Rescuing Chadley: June 24

In the two long days and nights Chadley has been bound in the cabin, he's kept true to his word. Head bowed low and eyes closed, his cracked, parched lips still shakily form the words for his shielding prayer. The Light still shines, illuminating the bristly face of Adeline's felhound, which sits drooling and obedient at Chadley's side, guarding him while Adeline has stepped outside to gather herbs.

Outside of the cabin, Adeline is less gathering herbs and more frowning in something between frustration and grief. She rests her back against the cabin and observes the forest around them--quiet, save for the far off sounds of battle, Forsaken and worgen, clashing almost endlessly, and some mechanical roars from the main road, too far through the trees to see. Once she's given herself a proper pep talk, she makes her way back inside, basket devoid of all but a few sprigs of silverleaf.

Chadley hasn't moved. He takes a deep inhale around his prayer when the door comes open, the burst of semi-fresh air a relief to him. Or it is until he coughs, his throat so dry that it prickles when he inhales. He falls into a coughing fit, and for the first time in two days, the barrier flickers to its weaker version again.

Adeline grimaces at the cough but still smiles at Chadley. "Y'must be thirsty," she observes in a gentle tone, more like he's been playing outside on a hot summer day than like she's trying to kill him. "Ah hate seein' you lahk this."

Chadley swallows several times, trying to make saliva, but there's nothing there. Two days with nothing to drink combined with his earlier sobbing has left him weak and dehydrated. It's a wonder he has the energy for a small shield at all. Stubbornness, most likely. He finally speaks to her, and his voice is a dry crackle. "I'm still here."

"Anythin' you drink at this point'll lahk as not kill ya anyway," Adeline continues in a soft voice. The delicious smells from a few days before have vanished from the air, leaving nothing but the overpowering scent of the incense.

Chadley's still-illuminated eyes open as he looks around the room in renewed fear. With his barrier weakened it's only a matter of time before the incense drugs him. He tries again to concentrate on his prayer, but the delirium of hunger and thirst make it impossible. He croaks out to his mother, "Wh-whatever you do, I- d-don't blame you." He's shaking again.

Adeline hesitantly approaches Chadley, staying just this side of the barrier. "Ah'm only doin' any 'a this 'cause Ah love you and Ah want what's best fer you," she says in a choked voice. The roaring sound of the road outside seems louder than before.

"I'm all grown up," Chadley responds, his voice growing hoarser. "I can choose what's best for me." His head lifts at the new noise and his eyes close, as if letting more cool air pass over him. "I can feel the drugs."

"Everyone needs someone ter advuhcate for 'em once in a while," Adelien argues. "And they ain't that strong, just somethin' to help you sleep better." The roar is most definitely closer now, as if something's approaching the cabin.

Chadley nods again, dazed. "I- I can feel that, yes. I'm- feeling very tired." He slumps in his seat, only to sit right back up straight again, looking panicked that he almost lost consciousness. With the sound louder, he looks over his shoulder toward the door. He's not sure if he's hallucinating or not at this point, but the familiar sound is enough to make him smile.

Right when the roaring sound seems ready to burst through the door, it's replaced with the sound of something screeching to a halt right outside of the cabin, tires skidding against dirt, and then muffled conversation. One voice, male, is tinged with a lot of emotion and breaks at a few points. The other, female, is surprisingly rational, though at one point, it does snap, "Pull yerself together or I'mma bring you -right- back to Hearthglen."

Chadley brightens a bit, his bloodied lips cracking into a full-on smile. He turns to look back at his mother and hisses, no longer able to speak, "-- I win." Adeline scowls, patting her felhound on the side of the head. It lopes off into the shadows, and the floorboards creak as the rest of her hidden horrors move to find the intruders. "They's weak as you in the shadow, dear. My friends will fetch them for us."

Outside, and not quite ignorant to the horrors that await them, Lorcan and Mairèad still argue. "Look, y'wanna do some good here? Go find a gryphon or somethin' and get down to Stormwind. Find Shep and he'll be able t'set up a portal and get us outta here once we're done," Mairèad informs the priest. They're still sitting on her bike, which is turned off and waiting to be converted into its box state. Lorcan glares at Mairèad, as if he's trying to melt her with his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere without him," he snaps and Mairèad rolls her eyes. "-Fine-. Jest don't do nothin' stupid. We're damn near fucked jest bein' here." And with a few murmured prayers, the two bless themselves and each other, preparing for whatever lies ahead.

What lies ahead makes itself very obvious as the front door cracks open to reveal Adeline herself. She smiles at them. "Mairead. Y'look so pretty. It's so good t'see y'gain. An' Lorcan." She inclines her head and turns around, waving her arm in an inviting gesture. "Y'come on insahd." She seems very unafraid of them, despite their being Lightcallers and her being-- what she is.

Lorcan makes a sound that's almost like a growl, moving to cast a bolt of Holy Light at Adeline, but Mairèad grabs his arm and holds him steady before he can manage it. "We'd love to, Aunt Addy. It's good t'see you again," she says in as close to a bright voice as she can manage. Beside her, Lorcan glares, looking every bit the part of Chadley's boyfriend, but he says nothing.

Adeline hobbles back inside, disappearing into the inky black that seems to spill out from the doors like firelight would a typical house. Inside, Chadley begins to struggle again, making as much raspy noise as he can to let them know he's alive.

Mairèad looks at Lorcan. "Whatevarrr y'see in there, keep. calm," she warns him before releasing his arm and dismounting the bike. The priest barely has a chance to leave the sidecar before Mairèad collapses the bike and tosses the box into a nearby bush for safekeeping. She gives Lorcan a nod and makes her way into the house, almost retching as the oppressive amount of shadow hits her. Lorcan follows after a moment, and though he also staggers at the shadow magic, it doesn't seem to affect him nearly as much as it does Mairèad or Chadley. He simply grimaces as if he's tasted something bad and tries to see Chadley through the darkness.

The shadow is not only oppressive, it also hides things. As they pass the stoop of the house, a dagger flies from the spreading dark. The foe knows its bigger threat, and the dagger aims for Lorcan's backside.

Lorcan hisses in pain and surprise; the dagger just barely misses embedding itself in his back but still cuts a nasty gouge in his skin as it flies past. He presses his hands against the skin to try and heal the wound, but though it mostly seals up, blood still trickles from the edges. "--fuck," he murmurs.

Mairèad glances back at Lorcan and then frowns. "Aunt Addy, we don't want thin's t'get violent, please. We jest wanna talk," she pleads into the darkness. "We're jest here to talk."

The darkness doesn't seem interested in talking. Light feet pad across the floor and this time a dozen shadowy hands grasping daggers shoot out from the dark, all aimed at their weakened target. "She won't hear it!" Chadley rasps from the dark, and Adeline confirms with a sigh. "Ah dunno why none 'a y'all is seein' that this is th' easy way." She gasps as her hidden husband attacks the intruders and frowns. "Impatient. Go on, then!" She waves her arm and turns, and the glowing eyes watching them advance.

Lorcan is still distracted by his wound when those daggers fly out towards him. He gives a grunt of pain and crumples easily, multiple stab wounds on his chest, back, and sides. And a dent in his new leg. Well, that's just great. Too late, he calls the Light to shield him, but he's already on the floor, hands moving shakily over the worst of his wounds in an attempt at keeping them from being life-threatening. -

Mairèad turns and swings her arcane blessed shield out into the darkness, trying to catch whoever's getting stab-happy. "We don't -wanna- get violent," she repeats, sounding more worn by the oppressive shadows, "but we will."

A shadowy figure is briefly illuminated as it skitters to the side. The shield doesn't hit that, though- it instead slams into a hulking felguard that had been hidden by the dark, which roars in pain and charges for her. The entire cabin shakes with its might. The shadowy figure, meanwhile, beelines for Lorcan again. It doesn't speak a word, just tries for the most efficient kill it can. Chadley has started struggling with all the might he has, his shield fading from lost focus. Adeline approaches him and places a hand on his shoulder as she watches the fight.

A fucking felguard. Of course. Mairèad roars right back at the creature, wielding her shield and sword in an almost barbarian manner. She swings them in an arc at the felguard, aiming to bash its head with the shield and follow that with a sharp hit to its side with her sword. All the while, she tries to keep herself between Lorcan and whatever is attacking him, stamping her foot to call forth a consecration on the ground beneath. It's weak and it doesn't last long, but it's there just the same.

Lorcan, meanwhile, pauses in his frantic healing (why won't these stab wounds -heal- damnit?) to swing outwards towards his assailant with the staff that until now has seemed just decoration or maybe a cane. He can't see well enough to aim for the head like he wants to, but he's flailing enough that he should hit -something-.

Both attacks land, and this succeeds in both damaging the felguard and pissing it right off. It roars again and thrashes its gigantic arms at Mairead with a bone crushing swipe. Lorcan's assailant is revealed by the Light: a lanky forsaken man clad in form-fitting black, his glowing yellow eyes under the cowl his only visible color. He disappears into the shadows again, leaving Lorcan to bleed, and reappears in a cloud of haze at Chadley and Adeline's side.

Lorcan seems relieved at this, trying to scoot back on the floor and out of the way of any fighting that may be going on between Mairèad and the felguard, hands still fluttering over his wounds to try and seal them. Of course, it's frustratingly not working in the least, and in a panicked moment, a bit of twisting shadow magic comes to his fingertips, sealing the deepest wound on his chest and leaving an unsightly tumor behind.

Mairèad braces herself for the felguard's blow and is only thrown off her feet rather than across the cabin. "COME AT ME, Y'YELLA BELLIED FISH LIVER CODPIECE!" she roars, jumping to her feet probably quicker than she should and charging at the felguard with her sword aimed to decapitate it in one fell swoop.

The felguard charges, knocking chairs and herb jars out of the way left and right. It makes a hard downward blow at the small paladin, the force becoming only momentum as its head is lopped from its shoulders and it collapses in a pile of smoldering green ash. Adeline gasps and steps forward, stopping herself to instead nudge forward the shadowy figure. "Thomas, Ah'm tired 'a people gittin' hurt over this. Make it quick. Fer Lorcan over there, too. Y'left 'im hurtin'." Thomas responds with silence, different entirely from his boisterous living self, and once again disappears. Adeline, in the meantime, raises her arms and chants a spell. All at once, the cabin is illuminated by green light as her demons vanish. Then, the darkness returns.

Mairèad groans quietly, touching a hand to her side. There's a brief flash of Light as her own shielding comes into play, weak against the shadow but better than nothing. "I don't wanna fight you, Uncle Tom," she says into the dark. "I jest wanna take Chad away from here and Lorcan, too, and all of us get out safe. We don't need'a do this."

"We dun' need to," Adeline agrees, curling a hand around Chadley's face. He can't repel her anymore. "But it's better us'n somethin' impersonal in a mass grave." Thomas doesn't seem interested in fighting her either. Not yet, anyway- he's left something alive. He appears from seemingly nowhere above the priest, gruesome and jagged daggers clutched in both hands. They're driven down, and Chadley hisses Lorcan's name as a pathetic warning.

Lorcan, still tending his wounds, is caught partly off-guard, enough that there's no stopping those daggers. He throws up an arm to protect himself, as Mairèad throws her shield at Thomas, Captain America style, trying only to knock him away from Lorcan.

Thomas looks up and disappears, the shield flying through where he stood and crashing into the wall behind him. He reappears behind Mairead, the dagger in one hand replaced by a tiny glass sphere filled with dust. He crushes this sphere and throws its contents into the air. Probably best not to breathe whatever it is. "Brave girl. Strong in the shadows," he teases, vanishing again before she can turn around and attack him. "Dun watch," says Adeline, covering Chadley's eyes with a rotten hand. He groans but can't fight her.

Mairèad ducks away from Thomas to recover her shield, though she can't help but inhaling some of the dust. She coughs harshly, something of a weak, pale glow coming to her body. "Shadow don't scare me," she rasps. "Yer still Uncle Tom, no matter ha' creepy you try t'be." She swings blindly into the shadow, if only trying to illuminate something nearby.

