I left my body lying somewhere in the sands of time

[bearshermark]

WHO: Eleven + others, with open prompts post-beacon.
WHEN: pre- and post-beacon
WHERE: Taravast
WHAT: Various things
WARNINGS: Feelings. Spoilers for late Act II/beginning of Act III DQXI.

Prompts in comments

Comments

Re: Open!

[beitangmoran]

[It's ben a bit confusing, this business of the beacon not being open very long and then it spitting back some people, a few new ones and some known faces who seemed to have gone through more than their short absence should warrant.

And right now, the city is busy enough with licking its wounds that not hasn't necessarily been easy to touch base with everyone. Moran is busy at the palace more often than not. he still thinks Maccaluso is the wrong choice if these people want an actual leader, but if that is who they have chosen, then he will at least try to instill a hefty dose of cynicism in the young man before they go. And do his best to encourage Lady Vanozza to pull the strings in the background. Maybe with the two of them at the helm, instead of just one, the city can survive.

Now on a rare moment off, he is actually window-shopping without any real goal to buy anything unless he stumbles on an interesting book when a familiar voice cuts through and he turns with a smile.]

Yes, indeed. We haven't crossed paths in a little while... but from what I gather it has been longer for you than for me.

[bearshermark]

[He does recognize him, and after a moment, Eleven smiles]

Part of your name is 'Moran'. You were kind to me and had visions of the future- and what you had seen did happen. ..Though it seems I wasn't successful in changing time, ending up here again instead.

[beitangmoran]

Beitang Moran.

[But it is puzzling to realize...]

Did you forget about this place, while you were 'gone'?

You might have been successful in your own world, who knows. How long has it been for you?

[bearshermark]

[He nods, the man's name settling into place.]

I did.. But the longer I'm here and the more people I speak to, the more memories return to me. It was five months in Erdrea, but only ten minutes here. Time is a strange thing.

[beitangmoran]

Interesting.

[He's not sure how that's even logically possible, but logic doesn't seem to apply much in this case.]

When we can, I might want to ask the merchant if the beacons have ever malfunctioned in this way, and if the answer is yes, how come he didn't warn us about it. He is cagey about a lot, but this seems bizarre to withhold that information, if it is known.

[bearshermark]

[Eleven mulls that over for a moment, then shrugs]

I don't recall ever putting much faith in that man. I'd given him an uncomplimentary nickname, actually..

[It takes a moment to remember it, but when he does, it's with a smile that swiftly fades as he further remembers why he'd given him that name]

..But I remember he does want to be rid of us one way or another.

[beitangmoran]

He does, and being rid of us does not involve killing us. For now.

[Which is not much, but Moran will take it.]

His motivations are his own, and out stop here, beacon or not, was clearly motivated by his attempt to use us to exact some sort of revenge on people he feels have wronged him and his homeland. But it might have been more useful to say that upfront rather than let us discover ourselves unwitting pawns.

I have less trouble believing the beacons are ancient magic that doesn't always function well and that he couldn't have known how they would react.

[bearshermark]

[For now. Yes. He shivers, remembering there were those that have been said to have come before them that weren't so fortunate. But the rest of it, he isn't sure how to feel. Moran sounds so certain, and Eleven's lack of faith in their 'guide' sinks further, as does his heart]

You mean the weapons.. they destroyed his city with them.

[beitangmoran]

Given more recent information that has come to my knowledge, that is not how it may have happened.

[Something happened to Ellethia, that is for sure, and for now Moran has no way of verifying Bonaccorso's version of events... but the story is more complex than they were left to believe.]

The story I have heard told here is that Taravast's dealings with the undead started after Ellethia was destroyed, and not before. And that it was Ellethia's destruction that prompted them to make this decision for their own survival.

[bearshermark]

[Eleven frowns, tipping his head as he attempts to sort that information in with what he remembers]

..But if Ellethia fell before Taravast's blood trade, then what vengeance is he looking for?

[beitangmoran]

That's an interesting question, isn't it?

[One that he has been pondering ever since he's come upon that piece of information.]

They probably had dealings before this happened, maybe an alliance who turned sour. I haven't been able to parse more for now, but it's something to keep in mind.

[bearshermark]

[The reasoning is beyond him, setting him back at square one of not at all understanding Bloodbonnet's motivations. He rubs at his face and shrugs]

I don't understand these things any better than I did when I left. I only wish we weren't relying on him.

[beitangmoran]

If that is any reassurance, I am quite sure his feelings towards us are quite similar. We are far from being a docile herd of sheep, and I wager we've annoyed him on more than one occasion.