Day three Conversations again

Ajara pulls Isaac aside and asked him where Rekka is, since she wants to talk to both. Isaac didn’t tell Ajara where Rekka was but told her that he was in touch with her, showing the gem. He calls Rekka and the following conversation happened:

Ajara: So with my chat with Barrok today, I learned one thing, Heironious isn't as... holy? Great? True? as I thought him to be. I asked him why was it Heironious didn't Exalt those who died that were good considering the mark had no power. He said, "The mark used by Erythnul to mark his followers never barred any of them from being exalted. Highroneous just didn't want them. Admitting to his faithful that they had been killing their loved ones for no good reason seemed too painful, and so he allowed them to continue believing that they were saving their loved ones by killing them...and then Highroneous couldn't claim those souls because that would expose his failure to tell his followers the truth, and so he gave them to Erythnul."

Confused I asked, "Why would he have allowed it for so long? Surely he knew from the start right? Or shortly after? ...but- why did he allow Malfeiya then?" to which Barrok said, "Why indeed...if he knew from the start, why would he allow the lie to continue? Why would he allow his so-called enemy to claim so many souls, growing more and more powerful? It's almost as though they had planned this all from the beginning...and if that's the case, what role did Malfia play? The woman who supposedly killed Erythnul, and then allowed into Celestia..."

It would seem he was confused about the whole thing. I tried one last question, trying to see if he knew what was happening with Erythnul and Heironious and if he knew about the girl involved expressing my concern that the girl might be my sister Meryth. Instead I am dismissed with Barrok saying, "I have told you all I can. I'm sorry you didn't understand more of it."

I tell this to you because it would seem Barrok knows more of what's happening, but I feel he's withholding information. Did you two learn anything from your conversations with him? Cuz right now Heironious seems so... not Heironious. I can't explain it. Like he's a regular person when he's a God who's supposed to know all and be perfect right?

Rekka: you call them Gods, Others Deities, I've heard stories that these so call beings where once "Human" but they became so powerful that people around them called them otherwise. That's why I don't believe IN them. (she means she knows they're there but she chooses not put her faith into any of them).

Araja: Yeah... that's exactly how I feel about Heironious... he's just like anyone of us, lots of people love him and look to him only for me to now see he's like anyone of us doing our best to live by our own morals... I guess I still feel let down with all the things I'm learning about Heironious.

Anyways, Isaac do you have anything to add, cuz I think I'm no longer concerned with the Gods... I just want to figure out why I heard my sister scream now. If she's alive, I'm going to save her... if I can... (that last sentence is said with determination, yet the understanding knowing gods are involved and therefore there's a good chance she will not succeed in staying alive while trying to save her sister)

Rekka: Great you’re getting off the Deities and I'm getting on. I'm supposed to fix their mistakes, whatever that might entails. You heard your sister like RIGHT NOW? Or back at polduck?

Araja: You're to fix their mistakes? I'm curious to hear more if you know anything. Maybe that'll be my cause now. To help you while figuring out what's going on with my sister. I'm still hung up on when I heard her back at Podunk with the explosion and all... part of me still feels that there's a chance that it's rues to get me emotionally involved, Heironious knows how much I love her... but there is a third party who's female as we know working with Erythnul and Heironious. Question is, is it her, a Billy version of her, or someone else?

Rekka: For that...and I can't believe I'm saying this... we need find historical documents that go aways back.

Araja: Any era in particular our shall I make sure anything I find as 'historical' I inform you/show you as potential information?

Rekka: *Sighs* From the information we've gathered from different sources. It would seem this goes back way before your time. At least whatever part I have to play. but the only thing I need to know that is from your time is what happened after your death. In other words I would like to know what Malfeiya......" Rekka stops...."the Key might be Malfeiya herself....why didn't I see it before. SHE IS CLAIMED BY BOTH!"

Araja: Fairyn! (An exclamation like OMG!) Maybe my sister is safe after all! It would make sense why Erythnul and Heironious are working together. Suppose they have an equal claim on Malfeiya her being marked and Exalted... yet, wouldn't they have just fought over who got her versus work together? Then again, she was strong enough to remove the marks of Erythnul... I dunno. It just seems so strange that those three are all in co-hoots with one another. What could they gain from it?

Rekka: Like I know. If I did we wouldn't be wondering around here.

Araja: yeah, I think learning more about Malfeiya might be most useful

Rekka: That and other things. We need information on 1) Malfeiya 2) the recurrences of the Soultrapped. if it has happened before. 3) Dwarvan history. Too bad there aren’t any more Elven Ruins I would had like to see what we could learn from them.

Araja: Got it.

Rekka: "What's the deal with the map, Isaac? You know, the whole name thing. Don’t think I didn't notice it."

Araja looks at Isaac when she hears Rekka ask this question, for she too is curious. She remembers something about being a High Priest and Enslaver, but got all angst before she could ask and frankly forgot all together about it. Isaac interjects after the conversation winds down, seeing Araja looking at him:

Isaac:  I've heard both Barrok and Cuthbert recently. I do not trust them, but what they have said makes sense with what we know so far.

        I'm sorry Araja, but this will be hard to hear. Barrok explained to me that "Gods and devils are not so black and white as they would have you mortals believe. We're...that is to say, they are much more like people than you give them credit for. People change their minds, change their ways, so can a god or devil." What Barrok was trying to break gently to you is that Malphia is manipulating both Highroneous and Erythnul. She seduced them separately, and stole their affections. After that she began to manipulate them until now, they're working together and each thinks it's his own doing when in reality it's some woman pulling all the strings. What do they have to gain from it? Highroneous and Erythnul have Malfia to gain, and she stands to gain deific power. According to Barrok She is working to combine the three of them into a single being, and eventually the entire pantheon. If this is true, and if you did truly hear your sister scream back at Podunk, then I find it likely that Malfia is actually your sister. I could not say with the little that I know if what she is attempting is an evil thing or not.

