I debated on whether or not I should include this log on the site, as it was a very private event in Danay's life. It's not something she speaks of to others except under appropriate circumstances. But it's always nice to read and hear about interactions with the Arkati, and those who follow Leya might be especially interested as her words are precious. So here it is.

To put the log in context, this happened during Danay's darkest days. She was having serious problems in both her personal life and in regards to troubles within the Amazon Tribe. To explain the significance of Danay removing her dagger pendant it should be known that in the Tribe, when a member was made a full Amazon, she was presented with a mithril dagger pendant as a symbol of her status.

(The pendants were made using a mold from a Great Auction owned by Hadiar I believe, but it's been so long I might be mis-remembering. The Tribe went to Teras to collect mithril orbs from wasp nests and then delivered the orbs to Hadiar to make a large order of the pendants for us. The mold was a very neat item, but the change to wasp nests that came later on made orbs very difficult to obtain.)

 

3/12/00

Just before this log starts, Sylanae, who had recently been chosen as the Regent of the Tribe, had received this whisper from Leya after she'd gone home from a meeting:

A soft sound, like chimes on the wind tinkles softly. A gentle breeze wafts in from the window, brushing your cheek like a kiss.

You hear a whisper, barely audible to the point where you wonder if you imagine it. "Regent, serve the Tribe well. And though tempers flair, do not let the true path be forgotten. They must see the way, and the way does not begin with them."

---

 

Danay and Slorne had just come from the Tribe Meeting to the home Slorne shared with Chian. Slorne had wanted to talk to Danay because Slorne was troubled by a proposal that had been made at the meeting, thinking it was a means to denegrate Danay.

 

[Lough Ne'halin, Pine Bluff]
The bluff drops away in a sheer cliff, offering a spectacular view of the lake over the tops of trees in the lee of the hillside below. Oaks grow tall along the hillside, reaching up hundreds of feet into the air. At their feet, cottages nestle in the protection of the trees, bordered by thick beds of ferns and rhododendrons. You also see a cedar-trimmed oak log cabin, Dajomaa's cabin, a vine-covered riverstone cabin, a vine-covered wood and stone cottage, a vine-covered riverstone cottage, a rough-cut grey fieldstone bungalow, a rough-cut dark stone cottage and a moss-covered grey fieldstone cottage.
Also here: Lady Slorne
Obvious paths: west.

Slorne opens the door to a cedar-trimmed oak log cabin.

(Slorne bows low, gesturing toward the open portal to the quaint cabin.)

You sigh.

(Danay looks like she is about to fling herself off the cliff)

Slorne says, "absolutely not"

Slorne just tried to pull you towards her!

You grimace.

Slorne says, "I need you."

You sigh.

Slorne says, "Itiara needs you."

Slorne hugs you.

You make a horrendous warthog-like noise.

You say, "I have failed everyone."

Slorne looks over at you and shakes her head.

You say in elven, "Oh I have too."

You say in elven, "Face it."

Slorne looks over at you and shakes her head.

You smirk.

Slorne rubs you gently.

You say in elven, "I was not worthy of Leya's attentions when I was trying to help the Tribe."

You say in elven, "Only time she ever speaks to me in my entire life is to scold me for what I had done."

You sneer.

You sigh.

You say in elven, "All this is pointless."

Slorne says, "no, it's not pointless"

You say in elven, "It is for me Slorne."

Slorne says, "and though the only words you've heard from her were in the shrine..."

You say in elven, "I should leave now."

Slorne asks, "what about the rose?"

Slorne just tried to pull you towards her!

You say in elven, "The rose was when I was young."

You shrug.

Slorne says, "so"

You say in elven, "So...I have not deserved to wear her symbol in a long time."

You remove a strange mithril dagger pendant from around your neck.

You put a strange mithril dagger pendant in your purple greatcloak.

Slorne furrows her brow.

Slorne says, "The only way you have failed is by relying on your own strength instead of Leya's."

You say in elven, "That is not the only way, tis just one of the ways."

Slorne sits down.

(Slorne pats the rock next to her for you to sit.)

You pace back and forth.

You mutter something inaudible.

