Session 5: Handling the Truth Report
General Summary
[Mathilde has her eyes closed, her brow furrowed, almost as if she is struggling to recollect what she needs to say. Her eyes open. She seems drowsy and she shakes her head to shift the cobwebs. She inhales and exhales once, deeply, centering. Gathered somewhat, she speaks.] The battlefield lurches as the blade runs through. It’s very cold – it distracts me from the pain, the shock, and the scream of my beloved bloodfasted Sworn Aleydis Lake. I just look at it. Eventually, as I fall to my knees and my glaive clatters to the ground, I notice that she has reached me and is supporting my head. Her face is contorted in a way I have not seen before, so I reach up to touch her cheek. I want to comfort her. I want to tell her that I will see her again soon and that death for me is not the end, but my voice does not come. She knows, I am sure. And once the worst of grief’s sting has passed, she will remember that I love her in all my lifetimes.
[A beat. Mathilde looks down and away and she frowns. When she speaks again she seems uncertain.] I am Peeress Mathilde Durand Le Fay Mortui. I am a member of the Sisterhood of Nine, the Death’s Wives, the Uxores Mortis. We are a continuous circle of sorceress-knights, fated to reincarnate eternally in service to Avalon. [Another pause.] When I wake again I see Lady, but something doesn’t feel right. My skin is not my own. Too many years have passed. There has been an… interruption. I am surrounded by strange faces along with familiar ones. My weapon is a strange, brutish two-handed sword, but the malicorn still hides in the hilt. I have to remind myself to stop analysing the situation like a scholar – and then I hear her voice. “Death’s Wife, how do you fare?”[credit: fortasse]
This is one such child: the daughter of her own niece, Morgause Le Fay Mortui and old friend Riguardata Rhitilde, though time and earth and her mother’s tricks have left the child’s body changed, her mind at war with itself on all fronts. The body is, of course, poor Eleanor De Gales, the latest of casualties in Morgause’s war on all the free realms of the world: separated from both mothers, allowed to forget another as time and distance carved a wedge betwixt them, whisked away to the realm of mortals and led to believe she was ordinary, and she does intend to have a word with Morgana about setting things right for her but at the moment the combined fates of Anima and Albion hang unsteadily in the balance and she needs a warrior.
She scrolls through the Rolodex of names in her mind and tries to match one to the personality struggling to break water in a sea of confusion: Memoria Centurionne, the earliest incarnation, a respected researcher for the Memoriam Inanimatam alongside her grandfather, Mathgamhan - sharp as a whip, razor-tongued, but built for indoor pursuits. Languoreth Maysaunt, le vent qui secoue l'orge: an incredibly moving orator and author of a number of Anima’s laws/treatises on magical study. Still too early. Centuries later Rhitilde Madelecte, Le Sang D’Avalon - the first of the warriors to inhabit this skin, ruthless in battle with all of Riguardata’s prowess and none of her finesse — almost, but not quite. There’s only one possibility remaining, then: Peeress Mathilde Durand Le Fay Mortui, The Scholar: linguist, orator, researcher, Uxor Morte, Reminiscentia, saint of the souls of Anima.
She watches the play of emotions across her own granddaughter’s face and can’t imagine the tug of war in her chest, a wishbone of relief at reunion and decades of guilt and grief made new - it is regrettable, of course, but Aleydís is Découverte herself and like Feall Síoraí, she will endure. Adaleis alone looks refreshed, centered in herself, the shame and resentment of the eithne-fueled visions sloughed away by reality and the gifts given to her by Death Herself. In the meantime, there is work to be done and little time to do it.
Several hours ago the Protectors of the Realm left the only home most of them have ever known not by choice, but out of necessity: they represent the next generation of Camelot and in fact its future, and at last the baton of duty has fallen into their hands - Camelot is in grave danger and perhaps even on the brink of annihilation, and the group gathered here may be all that stands between it and that fate. The first few steps down their path have been paved with surprises, revelations, and more than a little misfortune: after entering the Uncanny Valley with a modicum of difficulty they accepted the assistance of Vermilia and a few select members of the Valley’s indigent population and set off for the Chromista elevation, the lowest level of the flat-floor Valley.
