#saeon-rpg

[saeonrpg]

Adelaide Miriam Rosebone and Vivienne

[saeonrpg]

A Rose in the Dark: Session 9.a "The Winking Dog"

5th of Suran, 1488 2e; Early Evening

Adelaide arrives at the gates of Krystad. Throngs of people are entering the city, finishing their work for the day and returning home. He integrates himself with the crowd, passing himself off as the child of an unknowing peasant, and enters the city. Krystad has the reputation of helping those in need, through the many temples that care for it's streets. Each building is clean and well kept, but sitting outside them are beggars and vagabonds, waiting for the temples to open their shelters for them to go to sleep and repeat the next day.

"We're finally at Krystad." Vivienne said, floating above Adelaide's head. "What're we gonna do first?" Adelaide needs a place to stay for the night, but first, he needs to find food.

Looking into the windows of each building, Adelaide comes across a tavern named The Winking Dog. He enters. The tavern is as clean on the inside as it is on the outside. The place is packed with laughing patrons, all dressed in fine silks and sparkling jewelry. Adelaide lifts himself up to the counter where an equally well dressed bartender is organizing wine bottles, his back to the entrance.

"Excuse me." Adelaide said. The bartender turns abruptly. The initial confusion upon hearing Adelaide's voice turning into disgust as soon as he looks at him.

"Haven't we told you urchins that you're not welcomed in here." The bartender sneered behind his well-groomed mustache. Adelaide looked at him in shock, he continued. "You come in here and dirty my shop with your stink."

"I just want some food."

"Don't you get enough at the orphanage"

"I have money!"

Behind Adelaide, a man shouts "Hey, Barkeep! Bring us another round." The man was large, round, and wore the most gaudy robes Adelaide had ever seen. His sausage fingers were covered in massive rings and gold chains wrap around his neck. This man was obviously the richest man in the room.

"Yes, magistrate. Right away." The bartender said, bowing his head nervously.

"Is that little girl bothering you?" The rich man said. "Just give her a piece of bread and she'll run off!"

"I'm a boy." Adelaide said to the man, but he had already checked out, returning to the stories being told at his table. The bartender leaves to a back door and returns moments later with a small piece of bread. He forces the bread onto Adelaide, pushing him off the counter.

"There. Now take it and go!" The bartender said. Adelaide was about to interject and ask for more, but the bartender has started filling the order for the rich man. He realized that he wasn't going to get any more than this, so he leaves with his sole piece of bread.

"Well, there's one good thing about being dead," Vivienne said mockingly. "You don't need to eat or drink anything." Adelaide ate the bread. It relieved some of his pain, but he was still hungry. "Are we going to the orphanage, then? Sounds like they have free food."

"Are you crazy?" Adelaide exclaimed. "We can't go to the orphanage! Don't you remember what mom said?" Orphanages are places were bad kids are sent. They are put to work gruelling jobs, and when they're too tired to work, they're sold for body parts. His mother would often threaten to send him to an orphanage whenever he was out of line. "They'll trap me and take the dagger. Then I won't be able to kill Loviegna, like Jenai wants!"

Adelaide looks at the blood-red dagger. This entire time he had been carrying it in the basket Ms. Kulmmird had given him, but with the jostling he'd done during travel, the blade has cut a hole in the basket. It needs a proper sheathe, but looking about, all the shops aside from the taverns have closed for the day. He then noticed several beggars, all walking in the same direction.

"Where are they all going?" Vivienne said. Adelaide didn't know, but he decided to follow.

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[saeonrpg]

A Rose in the Dark: Session 8 "Goblin Thief"

5th of Suran, 1488 2e; Late Midday

As he trotted down the road, Adelaide continues to play his fife, to Vivienne's horror. He played until his stomach forced him to double over. He looked around, in the bushes beyond the trees, and spots blue little berries hanging from one of them. Without a second thought, Adelaide grabs at them, shoving the berries down his throat. He felt them drop to the bottom of his stomach one-by-one. As he began to slow down, he got a good look at the berries. They were old, wrinkly, and moldy. Under the skin, he saw something moving around. He didn't know if the berries he ate were the same, but the thought of it was enough to make him vomit every bit he had eaten.