You sit down.

You clasp your arms around your knees and rock back and forth.

Slorne rubs you gently.

You take a drink from your Elanthian Comfort.
Mmmmmm...that hit the spot.
You have only one sip left.

You take a drink from your Elanthian Comfort.
Mmmmmm...that hit the spot.
That was the last drop.
You set the Comfort aside.

Slorne gazes up into the heavens.

I omitted a few lines here talking about a delicate Tribe member issue. It's not really relevant, so didn't wish to include it.

You say in elven, "Anyway, tis a moot point discussing these things with you. I am no longer good for the Tribe."

Slorne says, "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

You ask in elven, "What do you mean?"

Slorne says, "I wouldn't be in the tribe"

You ask in elven, "Why?"

You say in elven, "You have made a good place for yourself in the Tribe. I do not understand the link. You have done it on your own."

Slorne says, "I never would have completed Katt's tasks, possibly never even received a task from her if you weren't there for me when I was losing patience or when I was dead on the mountain."

You smile at Slorne.

You say in elven, "I do not believe that, I know how stubborn you are."

Slorne says, "I came because Leya called me. But you showed me what it is to be an Amazon. Katt only showed me what it is to be a warrior."

Slorne hugs you.

You sigh.

You say in elven, "Slorne, if I stay I would be a festering wound in the Tribe. That is not right."

Slorne asks, "then what would you do?"

You shrug.

You say in elven, "Just walk my own path."

Slorne asks, "will you still serve Leya?"

You stare at nothing in particular.

Slorne asks, "or are you walking away from her too?"

You say in elven, "I have failed her Slorne. Not walked away."

Slorne asks, "Everyone makes mistakes. Don't you think her heart is big enough to forgive your failures and to continue to embrace you as one of her priestesses?"

You say in elven, "Aye, I am sure she is."

Slorne asks, "Can you accept that forgiveness? and in time forgive yourself?"

You shrug.

You say in elven, "You see...the real problem is..."

You say in elven, "I do not feel I have myself to forgive."

Slorne furrows her brow.

You say in elven, "I have failed in the eyes of everyone."

You shrug.

Slorne says, "you haven't failed in my eyes."

You say in elven, "I had not failed in my own, which means I am as delusional as Katt said I was."

Slorne asks, "do you remember the story of the three blind men and the thrak?"

You say in elven, "I think I know the one you mean."

Slorne nods to you.

Slorne says, "everyone has a different perspective of the same thing."

Slorne says, "only problem is, most of us are too stubborn to listen to what the rest have to say."

You say in elven, "Aye, and everyone else's, even though different, still fits together into a whole. While mine does not fit."

Slorne slides over to you and cuddles you in her arms.

(Danay resists your embrace and remains stiff)

Slorne says, "it does fit..."

Slorne sighs.

(Slorne gazes out over the moonlit waters.)

You say in elven, "Anyway, since I am leaving, your concerns of my place in Katt's plan have little meaning."

Slorne hangs her head.

You say in elven, "Even if I was staying they have little meaning. "

Slorne says, "I guess I'm just being selfish, wanting you to stay."

You smile at Slorne.

Slorne clasps her arms around her knees and rocks back and forth.

A bit more about Tribe member issues omitted here again.

Slorne says, "Chian is on the verge of leaving."

You say in elven, "I know."

You say in elven, "She made a pledge to me she would stay as long as you and I do."

A small burst of azure light illuminates from within Danay's greatcloak, then fades.

Slorne raises an eyebrow in your direction.

You blink.

You rub a majestic purple greatcloak.

inv
You are wearing a silver hoop earring, an amazon harness, a laminated gold-trimmed cuirass, a chased silver ritual dagger sheath, an embroidered grey spidersilk sack, an antique silver armband, some tight elven leather trousers, some reinforced mithril boots, a small black dagger tattoo and a majestic purple greatcloak.

look in great
In the purple greatcloak you see a bejewelled mithril dagger pendant, a glass amulet, a tattered scroll, a calling card, a belt pouch, a wedding invitation, a blue tanik amulet, a crystal amulet, a white crystal, a crystal wand, a light scroll, a brown zircon, a Wehnimer's promissory note and a crystal amulet.

