RP:What Can I Do For You?

Summary: Khitti and Zahrani cross paths in Sage and Khitti reveals her complicated plight to the paladin, hoping that maybe Zahrani can provide insight.

Recaptured Fort, Sage Forest

Zahrani silently walks along the main pathway leading to the fort, stopping at a couple places to see how people were faring. Cyan-colored eyes look out from a well-insulated hood, a warm smile spreading on her face when she sees a group of children playing. Her tail swishes idly behind her as she slowly makes her way towards the fort. An elven guard waves to her as she passes. A well-toned, black-furred arm extends out of the fur cloak, raising a paw in return. As she walks, the paladin periodically examines the earth that had been cleared of snow; there was very little sign of progress on eliminating the sickness in Sage, but it was only a matter of time.

A rather large charcoal grey cat with bright purple eyes, a Tikifhlee from the Plane of Shadow, galloped through the forest after a pit stop at the nearby temple of Arkhen. As it caught Zahrani’s scent, it came to a sudden halt and let out a loud ‘mowrowr’ and sniffed about. It’s rider was not at all please, of course. “Hey, c’mon. We’ve got places to be, damn it.” The pregnant redhead’s words to the feline weren’t harsh, just impatient. It was cold and her bed was calling her. “Please? I’ll give you some of that crunchy kibble you like when we get back?” The Tikifhlee payed no attention and Khitti could only sigh, sliding off her mount and heading in front of it to check things out. The fort came into view, as well as the paladin, and the necromancer frowned somewhat at the bit of earth Zahrani was inspecting. She’d sensed the dark magic near here before, but paid no mind to it; she was so used to it being everywhere. “You probably shouldn’t get too near to that,” came the redhead’s voice from several feet away.

Zahrani turns towards Khitti and her large catlike companion. A pair of blue eyes and a panther-like snout extend from the hood, her nares flaring with feline curiosity. The paladin reaches up and lowers the hood, revealing a big cat's head and a braid of long black hair starting from the back and resting on one of her shoulders. To the magically sensitive, one might detect a subtle, amber-hued aura playing across the paladin's fur and whiskers, like light refracting through a pool of water. She speaks in a low alto, her voice rich with a slight roughness to it, "Fear not. I will be cautious." The scent of the strange woman reaches her once more; she notices that Khitti with child. Zahrani extends a hand from her cloak in greeting. Beneath the furs, there is a simple sleeveless shirt, insulated pants and boots, and with a slight glint in the darkness, an amulet of Cyris around her neck. One might have mistaken the feline for a male, had she not spoken; the only thing outwardly feminine about her appearance is the slightly wider-than-average hips compared to a man her height. Every other contour of the cat's body is defined by well-conditioned muscle. She's definitely a swole kitty, and it ends up getting attention from both men and women. "My name is Zahrani. What is yours? Do you need a place to rest?"

Khitti did indeed sense that aura, for it clashed with her own dark magic, weakening it to an extent as it normally did when she was near one of the holy types. Thankfully, she was no longer a vampire or things would’ve been far worse. Khitti offered the feline a faint smile, and a shake of her head, her own hand meeting with Zahrani’s in a careful handshake, “No. I’m only out here on a weekly errand of mine.” She tilted her head somewhat as Zahrani’s amulet caught the light briefly and brought its presence to Khitti’s attention, “Funny. I was just on my way to Cyris’ temple next.” Khitti eyed it a bit longer, her smile fading, slowly replaced by a distant frown, “You are a follower?” A pause. “I’m Khitti. She must’ve smelled you,” a hand gestured towards the Tikifhlee.

Zahrani looks down at her amulet, before looking back at Khitti. She could definitely sense darkness coming from her, but not necessarily malevolence, as she withdraws her hand back into her cloak. Still, she seems just slightly more cautious now. The cat has quite an impressive poker face as she looks over at the Tikifhlee, then back at the human. She answers calmly, "Yes. I am a paladin of Cyris. My work has brought me to these woods." though she didn’t specify what that work was. "It is nice to meet you, Khitti. What brings you and your companion out here?" She looks towards the grey cat with a serene gaze.

