Missteps V.2

Chapter 31 – Two Halves

"Do we really have to fill this out?" Carric eyed the half-completed paperwork in front of him as he scraped out the last of that morning's oatmeal from his bowl and fed it to Shomma. "I highly doubt the Circle cares what kind of occupation my next-of-kin is a part of."

"Will you stop complaining? I don't care if what you put down is true or not, just put something down. I have to send out my monthly report today, or it'll be late." Ander grumbled as he looked over Elaine's completed form.

The four of them sat in the couched pit, as a fire gently crackled between them. Lia and Iados had been put to work early by Iados's violet-skinned mother, Criella. Jun had left to quit his job with the town guard. Around them the air was filled with the sound of pleasant conversation, as well as muffled bangs and scrapes as more of the dyes from the previous day were mixed.

"So, have we been assigned a group name yet?" Kerri was lying with her feet up in the air as she held out her form. Most of her answers had been of the 'not applicable' variety.

"Yes." Ander tucked the forms into a leather ledger emblazoned with the outline of an encircled, faceless, feminine, and winged figure who cradled a heart to their chest. This was the symbol of the Sylph Heart Circle.

"That's all I get?" Kerri swung her legs down and sat up. "How am I supposed to compose us an epic poem if I don't have our name?"

Ander pursed his lips. "I'm hesitant to tell you, because Iados and Lia didn't react very well to it."

"Did they name us 'Giant Dick' or something?" Carric asked, suddenly curious.

Ander shook his head. "You have to understand, the Recovery Department assigns names randomly. Until a group has made a name for themselves, their name designation is mostly for the department's records."

Elaine held up her hand. "Quit stalling, what is it?"

Ander sighed. "Mellow Andromeda."

Immediately all three faces curled up in confusion.

"'Mellow Andromeda'." Kerri repeated, slowly.

"Isn't that the name of a bush?" Carric leaned back. "I feel like I've heard of an Andromeda bush before."

Ander nodded. "It is, there's a lot of them in Pryria."

Elaine's hands froze in the middle of re-doing her braid. "I'm sorry, but what part of this group says 'mellow'?"

Ander turned towards the curiously silent half-elf. "Kerri, are you alright?" Her mouth hung open and her eyes were glossy, as if she was in shock.

"I'm just trying to think of things that rhyme with 'Andromeda'." Kerri blinked. "There's not a whole lot. For some reason, all I can think of is scrofula, anostraca, and phenomenal."

"Were those first two even words?" Carric asked. Shomma scurried off the couch and out of the pit.

"'Scrofula' is a disease." Elaine finished her braid. "It's not something I want to be named after."

"'Anostraca' isn't much better." A dark green-skinned man stepped into the pit. "It's a type of crustacean."

Ander smiled brightly at the newcomer. "Good morning Ashok."

"Good morning Ander. Did the bakery not need you this morning?" Ashok stood perfectly straight, his arms folded behind him. He wore the tunic uniform of the monks, but unlike all the other uniforms Kerri, Carric, and Elaine had seen so far, his were cuffed in black.

Ander shook his head. "Yesterday was my last day. We hope to be on the road either today or tomorrow."

"Is that so? Then I take it these are the companions you were waiting for." The middle-aged Ashok inclined his head towards the newcomers.

"Kerri." The bard stepped forward and thrust out her hand. "This is also Carric, and Elaine." Ashok shook their hands. As he got closer, the group could see the small nub of horns that stuck out from his forehead, but also the slight pointedness of his ears that Carric and Kerri sported.

"I am Ashok, leader of the Shadow Totem monastery." Ashok grinned as recognition dawned on their faces. "Welcome to my home."

Kerri was about to say something, but the peaceful stirrings from outside suddenly turned into yells and shouts. The five of them rushed outside. They arrived in the garden just in time to see Iados punched to the ground by a bald, broad-shouldered, light-red skinned akudaem.