Nothing is brought to light, though. Wrecked furniture and spilled liquids are illuminated briefly, but the only movement is from Adeline, still cradling Chadley's head in her arms as she tells Mairead, "We's the closest thing y'got to family, Mairead. Y'seem real hurt by yer lahf, from what Ah been watchin'! It won't be lahk that with us. Ever."

Mairèad's eyelights flicker. "I appreciate the offer, Aunt Addy, but without the dark, how can you appreciate the light?" Another pale consecration spreads outward from her feet.

It's to Mairead's luck that Thomas is merely an initiate amongst the shadow, talented as he may be, and he gives a grunt as the Light burns his feet, having not yet mastered resistance. This causes him to lash out defensively, another dagger aimed at Mairead from behind. Chadley has again started to try and mouth a protective prayer, this time for his friend, but his delitium is such that his words practically come out backwards.

And it's to Thomas' luck that he manages to drive the dagger between the plates of Mairèad's armor. She gives a grunt of pain and turns around, swinging for Thomas with her shield and a surprising amount of power, though blood has already begun to drip between her armor plates and down to the floor.

Mairead makes a solid connection. He's not taken out, but the blunt trauma alone is enough to send him staggering backwards, leaving himself open. Adeline's hands leave Chadley to reach out toward he husband. "Thomas!"

Mairèad takes advantage of this, more sweeping for Thomas' legs to knock them out from under him rather than attempting to behead him outright. She doesn't cry out as she does this, simply exhales with the effort of it.

It's Adeline's turn to make a panicked noise as she watches her husband fall to his knees. Quickly, she begins to mutter in a demonic tongue, runic patterns beginning to glimmer on the floor around her and smoke rising from the cracks. As Thomas hits the floor, he shoots out a sweeping flurry of daggers across the floor. They're sharp, but they're meant to just knock her down to his level.

Mairèad is easily brought to the floor, falling far harder than it seems someone her size should be able to fall. She groans, winded, and lies on the floor a moment as still as she can, a chant starting within her helm. -

Now, where's Lorcan, you may be wondering. Wounds largely sealed, he pushes himself into a standing position and casts a shield about Mairèad, if only to buy her a second of time.

The familiar chittering of an imp fills the cabin as Adeline completes the quickest summon she can do. The tiny demon, either brave or stupid, launches out in a vengeful leap for Lorcan's face, at which it claws wildly shouting murderous curses in demonic tongue. "The girl!" Adeline shouts at the imp, but it's too busy with its revenge to obey. Thomas steadies himself on his feet. "Not a problem, Addy. We're done." He flips the dagger in his hand and lunges for Mairead.

Lorcan yelps in surprise, clearly not expecting to see this little bastard again. Without the Light, he's not much good for fighting it, though he does try to pull it away from his face and throw it to the GROUND, stomping after it with his angry leg. -

Mairèad still lies on the ground, but when Thomas lunges for her, she brings her legs up to catch him and propel him away before pushing herself raggedly to her feet. She's still too busy chanting to exchange any witty banter.

Adeline scowls at the turn of events, and she begins to twist her hands in spell, green sparks beginning to flicker around her fingers. Thomas staggers back again, but this time it's straight into the dark. He appears behind her seconds later, a dagger aimed to the base of her skull. The imp, meanwhile, is busy dodging Lorcan's foot and flinging tiny fireballs at him.

Lorcan looks like a complete idiot, doing a sort of Mexican hat dance with the imp. He calls over to Chadley, "This is why I want a leg gun," and then just gets sick of the imp, swinging his staff for the creature.

Mairèad, meanwhile, manages to move out of the way in time to avoid having her brain skewered, though the dagger still hits her upper shoulder. She gives another growl of pain, bringing her sword around for Thomas' side.

Chadley's head slowly turns in the direction of Lorcan's voice, but his eyes are rolled back and most of his effort is going into staying conscious, so he slumps back over. Adeline's spellcast is complete, a large circle of green flame swirling around her body. The cracks in the floor glow with that same green, and fire spits up from them at the paladin and priest. The green flames illuminate Thomas' expression of surprise as he's struck clean, but such is the benefit of undeath: he keeps fighting, taking another stab for Mairead.

Lorcan continues to swing and stomp for the imp, apparently having regained some sense of himself now that he's seen Chadley is still alive. Possessed or unconscious or something, but alive. He can work with that.

Mairèad brings her arm up to block Thomas' attack, dropping her shield in favor of aiming a punch for his face. The felflames sputter against her Light-blessed armor, mostly leaving her untouched but creating a few vulernabilities. She tries to position herself to take the brunt of the fire, allowing Lorcan to continue playing with the imp.

The imp doesn't want to play, it wants that man dead. He's oddly spry for someone recovering from multiple stab wounds, though, so it's having trouble. It tries latching onto the backside of his good leg and gnawing. Adeline sets loose a massive felfire blaze toward Mairead just as her fist connects with Thomas' face. He's slowed from his injuries, but keeps fighting, slashing at Mairead even with the oncoming fire.

Lorcan has had just about enough of this imp shit and reaches down, grabbing the creature by the scruff of its neck and attempting to wring its neck. His breath is ragged, and he's shaking, but he tries, damnit. -

Mairèad gets the full blast of Adeline's felfire, falling backwards enough to avoid getting stabbed in the face, but once again, the dagger sinks in through one of the felfire created cracks in the armor. Mairèad now lets out a cry of pain, the injuries finally starting to wear on her properly. There's no more aiming to cripple; her sword arcs through the air in an attempted beheading.

Thomas' arm flies up defensively. It's this that he loses, his head still in tact, but the force is enough to send him reeling back toward his wife. Adeline stands protectively in front of Chadley, and Thomas in front of his wife. He's broken, and she's afraid for her family, but they won't go down. The imp's neck can't be wrung, but it can apparently be strangled into unconsciousness like anything else. It goes limp in Lorcan's hands. "Think about whut'cher doin', Mairead," Adeline says slowly.

"I am," Mairèad rasps. A keen eye in a brighter place might note that blood is dripping down and out of her face mask. "I don't wanna kill either 'a you. I wanna redeem you both. I -love- you, and I know how to bring y'back to paradise, if you'll let me." She forces herself to stand taller. "Y'ent meant fer this world, Aunt Addy. Yer death was horrible, but I can give you peace. You and Uncle Tom both. Please. Don't make me kill you."

Lorcan, on the other hand, finally throws the imp to the ground and stomps on its head. Even if that doesn't do anything, it feels good.

"Ah was offered th' same thing by Chadley," Adeline says, glancing over her shoulder with those covered, oozing eyes to her surprisingly still semi-conscious son. "We all seem t'be delusional in our love, don't we." Her hands coil in another spellcast, interrupted only briefly as she winces when her imp evaporates into smoke.

Mairèad raises her shield to block the spell, though she continues speaking in a hoarse voice. "It ent a delusion. When Chad told me you were watchin' him, I did some research. There's a ritual I can do--fer both 'a you--and it'll redeem yer soul and return you to paradise, where you belong." Lorcan, still stomping on the ground where the imp was, pipes up with an, "It's true. I've read the ritual myself. Chadley hasn't slept in several weeks, trying to learn it so that he can send you home."

"-- Ma," Chadley rasps from behind, curled in on himself and trembling with the effort of staying awake. "You don't have to fight. And it'll feel like n-no time at all before you see me- again." Adeline just looks furious, letting her circle of felfire flare out and hit anything in its path- even Chadley. "Ah'm done bein' kahnd about this! Fer th' Dark Lady!" Her arms rise and the fire bursts from the floorboards once more.

The tense and quiet moments distracted Lorcan from his futile imp stomping, and he extends a shield around Chadley with an almost desperate cry. Mairèad is left vulnerable, and the fire does a number on her, sending her falling backwards to the floor her armor smoking acridly. She whimpers in pain and shakes her head in a protest against something. "I don't wanna do this..." she trails off and then stands, all of her energy going into a charge for Adeline, everything aimed at knocking her down and stopping her cast.

And that is why Thomas took the place he did. As Mairead lunges for Adeline, his single hand lifts to cloud Mairead's eyes with shadow before he takes another swing for her.

Mairèad squeezes her eyes shut and keeps going in her charge--she's already fighting in the dark, anyway. Thomas' attack connects, opening another wound, but she's single-minded in her determination to get to Adeline, swinging her sword blindly ahead.

"Shadows-- T-Thomas," Chadley stutters out randomly as Mairead makes her assault. He's probably not even audible over the sounds of combat. Mairead's sword swings right into Adeline-- but she's gone. Across the room she stands, safe in a runed circle, and blasts another fireball at Mairead.

Yes, Thomas is a problem, and Mairèad continues to grapple with him, screaming in pain as another fireball hits her in the back. She's still blinded, not sure if she's even grappling with a real person, but she holds onto him, trying to bring them both to the floor and pressing her sword against what she thinks is his neck.

Right she is. The blade digs into his neck, threatening to slice it, but he seems fearless of the idea. Zombies, yo. He fumbles a hand into his pouches and produces another glass ball of poison dust, smashing it against her helmet vents. Adeline takes the time to chant another summon- a more complex one than before now that she has more than a few seconds to spare.

Mairèad hacks at the poison dust forced through her helm, but after the initial hesitation and a hoarse, "I'm sorreh, Uncle Tom," she drives the blade downwards, intent on severing his head and letting her hands fall to the floor shakily afterwards.

Thomas goes still as the sword severs his head. Adeline screams. Felfire engulfs her as her summon completes, her felhound bounding out of the fire, but it's too late. The shadows around the house retreat, and the darkness of the house is a natural one.

When the darkness rises, the lights on Mairèad's armor flare to life, a pale glow enveloping her form as her body attempts to heal itself. She doesn't spare the felhound a second's thought, blasting it with a shock of holy energy and advancing slowly on Adeline, because at this point, she has two speeds: slow and slower.

Once Lorcan can see, however, he immediately runs to Chadley's side and presses his hand against the paladin's chest, a blessing of fortitude issuing forth in one powerful word. His arms are around Chadley, and he works to undo the bindings at the younger man's wrists and ankles.

Chadley manages to look at Lorcan, but he can't manage to make any facial expression beyond a blank stare. His still glowing eyes fall shut, and now that he's with someone he trusts, he allows himself to fall unconscious. Adeline looks between this and the advancing paladin in horror, a filmy green shield glowing around her protectively. "Y-y'always was th' tough one, weren't'cha Mairead?"

Mairèad's hands glow with an exorcism spell that's immediately aimed for Adeline, still intent only on incapacitating her. "I ent here to kill you," she reiterates, speaking slowly and deliberately, her voice hoarse. "I'm here to send you home. You remember paradise, don't you? You remember th'feelin' 'a  bein' safe and happeh, how we were all there with you and alive? I'm gunna send you back to that."

"Ah remember that bein' th' way things was. An' Ah remember discoverin' bein' gifted enough t'have it back. This is why we gotta do this, Mair. 'Cause folk like you is hellbent on killin' us. Y'call it redemption, but it's killin'."

"We all die someday," Mairèad points out. "I might die t'night or mebbe fifteh years from now in me bed. But I know that when I die, me soul'll taste paradise. Y'can't live ferevarrr, Aunt Addy. Even undead, you'll start losin' yer mind, losin' who you -are-. And then it ent you in that body no more, it's a mindless, hollow shell." Another exorcism is sent Adeline's way.

Adeline crumples to the ground, backing herself against the wall and clutching her hands to her chest. "Won't be a long tahm 'til that," she counters in a labored voice, but then manages a smile and adds, "But Ah s'pose it won't, 'cause yer gunna kill me t'naht."

Mairèad sets her shield and sword on the ground and nods, reaching up to remove her helm and setting this on the ground as well. She's sheet white with a dribble of blood trailing down her chin. "I am," she confirms. "I'd like t'do it as gentle as possible and let you rest again. It's what we all been workin' fer."