As they walked the unfamiliar terrain, it grew dimmer and damper as it’s wont to do in forests of this kind and they paid no mind until, perhaps, it was too late - a thick, glittering fog rolled into the party’s path and shortly after, each of them found themselves confronted by worst fears, worst memories, unsolved puzzles, and unfinished business. Some of them came to terms with age-old grudges and long-since festered wounds while others were less lucky and have not yet slain their demons. For better or worse, everyone survived the effects of whatever bewitched them but not, we can suspect, without some fresh internal wounds that will surely become scars when they've had some time to be alone with their thoughts.
Vermilia graciously agreed to Lady Lake’s simultaneously begrudging and fervent request to take a shortcut through “The Field,” which was shortly revealed to be the so-called “Field of Shattered Shields,” a local landmark with a longer history than it first appeared. There you met a woman dressed all in blue that seemed acquainted with several members of your party including the Lake twins and, strangely, Eleanor, though she adamantly rejected this familiarity when presented with a glaive of unintelligible age that apparently belonged to her. They watched as cool, collected Eleanor finally lost some of her measured calm, resulting in a screaming match between her and the normally reserved Lady which ended quite abruptly in Eleanor fainting. While the woman clad in blue looked on, Lady gathered Eleanor to her and uttered a strange phrase that seemed to rouse Eleanor from her stupor - right up until she spoke, that is. Lady confidently addressed Eleanor as Mathilde, and she - Eleanor, Mathilde - climbed to her feet to get her bearings.
Cridhe greets the newly conscious woman with a calm, quiet "Death's Wife, do you know me?" to which Eleanor - Mathilde - answers, "Of course," a gentle lilt in her voice. Cridhe Loch Fae gains +2 Strings on Eleanor/Mathilde. Cridhe apologizes to her for the inconvenience as a distressed Lady attempts to explain away some of the confusion on her traveling companions' faces. Eleanor (re)introduces herself as Peeress Mathilde Durand Le Fay Mortui of Avalon and is quickly updated on the events she's missed since her death, the most important of which being the death of King Arthur Pendragon 20 years prior. Mathilde's response leaves something to be desired for Absabeth, who staunchly argues for her father's maturity and grace in the face of Mathilde's maternal view of him. The tension breaks something in Lady, who demands they leave the Field of Shattered Shields before stomping away. Cridhe attempts to smooth the way between Absabeth and Mathilde, explaining that Eleanor is not gone so much as asleep and the two are able to make their peace.
Before the group can move along, Cridhe recognizes another face in the crowd and approaches Grifflynn to ask if she is, in fact, "the daughter of Balestriere." Cridhe reveals the fate of Grifflynn's as-of-yet unmentioned mother, Balestriere na Réaltaí-Riviere: while on a covert operation for the realms of Anima during some sort of war, Balestriere stepped into a trap and was subjected to a potent sleeping curse under whose effects she remains to this day 25 years later. Cridhe also reveals that shortly before succumbing to the sickness Balestriere entrusted her with a gift for her then-infant daughter should they ever cross paths: a set of jeweled gauntlets she calls The Hands of Truth, apparently made by her own hand. Cridhe warns of the enchantment safe guarding the gauntlets and leaves Grifflynn to her thoughts, sensing that she has already said too much. Grifflynn calls Malcolm closer before collapsing unceremoniously in his arms. The outburst is short-lived, however, and within a few minutes she is wiping the tears from her face and turning to catch up with a rapidly-shrinking Lady in the distance.
