MysidiaDrakkenbane

It had been a few weeks since the Windstalker village had been pillaged. Mysidia tried to get them back on their feet as much as she could. All of them, Kryimsson, Mysidia, Austforbeer, and James, helped them rebuild their houses and farmlands. Mysidia began to help the women tend to the crops and she shared her Old World knowledge with the women in creating potions and salves to help with every day bruising and healing.

The village was no where near to where it was before, but Mysidia felt confident enough that she gave them a good head start in getting back to where they were.

That night, they stayed their last day in the village. And the villagers, being so thankful for all of their help, held a banquet in their honor. There was a huge roaring bonfire next to the lake and the families that could, and did, play instruments, all brought them out to the bonfire and began to play their music.

Kryimsson leaned against a fallen tree and watched the bonfire with heavy eyelids. James was passed out cold next to him and Aust calmly sat next to Kryimsson on the other side holding a small cup in front of him.

Mysidia looked over to her companions and recognized right away the symptoms. Kryimsson was back to brewing his Rydian Ale and it appeared James couldn’t hold his liquor.

She walked over to them and sat Indian style off to the side. “Kryimmie, is that your personal brew?”, Mysidia asked smiling.

“Aye.”, he said giving her a sloppy smile.

Mysidia held her tankard out and Kryimsson gave her a healthy pour. She took in the aroma and allowed the tangy liquid to pass her tongue. She sighed as she felt the familiar warmth creep down her throat and crash into the pit of her stomach. She licked her lips for a moment and her brow furled a bit, slightly confused.

“Something is different…”, she said moving her tongue within her mouth.

“Aye. It appears th’ bushes dunna have th’ same berries I used to use. I had ta improvise.”, Kryimsson slurred. He took a long swig from his tankard and chuckled to himself, obviously drunk.

“Methinks I broke ‘em.”, Kryimsson said looking at James. Mysidia looked at the ratonga, drooling onto the ground beneath him.

“He’s going to be hating life, tomorrow.”, Mysidia agreed. She looked over at Aust who took the sips from his cup slowly.

“Is something wrong, Aust?”, Mysidia asked.

“Yes. I can’t feel my tongue.”, Aust said looking into his cup, confused.

“Kryimsson does brew it a bit strong. Have you ever been drunk before?”, Mysidia asked, not sure of Austs drinking habits, if he had any at all.

“Yes, I have. However, not after three sips from my glass.”, Aust looked over at Mysidia, his eyes glazed over.

“Drink it slowly, then. It’s bad enough James is going to be hungover tomorrow morning. The last thing you want is for him to complain and you to be hurting.”, Mysidia said finishing up her tankard. Aust whistled as he watched Mysidia down her glass.

Kryimsson winked at Aust saying, “Siddie’s had more practice.”

Kryimsson, not wanting to start a scene, asked Mysidia in their native tongue questions as to what happened.

“Where’s Machene?”, he asked in Rydian.

“He’s alive, thank Tunare. He is in Thundering Stepps last I heard. Aust tells me I’m not strong enough to venture in there, yet so until I am, I wander out here.”, she replied.

When Kryimsson heard that Machene was still alive, he stopped using Rydian. He wasn’t sure how Mysidia would react if he brought up something as painful as Machene’s death.

“What happened, then, Siddie? Last I heard, ye were buried with Rydia in the Shatterin’.”, Kryimsson said, his eyes full of tears.

“If it weren’t for Belle, I would have been. I was surrounded by Orcs, the moment I went to the left flank. I never reached the Ranger troops in time.”, Mysidia said looking at her tankard.


”I was surrounded and brought down before Machene could get to me. I imagine he thinks the same as you thought.”, she paused for a moment. “From what was told to me, I slipped into a deep coma and just slept through everything. I woke up one morning to find myself in a strange room, in a strange bed, and my personal effects were gone. I expected to wake up on the warm grasses of the Plane of Earth with Tunare smiling at me. I was not prepared to find out that not only did She turn away from me, but that every god and goddess abandoned Norrath and fell silent to our prayers.”

“Who could have seen this comin’, Siddie?”, Kryimsson asked. For a brief moment, you could see a moment of lucidity flash across his eyes.

“I don’t think anyone could have seen this coming. Not even Mardock.”, Mysidia said sadly.

“Mm… Mardock th’ Wise?”, James slurred as he sat up. He wiped the drool off his mouth and swayed in his seat.

“He was last time I checked. You know him?”, Mysidia asked gravely serious.

“Yeah.”, James said and burped. “He lived in Castleview Hamlet for a while. I juss know of ‘em. I… I’m tired… I’m… I’m gonna sssleep now.”, James said and fell over to the other side. Small vibrating snoring sounds could be heard shortly after.

“I think I will join him. I’m not feeling so well.”, Aust said and decided to turn in for the night. Mysidia watched him stagger off towards his tent and collapse shortly before entering it.

“Now why did you go and ruin perfectly two decent adventurers like that, Kryimsson? You know what kind of a mess they’ll be in, in the morning.”, Mysidia said and shook her head.

“Bah.”, Kryimsson scowled playfully. “Hangovers are good for th’ soul, Siddie.”

“Then yours will have no problems staying on the good side of the afterlife, brother.”, Mysidia chided.

Kryimsson’s face grew serious and sober for a brief moment. He shook his head and looked down.

“Ye canna believe what’s beyond this place, Siddie. There are… strange places. Other realms…”, Kryimsson said.

“I knew something happened to you. What made you turn away from pickpocketing and make you pick up a sword and board? You were proud to say you were the best backstab this side of Halas…”, Mysidia said.

Kryimsson sat up straight and shifted uncomfortable in his seat. He mulled over his thoughts for a moment before speaking, and he decided to use the Rydian tongue again, so that it wouldn’t cause unwanted ears to give attention.

“After you fell and the Rydian army ran through, it didn’t take long for me to visit The Tribunal. They were less than happy with me.”, Kryimsson said in Rydian.

Mysidia laughed. “I’d imagine so. You were a cut throat and a thief, Kryimsson. I don’t imagine that’s looked highly with The Tribunal. You were insane to take them as your patron God.”, she replied in Rydian.

“I explained that to them, Siddie. I only killed those that deserved it and stole what I needed from them, and not a penny more. Mardock came and spoke on my behalf and presenting my case to them. It was looking bleak until Mardock came through. So, to make up for past sins, they sent me to another realm to finish quests and help others. I decided that my life as a rogue ended the moment I was summoned to them, so I chose the life of a warrior instead. When I came back, I came back to this…”, Kryimsson said and waved his hand around.

“I tried to find you, but alas… I’m a Bezerker, not a scout.”, Kryimsson said took another long swig.

Mysidia looked up sharply when she heard several people sing extremely loud and very off key. She looked as they all swayed sitting down. She looked over at Kryimsson and scowled at him.

“Kryimsson! You went and gave them your brew, too??”, Mysidia said cross.

“Aye, jus’ a wee bit.”, Kryimsson said, returning to the Common language. He grinned widely from ear to ear, causing his scarred eye to glisten in the firelight.

“Now the whole town is going to need a tonic. You can’t be handing out your brew, brother. We can take it, but most common folk can’t. And now, I’m going to be up early brewing the tonic so that the people will at least be able to function tomorrow. Who knows what ailments they’ll have in the morning. Really, you must think ahead before doing something like this. I…”, Mysidia said rambling on, scolding her brother.

Kryimsson popped the cork to a bottle and held out his hand. “’Nother round, sis?”

Mysidia stopped and held out her tankard. “Huh? Oh,…yeah.”, she said and nodded.

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