Souls Entangled

The Forum
  The newly built Forum is Maelbrim's premier meeting area.  It is a large
circle, its boundaries marked by columns and its ground laid with marble. 
Here is where public deals are struck, orations are given, and a great deal
of spectacle takes place.  It was ground zero for the catastrophe that was
summoned to this land, but there are no signs of that devastation now.  What
had once been a ruinous crater is now a symbol of life and a flurry of
activity.  The King's Square is due east, the Northern Commons to the north,
the Southern Commons to the south and Green Square to the west.  A fountain
has been placed in the middle of the square, a true masterpiece of art. 
Just north of it, a white marble statue has been erected, depicting a very
hairy, square, small person.  Must be a dwarf.  
 
Vanek says 'Hello'

You smile happily.

You say 'Ah, Vanek! Good to see ye.'
  
Vanek says 'Aye tis good to see you as well Senrik'
  
Vanek says 'I have not forgotten our last meeting Senrik....the omens still loom large '
  
Vanek says 'I have pondered on the fates much since then'

You say 'Nor have I.. and I am glad you brought it up. I feel I stumbled into a story partway, and I am missing pieces of it.'

The sky is getting cloudy.
 
Vanek says 'Ah yes...you do not know its beginnings'
  
Vanek says 'In truth i think it started before even I became wrapped up in the telling of our now combined story'

Vanek says 'But I can speak of when my part in it all started'

Senrik smooths his robes, his hands having a slightly nervous motion about them. 'I just know that it was not my first run in with the Lady of Eclipses... and I sometimes still feel her moonlight on me.'

Vanek nods in enthusiastic agreement with you.

You nod.
  
Vanek says 'Such is her nature...I have had quite a few interactions'
  
Vanek says 'I felt similar to what you must feel now'
  
Vanek says 'She is mysterious to say the least..'
  
Vanek peers around himself intently.

Vanek whispers, 'She could be listening or watching even now'
 
Vanek throws back his head and cackles with insane glee!

Senrik nods slowly, thumbing his sparse goatee. He furrows his brow. 'Indeed. I am not ashamed to admit, I do not even begin to understand her motives or ways.'

You say 'She is much like something from the kinds of tales my mother told me when I was young. Beings of power can be sources of great lessons or boons, but it is wise to watch the particulars of your words with them, as a word can seal a fate... as well as break one.'
 
Vanek says 'I'd be speaking falsely if i said I truly understood all...but I am quite perceptive and believe she divulges much in her seeking out and testing of mortals'
 
Vanek says 'And your Mothers words are most wise, I never really knew mine'

Vanek says 'But that is a different story'

Senrik nods thoughtfully. 'It is no coincidence that we call the crafting of magic 'spells' and the crafting of words 'spelling'.'
  
Vanek says 'Quite so....intriguing isn't it?'

Vanek rests nonchalantly on the fountain  seemingly getting ready for a long winded monologue.

You say 'But I digress.. do not let me wax too philosophical and away from my original inquiry... when I happened upon you in the that dragon's lair, and the Lady showed herself.. it seemed there was already something in motion between she and you.'
  
Vanek says 'Indeed, yer inklings are true'
  
Vanek says 'Some time ago she placed upon me a burden I was not ready for'

Vanek thinks deeply while speaking 'What did I know then to accept such a grave inheritance'

Senrik nods, listening attentively.
  
Vanek looks off in the distance he words spoken but with distance in voice 'She happened to find Ghregen and I having a spirited time

Senrik pulls a leather-bound journal from his pack, as well as a portable ink-pot and quill. 'I'll be taking notes, if ye don't mind?'
 
Vanek says 'By all means'

Vanek says 'Should I misspeak I do not mind to add clarifications'
  
Vanek says 'There we both were having drunk our way through a wonderful battle, celebrating if you believe it'
   
Vanek says 'Then without warning She appeared'
 
Vanek says 'She posited my trade and gave onto me the still bound soul of Elexan!'

Vanek says 'Told me and I quote  Let us see what worth you can find in this.'

Senrik nods gravely, his eyes leveling into a thousand-yard stare for a moment, before returning his attention back to the conversation.

Vanek phases back into existence.
 
Vanek says 'In retrospect the former owner of the soul was not important...it was the binding that mattered to her of perhaps to us all'

You say 'The soul was but a tool for her to test your own nature with, it would seem.'
  
