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Post by Dungeon Master on Dec 1, 2018 7:39:20 GMT -8
Salkya's face is nothing but caring and a bit motherly. She reaches forward and takes Luke's hands.
"Don't make the mistake the other priests do. She doesn't care if you bring her something big. A bit of a kill would work, maybe some flowers you picked, or a piece of cloth you carry. Something many people have never realized is that she isn't driven by wealth. That is why we are not as opulent as other religions, everything goes out to those that need it. There is no need for gold, jewels or magic to festoon the temple with. For her its true commitment you have given, she doesn't need treasure, just a token."
She leans over and gives Luke a small kiss on his cheek like she did when he was 12. She is obviously proud of the tiefling.
”Your love for her is all you need to sustain your connection to her. Although... maybe a new follower or two would go a long way. I don't ever recall a drow that follows Sekhmet, but that girl seems awfully fond of the cats... and incredibly fond of you. Is that serious?”
Salkya winks. ”If that is too personal, is Te'Teh doing well?”
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Post by wolsey on Dec 3, 2018 16:57:49 GMT -8
Luke thinks about it for a few minutes, leaving the priestess hanging, “ I have a couple of ideas for a gift.”
He smiles at the mention of Rabbit, “I think cats terrify and delight her. We are officially seeing each other, but that doesn’t mean I’m only seeing her. She’s much older and has a lot more relationship issues than I do. I get the impression Drow are done, but being a full handmaiden is rife with trauma. “
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Post by Dungeon Master on Dec 3, 2018 17:37:56 GMT -8
Salkya chuckles. "Is there someone else you are seeing? Or is this keeping future options open? As for Rabbit, my understanding is drow are not monogamous, especially the ladies. You don’t have any chance she might become a black widow on you? Not that I believe she means anything but the best for you. When are you going? I will pray and see if I can help find that damned island."
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Post by wolsey on Dec 3, 2018 17:43:59 GMT -8
“Rabbit is fine. I just haven’t had much luck in romance because my nature is not monogamous. Rabbit gets jealous sometimes, especially when Nesterim is pushing her buttons, because sometimes I see him as well. Not as officially. I am a dirty commoner,” Luke explains.
“We met a Norseman that knows how to call the island. We never called it. I think Glorions inner conflict did. We have no clue otherwise. We thought we might ask him first. We have so many reasons to go. Jack is trying to reach his goddess, and Alluvia is trying to reach her aunt,” Luke says.
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Post by Dungeon Master on Dec 3, 2018 17:52:07 GMT -8
Salkya raises an eyebrow at the mention of Alluvian’s search.. "I have heard that sometimes you can contact the dead that way, but usually only those cast into hell or imprisoned. What is up with her aunt?” Salkya watches Luke with interest.
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Post by wolsey on Dec 7, 2018 5:32:13 GMT -8
"Her aunt was slated to take power as queen, like Alluvia is now. Her aunt was an oracle as well. When her aunt went to the confirmation, like Alluvia is to do now? They were attacked by Drow, but given elven politics and that fact that some of the noble households work with Drow, I am not sure at all about that. She was murdered at her confirmation with a lot of Alluvia and Nesterim's family. Anglerond's family was wiped out there as well, and Anglerond was sent away at the last minute. That gives me more ideas that perhaps the Drow didn't exactly "accidentally" manage to kill the upcoming queen." Luke explains.
"The weird thing, is that they only do this weird presenting for women. Alluvia's mother had to do it, and married her father. However, if Nesterim was going to do it, they wouldn't not do this. Elves, what you going to do?" Luke laughs.
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Post by Dungeon Master on Dec 7, 2018 5:50:21 GMT -8
Salkya nods at Luke's exclamation of elves.
"I think women rulers are treated different in part due to Lolth and the distrust of a 'wife'. I don't know if this was the way it was before she left Corellon, it is the whole chicken and the egg. Did Lolth betray Corellon for no reason other than personal power and ambition and cause women rulers to be distrusted, or were women distrusted to begin with causing Lolth to leave."