Khitti definitely was not the malevolent sort, unlike most necromancers. “I was dropping off offerings at Arkhen’s temple, before continuing on to Cyris’. Loda’s shall have to wait until tomorrow, I think. I didn’t quite get to leave Cenril when I wanted to.” A pensive look washed over Khitti as she side-eyed the Tikifhlee, then shifted her attention back to Zahrani, “Does he listen to you, Zahrani? Cyris. Arkhen, in a way, aided me not long ago, but I’ve begged them all for some sort of guidance lately… and I’m starting to think that they don’t actually hear us.” She sighed, shifting her stance uncomfortably and pulling her long wool coat around her more tightly. “What work brings you out here? Does it have anything to do with a… Miss Gilwen? An employee of mine told me she left a message on the board in Cenril’s tavern but I’ve not had the time just yet to inquire with her.”

Zahrani knows there's no point in playing coy; Khitti could clearly put two and two together. Gilwen posted a note saying she needed help with holy magic, and here is a paladin in Sage Forest at the Fort reclaimed by the Elves. "Yes. I am currently aiding Miss Gilwen." At the question about whether or not Cyris listens to her, the paladin responds, "In a way...I get feelings, and sometimes dreams, and my strength with healing and sunfire do not come from arcane learning. I'm not one to suggest that 'the gods brought us together so I could give you guidance,' but the curiosity in me asks: what exactly are you looking for? How did Arkhen aid you?"

Khitti was hesitant, but she soon spilled the beans after giving it a moment’s consideration, “His light, it returned my humanity. I was a vampire, for a time. But, his power was not the only one that was used in the ritual. I more or less traded one curse for another, because at the time, I didn’t think I was going to ever have children. But here I am, very obviously pregnant, and looking to them to help me. This problem is more than it seems, and I’m not sure how much I’d like to divulge of it, as it’s rather complicated. Long story short, there’s people wandering around that might be considered ‘the ultimate evil’ to some, and one of them is a priest of Vakmathras that needs doing away with. I don’t think they listen to me though--Cyris, and Arkhen, and Loda. I think it’s because I’m a necromancer. Or, I guess, I’ve just got rotten luck. It’s not even just this priest, though. There’s Kahran too. He’s the one that’s been attacking Cenril, Larket, and Chartsend--he’s coming here from the Plane of Shadow, where this priest lives. I need something to stop both of them and I don’t think necromancy’s gonna do it.”

Zahrani listens intently, her ears pointed towards Khitti and taking in every detail. She walks to the Tikifhlee, her blue eyes staring into its violet orbs before turning back to the human, "Kahran...and this priest. I agree that they do need to be stopped, but...how exactly does your pregnancy tie into their existence?" She looks back at the other cat with a slight curiosity. The Plane of Shadow...it seems like things are only getting stranger in Lithrydel.

“The curse. In exchange for a vampirism cure, Vakmathras wanted more spirits to steady the balance between the dead and the living. For each child I have, it brings my ancestors to the Plane of Shadow, which is essentially just purgatory. It should’ve been simple: one child for one soul, but the priest, Facilier, he’s manipulated it for his own gain. He’s mad. Entirely. I have been visited by the spirits of my family several times here and Facilier will not give me aid. So, I looked to the gods of light for help, but…” Khitti gestured vaguely, as if to indicate the nothingness that she had to stop the evil that threatened her family. “I don’t know what to do and I’m starting to lose hope that Arkhen even truly helped me in the first place. If they cared, why would they even let this happen? My rebirth was enough to make me believe, but my faith is dwindling.” She reached over and lightly scratched behind the eight-foot-tall shadowcat’s ear as it finally settled down onto the ground next to her for now. It watched Zahrani in return, just as curious about the paladin as the paladin was of it.