Vanek says 'Almost certainly it was but then i yet to have any idea what it would lead to'

Vanek says 'At that point'

Senrik smirks. 'Aye, hind-sight being eagle-keen, as they say.'

Vanek nods in enthusiastic agreement with you.

Vanek says 'But i would soon start to understand how delicate this predicament in found myself in was'
 
Vanek says 'At first the tradesman in me thought of what treasure I could obtain...what friends I could make and what influence I could muster'
 
Vanek says 'These things being the core of my occupational ambitions'

Senrik nods. 'Aye, there are many who practice particular arts who would find use for such a rare oddity.'

Vanek nods.
 
Vanek says 'But immediately i faced a quandry...as this was all done in the presence of a dear friend Ghregen'
 
Vanek says 'Mayhaps the truest friend I've had in the realm and at the very least the first since I had obtained my freedom'

Senrik pauses his writing to blow on the page, drying the ink. Once satisfied, he turns it and resumes on the next.
 
Vanek says 'While thoughts of great wealth filled my head, My friend in his good nature spoke of his concern'

Senrik gives a small, warm smile. 'Ghregen is indeed a true friend. I would not be walking in the halls of the Great Library itself if not for his help.'
 
Vanek says 'He admonished me for my greed and his distaste of what he had witnessed became clear when trying to make light of it through our drunken row only seemed to further anger and upset him'

Vanek says 'After further discussion he parted ways with me rather uncourteously....'
 
Vanek drinks water from a large marble fountain.
 
Vanek says 'It was then that I began to doubt'

Senrik nods thoughtfully. 'He does have rather strong convictions. I can admire that, even if I find my own convictions to differ at times.'

Vanek says 'Aye he is rather stalwart in his moral codes'
 
Vanek says 'That such a deep bond could be shaken by what i was in possession of had not even crossed my mind until that moment'
 
Vanek shudders at the horror and represses tears. 

Senrik thumbs his goatee, pausing to think a moment before speaking. 'Aye, a question that challenged your deeper loyalties.'
 
Vanek says 'Ah yes and in my hubris I thought little of it in that moment'

Vanek sighs.
 
Vanek says 'But that would not last long'
 
Vanek says 'The longer my friend abstained from speaking with me the more I began to want answers'

Vanek says 'And as we were not on speaking terms I sought out the opinion of others'

You say 'Sometimes we do not know what we have until we are forced to feel its absence...'

Vanek says 'I thought I knew him....but in truth I only knew the part of him I liked...the part I could understand'

Vanek says 'Once presented with what he actually was I balked...I jested, I made light of'

Senrik sighs and nods. 'Aye, I have had moments of my own where I have had a sudden clashing of understanding... whether in core values, cultural knowledge, or simple differences in language.'
 
Vanek says 'I spoke with many others regarding in vague terms what the worth or meaning of a soul was'

Vanek says 'I spoke with all walks of this life'
 
Vanek says 'Those of the light and of the dark, those of law and of chaos....the living and the unliving'

Senrik smiles and gives a look of almost admiration. 'To walk such a delicate balance is no easy task.'

Vanek says 'Each had their own thoughts and some even align ed with what i had first envisioned'

Sylvara quietly enters the Forum.

Sylvara curtseys gracefully.

You dazzle Sylvara with your smile.

With a somber intonation, Sylvara responds, ' Salutations.
 
Vanek bows deeply.

Vanek drinks water from a large marble fountain.

Lightly nodding to herself before she speaks, Sylvara says, ' Hopefully, I didn't disrupt your conversation.

Vanek says 'We seem to have many distractions'
 
Vanek snickers softly.

Vanek says 'Tis fine i can still continue'
 
Sylvara beams a smile at Vanek.

With a somber intonation, Sylvara responds, ' Most gracious of you

Senrik dips his quill and continues taking notes. He smirks at Sylvara. 'You have arrived at a rather interesting moment, m'lady. Vanek here is just catching me up on a bit of story I find myself entangled in a bit of.'
 
Sylvara raises an eyebrow.
 
Lightly nodding to herself before she speaks, Sylvara says, ' Now, I am even more intrigued.'

Vanek stretches luxuriously.  Kinda makes you want to doesn't it?
 
Lightly nodding to herself before she speaks, Sylvara says, ' Just pretend I'm not here.'
 
Sylvara beams broadly at nothing in particular.

Senrik feigns confusion. 'Did ye hear that? Must just be in the wind in the bushes...'

Sylvara grins evilly.
 