Vivienne laughed at Adelaide's dismay, seeing it as payback for the terrible music. His stomach now feels worse than it was before. Adelaide thought back to other times he's had stomach problems. Ms. Kulmird used to always cook a dandelion salad whenever he had these pains. It was easy to find some dandelions, but as he collects its leaves, he found something else. Stramonium weeds.

Adelaide remembered that Ms. Kulmird used to make poisons with these. Strong poisons that she claimed could kill an ox. Adelaide only had the dagger to defend himself, but perhaps, if he could make this into a poison, he won't need to worry about his safety. Adelaide collects the weed, making sure to set it aside, away from the dandelion leaves, and continued down the road.

Further down the road, Adelaide discovers a set of clothes on the road. Looking around, he sees no other person in sight. He picks up the clothes and looks it over. It was an old tunic and a pair of leggings, but it was still intact and looked to be his size. Are these boy clthes, Adelaide wondered. Either way, it looked different from the clothes he was wearing. Before he could put it on, there's a rustle in the bushes. A goblin appears.

"Hands off, kid! That's mine!" She exclaimed. The goblin was a short, dirty woman, covered head to toe in pilfered cloth and silks of many different colors. On her back is a large sack, possibly filled with more stolen goods. "Give me back my merchandise, you rotten thief!" Adelaide thought to give it to her, but his hunger told him to do otherwise.

"I'll give it back if you give me any food you have," Adelaide said while making himself look bigger than the goblin.

"What did you just say?" the goblin sneered, brandishing an ornate dagger. As soon as he saw the dagger, Adelaide ran with the clothes in hand. "Get back here, thief! I'll gut ya!" She chased after him. Even with the bag of goods weighing on her back, she was agile. She was able to quickly catch and trip him up. The goblin waved the dagger over him, Adelaid relented.

"Okay, okay! It's yours." Adelaide tossed the clothes at the goblin and covered himself in defense.

"That's what I thought!" The goblin picked up the clothes and stored it in her large sack. Looking back at him, the goblin swung her dagger, slashing Adelaide on the back of his hand and backed off. "You ain't even worth my time." The goblin walked back into the bushes, leaving Adelaide alone again.

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[saeonrpg]

Eastern Rhoria, 1488 2e

Made using Hexfriend

[saeonrpg]

A Rose in the Dark: Session 7 “The Road Ahead”

5th of Suran, 1488 2e; Midday

Adelaide played a tune on his new fife as he walked down the road, though "playing a tune" is a awfully generous description.

"Please, stop playing! My ears can't take it!" Vivienne screamed as she covered her ears. It was the first time Adelaide has ever played the fife. In his attempts to play one of Mrs. Fenwick's old tunes, he may have accidentally been playing at an octave that was like a dogwhistle to ghosts. He continued to practice his fife. If he can learn to play this instrument while also annoying Vivienne for a change, then he was happy.

Further down the road, Adelaide sees a carriage fallen to one side. It was a bright blue color with golden trimmings. Even at a distance, Adelaide could tell that the carriage looked rather fancy, probably belonging to some noble or wealthy merchant, but it was stuck in a bush. He also sees something, or someone, hovering near the thing. Walking closer and closer, Adelaide realized what it was. It was a ghost.

Vivienne grew excited at the sight of another spirit. It was a man, dressed in uniform, like a coachman. An arrow stuck out from his head and his lean body, though mostly whole, was covered in bites and scratches. It was obvious that the main cause of his death was the arrow, then a pack ate at him as his spirit slipped away. The ghost didn't notice the children approaching, he seemed to be too busy with the carriage.

"Where did that wheel go?" The ghost said, frantically floating around the carriage. "We are going to be late to the party, and if we are late to the party, Lady Madeline is going to fire me!" With each word, the ghost became more frantic, looking all over the area for the carriage's missing wheel.

"Hey, mister!" Vivienne yelled. The ghost doesn't seem to notice. "HEEEEEEEEY! I'm talking to you!" The ghost continued to look around for the missing wheel, to Vivienne's annoyance. "He must be deaf." She said, shrugging. She was hoping to find another companion to talk another spirit.

