A Young Girls Dreams.

[Fezzik]

The young girl looked at the men and woman in the courtyard as they passed by the gate and abruptly stopped. “Mommy!? What are they doing?” The grace and fluidity of their movements fascinated her.

“They’re Monks Vannie. They are practicing their rituals.”

The little girl studied them for a few moments, committing the movements to her mind. Her mother noted the child’s intent look, she’d seen it before and gave a small little smile and gently tugged twice on the girls hand.
Vanessa continued for the next few days going back finishing her small chores quickly so she could go back and watch the Monks in the courtyard; she aped the movements as best she could from a distance. Occasionally one or two monks would see her; she’d smile, giggle and run away.

She had dreams of moving like the monks. She practiced every day, but even at a young age, she knew her movements were choppy and uncoordinated. She snuck out early in the morning just after her 6th birthday. She watched them for some time; she hadn’t seen them practice, spar, this early before. She stood there fascinated; then felt a tap on her shoulder.
“Vanessa, come away from the wall, they don’t need you leering at them all the time. You have chores to do.” Her mother wasn’t made, but smiled at down at her daughter. On the way home, Vanessa continued to look back. Her mother said something that she didn’t really register to her conscious memory until much later in her life. “Someday you will likely be a priestess or a monk I suppose.” Someday... someday Vanessa dreamed, that she would move like those monks.

[Fezzik]

“You have fluid movements child, but you need to be flexible not only in body, but also in spirit and mind!” Again the old hin monk came at her. Vanessa’s hands moved quickly, but still she was repetitive in her movements, until the end, when she shocked herself and her trainer. From the floor the hin smiled. “Better! “

For a few weeks she was allowed to attend the monastery, to study and test her.

“She did well, but there is something here we cannot teach her I think. We will only hold back her potential. When she is older, you might consider taking her somewhere that can help her with her spiritual center as well. She is kind, and gentle and has a good spirit. She followed the rules well and helped those that came for need. You should be proud of her, and she should be content with herself.” The old hin looked at the girl with a smile. Vanessa wasn’t completely sure what it all meant, but she seemed to be happy that the man was smiling at her. She had learned a lot, but it was really only the beginning.

[Fezzik]

She continued her practice over the next few years as she grew. Troubles in the caves nearby only really happened when restless adventurers came and stirred up the normally peaceful Slitherscale Tribe, but life went on. She spent her time between chores, practicing her art and fighting with the boys.

She hardly ever used a stick or rock, but used her hands. The boys would charge about the imaginary battlefields, recreating the great battle of the loss of the Bloodmaim chief some years before her birth. She studied the leg sweep she had seen in the monastery from time to time. More often than not the boys would end up on their rears; She focussed all her time on using the skills that the monks had shown her, and she became much more able to defend herself. She spent time on helping the boys with bumps and scrapes after the mini wars as well.

At the age of 12, Vanessa came to the city for the first time to see the new Temple Barracks. She was in awe of the simple design and the grace of the Broken Ones. From time to time she came and studied books in the library; books on alchemy, and after a year and a half or so of this, she found a book, fresh off the Sundren Press – The Study of the Ways of the Ilmatari. She cracked open the book and studied it carefully.

[Fezzik]

“Ugg... the nights are so muggy!” Her mother tufted out her shirt a few times to get the air flowing under her cloths. “I’m sweating like a pig! This just isn’t right for this time of year. It’s a bad omen!”

“Don’t be so crude mother.” Vanessa smiled at her mother. Only a few months ago the Lizards had received special guests. Since then the nights had slowly gotten warmer. Her cousin had gone into the city to see the Healer priests of her patron. She had taken vows to Ilmater as a supplicant. She hoped that sometime in the next few years she would take the wine and be a member of the Triumvirate. She knew she was young, but the priests and priestess were kind and supportive of her injuries and requests to watch Alchemical lessons and rounds in the hospital.

Her studies were a bit slow, but progressing. She was able to heal the most minimal wounds now, and create light. Every morning she prayed to the Crying God go give her what she needed for the day.

[Fezzik]

“Vanessa! Get up, grab your Sister and Brother and run! Run as fast as you can to Mirakus Post! The lizards, and horrible snakes are pouring out of the caves! RUN!” Her mother was frantic, but Vanessa took a deep breath and slipped quickly into a dress. She didn’t put on any slippers, she could move quickly enough without footwear. She grabbed her Brother and Sister and started to run out of the small town. The heat had continued to be oppressive the last couple of weeks. As she moved past the gates she could see torches in the distance. People coming to help... but not the legion? This attack wasn’t going to be repelled by a bunch of adventurers! She didn’t have time to debate the matter in her head. She could hear the clash of metal as the Corsairs began their defence, screams as they started to fall and the fires began. The heat was terrible, she kept running with her siblings, gathering children as she went, urging them onward, despite their tears and cries. Off to Mirakus Post.