Lorcan finally manages to get Chadley unbound and catches him in his arms. With some careful manipulation, he tilts the paladin's head back and tries to give him some water from a canteen.

The water mostly dribbles out of Chadley's mouth. He's appears unconscious, but his weak attempts to actually swallow show that he's still trying to hang on. Adeline looks over at this, and her angry snarl turns to grief. The forsaken looks back up at Mairead and says in a slow voice, "... Y'took mah husband. An' now yer gunna take mah son. Ah don't really got a lot worth fahtin' m'way outta here fer anymore."

Mairèad drops to her knees once she reaches Adeline, her expression crumbling in grief. "I'm so sorreh about Uncle Tom. I didn't wanna do that. I wish there was a way fer us to all be -alive- together. I wish I could bring you back to life."

Lorcan murmurs encouragingly to Chadley, continuing to gently help him drink and wiping the water from the paladin's cheek with his sleeve. He may or may not be crying as well.

Adeline stiffens at Mairead's approach and lifts an arm defensively to keep the paladin at a distance. "Lahf don't have a point," she whispers. "World's gone dark. Only th' dead'll be able to faht fer it soon."

Chadley still struggles with the simple task of swallowing, but with Lorcan's help he manages down a few small mouthfuls. At the very least he seems otherwise uninjured, just dehydrated, hungry, fevered, and covered in his own filth.

Mairèad shakes her head and holds up her hands to show she means no harm. "That ent true. Th'world's gettin' better, and that's what me and Chad are fightin' fer. We want Lordaeron t'be green again. And fer there t'be chicken farms and playin' on th'beach and pies and happeh times again." She manages a small, watery smile. "And we wanna know that yer okay."

Lorcan lets Chadley's head rest on his shoulder and continues murmuring encouragement, now pressing his hand against the paladin's chest to clear away any infections.

Adeline doesn't lower her arm and shakes her head. "It ain't never gunna be that way. Clean up one mess an' a bigger one'll take its place. Y'gotta be strong fer it. Livin' ain't strong." She smiles sadly. "Y'go on ahead an' kill me, Mairead. Ah couldn't do raht. One day, when y'all fall t'whutever it is that's fellin' everythin', th' Dark Lady'll bring y'back. Then y'can faht. Then you'll see." Chadley's head lolls to the side at the sound of his mother's voice and he makes a pathetic little noise in a failed attempt to speak.

Mairèad looks up and over to Chadley, trying to make it seem like she's not crying nearly as hard as she is. Lorcan leans closer to the man in his arms. "Say it again, love. Go ahead and speak quietly, and I'll tell them what you said."

Chadley makes another dry little sound before whispering hoarsely, "Goodbye. Love you. Didn't- get to before." He lets his head rest against Lorcan's chest and his newly-granted energy is spent on the return of his trembling.

Lorcan brings his hand up to hold Chadley's head close to his chest, soothing Light flowing from his fingers. "He says good-bye, and that he loves you," the priest announces, and Mairèad closes her eyes to steel herself before looking back to Adeline. "When yer ready," she says quietly.

Adeline seems more angered than saddened by what Chadley had to say, turning her hollow, oozing eyes on Mairead and lashing her arm out with a flash of felfire. "Do it, miserable child! See no reason by me. Ah'll die knowin' Ah tried."

Mairèad catches Adeline's arm before it can reach her face, though the felfire still stings at her skin. "I'm sorreh," she whispers before placing her free hand on Adeline's chest and closing her eyes. She begins the prayer exactly as she practiced, and it doesn't take long for her hands to light up with a gentle golden glow that seems to sing, that same wordless melody that's so familiar. It's an uncomfortable sensation, but not painful.

Adeline fights it, struggling against Mairead as best she can. More green flames spurt from the floorboards under her, but with the Light coursing through her, she's beyond weak. "Ah hope this moment haunts you!" she cries.

Mairèad doesn't interrupt her prayer, despite the sob that shudders through her. The Light pulses and courses through Adeline, undoing the necromancy keeping her alive and purifying her soul in the same action. Lorcan's grip on Chadley tightens bracingly.

Adeline's last energy is spent turning her eyes on Chadley again. In that last moment, her look of anger falls to one of regret. Her arm goes limp in Mairead's grasp after, and she's gone. It's then and only then that Chadley finally allows himself to slip into complete unconsciousness.

Mairèad continues her prayer for a few minutes after Adeline has fallen limp, and even after that, she only drops to her hands and knees and sobs raggedly rather than doing anything else. Lorcan shifts awkwardly while still holding Chadley, and finally speaks up. "Mairèad, we should probably burn this cabin and get your injuries looked at." Mairèad nods and tries to stand, but the energy spent in sending Adeline off was too much for her. She falls right back down, this time actually lying on the floor for a minute before pushing herself into a standing position. Together, she and Lorcan clean out the cottage (leaving Chadley safely hidden in the bush with her bike) and set fire to it, wrapping Adeline and Thomas together in the remains of a sheet.

The house burns to the ground, and the bodies of its owners with it. The smoke rising from the trees attracts attention, though: a bear emerges from the brush. A very... inconspicuous bear, teeth bared and approach cautious.

By this point, Mairèad has taken over Chadley's duty of shaking, attempting to remain conscious, and generally being unwell. She squints at the bear as Lorcan works to seal the worst of her wounds. "C-claude?" she asks faintly. Lorcan turns immediately his hands glowing defensively.

The bear eyes down the two, sniffing at the blood and fear in the air. With a low, gravelly voice it speaks through its teeth with an obviously Gilnean accent, "You are not Forsaken."

Chadley and Adeline, June 22

The summoning spell brings Chadley to a small cabin, deep within Silverpine Forest, and the place is beyond dark. Darkness is merely visual, but this, whatever it is, permeates everything. The atmosphere is oppressive and terrifying, like something out of a horrible nightmare that you can't see, but that you know is sneaking up on you and you can't even scream for help. Demonic eyes flit in and out of the shadows, and there's the sound of laughter, though it's a warm, happy sound, totally out of place for this dark cabin. Also out of place is the smell of delicious home cooking--pie, chicken soup, toasted bread, the works. Once Chadley has fully materialized, a rotting hand reaches out from the darkness and pulls him gently but firmly to sit down on what seems to be a stool, with no back to speak of. His hands are immediately bound behind his back, his legs to the legs of the stool, and all the while, someone is humming a lullaby.

Chadley staggers, a sickness overcoming him that is partially from the summon and partially from the creeping, crippling sensation of his Light being suppressed. His curse wears off now that his destination is reached, and he seems to finally understand what he did- and where it took him. "No. No, no, NO-!" He thrashes angrily in his bindings, a pale, weak glow flickering up around him, sparking against the undead woman's touch.

Adeline clucks her tongue and hisses in pain, fighting through it to secure the bindings more tightly than they need to. "Ah'm sorry this'll prob'ly hurt you fer now, but it's necessary, y'see." She takes a step back, once Chadley is secure, and smiles at him, warmly and lovingly, like he's come home from a long journey rather than been summoned to a cabin of horrors against his will.

"As if hurting me is suddenly an issue with you." He struggles again and snarls, shouting a plea that results in a red glow flickering around his bindings-- and then doing nothing. His eyes widen in panic to mix with his rage, and he struggles again. "What the hell have you done to me?"

"Ah want your last memories of lahf to be pleasant--not lahk mahn," Adeline answers sadly, moving away from Chadley to check on the stove. For a brief moment, the light of a crackling fire illuminates the darkness, showing the forms of her demons all crouched around and watching Chadley curiously. Then she closes the stove and the darkness returns. "Ah've done nothin' to you. Seems Tommy was discoverd to have an affinity fer Lahtslayer work, so he helped me douse this place in shadow. Ain't it nahce?"

"T-Tommy," Chadley stammers, almost a sob. "Is h-he here too?" He is shaking uncontrollably, his lips silently fumbling over more words of prayer when he's done talking. He wiggles his wrists behind his back, trying to find a weakness in the knot.

Adeline shakes her head. "He's away quite a bit on church business, much lahk yer father was, but of course, we're both very devout. Ah'm sure you'll understand why." That grotesque smile returns and quivers slightly. "But look how you've grown, in jest the couple 'a years it's been since Ah saw you. Ah can't tell yuh how proud Ah was to see you, all decked out in yer paladin gear, fahtin' fer the Crusade."

Chadley looks nauseous again, his body curling forward as much as it can as he lets out another pained, frustrated growl. "Then let me go be that! I know how they make you think, but I know what you want, and you want me to be happy, right? Then let me -go be that-." He struggles more, his Light flickering again and causing the imp that was apparently climbing up the back of his chair to scramble off with a yelp.

Adeline shakes her head and avoids addressing the main query in Chadley's diatribe, returning to the stove. "Ah hope a berry pie's alraht. You don't know ha' hard it was to get good food up here--ain't nobody deliverin' to Fersakin lands, but Ah managed t'fahnd some nahce berries visitin' Hearthglen. And there's soup and fresh bread fer you, once yer hungry." She's obviously smiling from the way she's speaking. "Ah'm jest so excited, knowin' how well you'll serve our Queen. You'll be a real blessin' to Lordaeron, jest lahk you always wanted."

"You should have saved yourself the effort. I wasn't stupid enough to eat your poison the first time, I won't be now." He stops struggling in hopes of conserving his energy, and instead watches her through the black as she bustles about. His face twists in anger, but his voice sounds just vulnerable and shaky as he says quietly, "D-do you even hear hear how you sound? You're a brainwashed fanatic! I'm already a soldier of Lordaeron! You don't need to..."

Adeline turns around and fixes Chadley with the kind of glare he'd have received as a child for doing something particularly stupid or, in this case, for backsassing. "Don't take that tone with me, boy. Ah am still yer Ma, and you will treat me with respect," she snaps. "The Banshee Queen's th'only one ensurin' those of us from Lordaeron actually get to live in our home. You think yer Crusade'd let folk lahk me on their fresh, green grass? Ain't a snowball's chance in hell."

"It's the Banshee Queen's fault you're even what you are to begin with! She killed everyone in Southshore, Ma! She killed Thomas and brought you back!" His angered features are wet with tears now, and though he appears vulnerable, his Light still shines. "Ma, there are undead Crusaders. Dad! He's bad off as most of you, and's he's... he's..." Chadley trails off, shaking his head and muttering, "Please don't do this, Ma."

"Oh, darlin'." Adeline's expression softens. She ignores the burn of the Light and reaches in to hold Chadley's face in her hands. "Darlin', it'll be alraht. This is how we're all gunna be together again, at last. You, me, yer Pa--" Her voice breaks and she looks down and away to compose herself. "It ain't conventional, no, and it ain't what Ah woulda chosen, but it's what we got, and Ah know you'll be happier for it. Yer Lorcan, once he's with us, he can have a brand new leg and no more pain. And Mairèad won't even hafta cry over that husband 'a hers anymore. We'll all be together again. You'll see."

Chadley shakes his head in her hands, his eyes still wide and welled with tears. "I'd only be happier for it because I'd be a brainwashed minion like you. The Forsaken are killing everyone, Ma. It's like the Scourge again. That's what you are."

"Ah'm hardly brainwashed, Chadley," Adeline says, releasing his face and moving back to the kitchen. Metal scrapes against metal, and for a moment, the sumptuous smell of chicken soup is almost overwhelming. "And we ain't got ambitions lahk the Scourge. All the Banshee Queen promises us is our home back, and that's what we're takin'."

"That's why you attacked Gilneas, right? Because it's a part of your home? That's why everyone in Hillsbrad was murdered, right? I hope you don't have it in your mind that you can convince me to join you over a nice dinner. I won't be convinced."

"You will be," Adeline answers coyly and with complete certainty. "And you'll fahnd it's far, far better'n you ever coulda imagined."

"... No. I won't be," Chadley argues stubbornly. "You seem to be ignoring the fact that I am a paladin, and it's my duty to wipe the kingdoms clean of things like you. What they're -made you into-."