Adelaide approached the carriage. He didn't notice from a distance, but the carriage has taken some weather damage. The paint is peeling off and the wood is getting eaten up by water damage and termites. What he thought was a bush that the carriage fell into is actually thick layers of vines that have consumed the carriage. This has been here for quite a long time. Adelaide stepped closer, hoping to see what could be within the vehicle, when a sudden force pushed on his chest, causing him to fall backwards.

"Don't you dare touch a thing!" The ghost yelled, now looming over Adelaide. "I am tired of my tools and pieces getting stolen from right under my nose! You stay away from that carriage!" Adelaide lay stunned at what just occurred. Did the ghost just push him.

"Ah! There it is!" Under a collection of vines, the ghost finds the missing carriage wheel. As easily as a living human, the ghost pulls the wheel from under the vines and carries it over to the carriage. Adelaide and Vivienne watch in awe. How could a ghost move physical objects? Vivienne herself has never been able to do so, only phasing through them.

The ghost fixes the wheel onto the carriage and looks around. "Now, where is my hammer!" The ghost screams. A very chilling scream that forces Adelaide to jump to his feet. He ran as fast as he could, until the carriage was no longer in sight.

"How did he do that?" Vivienne asked as Adelaide caught his breathe. "He pushed you like you were a piece of paper."

"I don't know, and I don't wanna know." Adelaide wheezed. He'd rather Vivienne not know either. If she figured out how to affect the physical world, there is no telling how many ways she will annoy him. Adelaide felt a chill on his back and chest. Looking down, he saw Vivienne's arms phasing through his chest. Please don't figure it out, Adelaide thought.

Adelaide came upon a crossroads and a signpost with arrows pointing at each direction. One, labeled "Fisch", was pointing west where he had come from, another points east with the label "Krystad" on it, the last points north to the village of Eschbrand, which Adelaide could see from that point. His stomach grumbled as though to tell him to walk in that direction. Adelaide had thought that it was a bad idea to go there, considering that they probably hired the adventurers that killed his mother, but maybe that wasn't true. Perhaps the adventurers that destroyed Fisch came from another village, or just so happened to find the village and realized it was run by witches. If that were the case, it wouldn't be much of a problem if he stopped at Eschbrand and convinced a family to give him food. He had 400 gold with him, after all.

Adelaide began to walk toward Eschbrand when he noticed a group leaving the town. Adventurers, five of them, and they all looked strong. Among them was a tall muscular man, with an equally long sword. There was a slim, panther woman who held her head high and walked with grace. The shortest of the group looked to be the oldest, a gnome man with large goggles and a metallic arm. A metallic arm, Adelaide thought.

His drifted back to the metal circle Thetch found at the village. He said that the circle belonged to one of the adventurers, an artificer. It looked to be of a similar color as the gnome's metal arm. Could it be? Before he could process this, one of the adventurers called out to him.

"Hey, girlie! What're ya doin' here all by yerself?" It was a halfling woman, no taller than him but much more cunning. Adelaide froze. There was no way of avoiding them now. "You shouldn't be out 'ere all by yourself. Where's yer mum? Yer dad?" You killed my mother, Adelaide wanted to yell out, but he was afraid that they'd kill him too if they knew, and if they ask too many question, they might figure it out eventually.

So, Adelaide did the one thing that has been working for him so far. He ran. He ran back to the crossroads and toward Krystad. He could hear the adventurers yelling and chasing after him, but he didn't look back. He was just face to face with his mother's killers, but he knew he was too weak to fight them. But he will remember them, because one day, he will get his revenge.

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[saeonrpg]

A Rose in the Dark: Session 6 “What Was Left”

5th of Suran, 1488 2e; Morning

Adelaide awakes to creaking wood. Many of the homes in Fisch were made unlivable by the fires, but he managed to find one that was still standing, mostly. Looking through the house, he found no food. The women must have taken everything they could during the escape, leaving nothing for him. His stomach grumbles. He hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon.

Stepping outside, he hears the sound of light footsteps. Ducking into some rubble, he scans the area. Did the attackers come back? Are they going to kill him next? He readied himself, gripping his dagger as the footsteps grew closer, when, around a corner, a deer limped into view. Adelaide felt relief. He thought he would have to fight for his life, but a lame deer posed no threat to him. His stomach grumbled again. Adelaide was hungry, and the deer was looking a little tasty. He readies himself again and waits for the deer.