Iados popped up and tackled the man around the middle. At first the man didn't budge, but then Iados snaked a leg around and unseated the man's leg. With a thud the two of them fell to the ground. Iados straddled him, laid an arm across his windpipe, and leaned forward. The man began to gasp for air as he struggled.

"Get off of him!" Another bald akudaem cried as he tried to pry Iados off. A thorn-covered vine snaked into view and wrapped itself around his arm. He was wrenched away from Iados and pulled towards Lia who stood on the sideline, the other end of the vine in her hands.

Carric saw Shomma in the crowd. Her teeth were bared and her eyes locked on Lia's prisoner. He scurried forward, scooped her up, and deposited her unceremoniously in Elaine's arms.

"We told you to leave." Lia's voice as icy as the man tried to free his arm, but she wasn't addressing him.

Flanked by two more men, a red-skinned akudaem with some wrinkles around his eyes, and a blue-skinned muscled, young akudaem, was a beautiful sea-green colored akudaem. She was young, barely out of her teens, but had curling gray hair. The two men had full heads of hairs, and swirling tattoos that stretched form their neck to their collarbones. The woman had a large swirling tattoo over her right eye.

"We merely came to check in on our brethren." The woman's voice was like honey as it drifted out of her small mouth full of perfect teeth. Her smile was warm and welcoming. All around her, several men and women alike were gaping in admiration of this woman's beauty. "This lockdown affects all of us."

"But not equally." A violet-skinned woman shoved her way through the crowd. Of course, once the crowd saw the sword in her hand they eagerly got out of her way. She marched towards Iados, grabbed him around the collar and wrenched him to his feet.

"Good morning Criella." The woman sent a dazzling smile her way, but Criella only scowled.

"What do you and your cronies want Tordess?" Criella growled. Out of the crowd, three similar looking violet-red akudaems emerged, two of them armed like their mother and the third cracked their knuckles.

Tordess smiled and gestured to the small hand cart off to the side filled with bags and boxes. "We didn't come to fight. We recently came into some trade goods and wished to share it with the group."

"You mean you stole some trade goods, and wanted to pin something else on innocent people." One of the triplets, his hair tied back in a ponytail, snarled.

"Why would you assume they're stolen?" The sweet tone in her voice started to grate on Kerri's ears.

"Might have something to do with the fact that the biggest thief in town is literally standing on your right." Another of the triplets pointed out with his sword towards the older akudaem.

Tordess shifted her gaze to the pony-tailed triplet. "Melech, tell your brother to run off back to his bakery. While we're at it, why don't you come back to us? It hasn't been the same since you left." She took a step forward.

Melech took a step back. "I'm good, thanks."

"Just take your cart and get out of here." Iados yelled.

"Ah, Iados, the prodigal son. So nice to see you back, we should catch up." Tordess winked at him.

Kerri took a step forward out of the crowd, her eyes focused on Tordess. "Wow, Iados your standards used to be really low." As the final syllable left her lips, Tordess winced and brought a hand up to her head.

She whipped her gaze around to Kerri. She laughed in disbelief. "You dare attack me? Do you know who I am?"

Kerri crossed her arms. "Judging by the reception here, I'm going to guess you're a bitch."

The grey haired woman crossed and stood mere inches away from Kerri. "I am Tordess Erofort, envoy of the Mistress of Tragedy. I am someone not to be trifled with."

Kerri looked over Tordess's shoulder to Iados. "Tell me you didn't actually mess around with this chick?"

He shrugged. "I was fifteen and horny."

"Do not ignore me!" Tordess reached up and grabbed Kerri's chin. "I am the envoy of a goddess and you are interfering—ow!" Lia had a fistful of Tordess's long hair in hand and pulled on it, hard.

It only took a couple of yanks before Tordess freed herself. Turning around, she attempted to slap Lia, but the elf merely dodged easily.

"I highly suggest you leave." A cold smile was on Lia's face. "You've tipped your hand, and your tricks aren't working."