Adeline shakes her head and laughs as if Chadley's said something absolutely adorable. "Tahm is not on yer sahd, darlin'. Jest--" And then she frowns, a flare of green felfire jumping to her fingertips. She darts about in the dark, waving her hand as if trying to grab something invisible.

Chadley's eyes narrow at her actions. "... Just what?"

Whatever it was, Adeline grabs it and holds onto it, her grip growing tighter and tighter until she relaxes, exhaling out of instinct. "Well, Ah've some good news fer you. It seems our location has been divahned, so you'll have company soon enough."

Chadley barks out a noise. He's to upset to genuinely laugh, but it's close enough. "Mairead. And Lorcan. And Shepard, probably. Do you think your ew pathetic years of fel practice will have anything on them?"

Adeline laughs and shakes her head. "Oh Chadley. So little y'understand. They ain't comin' to rescue you. They're comin' to -join- you. Save fer that worgen fella. That's his misfortune, though Ah know y'don't think too kahndly of him."

"I'm- fairly certain they're coming to rescue me," Chadley corrects her, a bit of energy coming back into his escape attempts. "Y-you seem to know a lot about me. How long have you been watching?" Now he's just stalling the conversation.

"You think that. They think that. Ah know better," Adeline answers sweetly. "And, oh, pretty frequently since y'reached Hearthglen. Ah've not got anythin' in yer room--that'd just be rude--but y'ain't exactly secretive with yer conversations." She seems entirely content to stall as long as Chadley wants.

Chadley's fingers manage to painfully bend at an awkward angle, but even then, his nails barely scratch at the rope. "You've been trying to kill me for a while now. Why are you waiting for them now?"

"Ah'm not waitin' fer them," Adeline answers, once again returning to the stove. "They'll get here when they get here. This cabin's deep enough in th'woods that even with scryin', it should take them a couple 'a days at least."

"But you don't plan to keep me alive that long, do you."

"Always were a smart boy," Adeline answers with another smile. "In a couple 'a days, you'll either have fallen asleep--maybe even sooner, dependin' on how much you faht and wear yerself out--or be hungry enough to take anythin' yer offered. Ah'd rather it not come to either option, but you are so stubborn." She sounds tired now, almost sad.

"A life of meditation has prepared me for many things," Chadley says, easing up again on his struggles in an acknowledgment of her point. "I can last a lot longer than you think I can." He swallows and adds before she can respond, "-- I still wish you could truly hear yourself. You want to kill me. Somehow don't think that's what you figured on while raising me. 'One day, when he's grown, I'll murder and assimilate him into a pestilent horde of zombies.'" His head tilts to the side, his eyes somewhere off in the black now.

Adeline shakes her head. "It'll be so uncomfortable fer you, lettin' exhaustion and starvation take their toll. And Ah think yer bein' obtuse on purpose. You'll see soon; Ah know it's hard, but you'll see."

"... You're going to take the Light from me," Chadley mutters, still staring off into the dark. He can't really bring himself to look at her much anymore.

Adeline shakes her head. "You'll still be able t'call on the Light, if y'want. Ah've found shadows to be much more honest, mahself, but Ah won't judge you fer thinkin' otherwise."

"I won't deserve the Light if it's used SERVING YOU!" Chadley shouts back in a sudden thrash and burst of energy, but it doesn't last long. He hangs his head, shudders and- against his will- begins to cry. "I'll outlast you."

"Ah hope y'won't," Adeline murmurs, not turning back towards Chadley, as if in a battle not to start crying herself. "Ah can't stand to see you in pain lahk this. If y'give in now, instead 'a waitin' 'til you got no other choice, it'll be quick and painless, lahk goin' t'sleep. And then you'll wake up, as if yuh've had th'best dream ever and fahnd that bein' awake is just as wonderful."

"If it takes biting off pieces of my own lip, I will stay awake until they reach here. And until then, Ma, I will pray. Pray for power over these shadows, pray for the power to cut you and your little menagerie down, pray for the power to give you your rest. You had it once. And I am so, so sorry they took it from you."

Adeline sighs and shakes her head again, still not looking at Chadley. "Don't be sorry. Ah've been given a second chance to have mah family back, and Ah ain't gunna let it slip away jest 'cause mah boy's stubborn." She makes a sound like a laugh. "After you, and Mairèad and yer Lorcan, we'll all of us go and bring yer Pa home. It'll be much easier fer him anyway... Ah'm surprahsed he ain't come our way sooner."

Chadley just sobs quietly as she talks, the full gravity of his situation finally bearing down on him. When she's done, all he can really manage is, "He prefers the livin'. Ones who still got their heads screwed on straight. Married, too, so good luck." He somehow manages to keep his voice from being wobbly.

"That's what Ah'm countin' on, that silly new wahf 'a his. Not a lick 'a sense in her head. Ah figure, it's only a matter 'a tahm before he slips up and raises her, and then they got nowhere to go -but- Undercity." Adeline still doesn't look at Chadley, but she speaks as if relating idle town gossip to him. Nearby, there's a flicker of green light and another scent joins the mix--a powerful, heady incense.

"I think he'd sooner take his life than join forces with you monsters. He never seemed capable of hate, until I heard him talk of the Scourge-- and your queen. He-" Chadley would continue on arguing, but a whiff of the incense brings a scowl to his face. "It's drugged, isn't it?"

"Mm," Adeline confirms quietly. "Ah've quite a stock of it. Y'could always jest have a piece 'a pie and call it a naht." From somewhere in the darkness, Bronwyn giggles. "And you -do- love your pie," she agrees.

Chadley makes another gross sobbing noise and closes his eyes, the welled tears spilling from them. He lowers his head and takes a deep breath of his remaining clean air and then, quietly, begins to murmur a prayer.

Adeline doesn't seem quite bothered by this, continuing to speak over the prayer. "Tommy should be back tomorrow or th'next day, and he'll wanna say hello. Y'should see him, barely looks a day buried, bless his heart. He's lookin' forward to seein' you again. Said he didn't get a chance to talk to ya after mah funeral." She chuckles, stooping to remove the finished pie from the oven. "Ah am sorry Ah left you lahk that. None of it was expected."

All of Chadley's energy and focus is directed into his prayer. Though he still cries, his words are steady and clear. The Light around him grows brighter with a chime-like hum, and though it can't pierce the darkness, it doesn't fade back.

Adeline continues speaking over Chadley's prayer. She seems determined to get her apology out. "Ah saw someone defendin' th'town, a man with shoulders on fahr. I wonder if he was any relation t'yer Stehl at all."

Chadley's voice doesn't raise to overcome hers, nor does it quiet to hear her better. He continues praying, trancelike, maintaining the stronger barrier. His eyes crack open and illuminate his face at the mention of Stehl's name and surprisingly he nods, but doesn't break his prayer in any way. He lowers his eyes again and sniffs. -Must ignore-.

"He was a good man, yer Stehl," Adeline continues, now moving on to the simmering pot of soup. "What Ah saw of him, anyway, which was brief. They'd set fahr to the house bah then...it's a miracle Tommy made it out."

Chadley's meditation training has provided him with much discipline, but not quite enough to cope with listening to his rotting mother detail her own death. He sobs again through grit teeth, shaking his head and starting his prayer again. The Light flickers.

"Mah last thought was of you," Adeline continues, now speaking in almost a whisper. "Ah couldn't see and Ah couldn't breathe, but Ah prayed with all mah heart that I'd see you again."

Chadley's voice cracks and his words fail. The Light flickers again, but he manages to keep it up without words. It's at a great expense, it seems, because he's sweating like it's midday. "And the Light brought me to you," he grunts. "To save you."

"Ah am saved," Adeline insists quietly, shaking her head. "Yer here. And that's all Ah need."

Chadley trembles and then snaps, "I'll outlast you." Quieter he says, "I love you, Ma."  He closes his eyes and restarts the prayer, his posture relaxing and his brow drying. The tears are back, but his meditation is deep and he doesn't notice them at all.

"Ah love you, too," Adeline murmurs and moves away from Chadley and the Light that radiates from him. When she's a safe distance away, she begins humming the lullaby again, something vaguely familiar from his childhood.

And now he's alone, a single light in an inky dark that sings childhood songs to him. His prayers stay firm and his trance deep. The Light is all he has.

Cinnamon & Chadley: July 9

Cinnamon stops midstep upon seeing the book on Chadley's lap. With all the hesitance of a skittish thing that is skittish, she approaches. "Em. Excuse me, sir? What book is that, if I might be bold enough to ask?"

Chadley opens the now-dry, but still recently water-damaged book. He flips through each fragile page, frowning as it becomes more apparent that not much has survived. He jumps slightly at the voice and looks up. "Uh- nothing. It's nothing."

Cinnamon holds her bookbag to her chest. Apologetically, she explains, "I work in the book-binding rooms at the Royal Library. It loooks like it's pretty valuable... I wonder if I mightn't just... I mean..." She's looking more at the book than Chadley.

Chadley winces as one of the pages makes an audible 'creak' sound as he tries to turn it. He sets the page down and doesn't try again. The book remains open in his lap, though. "The damage goes beyond the binding," he mumbles.

Cinnamon says: What happened to it? I don't mean to intrude or anything, I'm sorry.

"Fell in the canal," he says sourly, looking down at the open page before him. The water damage has ruined the hand-penned ink, there's barely even any indication of the prayers that once filled its pages.

Cinnamon steps forward and looks down at the page. She cringes slightly at the damage. "This would have to be rescribed, but if it's old enough, the ink would've left an impression. If someone could rescribe it for you... if you know any scribes. Or, well, I know a few, but I might have to slip them some coin to pay for it. But, em. I could rebind it? If I could find someone to rescribe it? I think?"

Chadley 's brows flatten, but he looks up from the book. Not at her, just up. "Interesting. I didn't know this amount of damage wasn't beyond restoration. How much would such services cost?"

Cinnamon says: It depends on the scribe. I have a friend with connections, though. I can ask him and see what his price would be. The rebindin'...
Cinnamon laughs sheepishly, adjusting the pencils in her hair and causing most of it to fall. "...I kind of love rebinding books, so I wouldn't charge. Especially for a gorgeous piece like that."

Chadley finally peers up at the girl. "How do you make a living if you offer your services for free?"

Cinnamon says: I work officially for the library; book-binding's just part of my job. I don't usually get to work with pieces like this one... by the fang, how old do you think it is?

Chadley looks back down to the ancient book in his lap and closes the cover shut. "I am unsure. It seems to pre-date the Silver Hand, yet instructs a number of combat-applicable prayers. I don't know when it was written, and it doesn't say."

Cinnamon lets her bookbag fall to her side and holds her hands behind her back, apparently to keep from making grabby hands at amaaaazinnnnng buuuuuuuk. "I'd guess at least three hundred years. Perhaps more."
Cinnamon says: Also, it was my understanding that combat-applicable prayers were never unique to paladins; they simply came more into favor during the time of the Silver Hand.
Cinnamon says: But I've only begun reading about them recently.

Chadley says: You're correct; it's simply surprising to see them all compiled like this. And three-hundred, you think? Lady S- eh, my superior found it in the Cathedral library. I could ask about it there, maybe.
Chadley says: -- After it's been restored, if that's even possible.

Cinnamon hefts herself up onto the wall several feet away from Chadley and removes her staff from her back, laying it on the wall behind her. "No use givin' up when you haven't tried yet, hmm?" She smiles tentatively before digging in her bookbag. Several books and other artifacts spill out, including a well-worn deck of fortune cards. She finally finds what she's looking for in a small notepad and pen. "What was your name, then?"

Chadley blinks. "Ah- Chadley Fairdale. I, uh- am I to leave this with you?" He looks skeptical- Stormwind is crazy and you shouldn't trust anybody.

Cinnamon writes his name on her notepad in slow, careful penmanship. "No, no! I want to make sure my contact can actually provide some assistance in this before I take that away from you."