"You're not going to catch that thing." Vivienne mocked. She may be right, but Adelaide had no choice. He was so hungry.

Adelaide waited as the deer slowly approached. When he felt it was close enough, he struck. Adelaide jumped from his hiding spot with dagger in hand and lunged toward the deer. He thought he was fast, but even in its state, the deer was faster. The deer dodged Adelaide's blade just in time. As it escaped, it managed to kick Adelaide in the face, knocking him down to the ground.

Vivienne laughed at Adelaide's incompetence. He is no hunter, but he thought he could at least kill one weak deer. This only confirms what he had been thinking. He can't stay in Fisch, if he did, he would starve to death.

Fisch has two roads leading out of it. One to the south, leading to Nortum, where the coven might be. That road is a definite no. The other road goes west, leading to Eschbrand and the city of Krystad. The attack on Fisch was most likely done by Eschbrand, so he should avoid that town. His best bet would be Krystad. There will be more people and perhaps he could find a living until Jenai deems him ready to face Loviegna.

Adelaide looked for anything useful he could find for his journey. Sadly, there wasn't much left. The coven has left him with nothing, and Yodde probably did, too. He had not seen her since they argued last night. He imagines that she made her own pack and left for Nortum, leaving him with all the scraps. Still, there may be something left for him.

Adelaide went to Ms. Cartwright's house. Ms Cartwright wasn't much good at magic herself, like his mother, but she was really good at putting spells into scrolls. Even though she couldn't cast spells well by herself, with her scrolls, Mrs. Cartwright was one of the more powerful witches in the village, only below Loviegna and two other witches. If Adelaide were lucky, one of her scrolls could still be at her house, and he was. Laying under a table in her main room, Adelaide found a spell scroll: Meteor Swarm. He recognized this as a very powerful spell. One of these can level a house. Perhaps he could study this scroll, Adelaide thought. Perhaps his not being able to do magic has nothing to do with himself, but that Loviegna is just a lousy teacher. He would take this scroll and learn from it so that maybe he could use it against Loviegna.

Next, he went to Mrs. Fenwick's house. She was one of the more "whimsical" witches in the coven. She liked to enchant objects and make them do things like sweep the floor or cook her dinner. She would often entertain the kids of the village with self-moving puppet shows and instruments that play themselves. Adelaide thought she was very nice, but then he remembered of one time where Leppi tried to steal one of her objects for a prank. Mrs. Fenwick was so angry, she grafted a set of bagpipes onto his throat. For a whole week, Leppi could only speak through bagpipe noises. Adelaide hopes that none of Mrs. Fenwick's items are cursed.

Her house is, sadly, one of the houses that was most affected by the fires. It was barely even a house anymore, just a few support beams and a bunch of ash. Adelaide searched through the ashes for anything of use, but all he could find was an old fife. It looked like an ordinary instrument, but he felt a hint of magic in it. It could be enchanted, it could not be, but at least he could use it to make money, Adelaide thought. He could learn to play it and become a bard.

Adelaide then checked Ms. Cromelon's house. She was in charge of bringing unknowing travelers to the village to be used for rituals, experiments, and sacrifices. Sometimes the travelers had expensive things, so some of the other witches would go and sell what she would find. Adelaide thought Ms. Cromelon was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, which would make sense why she would be the one to lure travelers in. It hasn't been long since her last conquest and the witches haven't sold anything from it yet. Perhaps they are still at her house.

Adelaide checked the home and found nothing but a leather vestment. This doesn't make sense, Adelaide thought. The last guy Ms. Cromelon brought in was a full-blown adventurer, with a magic sword, enchanted boots, and a large backpack filled with who-knows-what other goods inside. Then Adelaide remembered, Thetch said that the people who attacked Fisch was most likely adventurers and the witches always told him that adventurers liked to kill people then take their things for themselves. The people who attacked Fisch must've taken the man's stuff, leaving only the vestments.