Tordess opened her mouth to say something, but Lia quickly covered it with hand. There was a silver spark in the elf's eyes she caught the envoys gaze. Her mouth spoke out a silent message, a message that made Tordess's eyes grow to the size of dinner plates.

The envoy removed Lia's hand with her own shaky ones. "You wouldn't dare." Her voice was barely a whisper.

Lia smiled serenely. "Do you really want to risk it?"

Tordess shoved past Lia. Without another word she led her entourage out of the garden, hand cart and all.

"Morthos, get on the wall and make sure they leave the area." Criella ordered the unarmed triplet. With the help of a nearby tree, Morthos scrambled on top of the tree within a couple of minutes. She turned to her oldest. "What happened?" The rest of Mellow Andromeda crowded in around.

Iados reached up and rubbed his jaw. "They knew the knock to open the door. Once it was open, Tordess had her cronies shove their way in and make their way inside. Lia and I intercepted them here."

"We told them to stop and leave." Lia interjected. "The big one tried to get past Iados, and he threw the first punch when Iados got in his way."

Kerri held up a hand. "I'm a little lost. Why is Tordess such a bitch?"

"She's a bitch by nature, but ever since she found her calling as Melindan's 'envoy' she's been an absolute terror. We have her to thank for our current circumstances." Mordai, the final triplet, grumbled.

"Tensions have been strained for years, she just broke the final straw." Criella sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I don't even know where to start."

"Criella, if I may, I think I may be able to explain." Ashok offered. "I will take our visitors and talk. You should ensure that Thashane and Folnir are informed of this latest scuffle. Tordess does not take lightly to being humiliated."

"Of course, thank you." Criella said her good-byes and left the compound, followed by Mordai and eventually Morthos. They passed Jun on their way out.

"Well then, if you'll all follow me." Ashok beckoned them to follow.

"What'd I miss?" Jun whispered to Carric as he caught up with the group. Elaine had passed Shomma back over.

"Bitch princess showed up with an entourage. Iados got punched." Carric moved Shomma up to around his neck. She barely fit.

Jun rolled his eyes. "Of course he did. I didn't pass them on my way out, they must have used a secret passage. This whole area is crawling with them."

Carric grinned. "Princess got her ass handed to her pretty well."

"By who?"

"First Kerri, and then Lia." Carric laughed. "I tell you what, those two have tongues sharper than my sword. Iados wrestled one of the guys to the ground, and then his mom showed up with a sword."

Jun chuckled. "I'm surprised Ander managed to stay out of it, he's been a part of a few nasty runs with that crew."

"Oh he had a spell primed and ready." Carric confirmed. "I happened to glance over at him, and the whole tip of his finger was bright red, just waiting for a crony to make the wrong move."

"Well at least he's not afraid to enter the fray. I think the Tribe rubbed off on him." Jun gave a hearty laugh as Ashok led them into a smaller sitting room. He settled himself down in padded chair. Carric sat in the middle of a love seat, at least until Ander shoved him over. The girls settled on the sofa, with Iados and his brother Melech on the rug in front of them. Jun stayed standing.

Ashok sat back and steepled in fingers in front of him. "This story, has two main backstory points. The first deals with their homeland. The akudaems of Esterwill have been here for less than a century. Before, they made their home in a kingdom far across the ocean. There they were a minority, a small group of people descended from ancestors who made some questionable deals and relationships with devils and demons alike. At the same time, there was another group who had ancestral roots that were more angelic. The two groups were literally biologically disposed to hate each other, and it wasn't long before a secret race war exploded between the two. For years the two groups hunted and killed each other, driven by a biological need to rid the world of their ancestral enemies. Of course, over the years the bloodline diluted and eventually the sides dissolved into different camps.

"This is where the second point comes into play. As the bloodlust began to subside in the akudaems, ideological and religious differences began to crop up. As a whole, the race had caught the attention of two fledgling goddesses looking to gather followers, Melindan and Nessel. Once they had been the same mortal woman, but to ease the bickering of the Storm Brothers, was torn in half."