Zahrani 's face remains neutral as she tries to process this influx of information, filling in the blanks in her mind. "I'm not sure I follow...you said Arkhen brought you back to life, but that Vakmatharas offered you a cure in exchange for spirits. If it was Arkhen who restored you, how could this priest Facilier have any hold over your family's spirits?" She pauses for a moment, then adds, "I don't think you're trying to be dishonest with me; I'm just trying to understand what exactly happened. When did your ancestors start visiting you? Before or after you were cured?" This was a truly strange plight; if the Light of Arkhen interceded for Khitti, what exactly was the darkness trying to accomplish by tormenting her family? Revenge? Retribution? The next question is how to stop it. It's one thing to say Kahran and Facilier needed to be stopped, but actually doing would require more information.

Khitti chuckled softly, “I did tell you it was complicated. I had to gather multiple ingredients for the ritual. One was from Arkhen, another from Vakmathras, amongst others. ‘Arkhen’s Light’ and ‘Vakmathras’ Blessing’, Facilier called it. He wrote the spell--that’s also another long story. There was a battle on Cenril’s bridge, and I eventually died, but before it, Arkhen’s light returned me to a human. It didn’t stop the fire from burning me alive and Vakmathras’ power was the one that brought me back from the dead.” She paused, thinking about the ingredients, “The spell for Arkhen’s light that I used for the ritual, it created this sort of… holy sprite. It’s not strong enough to stop Facilier and Kahran, unfortunately, but… I wonder if it’d help you and Gilwen here. I still have it, back in Cenril.” Khitti let out a ‘hm’ and then eyed Zahrani carefully, “Were you born with these abilities? Or were they bestowed upon you? The healing and the sunfire, that is.”

Zahrani continues to listen. So her restoration was a combination of both holy and dark magic. At the mention of the Arkhen's light ritual, her ears perk up slightly, "I don't know if that's what we will use, but it would not hurt for us to have such knowledge on hand, if you are willing to spare a copy." At Khitti's question regarding the paladin's abilities, she leads the woman and her mount to a place to sit by one of the campfires in the settlement, "That is not entirely clear to me. I was an orphan in Cenril, running errands and letters to get by. A human paladin of Cyris came to Cenril, and for reasons he still cannot explain today, he decided to raise me and train me as one of his order. I like to believe there is potential for divine power in everyone, but you must first know how to unlock it. Cyris holds his paladins to a high standard, and there aren't many of us, but as the God of Freedom and Independence, he entrusts us with the initiative to seek knowledge and draw conclusions on our own." A wry smile forms on her face, "Though there are times where I feel he has corrected me in some way or another." There were also times where a feline's understanding of freedom and independence got her into very spirited debates with a few of the more stubborn clerics.

Khitti took a seat near the fire, and Zahrani, her Tikifhlee cozying up next to the warmth as Khitti nodded, “Of course. If Gilwen is not in need of my assistance with my necromancy, then I will at least send along the spell to you here.” The talk of freedom and independence brings a frown to Khitti’s lips, “I’ve not had freedom for a long time. It’s all I want. For me. For my family. But it is not to be, I think.” She shrugged, watching the fire. “It’s bad enough when you think you don’t have control over your life because of mundane things, but it’s even worse when you find out that it’s not really that and that things have happened because they were foretold long ago. These things that have happened to me--the good, the bad, and things I’ve not even spoken of--it was all foretold in the Plane of Shadow. I came to the understanding a long time ago that I will never be free. Perhaps that’s why they don’t listen to me, because they can’t really help me anyway.”

Zahrani thinks about Khitti's words again regarding her own loss of freedom. She could easily recite word and verse, but something in the human's words stuck out, "These things that the Plane of Shadow told you...did they tell you those things before or after they happened to you?" Prophesy is an interesting thing, and it's often vague enough to have multiple meanings; that vagueness also made it easy to pass off information as prophetic. "Did they foretell our meeting? Here? Or is the Plane of Shadows like a Mirror to our world, receiving and seeing events similar to ours? As for why the gods don't seem to listen to you, even the wisest of theologians struggle to comprehend how or why they do anything." Her eyes remain focused on Khitti, a warm smile forming on her face as she says, with a possible hint of irony, "If you feel like Cyris isn't listening to you, know that I will."