Adelaide found the largest mirror he could find. He was completely covered in ash and dirt, from the green dress that hung from his bone-thin body, to his short, black hair turned gray and dusty, to the large, round glasses that cover half his face. Adelaide began to feel a little self conscious. Did he really look like a girl, like Thetch said? He put on the leather vestments and checked himself in the mirror. Once he arrives in Krystad, he'd buy himself new clothes. Boys clothes. For now, he hopes these vestments were enough to distinguish himself.

He checked every house in the village and couldn't find any food, spells, or enchanted items other than what he already found. He did find splatters of coins here and there adding up to 400 gold pieces. If he managed to survive until Krystad, he could buy himself a good meal, Adelaide thought. Maybe even sweet bread, or chocolate, or any other candy he wanted. It then dawned on him, there were no adults around, which means there was no one to boss him around. He could do whatever he wanted. Then, his stomach growled for attention. Food first, then candy.

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[saeonrpg]

A Rose in the Dark: Session 5.b “The Truth”

"18th of Jhoelah, 1476 2e

Finally, the ritual was a success. Partially. The elixir was successful in killing one of the twins in Elise's womb. Our chants was successful in tying the dead twin's soul to the body of the living one. What upsets me is that the twin that died was a girl and the one that survived was a boy. Our dark lady may not be happy inhabiting a masculine figure, but perhaps I can still turn him into a proper vessel.

Elise turned out to not be as useless as she seems. Had she not bore twins, I would have sacrificed her, but she has provided me a vessel. She may have realized my plan for her considering how eager she was to became pregnant, but I cannot be too mad, she has furthered my goals. I will allow her to raise the child as her reward, but I will take over his studies. I just hope she is not as incompetent in raising children as she is performing magic.

I can tell that this boy is overflowing with power. I can see the ethereal energy in his eyes. I will name him Adelaide Miriam Rosebone, but one day, once I'm through with him, he will be Lady Jenai."

5th of Suran, 1488 2e; Early Morning

Adelaide stared at the page. So, he was made into the vessel through a ritual, but not only that, he had a twin sister. A dead twin sister, whose soul is now intertwined with his. He looks over to Vivienne, who is just as shocked and perplexed as he is.

"She killed me." Vivienne whispered. "I'm dead because her! SHE KILLED ME!" In her rage, Vivienne flew all across the room. Her anger manifests into strong gusts of wind, blowing books of their shelves and still lit embers to fall toward Adelaide.

"Vivienne! Calm down!" "You have to kill Loviegna!" Vivienne screamed in Adelaide's face. "I can't! Jenai said I'm not ready!" "You're my brother! You have to avenge me!"

Vivienne continues make a mess of the home until the front door creaks open. It was Yodde. Her eyes was puffy and red, but lacked any tears. She had no more to shed.

"We need to find Loviegna." Yodde said, sniffling. "She can bring mom back." Loviegna could do that. She was powerful, bringing someone back from the dead would be easy for her, if she were willing.

"No." Adelaide said, choking back tears. "We can't go back to the coven." "Why? She can bring back your mom, too!" "No she won't! She never cared about my mom or me!" Loviegna already had plans to sacrifice his mother years ago, how could he expect her to bring his mother back now? She only cared for people who are of use to her, and as of yesterday, Adelaide was deemed useless. "She's going to sacrifice me in one of her rituals."

"If you're worried about Lulesi, we can say the skeleton killed her. I mean, he did." "Shut up, Yodde. You don't understand." "No, I don't!" Yodde got angry. This was probably the first time Adelaide saw her angry. "High priestess Loviegna has always been nice to us! She's protected us, and now you want to kill her? She doesn't deserve that!"

"If you love her that much, why don't you go marry her!" Adelaide snapped back. "She took everyone and went to Nortum. Go and ask her to bring back your mom, but don't come crying to me when she decides to sacrifice you, too!" "Fine! I will!" There was a strong silence between the two before Adelaide couldn't hold his tears anymore. Yodde's anger subsided as she attempts to reach out to him. "Adelaide, I'm sorr--"

"Don't touch me!" Adelaide slaps Yodde's hand away and continues to cry. She backs off and leaves the house.

Adelaide stood in the middle of the room. Before, he had always felt strange in this town. No friends, no one to truly talk to. But for the first time, he truly felt alone.

