.
She walks from Gnisis to Ald'ruhn, weather fair and sun shining bright, Joan finds herself musing upon the role of the Gods in her daily life. As a youngster she'd not really put much absolute thought into making these sorts of choices. You hurt yourself, whether through lost love or the sting of a bee? - You called for Mara. You felt you needed redemption or justice of some kind; perhaps somebody had wronged you? - You hoped for intervention from Julianos, perhaps. You wished to perform well as you traded a shipment of cockles? - That would be Zenithar. Overall, the presence of each of these Aedra had permeated Joan's life in small ways during her upbringing; perhaps a night's dream here, a daily set of inspirations there.
But now, as she walks upon the road to Ald'ruhn, hoping to find a signpost that'll guide her there without drama, but finding herself momentarily
lost! once again, Joan understands that it's
Arkay who's become the most prominent deity of her daily life.
Arkay, son of Akatosh. 'Lord of the Wheel of Life', 'God of the Circle of Life and Death'. Arkay's domain includes funerals, last rites, and many of the very things the crusader happens to be participating in on a near-daily basis.
"Arkay..." the crusader from Cheydinhal muses as she walks along, lost in thought. Pondering the path before her. Conclusions begin to be drawn. She can almost sense the bearded man portrayed upon the stained-glass windows of her hometown chapel, walking along with her. Looking
over her. Guiding her notions, directing her towards the fate of others past, and others future. Joan ponders and wonders...
But now is not the time.
"Youuu s'wit!!!"As a nearby brigand comes clambering down from one side (brandishing his polearm to threatening effect), and a nix hound comes bounding from another (thinking the two-legged female-person striding nearby will make a nice afternoon meal before sundown), Joan Marie the Crusader from Cheydinhal grabs for her magical mace.
-
Crash! Bang! Smash! -
Pretty soon the fight will be over. No doubt Joan'll be the victor. While somewhere unseen, the Lord of the Wheel of Life shall claim yet one more.
~ The End, Season Two, Year 2022~