She thinks for a bit more time.
”I am also bothered with what you say. That Alluvia and Nestrim's household were murdered at her coronation, while Anglerond her guard was sent away. You have already uncovered a lot of dealings between some of the households and the drow, and I don't like what it portends.”
Salkya looks slightly concerned. ”Please be careful. I worry about you, and Sekhmet trusts very few people right now and can't afford to lose someone to an elf civil war. Especially if you become her first paladin in more than a thousand years”. With that Salkya seems very proud of Luke.
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Post by wolsey on Dec 8, 2018 5:02:34 GMT -8
"Yeah, Corellon and Lolth had a bad breakup, and their people have been at war ever since. Who knows what the real deal is on that," Luke says.
"Don't worry about Alluvia or us at the coronation ritual thing. We are also inviting Nightscale. So we have a full ass dragon with us as well. She's young, and kind of more copper than black these days. She talks with Alluvia all the time, too. I even found a gold scale on her. I have no idea what that means, but I think it means she her temperament has shifted to being more on our side of things, rather than angry hateful and evil," Luke says proudly. "Her education has been going well this past year, and she's learning a lot on how to care for people. She's even letting children see her. I think she's embarrassed by how much she enjoys people. Kokand was a good place for her."
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Post by Dungeon Master on Dec 8, 2018 5:22:41 GMT -8
Salkya smiles broadly.
"Many people of many religions will tell you that giving people a chance is wrong. That you shouldn't trust your guts. Sometimes they are correct, there are individuals that will use it to hurt or kill you."
She beams at Luke.
”However, you are the one that is right. I firmly believe everyone deserves a chance, or a second chance, or however many I can give them. You are proving that with Nightscale, you are proving that with Rabbit, and you already have proved that with yourself. Don't ever lose that my son, that is what will make the world brighter.”
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Post by wolsey on Dec 10, 2018 19:17:55 GMT -8
"You taught me that. You didn't see me as an 'evil race' just because I had horns. People like to use assume Teiflings, Drow, and others are evil just by instinct. That's ridiculous. Thanks you for teaching me that," Luke says.
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Post by Dungeon Master on Dec 11, 2018 5:08:25 GMT -8
Luke can see the emotion in Salkya's eyes as she leans forward and grasps him in a hug. He notices she is older, a bit more frail and much smaller than he remembers when she hugged him the first time as a boy, but the love she has for him is unquestioning.
"I am proud of you Luke, I love you as much as any child I could have ever had. You make me proud of the man, and the creature of light that you have become. I know you know this, but your mother loved you as well. I could tell when you came here. Even if she was counter to everything I stood for, I am sure she loved you as well. Don't let anyone tell you different. People are not cut outs put on a stage.”
She absentmindedly wipes at her eyes, a humorous smile still on her lips, "Forgive an old woman Luke, sometimes it is hard to keep emotions in place as you get older."
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Post by wolsey on Dec 12, 2018 18:35:37 GMT -8
Luke smiles down at Salkya. For all intents and purposes, she was his mother now.
"Thank you. I'm very glad I found myself her, and that you were willing to pick up where my own mother left off. Don't worry. I know she loved me. She was not a good woman, but she was a good mother. I don't doubt that at all," Luke says as he returns her hug.
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Post by Dungeon Master on Dec 13, 2018 4:59:05 GMT -8
Salkya just sits in Luke's hug for some time, eventually she pats him affectionately and sits back to look at him.
"I have something for you to take to the island. I need to find it, I saw it decades ago in my files, but its the ritual of becoming for a paladin... or at least I believe it is. Let me get that for you before you leave, it might help and on that island you will need it.”
A calico cat comes up between the two, rubbing herself against Luke affectionately she rolls on her back, offering her belly for rubs. Salkya smiles at her only son, "She watches you closely, she will be there for you in your time of need, just like you are to the children of the Warren."
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Post by wolsey on Dec 13, 2018 5:52:17 GMT -8
Luke smiles, as Salkya pulls away, "I'll take whatever help I can get. Nobody every really wins at anything alone."
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