milliways_bar | (no subject)

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[OOM: GORLIM SMASH!!! - Warnings for violence (bloody), spiders (many), but no kinky sex this time (sorry).]

The door opens. The man who steps through -- slowly, but sure of his step -- is covered in mud, leaflitter, fresh blood, and some sort of slime that smells unspeakably awful. It's a smell you never forget, though: those who have encountered it before will know it without pause. Spiders. Strands of white fibre cling suspiciously in his hair and cloak.

There was most certainly a battle. And despite the blood, from the look on his face, he won.

Gorlim passes through the tables and to Bar, who instantly delivers a glass of apricot brandy... and a bar of soap. Gorlim picks it up and LOOKS at it for a moment or two, then laughs.

"Thank you, my lady. I shall get cleaned up directly, as soon as I finish my drink."

[ooc: OOM is part of Suit of Swords plot, but bar entry is open to all!]

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Strength decides not to comment on Gorlim's state of being for the moment.

"Come. Sit. You clearly look as though you should."

She motions towards a pair of chairs that are near the fireplace.

"I am the one the sentients call 'Strength'. Like Wheel, Moon and Ruin I am one of the tarot cards. You'll have heard of us," she says, unsmiling.

"Sit Gorlim. Rest you now."

Gorlim understands suddenly. He sobers as well as his shell-shocked mind can, and sits where he is directed.

"Ruin told me about you. Or... maybe Moon did. I'm afraid I'm not thinking straight right now," he says apologetically.

"It doesn't matter who told you," she says, seating herself down near Gorlim. Willing herself to not think about the most disagreeable aroma wafting from him. "Right now all that matters is that you do know of us."

She pauses, searching for the words she should say next.

"And that I know of your bargain with Ruin."

Whether he's surprised to hear this revelation or not isn't important. She has to tell him this first. Perhaps as a means to ease his mind; assure him that he doesn't have to tell her everything that's happened.

"All the cards who are here know."

"I thought you might. Moon knew. I guessed it might be a... thing, with whatever you are, like how Random knows if stuff happens to people he has Trumps for, only different, cuz he has to ask."

Babbling. Right. Shut up.

"We were told Gorlim," she says, listening to him patiently. "We know because he told us. With considerable detail and flourish I might add, but we know."

She frowns, unsure what to do to help him. Other than to lend him a portion of herself, her inner strength and courage, to help him get through this enormous trial and struggle.

But that would only be temporary. He'd need something longer-lasting.

...the lion chuff-growls in her direction, and she nods, understanding him at once...

"And although I would dearly love to unbind you to your oath I cannot. But there are things I can do to ease this for you, if only a little."

Another pause. She's thinking.

"You've mentioned this Random. Does he know? Do others? Have you told anyone else about this?"

Gorlim shakes his head. "Random doesn't know. Ramon does. Random SHOULDN'T. He'd try to get mixed up in it and he's a card-caster wizard and it'd be bad. Your cat is pretty," he adds absentmindedly.

Strength, to her credit, says nothing in the beginning to this random babbling.

"But there are those who should know. Am I right?"

The lion looks torn between being pleased by the flattery and being offended by the rather smelly man in front of him.

"People who must know, if they are to help you. You are facing Ruin and you will need as many people to assist you as you can get."

"My brother. He should. I meant to tell him. I can't find him. I could always find Lee..."

He trails off, his eyes riddled with pain. If he were a little less doped on adrenaline and spider venom, he might weep. But he does not.

"Rabastan," he repeats. "Where is he, do you know?" He neglects to wonder whether Strength even knows who Rabastan is.

"You have a brother?" she asks, but is cut off.

Gorlim is in pain. Considerable pain.

And the lion chuff-growls again. Shakes his mane. Causing several somethings to fall out of it.

Strength can only stare in astonishment. This is the first time her companion has ever shown any magical ability, and she scoops up the objects - three in total.

Three thin, white bands of a silken feel to them.

What are they—? Yes I understand. I understand.

"Tell me what he looks like, this Rabastan, and I will find him. You are in no condition to seek him out yourself. You need healing."

A nudge from the lion. Insistant.

"And this, I believe, will help. A piece of myself and of my companion," she says, placing one of the bands at Gorlim's right wrist, her hand upon the band, and a warm sensation can be felt. "It will not heal your injuries, but it will give you the strength you need. Look upon it; place your hand upon it, and you will find your strength. Your courage."

