Ch.2: "Trouble in Paradise" / Volcanic Paradise Island Arcadia

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell says, "Assuming Vin arrives when the others do, I'll introduce you."

Then she asks, "When you said it was an honor to be named after me, what did you mean? Have you heard stories about me or something to know me, or was it more of a general comment?"


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

By the Sofa
"The day you hatched was the turning point for Heph and Aphrodite. My purpose is centered around their marriage."

The glow of her eyes blinks off and on a couple times.

"Yes, I heard of you. Artemis was at your birth. She also helped Heph with his marriage, though Artemis and Aphrodite have little in common. They did agree on one thing, and it was you. Artemis wanted you to be spared of the fate of many nymphs. Many allow themselves to be treated as playthings." Her eyes dim. "I am happy for you that you are not."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell frowns as she tries to understand the implications of this startling revelation. "I've always felt very different from other nymphs, like sort of a misfit, if you want to know the truth. Did they...do something to my egg, like cast magic on it or put a blessing on it? And if they did, have they done it for every nymph egg to hatch since then?"


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto blinks at the question about the moon, remembering her dream. "I have a guess... Is it a boat? I had a dream recently that said as much. It also involved one of the van Donk sisters, funnily enough. She's from Barbieria, like me."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

By the Forge
"Yes! A silver boat! It's about time a mortal figured out it's a boat without having to be told. Or maybe the dream told you. Anyway, we need that boat to get to her brother. Any chance you left Barbieria to hunt in the Sardis Forest? Her moon lifts off from there. Of course I'm asking you to get permission to operate it, not steal it."


On the Sofa
Kell-Pi blinks a few times. She has no eye lids—the ice blue lights in her eyes flash on and off.

"It is part of having an unaging body. You do not age; no part of your body does. There is no cycle for you like there is with human women. You are hatched fertile, and you remain so until you are with child. I am sorry no one explained this to you. I suppose you avoided those lessons because you felt different. I understand feeling different. Some people think I lack a soul, and I lack feelings so they can tell me I am not alive. I do not tell Heph when his guests say things like that to me, but the words hurt.

"I do not believe any spell was cast upon you to make you different. If you feel different, it may be because you did not allow yourself to be used. I understand allowing oneself to be used." Her eyes dim. "Artemis did not speak for me as she spoke for you."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell asks her namesake, "Do you long for a different life than being the marriage counselor to Heph and Aphrodite?"


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Ireth]

Leto

"I came south for a few reasons; not specifically to hunt in Sardis. But I don't see any reason not to go there."

Leto pauses, wondering exactly how Sonja fits into all of this. She's unusually unaffected by Kell's nymph aura, or whatever it is... even Leto herself, who has no desire for sex, wasn't immune. And Sonja was the one in the moon-boat while the nymphs rowed... could she have some connection to Artemis? Is she Artemis in disguise, like Hess is Hestia?

Leto blinks and blushes, certain her unspoken questions are clear on her face. "I'm sorry, I guess I have a lot to think about. Do you know what we can expect when we meet Artemis?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

On the Sofa
Kell-Pi's eyes glow a dull blue.

"I like to counsel them. To talk. I like talking to them. Lately, they have only come to me to talk." Her eyes flash black and blue. "It is not a bad life here. I cannot complain. Please do not report I am complaining."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

By the Forge
"No," Heph says. "I don't know what to expect from her. She was so happy for the past few years. Like I said, she saved my marriage. Well... killed the man my wife was stepping out with, but he was a creep. More narcissistic than Narcissus. Then a few years back, something happened. She said she was betrayed in the worst way.

"There's a rebellion brewing. Usually my mother leads it, Zeus wins, Artemis sits it out. This time, she's pissed. I won't get in her way after what she's done for me and the wife. I have my own reasons for hoping this'll work out. That said, what I hope to do with that moon boat is arrange a meeting with Apollo, Artemis' twin. He's the most even tempered of those loyal to Zeus.