Vanek says 'Well As i was recalling....'

Vanek sits down and thinks deeply.

Senrik returns to a more serious demeanor, motioning to Vanek to continue. 'Aye, I felt you were getting closer to connecting these threads.'
 
Vanek says 'There was one voice amongst all that had given profound insight into my dilemma'
 
Vanek says 'And that was Gibble'
 
Vanek says 'We talked in length...and i listened intently'

Vanek says 'He spoke of the essence of ones soul'
 
Vanek says 'The piece of their very selves that remained a part'

Vanek says 'How when bound a soul is stripped of its agency of brought to the whim of another'
 
Vanek says 'And while a soul is powerful in its way it is also vulnerable'
 
Vanek says 'This lead me to greater understanding'
 
Vanek says 'I finally could comprehend why Ghregen would be so disappointed in my yearnings'
 
Vanek says 'I mulled these thoughts in the weeks after trying to come to a realization, a compromise perhaps i did not fully know'

Vanek says 'I soon began to arrive at my verdict'
 
Vanek says 'My own original thought not based on what others thought ...but what I now believed...'
 
Vanek nods at you in agreement.

Vanek says 'A soul is not a thing to be used or held or kept from its place and purpose'

Senrik waits for the page to dry before starting another.
 
Vanek says 'A soul is no slave...and to treat it as such and pass it as a commodity is sacrilege'
 
Vanek says 'Its place has been spoken for since before its arrival on this plane'

Vanek says 'It cam from and shall return '

Senrik nods gravely. 'Aye, to remove something from the cycle and hold it hostage creates an imbalance of power of one over another.'
 
Vanek says 'Not just imbalance, its a theft from the cycle, a deliberate dilation of the Cycle'
 
Vanek says 'Soon I recognized in myself a growing of purpose'
 
Vanek says 'I still love what I do but perhaps I could do more...and perhaps i could be better'

Vanek says 'It was then That gain Selavyth appeared to me in my moment of contemplation'
 
Vanek says 'She asked me what i had learned...and i spoke it'

Vanek says 'She fostered in me the knowledge and gave in context'
 
Vanek says 'She saw on me an omen and tasked me to head the lessons of this endeavor and free the shackled soul so that it may return to its road along the Cycle'

Senrik pauses writing for a moment, his eyes drifting down the street in a distant stare.
 
Vanek says 'I knew then that i must free the soul i had help for too long already'

It starts to rain.
 
Vanek says 'I found a spot I thought would suffice in the moment rushed as it was in my excitement'

Lightly nodding to herself before she speaks, Sylvara says, ' Be careful of the rain, it might ruin your work.'

Vanek frowns.

Vanek says 'And here i was getting to the end... or rather when our paths became entangled'

Senrik tucks his journal away and closes the inkpot. He then pulls the hood of his robe up, shrugging off the light rain. 'By all means, continue unless ye think we'll melt.'
          
Vanek says 'Nay we finish this tale ere are close now'
 
Vanek says 'I had built a small cairn in remembrance next to a tree of death and a starstone coffin a place many of have passed without much thought'
 
Vanek says 'I placed atop it the soul '

Senrik nods. 'A thoughtful gesture, full of symbolism.'
 
Vanek says 'I as instructed I released claim over it and willed it go back to its path'
 
Vanek says 'The wind howled and the very canopy of the forest parted violently letting the beams of moonlight dance along the forest floor'
 
Vanek says 'I retrieved two Pink Ladies from my goods gifts from that friend I had not spoken to for so long'
 
Vanek says 'I sat one at the base of the cairn and slowly sipped the other'

Vanek says 'And then without a whisper the soul flickered and waned, then quietly dissipated into the air as if were no more than smoke'
 
Vanek says 'It was done, the deed at least'
 
Vanek says 'All this growth and learning had come to its end'
 
Vanek says 'I went about my routines until I saw her again...appearing to us both in the midst of glass'
 
Vanek says 'As so now you know my part...apologies for the longwindedness of it all'

With a curious look, Sylvara smiles at Vanek.

Lightly nodding to herself before she speaks, Sylvara says, ' It was an interesting story.

Senrik nods. 'Do not apologize for the longwindedness.. I thank you for the depth of what you discussed here with me. If I am to record this properly, the more I know will certainly further guide my quill.'

Vanek says 'And so now we find ourselves together'
 
Vanek smiles happily.

You say 'I find this to be all a little too much in coincidence to be mere happenstance.'
 