Chadley nods. "I understand. This isn't something you need to do, you know. You've known me all of five minutes."

Cinnamon 's cheeks flush as he says this, and she shoves her glasses up on her nose. "Honestly, Chadley Fairdale, I'm doing it less for you and more for that gorgeous book. No offense or anything, though I have only known you five minutes. But I did let a man spend a week in my apartment recovering from stab wounds after knowing him only ten minutes so perhaps I'm just odd like that." She shrugs and begins restuffing her bag.

Chadley stares sort-of deadpan at the tattered, cracked, and now water-damaged leather cover of the book. Despite the damage, the beautiful holy circle design on the front is still quite clear. "I see," he simply says. "Well, thank you anyway."

Cinnamon says: ...I'm Cinna, by the way. Cinna Diggory. I suppose I should've given you my name before askin' for yours or talking about your book or anything, but there you go.

Chadley says: I'm rather used to strange women approaching me and asking about my reading material, oddly.

Cinnamon pauses in her restuffing and raises an eyebrow at Chadley. "Really? I've noticed that about this city. A lot of people tend to be very interested in others' personal business. Though I suppose I'm not helpin' that stereotype."

Chadley says: Not in particular, though you've at least something to offer and don't exist merely to annoy.
Chadley looks up at the Cathedral and eyetics.

Cinnamon says: Mm, you spend a lot of time around Cathedral Square, then. I've had the misfortune of encountering several... circus acts there, I think that's a good way of puttin' it. One girl kept shrinking and asked me to carry her around. It was... odd.
Cinnamon resumes her restuffing, hands resting on her deck of cards. "But then, it seems a prime spot for practice. Have you ever had fortune cards read?"

Chadley says: Did she try to crawl down your shirt? I believe I've witnessed such a thing before, though we could be speaking of two separate occurances. I'd not doubt it.
Chadley says: -- And no. I'd rather remain ignorant of my future, if it's anything like my present.

Cinnamon laughs softly and shakes her head. "Thankfully, I think I managed to communicate rather thoroughly to her that I wasn't interested, or at least she got bored, one of the two. And they don't -really- tell the future."
Cinnamon says: They provide more insight into your current situation and possible outcomes that you should consider when framing your actions.

Chadley says: Yesterday, I learned that genuine mind-reading is possible. I don't know what else is. You're not a mind-reader, are you.

Cinnamon shakes her head, cheeks flushing again. "Oh, by the fang, no. I can do some natural magic, but that's really the extent of it. The cards are... well, they're like books. You read the symbols on them and see how they apply to your life."

Chadley says: ... I see. So they're vague and can apply to anybody.

Cinnamon shrugs a shoulder and places the cards back in her bag. "They could. I've found them to be oddly specific more often than not."

Chadley says: How does that work?

Cinnamon says: Oh, a variety of ways. Sometimes, I'll draw a card that describes to a tee a person I know. Other times, it just paints a relatively accurate picture of events and circumstances.

Chadley says: I'm almost curious how that works. It must be psychological, like you just look for...
Chadley says: -Can I see how it works?

Cinnamon blinks a few times and readjusts her glasses. "Certainly! Let me just shuffle. And while I'm shufflin', I want you to think of something that's been on your mind lately that you haven't an answer to."

Chadley rests his mail-clad forearms atop the cover of the book, watching as she takes out the cards. "Alright."

Cinnamon spreads the cards on the wall between them, all face down. "Now, still thinkin' about what you want to know, choose five cards and lay them face down right here." She indicates the area just above the spread-out deck.

Chadley doesn't take any time at all to pick five cards at random, not stopping to put any consideration or ~feeling~ into it. He places them facedown where he's supposed to. "Okay?"

Cinnamon reaches for the first card. "This card represents your long past." She flips the card over to reveal a man standing alone, looking over a cliff amidst three staves: the three of staves.

Chadley nods slowly. Everyone's got a long past, dammit.

Cinnamon says: Long ago, you began an enduring partnership that's bettered both you and the other person. You also were in a position where you had to take responsibility for your own decisions in order to further your journey towards your goals.

Chadley smirks slightly. "Well, it's not necessarily untrue, but I still say that could apply to almost anybody."

Cinnamon smirks in return and moves on to the second card. "We'll see. In the meantime, this card is about your recent past." She flips the card over, revealing a king holding four gold coins tightly to him against the backdrop of a city: the four of pentacles.
Cinnamon says: So according to this... you recently have been holdin' fast and tight to everything you know because you're afraid you'll lose it all. Maybe you've lost recently or maybe it's just a pattern you've seen, but for whatever reason, you're afraid of things changin' too much or thinkin' of things differently because you don't want to lose more. You're jealous of the people who have what you want, but you're making yourself a stumblin' block by not considering other options.

Chadley stares at the cards. "These cards are beginning to sound like my superiors."

Cinnamon grins and moves on to the third card. "This card represents where you are now." She turns the card over, revealing a woman sitting on a throne and holding a sword aloft: the queen of swords.

Cinnamon says: This card says that you're a very insightful and intelligent person, but it's not enough to simply possess that knowledge. You have to not simply hold it, but actually wield it in order to recover from the losses you've experienced. It also points to a female mentor of some sort; a combat trainer, perhaps, or someone of nobility.

Chadley gives his usual short, incredulous laugh as he looks at the three upturned cards. "You're right, they are very good."

Cinnamon smiles and touches the fourth card. "Then I hope you like what this one says. This is about your immediate future." She turns the card over to reveal a carefree man, smiling as he walks down a path, a bundle on his back: the Fool.

Chadley blinks.

Cinnamon says: Well, this is good news for your superiors: in the near future, you'll learn to let go and let things happen as they happen. This card suggests contentment and happiness, openness to whatever life brings. Sort of... greeting it with open arms, if you will. It also suggests travel.

Chadley doesn't say anything at all, positive or negative, after she explains this card. His subtle perma-frown returns, though.

Cinnamon watches Chadley's reaction before moving to the final card. "This is the one you could call your fortune... your future, overall." She turns the card over, revealing a young man in fancy clothing holding a golden cup: the Page of Cups.
Cinnamon says: Your longterm future looks bright, should things stay as they are. This card speaks to a great deal of spiritual illumination bringin' you great joy. You'll have a more childlike faith, embracing these things for what they are. Love is in your future as are good, strong bonds with a lot of people. And possibly a child.

Chadley snorts at the final addition to his fortune. "Unlikely. Still." He looks up at her. "Very interesting. I still maintain that they can find meaning to anybody, but it's interesting how well they do."

Cinnamon smiles and draws the cards back, stacking them neatly and placing them back in her bag. "I mostly enjoy them for the stories they tell. Still, interesting." She stands after a moment, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "I'm going to head out and see if I can't find that contact of mine and what he'll charge. I'll send you a note if I find anything out. It was nice to meet you!"

Chadley says: Hey, uh- yeah. And thanks again.

Cinnamon says: No problem. Have a good evening.

Senkha & Chadley: May 4

Chadley sets himself down on a bench, his book and belongings neatly placed at his side. He gives a curt nod to the woman on the next bench over, but seems content to not interact further.

Senkha is a woman in agony. She is holding onto her right leg with one hand while puffing furiously on a pipe of something with the other, as if it's meant to help.

Chadley lowers his head and a light comes to his hands. Under his breath, he begins to mutter a prayer, the shimmer beginning to expand. What looks almost like a shield of Light forms and holds around his entire body. This lasts all of three seconds before abruptly dropping. He turns his head and stares at Senkha.

Senkha is too busy puffing away to notice. Tears of pain are streaming down her cheeks, and her hands are shaking pretty violently. Every so often, she tries to close her eyes as if concentrating on something, but it doesn't really work longer than the bubble.

Chadley 's hands lower and he quietly says, "... Miss? Do you need assistance?"

Senkha swallows hard, not looking up at Chadley; if she recognizes him in any way, she gives no indication. "...how are you at suppressing pain?" she asks through gritted teeth, giving a quiet sob.

Chadley gets up from his seat, leaving his stuff behind, and walks over to the crying woman. His steps favor his left leg, and when he reaches her, he gets to his knees in front of her. "Well enough. May I?"

Senkha finally catches sight of Chadley properly as he approaches, though her face still shows no signs of recognition. "Of course. You're a healer?" she asks, her voice somewhat choked.

Chadley nods, holding his hands up so they hover just a few inches above her right leg. "I am. A break, though, I'm not sure I can mend. But I can maybe help the pain..."

Senkha nods, gritting her teeth. "It's actually part of a m-mending... longterm. They broke it again to enable it to heal pr- properly."

Chadley closes his eyes, another string of prayer under his breath. He interrupts to say, "Be still a moment," and his hands rest on her thigh. The Light returns, coiling down and around his arms and directly into the most painful point of the break, her whole leg taking a soft glow.

Senkha stiffens at first before relaxing as the glow envelops her leg. Her breathing slowly begins to steady and the shaking in her hands stops.

Chadley 's eyes remain pressed shut. He speaks, his voice tense with concentration, the Light still pouring into her shattered leg. "When I stop, your pain will return, but should hopefully be dulled. Ready yourself."

Senkha nods and takes a big puff from her pipe in preparation. She closes her eyes and grits her teeth.

Chadley pulls his hands away, a pale glow leaving his eyes as he opens them and looks up at her. Before her leg loses its illumination he gives a quick jerk of his fingers and a blessing is cast, giving her strength. "I hope that helps." He stands, dusting his knees off. "I only just learned how to do that."

Chadley gives a sheepish grin to the woman, his stance again slowly shifting to favor his left leg.

Senkha groans softly as the pain returns, though it is fortunately dulled by the blessing. "Did you now? Are you a squire, then? You're very good."

Chadley nods, glancing back to his seat. "I am. And I'm glad I could help." He bows slightly. "If you'll pardon me, I need to sit."
Chadley almost steps on the cockroach, tripping as it skitters under his feet. "Agh!"

Senkha laughs quietly and then hisses as Chadley almost trips over the cockroach. "Oh, I'm sorry! Wally, c'mere. Don't get underfoot." The roach skitters up under her shoulderpiece. "Go ahead and sit. Light knows I understand what that's like."

Chadley looks at her like she's insane. "Wait, it's yours? You keep it as a -pet-? That's..." He keeps walking to his seat, dropping down and finishing, "... kind of disgusting."

Senkha says: He was my best companion when I served in Icecrown. I'm fairly certain that roaches are the only creatures on the face of this world that can eat Blight and not die, so he was good to have on hand.

Chadley looks down at the cockroach like it might begin spewing blight itself. His nose wrinkles in disgust. "You served in Icecrown?" Subject change!

Senkha nods, carefully shifting her shoulderpiece so that Wally is no longer visible. "I was part of several mercenary groups up there. I even did some work inside the Citadel itself, though nothing too terrifying."

Chadley says: I'd have loved to serve on the medical team on the Citadel floor. They stuck me back at the Argent Vanguard. Was it exciting, in there?

Senkha says: I don't know that "exciting" is quite the word I'd use. It was terrifying lots of the time... the Lich King's very best, all determined to turn us into little more than a pile of goo. Which... well, I suppose that's exciting, but not in the best way.
Senkha says: It's a shame you were stuck back at the Vanguard. We could've used a healer like you.

Chadley smiles faintly. Ego boost! But he shakes his head. "No, they were probably right. I think one ghoul from there would be enough to do someone like me in."

Senkha leans back, gently rubbing her leg to assuage the pain and puffing away at her pipe. "Mm, if you were with the best fighters, the ghouls wouldn't have given you a second glance. Some of the best paladins I knew fought on the front lines and kept the rest of us from getting a single scratch." She gives Chadley a friendly smile.

Chadley smiles too. "I hope for that to be me someday. Up there stopping people from being hurt, instead of just numbing their pain." He gestures to her leg.

Senkha's smile becomes sympathetic. "I know the feeling. Ever since this happened," she pats her leg, "I've been chomping at the bit, dying to get back to fighting. Light-willing, this treatment will work."