The group walks in silence for much of the day, each firmly entrenched in their own thoughts and experiences, until a stone-faced Lady announces her intent to stop and camp for the night on the edge of Talmhan Stand, an unusual forest on the way to Applescab and, hopefully, Molthoe. As Lady pulls together a campsite from the earth of the clearing in which they find themselves, the rest of the party observes the sticky, gloom-ridden trees in the adjacent forest are lined with small, bird-sized houses along their trunks - before they can ponder this too heavily, however, the door to one of these houses open and emits Rainbow Pretty, who is delighted to see her new friends again and offers them a filling meal of Angfona. Vermilia quietly stops Malcolm from consuming the bread and swaps his portion for a slice apparently lacking the agent which caused him to go Feral only hours before. As the two quietly enjoy the filling but blissfully inert waybread, Adaleis joins Absabeth on the other side of the fire.
A tired, visibly shaken Absabeth confides in Adaleis that she is deeply concerned for Eleanor's wellbeing following the dramatic fashion in which Mathilde arose in Eleanor's body, going on to express her complex feelings about Mathilde's views of her father. Adaleis listens without judgment and only offers what perspective she may as an indigenous Animist - she knew Mathilde before and though perhaps a bit too glib, she's never been without respect for Arthur: Mathilde simply knew him at a different time and as a different man than she and her sister do. Death possesses a different meaning in the sister realms of Anima, and occasionally the souls who inhabit forget that Mortelles have a shorter lifespan and far more reason to fear death. Absabeth asks Adaleis if it ever becomes lonely, living that way - after a moment of consideration Adaleis says that though it does, one simply has to find a way to carry on. The two settle into a comfortable silence as they pick at their waybread.
Godiva Pendragon sits tiredly beside Vermilia and requests a short escape from the harrowing events of the day following an inquiry into her own wellbeing - Vermilia knowingly produces a handful of shining, dried golden Siocracht and as Godiva partakes, her old friend informs her of an unusual sight she took in before entering the valley - a group of knights bearing the colors of Camelot headed in its direction, one of whom she recognized as none of than Ivy's usual drinking companion, Barden of Burgess, likely on their way to investigate the flash of light from Camelot proper. Godiva resolves to catch up with her friend and warm him of the danger.
Grifflynn sits beside Malcolm on the opposite side from Bathsheba, her back propped up against his legs for support. The sounds of the merrily crackling fire and the snatches of conversation between her companions float idly past her, traveling in through one ear and out the other unnoticed by the Knight of the Whispers. Her normally bright eyes are narrowed and gleam sapphire in the firelight as they dart back and forth, tracking the path of Grifflynn's thoughts as she tries to fit the information she learned that morning into the 27 years of life she's already had. Unconsciously she fiddles with the Hands of Truth, slipping her fingers into them. They are a strange gift - an impossible gift, if her entire life is any indicator, but they are from her mother and that is its own kind of complex comfort...at least, until the enchantment safeguarding the gloves is enacted. A nearby Malcolm watches as Grifflynn's bright blue eyes cloud over entirely, the pupils disappearing as her face goes slack. For her part, Grifflynn blinks and finds herself in a fine study lined with books and twisted hunks of unrecognizable ore, a fire hard at work in the fireplace. As she attempts to assign some context to the situation, she is greeted by a voice: Hello, Grifflynn. The Knight of the Whispers turns cautiously on her heel and finds herself faced with an image both familiar and unfamiliar: her mother. Balestriere Realtai Toussaint stands before her only living child, but not as she ever did in life. The dark, springing auburn curls, blue eyes, and freckles so much like Grifflynn's own have been replaced with faintly glowing rose-colored eyes, pale pink hair that falls to her waist in intricate braids, rose-gold armor and a single weapon sheathed at her waist.