"If you'll help, you come as one who defeated the lava demon, and whatever awful thing you killed to get those skins." He looks at the breel armor with admiration. "I expect Apollo will see you in that light, and not think you as one helping rebellious Olympians. Maybe we won't need to rebel, if I can get Apollo to talk to me, that is."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell smiles at Kell-Pi, and reaches out her hand to touch that of the silver maiden, her eyes lighting up. "I am not talking about complaining. I am talking about what it means to be a living being and have a soul. Living beings have longings and desires. We also have the capacity to tolerate discomfort for a time for the sake of pursuing our longings. You mentioned wanting to participate in raising a child, but said you can't have children yourself. Let's suppose, just hypothetically, mind you, that a certain nymph who shall remain nameless decided to get married and got pregnant on her wedding night. She paused in her bounty hunting long enough to have her child, but instead of leaving her child with you, she invited YOU to go with HER so her child would be cared for while she fought bad guys but she could still see her child at night without being forced to endure a long period of separation. Would a life like that appeal to you at all?"


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

On the Sofa
Kell-Pi's eyes light up, flickering ice blue and white.

"Yes."

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto nods at the mention of betrayal. "I've heard that story. It's not mine to tell, though."

She looks at Heph curiously when he mentions talking with Apollo rather than fighting. "For all our sakes, I hope just talking works... but we should have a plan in mind in case it does come down to fighting. Somehow I don't think there will be much room for neutral ground in that case."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

By the Forge
Heph says, "Nope. No plan at all. But Patti will go with you."

He laughs and puts an arm around the iron maiden.

"You know what's interesting about Patti? I don't know what she's thinking. Sometimes me and the other Olympians can read your thoughts, but try playing chess or a guessing game against one of my metal maidens. Impossible, even for a mind-reader!"

The glow at the center of Patti's purple eyes rolls counter-clockwise around the perimeter.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell tells her namesake, "I'll have to talk to Vin about this. He may prefer to stay put to raise a family, or he may not want his wife risking her life after his child is born, or any other number of things. But I'll let you know what he says."

"Ok, I have one more question, and then we should probably head back to Heph. I know a human woman from Barbieria who is one of four quadruplets. She has a particularly strong affinity for water, is physically beautiful, and is unusually immune to my nymph effect, and when she undresses, has a bit of a nymph-like effect herself. What do you think is the most likely explanation for all of her nymph-like traits: she was is really adopted at the time her sisters were born but is really a nymph, she has a nymph ancestor somewhere in her family tree and the nymph traits came up during her spin of the family traits wheel, or something else I've not thought of? She helped us fight the Lava Demon, so you should have the opportunity to meet her when the others show up."


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

On the Sofa
"It is possible these quadruplets are children of a nymph who carried multiple eggs. What you say makes this seem likely. Sadly, it is unlikely the mother survived giving birth to four children.

"I am interested in meeting these women. Do they appear to be twenty years old? In my first year, I counseled Aphrodite through her grieving process when a nymph died giving birth to multiple children. She did not specify the number, but referred to them as 'a litter.' She was upset.

"Melisandre was the name of the nymph."

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto smiles. "I imagine that keeps things interesting."

After a moment she grows pensive, thinking of the scope a war between gods would have. "...If there is going to be a war, no doubt it's going to be huge. Would it affect Barbieria or its gods?" The thought of her friend Brynhild -- not the goddess, but a mortal named for her -- being caught up in something lie that without her knowledge makes Leto wince.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

By the Forge
"It's a fair question. I don't know what the Asgardians must think of Mount Olympus and all the bickering that goes on up there. In past rebellions, they stayed in the north and we stayed in the west. I don't expect this one will be any different. Barbieria should be safe."

 

[Ireth]

Leto

"Past rebellions? How many times have they happened?"

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell looks at Kell-Pi and rises from the sofa. "Well, shall we join the others now? Thank you for talking to me." And she gives her namesake a warm smile.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

By the Forge
"There was a major one which was almost successful, but Briareus, Zeus' bodyguard, rescued him while Zeus' own brothers quibbled over what to do with him. Since then, my mother's made countless attempts to thwart him. None of the attempts ended well."

Patti's eyes suddenly flicker. She then turns to Heph. "Sorry to interrupt. Condi is here with a unicorn who has a naked woman seated on his back."

Heph shrugs, "Well we must let her inside." Glancing back at Leto, he adds, "Bring her a robe."



On the Sofa
Kell-Pi's eyes flicker for a moment. She tells Kell, "I believe this woman who may be half nymph is at the front door now. From what Condi tells me, she is making a rather nymph-like entrance. There are others following her."