Chadley says: I'd have not taken you for a fighter at first glance. Is that how you were injured? In battle?

Senkha says: I wish. The short version is that I managed to make myself some powerful enemies and one of them had a dragon.

Chadley blinks at you.

Senkha says: --I'm blessed to be alive.

Chadley says: Somebody had it out for you that much?
Chadley says: Are you important or something?

Senkha laughs and shakes her head. "Light, I certainly don't think so. Until recently, I was nothing but a business owner and retired fighter. Apparently, though, I attracted attention."

Chadley says: How'd you go about doing that?

Senkha says: It's...something of a long story, really. I'm not entirely sure I understand now.
Senkha says: Even after all this time.

Chadley says: I'll not press, then.
Chadley says: -- My name is Chadley, by the way.

Senkha says: It's good to meet you, Chadley. You can call me Sennie... most of my remaining family does.

Chadley inclines his head. "Interesting name. A pleasure."

Senkha says: The pleasure is mine. Are you from Stormwind, Chadley?

Chadley says: No. I'm actually from the North. Eastern Lordaeron, then Southshore. Kinda getting chased more and more South as I go.

Senkha says: Really? I'm from Lordaeron as well. Andorhal.
Senkha says: When did you leave Southshore? It must've been a while ago if you were serving in Northrend.

Chadley says: I can tell from your accent. And- a little over two years ago, now. I was sixteen when I left to provide my skills as a medic.

Senkha says: It's a good thing you left. All sorts of bad luck's befallen Southshore, just this past year or so.
Senkha says: My family lived there before it was besieged by orcs in the second war.

Chadley 's hand twitches. "I'm well aware of what's befallen Southshore in this recent year."

Senkha cringes. "Light, I'm sorry. It's... not much fun to lose your home. I'm sorry."

Chadley says: I'm sure you know. Being from Andorhal.

Senkha says: Mm. Not many happy memories there for me. I hope that you can at least look back fondly on your time in Southshore.

Chadley says: I can. It was only a few years I lived there, after my mother remarried, but I enjoyed myself there.

Vood looks at Chadley.

Chadley looks at Vood.
Chadley says: - Hi?

Vood looks at you.
Vood says: Wow mate.

Chadley says: Do you need assistance, sir?

Vood says: Never noticed it before but you're signicantly uglier than the rest of the citizens in Sotrmwind.
Vood smirks slyly at Chadley.

You raise your eyebrow inquisitively at Vood.

Vood says: Have a good day,mate.

Senkha says: ...well that was. Special.

Chadley flattens his brows as the man turns to leave, not bothering to argue.

Senkha says: You say your mother remarried... were she and your father separated?

Chadley rolls his eyes, letting the insult slide. At her question, he shakes his head. "He died. He stayed behind to fight the Scourge as it swarmed our town."

Senkha cringes again, as if she didn't know this. "Light, I'm sorry. I'm asking all the wrong questions, aren't I? I may as well ask if your dog died and your house burnt down while I'm at it." She chuckles, shaking her head.

Chadley says: The house burnt down, but we didn't own a dog. We had to leave the chickens all behind, though.
Chadley smiles.
Chadley says: You should know, though. My situation is hardly unique.

Senkha grins apologetically and takes another puff from her pipe, cringing. "Mm. When I lived in Andorhal, all I wanted was to leave so I wouldn't have to be a farmer's wife. Now, I'd give just about anything for that lifestyle."
Senkha says: Getting chewed on by a dragon kind of does that to a person.

Chadley says: You said before you wished to return to battle. Conflicting urges?

Senkha says: You might say that. If I -have- to be near a battle, I'd rather be fighting instead of standing uselessly by the side.
Senkha says: I'd ultimately rather not be near battles, but unfortunately, I seem to attract trouble like lampposts attract moths.

Chadley says: Or Delahans.
Chadley coughs.
Chadley says: I know the feeling, though.

Senkha laughs at this, cringing as it jostles her leg wrong. "Yes, the ever-present Delahan Division, proof that the true evil in Stormwind lies in those who stand around lampposts and make snide remarks all day."

Chadley cringes too, though hides it with an adjustment of his posture. "I know little of them. I just know that they're loud and disrupt prayer."

Senkha says: Bullies, really. Nothing but playground bullies gone through puberty and not taught better. How old did you say you were, Chadley?

Chadley says: I am eighteen years old as of November. Why?

Senkha gives Chadley an encouraging smile. "Oh good, I thought you were older for a bit. I was going to say, you've plenty of time to work your way into the battlefield. I'll be twenty-five tomorrow and I only started on the front lines about a year ago."

Chadley says: Perhaps you're right. One tends to lose confidence in themselves when surrounded by grand champions of the Light that are sixteen years old.

Senkha laughs loudly again. "Light's sake, isn't that the case with this city. I swear, I've seen more child prodigies walking these streets than actual hardened warriors, though I suppose that could be because all of the hardened warriors are deployed."

Chadley says: It bodes ill that you find that comical. This city is a terrible place full of bizarre things that defy everything I knew about life.

Senkha says: How long have you been living here?

Chadley says: Luckily, I actually live outside the city, in Northshire Abbey, so I'm spared the insanity most of the time. But I've lived down south here for just over six months now. Yourself?

Senkha says: I came here from Theramore close to... mm, I think it'll be two years in August. It didn't used to be this mad around the Cathedral... it seems the refuse that used to pollute the Moonwell in the Park has migrated here.

Chadley says: Ah. When one religious relic is destroyed, they move onto the next. The shamans in Stormwind Lake should keep their heads up.

Senkha says: Mm, I doubt they'll ever take the Cathedral out. It's weathered far more hell than the Park was built to endure.

Chadley says: To be fair, the ground itself fell out from under it. The Light blesses this ground, but I'm not sure it'd quite help that. But you're right, for all the warlocks and deaders and black dragons this place has endured, it's pulled through.

Senkha says: Mm, you weren't in the city when the elementals were ravaging the place, were you? The entire Cathedral became a house of refuge and healing. It was chaotic, but somehow, it felt beautiful, like what it was really meant to be.

Chadley says: I was here. I acted briefly as a medic in the Keep, after the Cathedral had been evacuated. I feared we'd lost it, but here it is.

Senkha says: Here it is. And here, Light-willing, it shall remain.

Chadley says: It can take it so long as those that wish it harm remain laughably unintelligent. I've witnessed countless people in just a few months attempt to burn it. Burn it!
Chadley says: It's stone!

Senkha grins wryly. "Well no one ever said the writhing masses were -intelligent-, now, did they? Ah well. Natural selection'll take care of that lot, and the rest... well. We'll endure like the Cathedral."
Senkha says: Only preferably with less stone. Being made of stone seems as though it would be rather uncomfortable.

Chadley says: The dwarves don't seem to mind.

Senkha says: Ah, but to be a dwarf, one must have a blood-alcohol content of at least fifty percent, and when you're that shnockered, you don't really notice things like being made of stone.

Chadley smiles. "This is also the truth." At the sound of the bells chiming, he snorts. "So much for practice, I suppose. I need to rest. Early days." He stands and begins to gather his things.

Senkha says: Likely, I should as well. More treatment tomorrow. Light-willing, it'll actually help.
Senkha doesn't make to stand, however, still resting her hand against her leg and not going for the cane leaning against her bench.

Chadley slings his bag over his shoulder, giving a nod. "Light willing, indeed. I shall pray for you."

Senkha says: And I for you.

Mairèad's Ordination: April 30

Mairèad exhales and finally smiles at Chadley, nodding. She glances back to Shepard and smiles at him as well before looking up at Matteo. "I'm ready t'start now."

Tohuu blinks at Ovrik.

Matteo says: Of course. Thank you all for attending today.
Matteo says: In the name of the Light, we gather here to witness the ordination of Mairead Isolde Lisa Fallon.
Matteo says: In the Light, we gather to empower our sister. In its grace, she shall be made anew. In its power, she shall educate the masses. In its strength, she shall combat the shadow. And, in its wisdom, she shall lead her brethren into the eternal rewards of paradise.

Oggleton lands with a heavy thud on the roof. "Dammit..."

Emirdelle says: My Colonel senses are tingling.

Chadley looks up at Oggleton.

Ovrik dabs his... third? One went to the robot, one went to the draenei woman. Third handkerchief at the corners of his eyes.

Mairèad stands at ease, her head bowed, eyes closed, though she looks up when Oggleton lands, blinking a few times.

Matteo says: I will ask now for those of you that have prepared speeches to step forward.

Tohuu is still holding the frilly hankerchief in her hands. She's waiting for the fake tears.

Oggleton whispers to Lius. "Did I prepare a speech?"

Mairèad glances over at Chadley, Stehl, and Oggleton. "Colonel Hardcheese will be speakin' first, on th'virtue of respect."

Chadley takes a single step forward, the wrinkled paper still clutched in his hand.

Matteo gestures Oggleton forward.

Emirdelle slips a note to Oggleton. "There you go sir."

Lius nods. "Aye, sir. Ye did."

Ovrik 's tears are sincere. He dabs.

Stehl says: ... Wait, he had respect? Oh, no.

Oggleton nods at Lius. "Thank you, Lenny."

Tohuu produces fake tears, dabbing at them with the massive hankerchief. She forces a smile as well.

Oggleton picks a spot where he can see everyone.

Mairèad inclines her head respectfully toward Oggleton as he approaches, freezing somewhat as she catches sight of Teach, but then just looking past him to Shepard.

Shépard smiles encouragingly, though he glances to Teach once before settling on Mairead.

Oggleton says: So. Respect, ya say? Respect's a terribly important part of being a paladin, of course. Top three, at least.
Oggleton says: Respect is one of the few things that seperate us from the animals. Like opposable thumbs, and tits what don't have fur on them.

Matteo stares straight ahead, trying not to listen to what the Colonel is saying.

Chadley 's head is bowed in respect, but he snorts.

Aveta doesn't really know much about paladins, so she maintains a smile and respectful silence!

Tohuu is trying so hard not to laugh.

Mairèad presses her lips together, also bowing her head in respect. Her cheeks flush, though, and she seems to be holding in a laugh.

Oggleton says: Anyway. All this talk about respect reminds of of this story.

Stehl taps the side of his helmet once.

Oggleton says: I was up in Dalaran, workin' with this fella by th' name of Antonidas.
Oggleton says: And damn, was his daughter ugly.

Lius flops back against the pillar, having to bite down on his lip to avoid laughing.

Aveta snatches up Lius' hat and places it on her head. It is sandwiched between antlers.

Tohuu covers her mouth with the hankerchief in order to stifle her giggling.

Oggleton says: Not just normal ugly, mind you. Moustache like one of them walrus-people, and fatter than...one of them walrus-people.

Mairèad covers her mouth with her hand, a quiet squeak escaping.

Oggleton says: Anyway, Antonidas keeps droppin' hints about how he's lookin' to marry her off.

Aveta is now a pirate.

Oggleton says: And I'm thinking, "Good luck with that one," of course, 'cause she looks like a walrus-person.
Oggleton says: As I had previous said.
Oggleton says: So, anyway, he invites me to dinner over at his mansion.

Stehl is shaking slightly.

Emirdelle tries to hold back her laugh as tears form on the corner of her eye.

Lius glances up to his lost hat, too busy avoiding laughter to care.

Chadley has, by now, lifted a hand to cover his face. He can't conceal his broad grin and suppressed laughter, though.

Ovrik listens with the attention and excitement of a seven year old child.

Oggleton says: Long story short, I wake up the next morning, pants completely gone.

Mairèad lets out a snort that she quickly tries to turn into a cough.

Tohuu manages a fake gasp in response to this.

Ovrik gasps.

Oggleton says: Never went back to Dalaran, but I heard later that they flew the city off to Northrend in shame of that girl's ugliness.

Emirdelle holds in her laugh, but gets hiccups in return.

Shépard is wearing a srs face. Yep.

Oggleton nods solemnly.

Chadley waits for the lesson.