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[saeonrpg]

A Rose in the Dark: Session 5.a “Fire”

4th of Suran, 1488 2e; Night

Everything is on fire. Adelaide rushes home. The house is engulfed in flames. From the door, he looks in, hoping to at least see a hint of his mother, but there was no one there. He then remembered, his mother was helping Ms. Kulmird with a potion. Adelaide runs to the Kulmird house. As he approaches, he hears cries coming from inside.

What he saw was a terrible sight. The home is burning like all the rest. All the furniture has been turned over and glass littered all over the floor. Yodde sat in the middle of the room, crying over her mother's body, and Adelaide's own mother lays dead in the corner. He couldn't believe it. His mother couldn't be dead, but as he approached, it became more clear, the large gash on her chest that caused her demise.

Then, a sudden loud crackle. Adelaide looked up to see the whole ceiling consumed in flames. He could tell that, at any moment, it could all come crashing down.

"Let's get out of here!" Adelaide yelled, grabbing Yodde. She resists him as she clings to her mother, her face full of ash and tears. "You'll die if you stay here. Come on!" He continued to pull on her, but the young dwarf girl was much stronger than him. Another crackle. This time a ceiling beam snaps and falls directly in front of Yodde, causing her to jump back. This gave Adelaide the opportunity to drag her out of home just as the roof collapsed in on the house.

The two sat there, watching as the house burns.

"Well, isn't this a fine little party!" Thetch laughs as he hobbles over. "Looks like a group of adventurers got here before I did." With his rusty sword, he bats an object over towards the kids. Adelaide catches the object. It was a flat metal circle with holes and sharp teeth. "I doubt any of the ladies here even know how that cog works. One of the arsonists here was an artificer."

Thetch continued. "So, kid. Which one of these houses belong to Loviegna?" In a daze, Adelaide points toward Loveigna's house. Without a word, Thetch hobbles over to the home of the high priestess.

Adelaide looks back at the Kulmird house. He watches in silence as the house burns, with his mother in it.

It was well past midnight when the burning stopped and the flames reduced to cinders. Adelaide and Yodde reenter the home. It was difficult to traverse through the fallen wood beams, but they eventually found their mothers. The women were unrecognizable. Their hair and clothes were completely gone, most of their flesh was burned off, and what was left was shriveled and blackened by ash. Had he not seen her body earlier, Adelaide would not believe that the corpse that lay before him was his mother.

He pulls out the Bloodfang Dagger and holds it up in front of him. "Bring her back." he said, tears welling up in his eyes. "Bring her back!" He pleads to the dagger, to Jenai, to bring his mother back from the dead, but receives no response. The presence he felt before was not there at the moment.

"Why would she ever do that?" Vivienne said, as mischievously as she normally does. "Why would Jenai ever bring back your mom over anyone else here? Your mom wasn't that good at magic anyway."

"Shut up!" Adelaide yelled, tears down his face. Vivienne was right in a way. Why would Jenai bring her back? She would normally protect those who still have a purpose in serving her. If his mother died in this fashion, it's because she is no longer of use. Still, Adelaide couldn't leave her. He knew that Loviegna has the ability to bring people back from the dead. It is possible that she has a spell in all her books that could be of use. Even if he isn't able to cast spells on his own, Yodde could, and they could bring back both their moms.

Adelaide walks over to Loviegna's house. Aside from the hole in the ceiling, the home is mostly intact. The bookshelves that line the walls of her home are still standing. Some of their books were completely burned, while others have light damage. There is no body here, and the skeleton, Thetch, is no where to be found. However, it seems that he left behind a book opened on a specific page.

"29th of Kusha, 1476 2e

That hick from Eschbrand has become much too nosey. I will have to deal with him later. These country folk are useful for our sacrifices, but they ask too many questions. Thankfully, Elna has made her sect in Nortum, just southeast from here. If anything happens to us or this village of ours, I'm sure Elna would take us in. She owes me."

This is Loviegna's journal. She was prepared for this situation. Most likely she grabbed all the women and kids she could and made her way to Nortum. Thetch must be heading there, too.

That wasn't the only thing Adelaide noticed. The entry was written on 1476, the same year he was born. He couldn't help but wonder what Loviegna had to say about him. He flipped through the pages, looking for the entry written on the 18th of Jhoelah, the day of his birth.

He found the page and began to read.

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