TDM #5

[calderaevents]

ARRIVAL

It happens in an instant. A heavy weight in your gut, a trembling of your limbs, the world spins and you barely have time to register that you're falling before you lose consciousness. And when you awaken, it's not where you were last. Dark, unadorned oak walls surround you in a tiny room, the only furniture the bed you are currently resting upon, and the bedside table with a folded piece of parchment resting atop it that simply reads:

“The Tavernkeeper is awaiting your arrival downstairs.”

As you exit you find others like yourself emerging from the surrounding rooms. You are indeed in a tavern, but there is no hustle and bustle one might think to hear in such a place. The only person down on the main floor is a humanoid figure wiping down the bar, who smiles when they see you. They're familiar, but not, and you can't quite place their face. For some reason, however, their presence is comforting and warm.

“Welcome, Visitor. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.”

And you most certainly do.

Due to popular demand, the starter tavern and the drinks provided are available to in game characters via a portal accessible only to those with a faction gem.

DRINK MENU

FLAMEFRUIT SANGRIA a deep red wine based punch with chunks of softly glowing fruit floating in it. A single serving makes you feel relaxed, social, and maybe even a little flirty.

MOLTEN MEAD Though the thick drink itself is room temperature, it bubbles sluggishly, and feels very warm going down. The bold flavor affects your mood. You feel very bold! Like you could do anything!

BESALT BRANDY a hopefully staple drink for the brewery, this liquor is smooth and rich with a peppery bite. Ironically after consuming it, you kinda want to bite someone! Not hard! Just a little nip and nibble!

THAT ASHY ESPRESSO a single potent shot of dark espresso swirled with a gold-tinged cream. Intense and bitter with a hint of caramelized sugar. You are now very awake, hyper, and excited.

PYROCLAST'S WHISKEYa glossy black whiskey that turns a vibrant glowing orange when swirled. You now breathe fire.

EMBERMARK WINE a rich, velvety, spiced wine that immediately makes one feel mellow and calm.

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY

As the effects of your drink wear off, the Tavernkeeper speaks once more:

”It is time, my friends, for you to find your new homes.”

You are compelled to walk through the only door leading out of the tavern, finding yourself not outside, but in a deep black, seemingly endless room with five portals arranged in a circle. As the last of you leave and the door closes behind you, gone when you look back again and replaced with nothing but that black void, three of the portals illuminate:

The first portal is surrounded by an almost blinding light, prismatic rainbows shining brightly in the dewy air outside of the tavern. A soft breeze may gently caress you, pulling you toward it. The portal seems to lead to a city in the clouds, airships and winged beings of all sorts soaring through the skies. Of the little bits of visible land, much of it boasts giant waterfalls that look like clouds melting into the land below. The portal calls to those who crave independence and freedom; and especially to anyone that wishes to find the strong bond of a family not forged in blood.

The second portal is encircled by a fairy ring of spotted white capped mushrooms, the faint scent of damp stone and rich earth wafting from within the faint green glow. Peering inside, one can see a sprawling harbor city of gray hewn stone, a melting pot of humanoid beings going about their day, and beyond, rolling green farmland and cottages clustered in small villages. This portal is destined for those who crave stability and solid ground beneath their feet. A simple life, an adventurous one, and everything in between can be found within.

The last portal is adorned with shells and seaweed, the glow of blue around it catching on droplets cascading down the circular opening. Beyond it you see a city housed inside a massive bubble deep under the ocean, spiraling towers encrusted with coral, and a variety of different creatures mingling about the streets. Outside of that bubble, merfolk swim, a massive squid engulfs the view from the portal as it smoothly glides through the water, and schools of fish disperse as it passes. A sanctuary in the sea that calls to those with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to aid those in need. Or perhaps it is the mystery that beckons you - the lure of the unknown in the depths that bids you explore it.

---

Upon following the pull of the breeze through the first portal, you are thrust into the beauty of a lively city that goes by the name of Heaven's Bow. Much of this main city feels exactly as you would expect on a city below, but there are clouds surrounding every direction you look. The walls of buildings are made with light-colored limestone, and buildings are generally built up to heights made even more grandiose by their position in the sky.

The Skyfall Docks are the first thing you notice, boasting hundreds of airships sailing in and out across the clouds with shouts that accompany a typical port city. Just outside is a fantastic market with goods not only from the other regions of Caldera, but from what some shopkeepers claim are other worlds--items sold or left behind by Visitors. Almost anything can be found in the markets if one is willing to look hard enough. Transport to other locations throughout the sky and even to the land or sea can be found here.

If the docks are too lively for you, you may instead find yourself roaming the underbelly of Heaven's Bow and finding brothels and gambling parlors filled with the promise of pleasure and fortune. The guild house for the Sylphs can be found here as well, giving out quests and training to prospective adventurers and guards alike--though none of them seem concerned with the illicit activities that surround them. Perhaps the freedom the Sylphs boast of extends to what others may deem an undesirable activity.

But most curious of all, you find a shimmering opal gemstone in your hand. When placed anywhere on the body, it will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If it was the second portal that called to you, you will find yourself in the busy city of Grey Ward, with its cobblestone streets and sturdy grey stone buildings. You are in the heart of the city, the Glass Market, so named for the colorful stained glass windows of the surrounding buildings. The scent of cooking food and the sound of barkers fills the air; watchful guards keep an eye out for pickpockets and thieves, and citizens go about their day. From here, one can investigate the rest of the city: the Sundown Docks, where both sea and sky faring skips transport people and goods. The Soot Spire, home of inventors and engineers. The Hearthstill, the main residential area. The Downs, a smaller residential area for those with less means.