With a somber intonation, Sylvara responds, ' Like the wolf and the raven, symbiotic and interlocked.

Senrik pauses, smoothing his robe before continuing. 'You see.. Selavyth appeared to me when I was a bit younger, very early in my guild training.'

Vanek raises an eyebrow.

You say 'She appeared to me... with a very similar "gift" in her hands. But....'

You get the soul of Senrik from a travel bag.

Vanek gasps in astonishment.

You say 'Not a piece of someone else's soul....'

Vanek boggles at the concept.

You say 'She told me to keep it safe.'

You put the soul of Senrik in a travel bag.

Vanek says 'This is perplexing'

You say 'And I have found myself struggling with what exactly safe even means... but I feel like our paths crossing has brought me closer to an answer.'

Vanek says 'I kept the one i was given secreted away...i dared not carry it around'

Vanek says 'But then it was not my own...'

Vanek says 'It seems our meetings were far more fated than we had thought'

You nod in enthusiastic agreement with Vanek.

Vanek rushed to Senrik's side protectively.

Vanek says 'Keep it safe as safe as one can'

You say 'Ghregen knows of it, as well.'

You say 'It is strange, to hold not a piece of another.. but an estranged piece of one's own self, unable to return it to the whole.'

Sylvara boggles at the concept.

Vanek says 'Ah well, perhaps now we could speak to each other again...'

Vanek says 'Not us but Ghregen and I...though admittedly i must soon retire'

You nod.
 
Sylvara says 'I miss Ghregen. A most welcome companion.'
 
Lightly nodding to herself before she speaks, Sylvara says, ' Haven't seen him in quite some time.'

Sylvara frowns.

Vanek says 'I have no say over it...but I could act as courier again if you sought fit for it'

Senrik pulls a small tea kit from his pack and sets the kettle up with a magical flame.

You pour tea from a copper kettle into a tiny wooden cup.

You pour tea from a copper kettle into a tiny wooden cup.

You pour tea from a copper kettle into a tiny wooden cup.

You give a tiny wooden cup to Vanek.

Vanek says 'But such a different quandary you have than myself... I thought my self unlucky'

You give a tiny wooden cup to Sylvara.
 
With a somber intonation, Sylvara responds, ' If you see him before I do, just let him know I've been wanting to spend some time with him.

Sylvara thanks you heartily.

Vanek says 'More time is needed to sort this out '

Vanek nods.

Senrik holds up the tea cup in a toast and takes a drink.

You drink tea from a tiny wooden cup.

Vanek says 'I hate to end this but i must go....we have much to think over Senrik'

Sylvara curtseys gracefully to Vanek.

With a somber intonation, Sylvara responds, ' A pleasure.'

Sylvara takes a sip from a tiny wooden cup.

Senrik bows deeply, his braid rolling off his shoulder with the motion. 'Until we meet again. I look forward to pondering this mystery more with you.'

Vanek nods at Sylvara.

Vanek says 'And thank you for joining us with such eager ears'

Sylvara grins evilly.

Lightly nodding to herself before she speaks, Sylvara says, ' No, thank you.'
 
Vanek says 'A story is best told in the presence of many'
 
Sylvara nods in enthusiastic agreement with Vanek.

Vanek bows deeply.

Vanek says 'Goodbye for now'
 
Vanek has left the lands.

Sylvara turns to you.

Senrik smiles softly.
 
With a somber intonation, Sylvara responds, ' An interesting entanglement you seem to have got yourself into.'

Lightly nodding to herself before she speaks, Sylvara says, ' I'd wager if you didn't go and find trouble, it would come find you.'

Sylvara grins evilly at you.  Hmmm.  Better keep your distance.

Senrik chuckles softly. 'I seem to have a way of stumbling into strange situations. I do not know whether to call it luck or not.'

With a somber intonation, Sylvara responds, ' Fortune, neither good nor bad.'

Lightly nodding to herself before she speaks, Sylvara says, ' Perhaps that means it will be whatever you make of it?

Kass edit: added mudlog brackets for easier reading.

This whole souls thing has been amazing to see play out. Loving it, can’t wait for more creativity that yall are showing with this.

Well done all of you! I look forward to seeing what you do next, I love seeing everyone’s creativity with everything. Things like this make me so happy and excited to interact with you all even more!

Keep it up, you are all amazing!!

P.S. keep posting RP logs I love reading them.

Love it! Glad to have played even a small part in your journey so far. :)