"I've heard this story." Elaine said. "Nessel came to embody luck and chance, and was known as the Goddess of Fortune and Luck. Melindan meanwhile is the Goddess of Misfortune and Tragedy."

Ashok nodded. "If one wishes to avoid the inevitable tragic circumstances, then they need only dedicate their life to her. As a whole Melindan is not one of the earth-shattering evil goddesses, but she does feed off the heartbreak and fear caused by her followers." The leader sighed. "After the gods disappeared from this world, it caused a bit of a panic within her followers, and they went dormant. A century ago, Melindan's followers began to become active again, and waged a quiet war on the followers of Nessel."

"The followers of both Nessel and Melindan believe that the goddess should become one again." Melech explained from his spot on the floor. "However, each side wants their goddess to be dominant, and for the other to disappear completely."

"To protect themselves from the followers of Melindan, a group of akudaem took to the seas in three vessels and prayed for the goddess Nessel to favor them as they risked uncharted waters. They didn't have a destination, just a direction. Three months later they arrived on the shores of the Esterwill." Ashok stood up and took a position behind his chair. "Now, during the Marblebrookian Civil War, Esterwill became a haven city. All the fighting was far to the northwest. In the years that followed the end of the war, the city was almost emptied as the masses went back to rebuild. The main races left behind were the elves and gnomes. These two races ran the manufacturing in the city, wood and metal respectfully. You won't find better ships than those crafted by the Ash Craven, or better clockwork inventions than the Sterling Doves. The humans who were left joined forces and took up agriculture. It didn't long for the three groups to find harmony in their skill sets."

"I did notice that this town seems to be one large craft fair." Kerri commented. She leaned back into the thick cushions of the couch, legs crossed in front of her. To her left Elaine leaned forward, engrossed in the story. Lia had her legs crossed under her as she idly played with Iados's hair, eyes still focused on Ashok.

The half-akudaem nodded at her observation. "After three months at sea, the first fleet finally made it to shore. Miraculously all three ships had survived the journey. The monastery was the first to welcome them, as we have done with all the new visitors to our area. You see, the monastery has been here longer than Marblebrook has been a kingdom. Eager to prove themselves in their new home, a home which knew nothing of akudaems at the time, they took on some of the more dangerous tasks. They formed the bulk of the militaristic forces and joined the ranks of fishermen trolling the dangerous parts of the sea. Not a small number of them left to form new adventuring parties and explore their new world. Those weren't the greatest achievements of the akudaems though."

"We built the Horned Corner." Melech smiled. "The biggest gambling hall on the northern coast, which brought in tourists and money to the city."

Ashok nodded. "The akudaems gave up everything of their old ways, except Nessel, and took a chance on the people of Esterwill to give them a new life."

Iados grimaced. "Then the second fleet arrived."

The monastery leader nodded gravely. "A scant thirty years ago, a single ship, packed with barely fifty souls, docked and came ashore. They'd been chased out of the homelands, and had followed the rumors of the first fleet. For the first ten or so years the group seemed to assimilate well. They kept their heads down, and worked to build themselves up and to make a new life. One night a fire ripped through town. Several businesses along the plaza were ruined, but thankfully it'd been stopped before reaching the woodworker's guild. The next morning a rumor spread that the fire had been started by an akudaemian child's dropped lantern. An actual cause was never identified, and so the rumor persisted. From then on anything from a small thievery at a bake stand to a mugging was blamed on an akudaem. Even if the culprits were caught and they weren't akudaems. At the same time, ships manned by Akudaems started getting lost at sea.

"What is that important?" Carric scratched Shomma behind the ear, while Ander kept throwing questioning glances at the creature.

Melech turned towards the ranger. "The ships that disappeared had all been given Nessel's blessing. Combined with the false accusations, it wasn't hard for the elders to figure out that Melindan's forces had arrived in town."

"Did they do anything about it?" Jun asked from his post between the two pieces of furniture.