       Cuthbert had several things to say to me. I trust him even less than Barrok, but part of what he told me affects both of you. The brand is seemingly meaningless, as far as we know, but when those who are branded die they become monsters. Billy was an early incarnation of these beasts.

Oh, and Cuthbert enchanted the river that flows through this down to mask the presence of magic over time, no matter how strong. The effects are not permanent to living creatures, but he did not mention what the effects are to items or permanent spells. He mentioned that if we drink it the effects might help mask our true identities, but I personally don't trust that.

*Isaac shifts uncomfortably under the questions about his name on the map* The thing is that I don't know much more than you do. And most of what I do know is rumor or on the word of deities that would say anything to bend me to their cause. However...I guess I do owe some kind of explanation.

I am unsure of what "Enslaver-Of-Nations" might refer to, unless it speaks of my skill of the undead. It like refers to the role I played in my previous life.

              I do not know why my true name is a blank. I imagine that it is due to the process that changed me to this *Motions at his horns. If you haven't noticed, they've gotten longer in the last month.*

          As far as for the title of High Priest... from what I've gathered so far, in my previous life I was the one who invented the method for creating creatures like billy. I was the one who did whatever was done to that cave next to Podunk. If you haven't figured out what that high priest title might mean by looking at it carefully, then I won't explain it further. I will warn you that name is be dangerous to speak where others can hear. There are powers in this world and the next that would have me create an unstoppable army for them, and they would know the meaning of this name. I thought crossing the ocean would... *Isaac stops and snaps his mouth shut as he realizes that he's saying too much*

       Look, it isn't important. The past is dead. I'm not the man I was before, and I wish people would figure that out. If the gods keep digging then they might not like what they find.

 Ajara stiffens at the notion that her sister is Malfeiya, let alone the idea of her SEDUCING! them!?

Araja: "You can't be serious!" Think of Katniss from the hunger games pushing peta up against the wall and snarling at him, except instead of Araja doing that to Isaac her fists clench and she definitely has a very angry tone.

"My sister Malfeiya!? She was a healer! Not a sorceress! She was newly 12 when she died and the thought of her doing such a thing is sick to think about!" She takes a breath, then her face becomes passive once more, "I'm sorry. I suppose nothing is known yet, but it would be a good idea to see if we can find out when Malfeiya was born since that may give way to whether or not your theory is right Isaac. Hmm and you're behind the soultrap creatures... to bad you don't remember how you did that. Maybe you'd be able to undo your work."

Isaac: I've only stated the facts as I know them. Do you have a better explanation as to why you thought that was your sister's scream back in Podunk?

Healers have often been called sorceresses, or even witches, especially in the distant past. And maybe she came to be called "Malfeiya" once she gained the favor (and power) of the deities? There have who knows how many years since the time you died, she had plenty of time to grow up. Or not... the gods can be sick like that.

I've already undone one, but I do not think I would fare as well against the untold legion that has been created since my... departure from their ranks.

Araja: she glares at Isaac, it is obvious she can't deny what she heard at Podunk nor the logic he gave. Her face struggles for control and tear begin to come. She's not mad at Isaac... but it is hard news for her to hear. She chooses to hold her tongue knowing she'll need some time to digest and really think over what has been disclosed. She definitely is driven to wanting to find out about the past as much as she can, especially all she can learn up on Malfeiya.

Rekka: Wow...So I'm fixing all that....great.

Isaac: Whoever said that you are supposed to 'Fix' anything, Rekka? If anyone I would think that would be my job.

Rekka: go right ahead.

Araja: Despite whoever is responsible for fixing it, I know I couldn't ignore this without good conscience. If anything I'll be here until this thing is fixed or I'm killed in the process... and the later sounding almost desirable considering what we're up against...

    Also before i forget, the water suppresses magical aura's? So if i figured out my own way to stalk up on the water here I may be able to remain concealed?

*Isaac pulls out a waterskin and shakes it. It is suspiciously full for someone who doesn't need to drink* Your guess is as good as mine

Araja: By chance you have any havard sacks or bags of holdings in your winnings that you're not going to use?

Isaac: No havard sacks. I'm going to need all of the bags of holding to carry this around until I can find a better solution. I'll share out any that I'm not using. There is a chest of holding that I don't think I'm going to use very much. Interested?

Araja: Maybe we'll teleport back here at another time. Maybe a few waterskins full of this will be enough for a long time. Who knows how long the effects last and how much you need to drink for it to last. Something we should experiment with once we're out of Hommlet. It might not last very long. It was enchanted by Cuthbert so it might only last as long as he needed it

Araja: What? Do you mean you think the water over time will loose it's magical quality?

Isaac: I suspect that it will but there is no way to know without testing it. Or asking Cuthbert

Araja: True. Maybe I ought to get me some boots of teleportation- you haven't happen to come across any of those in your winnings yet have you? That way I could ever so often teleport back here for a drink... ugh that sounded like a tavern reference.

Rekka: well that explains why Uniboy didn't like the water. Anything in your Wager winnings that would help us out with the temple or finding the adventures?

Isaac: Well, you know. A little of this and that. Got a pair of bracers that melt your arms off when you wear them. A couple of staffs, some books that will make for some light reading later. Might you be interested in some bracers that make you more graceful, or goggles that help spot gold on the ground?

Rekka: I’ll take the Goggle. I’ll pick them up once am back...The Farspeaking Amulets stops working at this point. Out of charges.