She smiles.

"I will find this Rabastan and I will tell him. But you must tell me what he needs to know, and I will tell him."

Gorlim stares at the band in awe. Touches it. Feels its power flow into him: painless, for it is not a true magic as he thinks of it, as Wraith so fears and hates. It is his own strength unlocked, potential realized.

"Thank you," he breathes. "Thank you, my lady." He looks at her, eyes shining. "My brother is not quite as tall as I, with black hair and brown eyes. He wears the robes of a wizard, and carries a wand. Upon his arm is a mark of a skull and a snake."

"Spun lion hair, and as smooth as velvet," she says, looking at the white band about Gorlim's wrist. "And only you can take it off. It has been made so that only the wearer of the charm can remove it."

And she smiles.

"You are quite welcome Gorlim."

Thank you friend. You have given him more than he realises.

"Where upon him is this mark?" she asks. "Is it where I can see it?"

"It is on his arm." Gorlim indicates the place. "He keeps it covered, but his sleeves are not tight as mine are. Your lion may be able to look," he suggests, offering a hand for the cat to sniff -- not that he figures the smell is terribly appealing.

"Is he ashamed of this mark?" she asks kindly. There are marks many people keep covered up in shame. If Rabastan does the same with his mark, then it's no surprise to her.

The lion sniffs, sneezes, flops down on the floor, not liking the smell at all.

"Do you think he would show me it if I asked him to?"

"He is ashamed of it, for it binds him to a master he no longer wishes to serve." Gorlim smiles at the lion. "I do not know if he would show you, lady. He may be hesitant to do so, even if you ask him. I'm not sure he'd think much of my telling you about it, even if it is just to find him. It's like my scars, I think. But ah! I know what you can ask him. Tell him that I gave him something. Ask him to show it to you. It will be a coin, silver, the size of my palm, with a thistle on one side, and seven stars. That was my gift to him. And his to me, if he asks as proof, was this." Gorlim takes from his pocket the galleon coin. "No one but Namo knows of these things. It is a sure test."

Strength looks saddened. It sounds as if there's no escape for the hapless wizard.

Sadness changes to hope when Gorlim presents another option.

"A query that only Rabastan can answer, for only he has the coin in question," she muses, making a mental note to herself on what to ask for. "But still, there is the question yet to be answered: how much should this Rabastan know about your bargain with Ruin?

How much am I permitted to tell him?"

She awaits Gorlim's decision...

Gorlim considers this.

"You may tell all, and tell him I gave you leave to say this to him alone," Gorlim decides. "And ONLY because I am not able to tell him myself right now, but I would have him know. He is my brother; there should be no secrets between us."

"I understand," she nods. "I will tell him as best I can.

I make no promises for how he will handle it, but if you trust him then I have reason to believe he will take it as best he can."

Her mind goes through her agenda one by one: find Rabastan, ask him if he has the coin Gorlim gave him, and then sit him down to explain to the wizard everything that's happened.

"And I will tell him not to interfere in this, but to give support as best he can," she says, covering her bases on the off-chance Rabastan might hunt down Ruin and confront her brother card. "This is for you to do after all."

"Thank you." Gorlim smiles at her. "Rabastan knows Ruin. He is like me that way. But Ruin can pull him no lower than he has come. He has nothing to fear from him, I think."

"Let's hope so, because if there are levels yet for Rabastan to be dragged down to they'll be found and he might not like it if Ruin is there alongside him."

Unlike Gorlim Strength has many a reason to fear that Rabastan might have aspects to his nature—known or unknown—that can be capitalised upon and used by Ruin.

"I sincerely hope that Rabastan has gone as far as he can, and it's time for him to be pulled back up."

"Of course it's time," Gorlim snorts. "I'm here to pull him now."

He'd never let his brother go. No matter what. Rabastan was under HIS protection now.

He ain't heavy, he's my brother!

She smiles at Gorlim's declaration, and decides that the charm the lion created is working, well, like a charm.

"Well then. Perhaps I should find your brother ... tell him what you've entrusted me to tell.

If I am to find him I should start now."

Gorlim nods. "Thank you again, lady Strength, and your... kitty." He smirks. "If I can repay you in any way, do not hesitate to tell me."

"You are welcome," she says, getting up, with the lion following suit.

"And there's no need for repayment. None at all."

She nods, turns, heads off into the bar to look for the one Gorlim called "Rabastan".

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