Ashok nodded. "Quietly they began to identify the players, and took steps to mitigate their movements. Known Melindan followers found themselves unable to enter the gambling hall, and were even banned from certain shops in town. It was more of a passive aggressive battle between the two groups."

"What changed?" Ander scooted farther away on the love seat as Shomma sniffed in his direction.

"Tordess rose to power." Ashok sat down again, his face weary. "Her mother was a devout follower of the Goddess of Misfortune, and as Tordess grew more and more into her beauty, her mother filled her head with the idea that she was chosen by Melindan herself. You see, Melindan is supposedly so beautiful and attractive, that she inspires a maddened loyalty within them. Tordess did the same with many young men." Ashok glanced over at Melech who hung his head. "For years, the followers of Melindan had cultivated a presence within the thievery rings around the area. After her mother died, Tordess took Ackr, its leader, as her main consort and essentially gained her own fighting force."

"Is he the older guy who was with her earlier?" Elaine asked.

Ashok nodded. "Almost three months ago now, at Tordess's command, her followers began a crime spree through town. Houses and business were burglarized, the town guard terrorized. Every contact with her followers had was hostile, even if they were just buying bread. It wasn't just the akudaem followers either. The elves, gnomes, and humans in their ranks would bait other akudaems into fights in public. Tordess enacted a smear campaign against her own people."

"Then a kid died." Iados stated, his face grim.

Ashok grimaced. "The Servants of the Peace were chasing a group of Tordess's men through town. A child was accidentally knocked into the streets by the men, and was trampled by a passing horse."

"We didn't even see the kid." Melech's voice was soft. "We were so focused on running away, that none of us saw him fall."

Kerri jolted forward. "Wait, you pushed him?"

Melech sprang to his feet. "No! A friend of mine Onen did. He felt so guilty that he turned himself in, and then hanged himself in prison. I was the one who told Tordess what had happened. She laughed and said it was perfect."

Elaine narrowed her eyes at the younger akudaem. "Why were you even involved with her?"

Melech sighed. "I thought I was supposed to be. For a few years up to then it felt like I'd been cursed to be a bad luck magnet. Every opportunity slipped through my fingers. I couldn't hold down a job, a girlfriend, a friend. My family didn't even want me around after I accidentally torched a flowerbed trying to boil a pot of water. So, I started hanging out with Tordess and her crowd. When I was around them, I didn't have bad luck anymore. I felt lucky to be chosen to be in Tordess's bed." He ran a hand down his face. "That spell or whatever it was, broke the moment I saw her laugh over the death of a child. That was when I walked away, came home, and told my mother everything."

"Almost immediately following the events of the child's death akudaem businesses were vandalized." Ashok continued. "Akudaems were harassed and attacked in the streets by regular citizens, not just those under Tordess's command. As public opinion was contaminated, people with already negative feelings towards akudaems were suddenly given free passes to vent those frustrations."

"We arrived two days before the city went on lockdown." Jun explained. "Just walking through town I'd break up two, three fights every few feet. It was like a cloud of anger and resentment hung over the city and it was directed at every akudaem here."

"When did the wall go up?" Iados tugged on his brother's pants, and he settled back down on the floor.

"A couple of weeks into the lockdown." Ashok leaned back. "Wherever an akudaem went there was trouble. The Servant's manpower was down, and they couldn't physically provide enough protection for the Akudaems. The conflicts were hurting the city economy as a whole, as no one felt safe enough to wander about lest they be dragged into a fight. It was Ander who came up with the idea of a wall." He nodded over at the halfling.

Shomma now sat in Ander's lap, and Ander was as still as a statue. Carric had his eyes glued to the situation, but made no move to remove her.

The halfling spoke out of the corner of his mouth. "All I did was mention to Fordila down at the Chapter House that this whole mess just needed to blow over. I told her about the time my parents had erected a wooden wall in my sister's room when they were kids. She was inspired, and that night the wall went up."