Teach looks over at Shepard, "'n'people call me crazy."

Ovrik is -actually- taking this all very seriously. He awaits the lesson as well.

Chadley is going to be waiting a long time.

Shépard doesn't speak, and he doesn't even react. Still wearing the srs face, though.

Ovrik is very patient.

Oggleton says: And that's how I met Kael'thas Sunstrider.

Lius nearly loses it at this, he wedges himself between Aveta and the pillar, his face falling against her arm. Muffled laughter comes out.

Ovrik blinks.

Matteo says: Thank you, Colonel.

Oggleton grunts and walks back to his place. Speech over.

Chadley says: ...

Aveta bonks Lius' head.

Ovrik starts up hesitant clapping.

Tohuu claps excitedly.

Mairèad drops her hands to applaud, respectfully, but also more to cover up her giggling.

Ovrik 's clapping is lonely and awkward and echo- oh, no it's not!

Tohuu winks slyly at Ovrik.

Stehl taps the side of his helmet once and starts clapping briefly.

Chadley also claps. Slowly.

Ovrik blinks. Ceases clapping.

Matteo says: Moving onto the next speaker...

Mairèad coughs and regains her composure. "Th'next speech is on tenacity and will be presented by Stehl." She does not call him Stehlfire because srs event is srs.

Stehl says: ... S'my turn, yes?

Chadley looks at Stehl.

Lius has managed to stop his laughter, but can't quite gather himself enough to clap. His entire body is shaking, tears forming in his eyes.

Matteo says: Aye.

Ovrik leans over to Lius and whispers loudly. "...are you quite okay?"

Stehl says: ... Well, I had something prepared with Rosa speaking before me in mind. But. That last... 'speech' completely ruined the set-up. So.

Lius gives Ovrik a thumbs up.

Ovrik doesn't realize that this question is probably rhetorical.

Oggleton nods. "Always been a hard act to follow, my boy."

Stehl says: So, I'll keep this brief. What is tenacity to all of you? To some, it's simply being able to continue something you've started. Admirable enough, not everybody seems to be capable of that. But what does it mean to one of us? Is it just that?

Ovrik resists an urge to take notes.

Stehl says: No. To uphold the word of the Light, we must endure beyond the ordinary. Hell, beyond even the extraordinary. Even if our bones break and our armor crumbles we must persevere in all endeavors.
Stehl says: And should we find ourselves alone in the darkness? If we find ourselves unworthy of the gift granted to us? We shall not fail to keep pressing onward, for that is what we are. The nameless, faceless protectors of the innocent and of our faith.
Stehl says: I'm also a terrible liar, and that was kind of long.
Stehl leans against the pillar again, folding his arms.

Chadley slow-claps at this as well, though it's distinguishable from the previous clapping as genuine.

Mairèad smiles brightly and also applauds this speech, nodding at Stehl and mouthing "thank you."

Ovrik dabs.

Matteo says: Thank you, sir Stehl.

Shépard claps. That is all.

Mairèad says: Th'last speech is on compassion, presented by Chadley Fairdale.

Tohuu claps as well.

Chadley looks around nervously as he approaches the front. He turns around and coughs, trying for a smile. "Guess I'm the only one with a speech wrote up, huh? I, uh- well. Here goes."

Emirdelle taps Ovrik's hand. "Use my uh...Cloak."

Chadley looks at his crumpled paper.

Ovrik positively beams.
Ovrik shakes his head, still smiling. There is a third handkerchief in his massive hand, and it's being put to good use!

Chadley swallows and begins to read aloud. "Of the three virtues, compassion is the least often understood. It's not that it's hindered by personal ideals, but that all-too-often people allow it to -dominate- their ideals."
Chadley says: Compassion is a gift that must be welcomed by someone, not placed upon them. As a paladin, you are equal parts justice and mercy, and it can be easy to blindly focus on one as it is the other.
Chadley pauses, swallowing again.
Chadley says: By accepting these honors, this ordination, a paladin accepts the responsibility to do what's right, regardless of ideal. They demonstrate the courage to know when to show compassion toward even those that have not earned their respect, as well as the ability to act when that compassion is taken for granted.
Chadley says: ... Compassion is universally deserved. The greatest responsibility is knowing when and how to deliver it.
Chadley crumples his paper and walks back.

Orgo claps. Nice and short.

Matteo smiles, "Thank you, mister Fairdale."

Mairèad grins widely at Chadley and claps for him as well, nodding encouragingly.

Ovrik smiles widely. Clap. Clap.

Tohuu claps after the speech. She actually smiles at this.

Chadley looks kind of like he wants to die.

Stehl belated clap.

Shépard clap.

Ovrik claps, rather loudly. It echoes like a gunshot and his head sinks into his shoulders, that droop.
Ovrik shivers.

Chadley jumps.

Shépard snickers at Ovrik.

Matteo looks at Shepard, "I believe you are to sing a hymn, Mister Lovells?"

Shépard says: Hm? Ah, right. Uh-huh.

Tohuu glances over behind her, an irritated look on her face.]

Orgo finds his flask. Empties it. Pulls out another.

Mairèad jumps a little at Ovrik's clap but smiles at him just the same.

Matteo says: Please, come forward.

Lius nudges Orgo with his foot. "Sarn't?" He pleads, nodding towards the flask.

Ovrik looks like the world itself just exiled him from its surface.

Shépard quietly shuffles forwards, fingers busy fiddling with a device strapped around his neck - a decidedly human voice echoes out. "Hold on, hold on..."

Chadley blinks at Shépard.

Orgo finds yet another flask, and passes it to Lius. Strong shit, bro.

Shépard clears his throat, relaxes the muscles, takes one last look to Mairead... then quietly begins the hymn, singing with clear experience.
Shépard says: Nearer, O Light, to Thee, nearer to Thee! E’en though it be a trial that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, O Light, to Thee.

Lius begins to drink as fast as possible.

Shépard says: Nearer, O Light, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Ovrik clasps his hands across his heart. Smiles widely.

Shépard says: Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, darkness be over me, my rest a stone. Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, O Light, to Thee.
Shépard says: Nearer, O Light, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Tohuu folds her arms across her chest, listening to the song.

Shépard says: And, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky, sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly, still all my song shall be, nearer, O Light, to Thee.
Shépard says: Nearer, O Light, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
Shépard coughs into his fist, signaling the end. As quickly as he shuffled forward, he shuffles back to his original spot.

Matteo says: Thank you, Mister Lovells.

Shépard says: Mm.

Mairèad grins at Shepard, though her grin turns back into a nervous lip-biting as she glances back at Matteo.

Orgo drinks more. "That was...somethin'."

Chadley is quiet, though nods his head as Shepard finishes.

Matteo looks at Mairead, gesturing for her to step before him.

Mairèad steps before Matteo, turning to face him.

Matteo says: Do you, Mairead Isolde Lisa Fallon, vow to uphold the honor and codes of the paladins of the Holy Light?

Ovrik blinks rapidly, in disbelief.

Mairèad says: I do.

Matteo says: Do you vow to vanquish evil wherever it may be found, and protect the innocent with your very life?

Mairèad says: I do.

Matteo says: Brothers and sisters—you who have gathered here to bear witness—raise your hands and let the Light illuminate this woman.

Stehl raises his hands, a soft glow enveloping Mairead. No, it is not fire.

Aveta , despite not really understanding or being able to use the Light, raises her hand anyway. Nothing happens but, solidarity, man.

Emirdelle clasps her hands and utters a prayer for Mai.

Matteo lifts his hand--the one not holding his libram-- and adds to the light now surrounding Mairead.

Lius raises his hands awkwardly, swaying slightly. The flask remains clenched in one.

Orgo raises his hands, too. This is what Palerdins do?

Shépard raises a hand.

Chadley smiles and lifts his hands with an incline of his head. The Light comes to him and soon finds her, a glow surrounding her form.

Ovrik raises a single hand, peeling off the glove. It glows faintly.

Teach raises his hands, tearing up a little.

Tohuu bows her head and shuts her eyes.

Mairèad inclines her head respectfully and quietly, pressing her lips together. Matteo might notice tears tracking down her cheeks, looking all glowy and such.

Orgo had no way to contribute. Stupid hunters.

Matteo says: Arise, Mairead Isolde Lisa Fallon, Paladin-defender of Stormwind. Welcome to the order of the Holy Light.

Tohuu did her part.

Matteo closes his libram, returns it to his belt, and inclines his head to Mairead.

Chadley claps loudly now, cheering for his friend.

Mairèad looks up again, beaming. She throws her arms around Matteo's neck because to hell with formality!

Orgo claps happily.

Lius continues to stand with both hands in the air, unfocused eyes looking in the direction of the fresh palerdin. Finally, he fist pumps.

Matteo returns the hug.

Ovrik throws up a handful of petals! They're enchanted. They flow to the girl, gently.

Shépard claps along with Chadley, the biggest smile stretched across his face.

Emirdelle clasps her hands and smiles brightly.

Tohuu claps. A smile tugs at the corner of her mouth.

Mairèad has rose petals in her hair! She lets go of Matteo and smiles at him before turning to face everyone else and waving like an idiot.

Oliver, who's been watching at a distance the entire time, turns to leave with a grin.

Stehl claps. It sounds like a bunch of pans falling.

Oggleton also claps, whispering to Lius, "Wasn't listenin'. They married now?"

Lius nods to Oggleton, not hearing a word he said. "Aye, sir!"

Teach is crying, wiping his tears as manly as possible.

Matteo says: Again, I thank you all for attending.

Emirdelle looks around. "Time for feast?"

Aveta offers a bow to the group, and shifts into a bird. She flies away!

Ovrik raises a hand.

Mairèad says: Emi made food! Stick around and eat some if y'wanna!

Stehl says: You forgot one last thing, Matteo.

Ovrik says: D-diet.

Matteo says: Hm?

Emirdelle says: S'okay. There's fruit my draenei friend.

Stehl says: The part where we take the new paladin and toss her into the lake.

Mairèad blinks.

Matteo says: Oh, of course.
Matteo chuckles.

Mairèad says: What.

Stehl rushes forward. PORTAGE.

Ovrik gasps in horror.

Chadley says: We almost forgot.

Shépard says: I like this part.

Chadley says: Shit.

Orgo snorts.

Ovrik rushes over. HORRIFIED.

Orgo says: Palerdins.

Lius stumbles forward, always up for some portage action.

Ovrik looms.

Mairèad shrieks as she is suddenly surrounded by palerdins who want to throw her in the lake, though she's laughing.

Orgo says: Dammit, Doc! You throw my third-best flask inta th' lake, and I'll shoot ya again!

Stehl hoists her up and goes lake-ward. He's laughing, though it is slightly maniacal.

Chadley chases after, laughing his ass off.

Stehl yells: HEAVE.
Stehl heaves!

Lius attempts to help! As they approach the lake, a distant beep can be heard. His face falls into horror.

Ovrik waves his arms like a housewife that just set her pie on fire.

Chadley yells: HO!

Mairèad is tossed into the lake with a shriek!

Stehl & Chadley: April 25

Orgo points at you.
Orgo starts to charge.

Stehl points at you.
Stehl says: You.

Orgo says: Tonight?

You blink at Stehl.
Chadley says: Me.

Stehl says: How'd swimming go.

Chadley says: How do you think.

Stehl says: You're still not in the water, so. I don't know.

Orgo sighs.
Orgo says: Ya seen that MacGlynn, fella?

Chadley says: As willing as I was to throw flagstones into the ocean with no end in sight, swimming while armored through water that is mostly feces struck me as a little-
You raise your eyebrow inquisitively at Orgo.

Orgo says: I'm gonna start sendin' 'im recruitment papers in th' mail every day.

Stehl says: His address is... I think 3 Log Lane Eastvale Logging Camp.

Orgo snorts.
Orgo says: Ya just write their name on it, stick it in th' box.
Orgo says: Ain't rocket science.