So she spent the next few months in the Wort. Their situation seemed a bit hopeless at first, and things started to descend as some corsairs went to raid their old town, auctioning off the goods they found to the people they belonged to. Some of them tried to put a stop to it, but she could see the effect each time they went back to get this or that for residents. Slowly they sank farther and farther into depravity or quite their posts all together as the people turned against them. The sick were left to suffer. She couldn’t do much but offer them hope, and she wasn’t good at it, and she was only a child, why would they listen to her? She was adamant in her defence of what would come, but they still did not listen. Then someone came and Vanessa stood in awe from the first day.

[Fezzik]

The first day she saw the Blue Grace she couldn’t help but feel the need to follow her around, learn, and listen as she talked. Even though she rarely talked of Ilmater or her faith directly, Vanessa knew this was the woman that wrote the treaties she had taken to heart. She could see by what the Blue Grace did that this was the way that Ilmater wanted his faithful to be. An angel had come to grace them all; compassion embodied in human form. She gave the people what they needed most. Hope.

And so the people’s hope grew, or that the very least, it did not diminish further; Vanessa’s own father, finally was able to walk after a short while, although he would always have a limp, he was able to keep his leg after the poisoned arrow had nearly taken it from him. Thankfully it was healed by the time he needed to move again.

[Fezzik]

The attack was seen in time. Finally the legion was called into action, although not nearly enough to wipe out the advancing army. The evacuation was given. Vanessa made sure that her brother and sister were out first, and her mother and father soon after. She stayed nearly to the bitter end, helping the aged and sick onto the wagons and into the caravan headed for Aquor.

Vanessa waited until the last of the caravans were heading out before she departed. But she watched at a distance to the Blue Grace and the dwarf that stood beside her among a handful of the legion. While others were beaten back or fell, the Blue Grace stood her ground with the dwarf. The Blue Grace slowly pulled back through the gates as those around her fell. As the horn sounded the final caravan Vanessa could see the woman finally surrounded by Naga, Yuan-ti and Slitherscale. She didn’t see the woman fall as she ran to board the last wagon. She wanted to go to the woman’s side. She could see the wounds on the woman’s body, but she knew she couldn’t do anything for her. Her skills in medicine or fighting were not anywhere near the level that this woman was capable.

As they moved to Aquor, rumours and riders moved by; the Yuan-ti were attacking the Port, something horrible pushing them forward. Vanessa didn’t pay much attention to the rumours, looking down at her own hands. She wanted to be able to use her hands like the Blue Grace, for healing; for defending the innocent; for good; for her home.

[Fezzik]

Vanessa frowned at the collection of skulls and head on spikes in the cave. “This is terrible!” Her companions agreed with her. She found 3 bodies in the cave that day. She collected them all, despite the urging of their leader to leave them be. She would not leave them to the goblins; to what they did to the others in the entry.

She watched and committed to memory how two of her companions that day ably leapt out of the path of traps set to harm trespassers in the caves. She would have to study more on that subject and see if she could reproduce it.

They fought the chief, and were successful. She fought with crude weapons. A hammer; she wore a shield, and a chain shirt. The shirt and shield did not give her the mobility that she was used to, but offered her some protection. The chief of the Goblins had a leather suit. Vanessa knew her mother would not like her wearing it. It left little... perhaps almost nothing actually, to the imagination. Vanessa didn’t like the feel of it, but it was as effective as the Chain shirt.

She took the bodies to the Sergeant to see if he could find out where they came from, since it was likely that they worked for Exigo, or were hired like she was.

[Fezzik]

Her adventure continued here and there. She experimented with wearing nothing but simple cloths in the sewer and found that it was just as, or more, effective than the light armour she had been wearing. This pleased her, since she wouldn’t have to wear that revealing armour any more. She purchased an enchanted suit of simple cloth at the Spindal and vowed she would not wear armour until the time came that she could effectively move in it with the ease she moved in simple cloths. She also bought a pair of boots that made her more nimble.

[Fezzik]

Vanessa did not like the idea of letting a Banite go free, but there was little choice in the matter. He had not committed any acts that broke the law, nor did anything of an atrocious nature. Her companions were a bit more belligerent than she was when they found out who his patron was. She wanted the man to register with the City Hall, as is required of the state, but he was evasive of his answers. She was to help the group with the Banite undead in the hills, but she balked at his refusal to do what was just and right. If he’d simply stated his intent to carry through instead of being aggressive and hostile to the suggestion she was sure things would have gone better. After all, not all the worshipers of that church would be evil, could they?

At any rate, she would inform Melchior of what had happened, and how the man created a shroud of fog and then disappeared from within. In all likelihood she would see the blue man again.