(Danay peeks in her cloak)

You clear your throat.

You remove a bejewelled mithril dagger pendant from in your purple greatcloak.

You blush a nice shade of rosy pink.

You move to a kneeling position.

You sigh.

Slorne moves to a kneeling position.

You close your eyes for a moment.

Slorne gazes up into the heavens.

You say in elven, "I am sorry my Lady."

look my pend
The fine pendant is a perfect replica in miniature of Leya's own chosen weapon upon her rejection of Soulingen. The craftsmanship is a glorious example of the halfling clan who created the orginal. Inscribed on the back is the affirmation, "Though the path nae be straight, nor without ruts and stones, despair not when ye encounter such obstacles. For as you conquer them, you become stronger. Weak in faith are those who throw them in your way, strong you are when finding the way past them."

You sniff.

You sob.

You show Slorne your mithril dagger pendant.

An azure aura forms slowly around Danay, then fades to white as it dissipates.

You sob.

Slorne says, "thank you, Leya, for showing so visibly you care for your priestess."

Slorne bows.

You weep softly, quiet tears falling from your eyes.

Slorne weeps softly, quiet tears falling from her eyes.

hug my pend
I'm quite sure that the pendant appreciates the sentiment.

You rub your eyes.

You rub your eyes.

You clear your throat.

It's difficult to tell when reading a log, but the above was a rather long, drawn out time between actions. Both Danay and I were stunned into speechlessness. It was very overwhelming and Danay was feeling particularly undeserving. But the words on the dagger pendant sent a very clear message that couldn't be ignored.

You hang a bejewelled mithril dagger pendant around your neck.

Slorne nods to you.

Slorne hugs you.

You hug Slorne.

You gaze up into the heavens.

You say in elven, "Looks like she will not let me off the hook."

You sit up.

Slorne looks over at you and shakes her head.

Danay smiles crookedly.

Slorne smiles at you.

You place your hand on your mithril dagger pendant.

Slorne smiles softly at you as she wipes a tear from the corner of her eye.

You rub your eyes.

Slorne says, "Leya loves you, Danay."

You sob.

Slorne hugs you.

You hug Slorne.

(Danay fidgets with the pendant)

(Danay takes a deep breath)

You ask in elven, "So now what?"

You narrow your eyes.

You say in elven, "My escape was so close."

Slorne says in elven, "you're not leaving"

Slorne just tried to pull you towards her!

You say in elven, "You are right, I am not leaving."

Slorne nods to you.

You ask in elven, "So how do I get past the obstacle of Haelra?"

Slorne rubs her chin thoughtfully.

Slorne says in elven, "issue by issue"

You say in elven, "It is not a matter of issues."

You sigh.

Slorne says in elven, "with communication, honesty, strength and mercy"

Slorne says in elven, "and as you've said, this doesn't affect you alone."

You sigh.

You nod to Slorne.

Slorne says in elven, "it will take time"

You say in elven, "But gods Slorne! I cannot..."

You wave your hand in a dismissive gesture.

You say in elven, "Never mind."

You say in elven, "She asked to speak to me, that is where to start."

Slorne nods to you.

Slorne says in elven, "You've been blessed by Leya. Go in her strength."

Slorne says in elven, "I was so afraid everything would crumble apart..."

You nod.

You say in elven, "It still may you know."

Slorne shakes her head.

Slorne says in elven, "no, it won't"

Slorne says in elven, "The tribe is being shaken to its very roots..."

Slorne says in elven, "but Leya's hand is upon you."

Slorne just kissed you on the forehead.

Slorne weeps softly, quiet tears falling from her eyes.

Slorne says in elven, "We'll be alright now."

You sigh.

You say in elven, "I hope so."

Slorne says in elven, "You'll always be the High Priestess in my eyes though."

You chuckle at Slorne.

You say in elven, "Silly cleric."

Slorne blushes a glowing shade of red.

You kiss Slorne on the forehead.

You say in elven, "I feel like I am the size of a mouse. I am sure that was not our Lady's intention, but I actually felt worse."

Slorne hugs you.