Chadley also snorts, continuing, "Anyway, I took a day of stares from the public before I crawled out of there. I am not doing that again."

Stehl says: You'll do it again if I tell you to do it.

Chadley's cheek twitches. He doesn't argue.

Stehl says: Fortunately, I think you've had your fill of swimming. Can you do pushups?

Chadley says: Of course I can do pushups.

Stehl says: Can you do a handstand.

Chadley says: I've never really tried.

Stehl says: Try it! Then do pushups while doing a handstand.
Stehl says: Get going.

Chadley squints at Stehl in disbelief. "You're - no, I know you're not joking, but that's impossible. I can't learn to do that in a day."
Chadley says: Much less minutes.

Stehl says: Doesn't stop you from trying.

Chadley slides down from the ledge, mumbling something under his breath as he does. He tears his gloves off and drops them to the ground. He faces away from Stehl, his shoulders rising as he takes a preparatory breath.

Stehl says: You know, you'll wind up facing me like that.

Chadley says: I trust I'll make an ass of myself no matter which direction I'm facing.

Stehl says: No worries, I'll make it worth your while. Lesson time!

Chadley turns his head. He does not look like he has no worries.

Stehl says: Get going. Just do the handstand for now.

Chadley rolls his head back forward and looks at the ground. He pivots forward, letting his hands contact the ground and his arm strength to support him. It goes about as well as anyone's first try at a handstand, and he does a complete flip onto his back.

Stehl says: So. When you try that again, two things. One, try without your boots. They're going to cause you to go off balance more than anything else you have on right now. Two, what happens when you force Light into the ground through your hands?

Chadley says: I've never done so before. Through my feet, yes, but...

Stehl says: Try it.

Arenvald glances down from Tobi's back at the sound of a nominally familiar voice.

Chadley stands, dusting himself off. He bends to undo the buckles on his boots and kicks them off, tossing them in a pile to the side with his gloves. "Alright."

Arenvald says: Why're ye proddin' that man 'ta run 'roun' barefoot. Don't ye know wot goes on in this square?

Stehl says: Do handstands, not run around.

Arenvald says: ...That ain' any better.

Chadley turns around.

Stehl says: S'his training, not yours. So, I see no reason for you to complain and distract him.

Arenvald peers down at him. "They teachin' paladins 'te do circus tricks now?"

Chadley says: I question his methods too, Sir, but I'll trust it has some point to it.

Arenvald eyes Stehl for a minute, then rumbles a gruff laugh.

Stehl says: It'd be more useful than the drivel I hear others spout, to be honest. But, no. One needs a good sense of balance to avoid getting floored in a fight on potentially unbalanced ground.

Arenvald says: Only mebbe in teachin' ye 'umility an' mebbe not te be takin' orders from a man who may 'it ye wit' a fish...

Stehl says: If I hit him with a fish, it'll be for a good reason.

Chadley looks at Stehl. "Please don't hit me with a fish."

Stehl says: I make no promises.

Arenvald snickers.

Stehl says: Besides, I don't have any fish on hand.

Arenvald says: Don' say I dinna warn ye, lad.

Chadley says: I'm warned daily, it seems.

Stehl says: By me, half the time.

Arenvald says: Wot're ye up ta wot makes people tell ye not t'be doin' thin's all the time?

Stehl says: Teaching by example.

Chadley says: Sparring is apparently cruel.

Arenvald hrr hrr hrrs. "That it is, son. Course, it's worse on th' field."

Stehl says: That doesn't look like a handstand, Chadley.

You let out a long, drawn-out sigh.

Stehl says: It looks like chatting, which you can do while you're upside-down.

Arenvald says: Yer jes' gonna make all th' blood run 'ta 'is 'ead.

Stehl says: First he has to do it.

Chadley takes a step back, casting his gaze downward. As before, he pivots himself forward. This time, however, he does as instructed. He calls the Light to him, forcing it into the ground as his hands touch down. There's a loud CRACK and one of the cobblestones shatters where his hand contacts. He still falls over.

Arenvald snickers.

Stehl says: A little much. Try to force it in at an even rate instead of all at once.

Arenvald continues to watch. It's sort of like a cart wreck, apparently, albeit with fewer bodies.

Chadley quickly sits back up and rubs the shoulder he landed on with a groan. "Do we have to do this right here?"

Arenvald eyes Stehl and rumbles, amusedly, "'At's wot she said."

Stehl says: No. But you started here, so there's no sense in moving.

Mairèad sits quietly on the wall, observing.

Chadley says: I'd really not mind. It wouldn't-
You blink at Mairèad.

Mairèad says: Don't mind me. Unless yer gunna do somethin' that you don't want me seein'.

Stehl says: Here, I can completely emasculate you if you'd like.

Arenvald drawls, "This oughta be good."

Mairèad frowns slightly but doesn't comment on Stehl's words.

Chadley gets to his feet, very much looking like he'd rather be dead. He doesn't answer any of them, instead attempting yet another handstand. His hands illuminate with holy energy on contact, softer this time. He catches himself midair, managing to "walk" himself backward for a second before falling onto his stomach.
Chadley says: Stehl, -please- can we do this elsewhere...

Stehl says: Sure.

Mairèad 's eyes go wide upon seeing Chadley's acrobatics. She glances over to Stehl. "...Stehlfire, if y'don't mind me askin', what're you tryin' to teach him?"

Stehl says: I mind you asking, because I've already had to answer it.

Mairèad says: I mean. You are th'trainer and all, but this seems...roguish.

Arenvald says: Ye'd be better served doin' real trainin' exercises too, son. But...
Arenvald eyes Stehl, still looking amused. "S'ppose that's wot ye get."

Stehl says: He's not ready for actual training from me.

Leanan peers, unabashedly. Public Paladin training. She can watch all she likes, yo.

Arenvald says: Zat so. He seems like a capable 'nuff lad 'ta me.

Mairèad says: Well, no shit. I don't know that handstands'll change that, though. I'm not th'professional here.

Chadley gets back up. He turns around. "I made a choice! Why must some asshole come around every day and try to talk me out of it?!"

Stehl says: There we go. There's some teeth. Come on, we'll find a more out of the way location.

Leanan pouts, "Caw. Was gettin' good."

Arenvald smirks. "Not so much out of. More like... jes' pointin' out silly buggers when I see it."
Arenvald says: But oi, suit yerself lad. Mebbe ye can get a job wit' the Darkmoon folks.

Stehl says: You're riding a lizard with wings and have pigs on your arms.

Chadley walks backward a moment before turning to grab his belongings. He deliberately avoids eye contact with Arenvald, and follows after Stehl.

Mairèad's frown deepens significantly, though she doesn't say anything in Chadley's defense beyond, "Jest let him pass through and go on to his trainin'."

Arenvald says: An'? Yer point bein'?

Stehl says: I don't think you can comment on silly.

Chadley walks in complete silence.
Chadley looks around as they enter the graveyard. "Here?"

Stehl says: Here, a nice, out of the way spot.
Stehl says: Only the dead will watch, and they don't care for the actions of the living.
Stehl says: Mostly because, you know, dead.

Chadley puts his gloves on the wall and sits to remove his boots again. "Typically." When he finishes, he gets back up and stares at the ground. "... Right then." The Light shines around his arms before he tries anything this time, his eyes wide open in concentration on the ground before him. He attempts his fourth handstand, Light shooting into the ground on contact. He kicks his legs up to balance himself and manages to hold for a few good seconds before letting himself collapse out of exhaustion.

Stehl says: Not bad.

Chadley says: The Light. Should I really use it as a crutch like that?

Stehl says: No. But you're not using it as a crutch here. It's not helping you stay up. If anything, you're burning more energy.

Chadley says: ... Wait. Then what's the point of shooting it into the ground like you asked? I'm sure the only reason I'm staying up as long as I am is because I'm also asking for strength.

Stehl says: I wanted to see you do it.

You stare Stehl down.
Chadley says: Now you're kidding.

Stehl says: Partially. I wanted to see you do it, but the reason I gave for you doing handstands is accurate.
Stehl says: Also, why waste time just training one thing when you can train two?

Chadley says: The handstanding I understand. What am I training by shooting Light into the ground?

Stehl says: Your ability to manipulate it. Also, it gives you an idea of how you'll act under pressure. The pressure of strange things.

Chadley says: Did it really require -that- to see how I react under pressure of the bizarre? This is by far not the strangest thing you've put me through.
Chadley says: Although probably the most frustrating.
Chadley gets up and rolls the shoulder he keeps landing on, frowning.

Stehl says: Good.
Stehl says: S'enough of that, then. How's practicing shields going.

Chadley frowns deeper a moment. "That's it?" A pause. "I've managed something. Small things. I practiced on apples from the tree after you left." He looks up and around for something and then lifts a hand. A flash of white, and a confused bee flies by surrounded by a bubble.

Stehl says: Good. So, what would you like to learn now.

Chadley says: I think I've barely learned the other things...

Stehl says: And you can keep practicing them if you'd like. Or learn more on them now, don't care really. You're the one learning.

Chadley says: I guess since I know how to do them it's more on me for practice, uh- hm.
Chadley says: The hammers of Light.

Stehl says: Ooh, good. I love those.

Chadley says: I've seen every paladin make them.

Stehl says: Some can't. Liotuse and Rosalinde were surprised that I can.
Stehl says: But...
Stehl holds out his hand, Light coalescing into it. Slowly, a faint shape of a hammer forms, solidifying over a few seconds, "It's not easy, but the 'easier' one is Justice. This will generally knock somebody senseless if it hits them."

Chadley watches with half-concealed awe as the Light takes a tangible form in Stehl's hand. "How do you do it."

Stehl says: Instead of focusing it in my hand or another object, I force it into the air itself. So I can grab onto it. It takes a lot of energy, so I ordinarilly just draw some from nearby sources.
Stehl says: Of course, this one doesn't take nearly as much as the other one.

Chadley says: Does the consecrated ground here make it easy?

Stehl says: If I were on it, yeah. Here, it's a strain but not nearly as much as if I took it from myself.
Stehl says: Now, when I throw it...
Stehl tosses the faintly glowing hammer at the ground, where it detonates with a thunderclap, "It doesn't inflict any real harm. It's just there to incapacitate people."

Chadley watches with rapt interest as he does this. He lifts his hands and tries it himself after, doing as he said and trying to focus his Light into the air around him. What results is a crackling noise and a blinding glow for a split second.
Chadley jumps at his own mistake.

Stehl says: Forcing it into a physical form is not simple. S'harder than a shield.

Chadley says: I noticed.

Stehl says: Now. The other one.

Chadley 's hands drop back to his sides. He's not even gonna touch this one.

Stehl holds up his hand again, Light once again swirling to his hand. After a much longer time, another hammer forms. This one is larger and is actually on fire, "Wrath. This one will explode violently when it hits something."
Stehl says: It also is pretty damn fast when you throw it. Mostly because it isn't fully a physical object. Just Light compressed into the shape of one.

Chadley looks up at the blazing hammer. "That's the one I wanted to see."

Stehl says: Now. Come up here. You need to see just what this thing does when I throw it. Don't worry, it's going out into the lake.

Chadley says: I'm going to believe you.

Stehl draws his arm back and lets fly, the hammer spiralling out across the lake. It crashes into the water roughly near the middle and explodes in a brilliant starburst of holy energies, "Anybody who tells you that the Light is not meant to harm?"
Stehl says: Clearly has no control over it.

Chadley watches the display, expression now tense. He doesn't say anything, but the lesson is apparently clear enough.

Stehl says: We choose to protect people not only because it's the right thing, but because if we chose not to? We'd inflict so much damage.

Chadley says: For all your warnings, it's only right now that I think I'm afraid.

Stehl says: Good. Because at some point? You're going to have to learn how to stop me from hitting you with one of those.
Stehl says: S'all for now. Go practice or something.

Chadley says: ...
Chadley goes back to put his shoes and gloves on. "Wise, I suppose."

Stehl says: Light protect.

Chadley nods, muttering, "Likewise."