She reveals that though her body sleeps even now, she has left a waking piece of herself in the gauntlets - Grifflynn can communicate with her whenever she likes - if she likes. Grifflynn has not achieved her position by being easily fooled or easily swayed and asks her mother what she wants from her. Why is she here? What is this meant to accomplish? What is she even meant to call this woman, this stranger in front of her? Balestriere gently suggests that Grifflynn call her by her name and assures her daughter that this is a gift without strings attached - she only hopes that they will guide her daughter and protect her as she enters the stranger places of the world. Overwhelmed, Grifflynn wishes to leave this extradimensional space and, now master of the gauntlets, gets her wish - she leaves and returns to her body without a goodbye and bursts into tears beside a waiting Malcolm, who simply picks her up and places her in his lap before turning his back to the group, allowing her some privacy as she processes. Grifflynn's Feelings tracker climbs to 3 and Malcolm's Feral tracker climbs back to 1 as his protective instincts rise. Grifflynn gains +1 String on Malcolm as their friendship is reinforced.
Lady Lake sits at the edge of the ring of warmth and contentment attending silently to the hatchling Scheherezade, though she is unable to concentrate on her task for long with the feeling of someone's gaze boring into the back of her skull. Without turning she asks the nearby Mathilde why she's restraining herself with Lady and Mathilde admits a level of uncertainty as to how to interact. Lady invites her wife to join her and expresses the complexity of welcoming one's soulmate back to life at the cost of one's friend, though she dutifully updates Mathilde on the goings-on of her family, including the mother has forgotten: Riguardata Rhitilde Mortui, who has apparently suffered just as greatly as a result of Morgause's actions in the last two decades. Lady finally surmises that there is simply too much to recount and places a journal in Mathilde's hand with the explanation that she has kept this journal in preparation for the next life that Mathilde knew her in since the moment her glaive was planted at the edge of Lentre-Deux, not wanting to miss or forget a thing. Mathilde thanks her and asks her to play her a song on her violin - Lady complies, placing the violin beneath the crook of her chin as her sister has not seen her do in over 20 years and playing a quiet, warm tune, using her Emptiest Orchestra ability to remove the non-magical Conditions affecting her party. The Protectors of the Realm settle in to rest, at least for the night.
Rewards Granted
LORE KEEPER AWARDED:
Real World Experience
+2 XP to party for expanding their horizons and learning more about the realm of Anima
Death's Wife, Do You Know Me?
Cridhe Loch Fae - +2 Strings on Eleanor/Mathilde for duty of Anima and order of Ciúnas
A Gift From Your Mother
Cridhe Loch Fae - +1 String on Grifflynn for revealing the whole truth about her mother
Grandmother Knows Best (?)
Cridhe Loch Fae - +3 Strings on Aleydis Lake for grandmotherly authority, order of Ciúnas, and awakening her deceased wife
Cridhe Loch Fae - +2 Strings on Adaleis Lake for grandmotherly authority and order of Ciúnas
PLAYER AWARDED:
That's My Wife
Lady - +2 Strings to Mathilde for being her wife
Homies Help Homies
Grifflynn - +1 String to Malcolm for the Power of Friendship
Hands of Truth
Grifflynn receives a gift from her mother by way of Cridhe Loch Fae: a set of jeweled gauntlets with a price for the insight they offer. Having passed the test to determine one's ability to handle the truth, Grifflynn may now use the Hands at will to detect falsehoods in organic matter.
Character(s) interacted with
Related Reports
Academic texts regarding the culture, traditions, and natural beauty of the realms of Anima:
- 1st Law of Preternatural Dynamics
- Les Triples Lunes D'Avalon
- Psychocandy
- Rapports du Phare en Voie de Disparition
Notes
CONDITIONS ACQUIRED
Absabeth (1):
Bewitched, -2 forward
Adaleis :
Cleared by talking to Absabeth
Godiva (1):
Bewitched, -2 forward
Grifflynn (1):
Bewitched, -1 forward
Lady (1):
Guilty, -2 to Emotional Support
Malcolm (1):
Bewitched, -1 forward
PERSONAL TRACKERS
Grifflynn (The Trickster, Feelings Tracker): 3
Malcolm (The Beast, Feral Tracker): 1