[Fezzik]

Vanessa showed the plank to her mother. She had to cover her ears as her mother nearly screamed herself silly!

“It’s just an autograph Mamma!”

“You met him!? What’s he like up close! Did he have any perfume or cologne on? What did he smell like! What was he wearing!” Her mother acted like a teenager... something Vanessa never really did herself despite her age. Vanessa’s father just shook his head as he came in to see who was dying, seeing the plank, he just walked away with a look of Oh Brother! He walked in to check on his cakes and pies in the kiln.

“He’s married Mamma.” Suddenly it looked as if her mother had been hit with a ton of rocks.

“What?” Vanessa repeated her statement to her mother’s question. “You’re sure?” Vanessa nodded her head. Her mother yelled over her shoulder. “Looks like I’m stuck with you!” Vanessa could only hear one word out of the kitchen and she snickered and went a little red at the dull, sarcastic tone. “Joy.”

Her mother went back to her weaving after putting the plank up on the wall, taking down an old picture that had been in the family for generations. Vanessa left her mother and went to talk to her father.

“He said what? And what does he want for it in return?” Vanessa explained that Cirion, one of the hero's of Westgate, who had asked her to talk to her father about investing in his business. “I’m a baker, not an investment! Is he daft? If he wants to invest in something, why not set up a store for the goods of the people to sell to, so we don’t have to piecemeal out to public! My Gods! Does everyone want a piece of this town!” He kept mumbling as he baked, kneading and punching dough.

[Fezzik]

For the next while, she met many people; humans and demi-humans alike. Ponder and Pargus, dwarven brothers looking for Peeli, their younger brother. Selene, a dark and brooding woman that seemed to care little for Banites, one thing that made Vanessa like her; Selene’s attitude was a bit harsh, but Vanessa could sense that the woman was somehow troubled behind her apathetic outlook.

Talonite goblins stole pieces of an artefact from the druids and Gnolls and Ogres had to be dealt with in the forest. During these incursions, Vanessa and others found two Exigo employees, sent into the forest, alone and without support to prospect. Will’am and Jacob were dead before they got out of the forest... goblin arrows perforated them as the group tried to get them out of the village.

Vanessa wept that night and the nights that followed, quietly away from anyone else.

[Fezzik]

Vanessa spent time, while away from others, trying to perfect light, quick movements in a chain shirt instead of her normal robes. It was difficult at first, but she continued to progress. The shirt would offer her more protection than simple robes, but not affect her ability to move to such an extent that she wouldn’t be as quick with her hands in a pinch.

Her friendship, for her part, with Selene, continued but was up and down. Selene’s attitudes were dreary and pessimistic at the best of times. Selene didn’t see anyone as a friend, merely short term allies. Vanessa continued to offer an ear to the woman, and tried to get her to see that she was indeed, someone Selene could, with time, call a friend.

[Fezzik]

Two exigo employees, at first masquerading as agents of their employee, sought help with something in the forest. Despite others trying to dissuade the two, they refused to be placated with reason. Vanessa offered her help only because she didn’t want anyone else to die in that forest without need. She had little hope that the others that came would be able to be of help. A man named Sulphur was a wolf in sheep’s clothing though.

He, along with a masked evil man who refused, at first, to let Vanessa heal the injured after the alteration between Maia, the two men and another elf. Emotions were raw and harsh words were spoken by both sides. Afterwards Vanessa talked to Sulphur, and she hoped that they came to an understanding. She decided then that helping others plunder the resources of the forest, even inadvertently, might not be the best course of action. She told Sulphur that she would respect the wishes of the forest keepers, but she would not tolerate the loss of truly innocent lives. Rangers had been seen slaughtering innocent lives. Despite the desire to save their forest, the forest keepers had to realize that they were custodians, not the law of the land. She sympathized with their plight, and hoped someone would be able to bridge the gap before it became too large, between the Exigo and the Glade.

[Fezzik]

Her studies continued. She wept less for the loss of Will’am and others she had met or discovered, but she hadn’t experienced any loss for a time. Her own skills and those around her, seemed to get better, and although it hadn’t been long since she was first granted the ability to channel divine energies she was able to do more, and she was thankful that she was given the opportunity to spread the compassion of her patron.

An old rude Thayan knight came to the Glade while she meditated one day; he begged for help to overcome a common “enemy”, the Exigo. He pressured Vanessa to tell him about Exigo employees that had come to plunder the forest of its resources. She told the keeper she did not know where the Thayan’s or the Exigo were getting their resources for sure, but little on the list was to be found within the Virdale. She talked to an elf by the name of Nardis to see if she could perhaps talk as a mediator between the Exigo and The Glade. Intractability would only result in conflict; it had played itself out before in Sundren, it would again... The Legion didn’t need another Veritas to deal with.