Khitti shrugged, “The Plane of Shadow -is- a mirror of our world, but only in the geographical sense. I’ve travelled most of it, both Lithrydel’s mirror and that of my own homeland. As for the prophecies, some had already come to pass and others hadn’t at the time. As I’m sure you can imagine, I’ve never been one to care about fate and the gods and such. I’m still not fond of the idea of destiny sometimes, but I can’t deny that -something- brought me back. The prophecies didn’t just involve me, but my fiancé, Brand, as well. Can’t do much about that though. All of those have come to pass whether it was fate or just plain manipulation on -someone’s- part. Now we’re just trying to pick up the pieces afterwards, but the pieces just keep spreading further apart it seems like.” Khitti smiled in return, nodding at the feline, “I do appreciate it. Brand, and my brother Lionel, they’re quite cynical when it comes to deities and the like, despite what they’ve seen with me. The three of us have seen a lot of terrible things, both on our own and together, so I know it’s hard to let go of that bitterness that’s crept up over the years. Even now, I’m struggling, but I’ve made that obvious, heh. Maybe I’ll quit bugging the gods and just stick with what I’m good at, with the dark arts.”

Zahrani simply listens, just like she did before. 'I'm not sure what to think about the idea of destiny or prophesy, because at face value, the very concept runs against the idea of freedom and independent thought. If the choice is made for you, how could it possibly be yours? That said, people with free will can also be manipulated and led on. A prophesy could only be valid if certain actions are taken. And if those actions aren't taken, well, that inaction could lead to the fulfillment of the same prophesy..." The feline makes a chuffing noise at the thought, "Such things are annoying and frustrating to consider, when it comes to real life, and the way it can harm you." She reaches out to offer a pet to the Tikifhlee, though she would not be offended if the large cat did not want to be touched by someone with a divine aura. She looks back at Khitti, "As for 'bugging the gods,' and going back to the dark arts, I believe what is important is you tried to reach out. Another important thing: I am here now, as a paladin of Cyris. I can't change the pain you have felt since before we met, and I will not force you to accept my aid, but: as a servant of the Light, what can I, Zahrani, do to serve you, here and now?"

The Tikifhlee did not seem to mind the petting it received, a thunderous rumbling in the form of purring gifted to the other feline in return, as well as some nuzzling. Khitti smiled at the display, knowing full well that her cat, much like Brand’s own, didn’t take to people very well. Zahrani seemed to be the exception. “You understand my frustration with all of that nonsense all too well then. It’s maddening to be sure.” What could Zahrani do for her? Khitti studied the paladin carefully, her head tilting to one side in thought. “Pray for me,” she said at length. “And my family. I’m not ready to return to the void just yet and I’m certain I’ll find another way to put things right, even if it doesn’t have to do with divine intervention.” Khitti pushed herself up off the ground, giving her cat another scritch behind the ear, “It’s time to go home, you. We’ll come back out tomorrow, I think.” Olive-green eyes find the paladin again, “I’m glad to have met you, Zahrani. Even if I don’t get the help I’m looking for from the gods, our talk has at least set me back on the path I so often stray from.”

Zahrani nods, "I can do that." She stands up as well, offering a hug to Khitti. Should the woman accept, the embrace is strong, yet gentle. The feline's body and holy aura can engender the feeling of vulnerability, but also clarity, warmth, safety, and relief. "I am glad we have met as well, Khitti. May your path home be safe and clear, and may the Light of Cyris grant you strength and clarity in your choices. If you wish, you can pray alongside me." Perhaps having Zahrani with her would give Khitti a stronger feeling of closeness than a temple. But the choice is hers.

Khitti didn’t used to be the type to give or take hugs. But, times have changed and so has Khitti, mostly for the better (death’ll do that you, you know). Zahrani’s side of the embrace was met with Khitti’s own, and a bit of nodding would soon follow once the two had parted, “I would like that. If anything, it may help to calm my mind of its constant worries.” She smiled at the feline, and climbed atop the Tikifhlee, “If you ever need me for anything, I can be found in Cenril. I’ve a bakery there and I live at the docks aboard the S.S Tranquility.” With a wave, Khitti and her cat headed back east, towards the port town.