"For the most part it seems to be working." Ashok picked up. "Hostilities outside the wall are calming, and inside the two sides are more pronounced. Melindan's followers are now feeling confident enough to tattoo themselves with Melindan's symbol. Our ultimate goal is to drive Tordess and her followers out of Esterwill."

"So the two groups are playing chicken, waiting to see which side will crack first." Kerri summed up, and Ashok nodded.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Elaine reached up and fingered a silver necklace with five beads weaved within it around her neck.

"That is a generous offer, but no. Ander and Jun have already done so much, but now it is a waiting game." Ashok stood up. "You should all go and start your adventuring life, as Mellow Andromeda."

Everyone groaned.

One by one they all filtered out of the room, Jun leading the discussion of what supplies they still needed.

Iados grabbed Elaine's elbow and pulled her back. "I need your help." He whispered. "Come with me." He led her into the compound and to a back porch. A few children sat playing with marbles, watched over by an older akudaem that sat in a lounge chair, and was bundled up in more than a few blankets.

Iados approached the man and knelt down in front of him.

"Dad, its Iados. I've brought someone to meet you." He motioned for Elaine to come closer. "This is Elaine. Elaine, this is my father Barakas."

Elaine knelt down next to Iados and looked the man over. There was no doubt as to the family resemblance between him and Iados. They shared the same cocky grin and slightly lopsided ears. His green eyes held a glazed over quality as they seemed to focus anywhere but on her and Iados.

"It's very nice to meet you." She reached out and took his hand, her grip unable to stop the man's tremble.

"I'm waiting." Barakas's voice was raspy, and there were little breaks in-between the syllables. "Nemeia will be home soon."

"Nemeia's my sister, the one who vanished when she was a kid." Iados explained as he stood up and readjusted some of his father's blankets. "I knew he was having memory problems when I left. All my life he was very forgetful."

"And now?"

"Now he barely recognizes my mother. He doesn't acknowledge the triplets or I." Iados's voice was soft as he brushed a lock of hair out of his father's face. "Mom says his memory problems started with the accident that took his leg." He swept back the blankets to reveal the missing appendage. "Can you help him?"

Elaine's face fell as she looked at her friend. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I'm not strong enough to fix whatever this is. Maybe somebody in the Church could help?"

"We don't have the money." Iados admitted. "Mom took him to a healer a couple of years ago, and they wanted more gold than she's seen in her lifetime for the kind of healing he needed."

"If you knew that, then why did you ask?"

"You seemed pretty strong in the Settlement, I figured what it couldn't hurt to ask." Iados didn't look at her. His focus was solely on his father. "I left home because I knew we needed money. I overheard mom talking to Ashok, asking for a raise or some other assistance. Turned out that Dad's been seeing the healers for years, otherwise he'd have been in this state a long time ago. While I was on The Howling King, I sent home a large cut of my share of every haul. Every time I sent a note, telling my parents I was alive, I was good, and to put this towards dad's health." Iados took in a ragged breath. "When Lia and I arrived, I asked mom if the money had helped any. She didn't know what I was talking about. The money never reached them. All the work I did for five years did absolutely nothing to help my family. I became that jerk son who left home and abandoned their family."

"You tried Iados." Elaine stood up and laid a hand on Iados's shoulder. "Besides, you're here now. Do you know how cool you looked standing with your mom and brothers before? The five of you looked like you could take down a pack of orcs."

He shrugged the hand off. "Yeah, but I'm not staying. I'm leaving, again."

The dark-skinned cleric smiled and reached out again. "This time you're not going alone. If you ever want to send money home now, I'm sure between Ander and I we can find a way to make sure it arrives safely. We might even find a way to help your father."

"I'm hoping we do." Iados reached out and gave Elaine a one-armed hug. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Elaine smiled. "I'm going to leave the two of you alone now, and meet up with the others."

Iados smiled and crouched down by his father's side again. "I'll be along in a few."

"Take your time," Elaine stated. "We won't leave without you."