Outside the city walls, one can explore acres of farmlands to the east and west, or follow Terra’s Pass to the less settled areas, but take care. Past the Skyward Range, out in the smaller burrows and villages, the influence of the city guard diminishes quickly, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you. Bandits along the road are always a risk, and the wildlife are less controlled by regimented hunting.

In your hand is a gemstone, a brilliantly green emerald that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

---

If the last portal beckoned you through it, you find yourself within that bubble covered city beneath the sea, the city of Salt Spire. Your ears pop with the change in pressure, and the smell of the salty sea fills your nostrils. All around you buildings made of dark stone encrusted with coral and seagrass tower high above your head, the backdrop outside the dome a deep blue, seemingly endless sea filled with fish and merfolk and all other manner of creature swimming through the water. You stand in the heart of it all, surrounded by people with gils on their necks and scales upon their vibrantly colored skin, all of whom seem intrigued by your arrival. You have many options of where to visit in the city under the sea, but where oh where will you go first?

The Salt Spire Library is right before you, an impossibly large building housing thousands upon thousands of books of all genres. Fiction, non-fiction, romance and mystery and all between. You may even find books from your world and others! Oddly enough though, no Calderan history books are to be found, and if you ask for them, the librarians and locals all choose to ignore your questions.

If scholarly pursuits aren't to your interest currently, perhaps a trip to Bluetide Market would be more your style? The marketplace is host to every manner of shop one might ever need: artisans of all varieties, apothecaries and healers in the Shimmer Quarter, the most in fashion undersea clothing shops, food stalls, and all between can be found in Bluetide. There are also the Tideshore and Fogbottom docks on either end of the city. The former allows transport to the surface via large, magical bubbles for those that cannot hold their breath or make the swim themselves yet. The latter allows people to venture further into the sea. Those without their underwater abilities are offered rebreathers for travel that last for four hours before needing to be replaced.

In your hand is a gemstone, a shining sapphire that, when placed anywhere on the body, will transform into a piece of jewelry with the gemstone set in the center.

IGNACIA'S CRADLE/EMBER VEIL

Months ago, a piece of land from Heaven’s Bow fell from the sky and scarred the land below, damaging a part of the city. From that chaos and ruin rose new life, a new ruler, and a new city: Ignacia’s Cradle. Just a short walk from the edge of Grey Ward, the gates of the city are guarded by two massive obsidian golems, and any who did not rise from the lava itself are warned at the entrance that to travel about the city will be most difficult, unless they have obtained a way to mitigate the extreme heat: be that with a charm, an ability, or a potion. The very streets themselves are paved in slabs of volcanic rock, tall spires of buildings constructed and shaped by rapidly cooled lava. The main method of travel are the mine carts, with tracks that wind through the spires ready to take one to almost any location.

Currently, the main feature of Ignacia’s Cradle is the Lava Flats, home of skilled smiths that use the extreme heat of the lava to melt the strongest metals and create unbreakable weapons, glassmakers and jewelers who fashion elaborate headpieces, rings, and amulets. These items are sold at the Ember Market on the outskirts of the Flats.

At the edge of the city lies the Ashfall Terrace, where a small farm using the rich volcanic ash and soil is in its infancy, as well as the Basalt Brewery where clever alchemists are researching ways to use the extreme heat to craft new and unique beverages that they are eager to find folk to test them out on.

---

The hot spring of Ignacia’s Cradle is a breathtaking anomaly located just beyond the Ashfall Terrace, tucked into a secluded crater formed by the celestial impact that gave rise to the city. Here, molten veins from the Lava Flats weave beneath the earth, heating a natural reservoir that bubbled to life amidst the chaos. The spring’s waters shimmer with an ethereal brilliance, hues of deep turquoise blending with molten gold and fiery orange, as though Heaven’s Bow itself left behind a fragment of its essence. Steam rises in curling wisps, carrying the tang of minerals and faint traces of sulfur.

The spring, known to locals as The Ember Veil, is both a sanctuary and a marvel of natural wonder. Its soothing waters are reputed to heal wounds and fortify the spirit, with the temperature kept in perfect balance by an intricate system of naturally formed vents and channels. The edges are lined with intricately carved obsidian benches, where patrons can soak their feet or meditate in the rising steam. Plants resistant to the intense conditions—vivid fire lilies and ash ferns—dot the perimeter, their resilience a symbol of life’s ability to flourish even in the harshest environments.

Sometimes, when two or more individuals share the waters, the spring creates a subtle connection between their minds, allowing memories to surface like ripples on its surface. These shared memories appear as glowing, translucent scenes that hover above the water, visible to all within the spring. Participants can relive moments from their lives, experiencing them through each other’s eyes, fostering profound empathy and understanding.

Another of the spring’s mystical properties occurs when bathers who enter the waters feeling drained, injured, or burdened by grief often find their vitality restored. The waters seem to draw out negative energies and emotions, replacing them with a warm, invigorating sensation that spreads through the body. In rare instances, the spring has been known to accelerate physical healing, mending minor injuries and soothing chronic aches, as though the magic itself is stitching the body back together.

A lesser-known but equally fascinating effect happens on particularly clear nights, when the moonlight reflects on the spring’s surface, some bathers report fleeting glimpses of potential futures. These visions are often cryptic, appearing as brief, dream-like flashes, but they have guided many to life-changing decisions. The alchemists of the Basalt Brewery believe this effect stems from residual cosmic energy, and they have begun experimenting with enhancing it through the addition of rare minerals and lunar elixirs.

RADIANT SUN

The day begins like no other, with the skies painted in hues of golden-pink as the Radiant Sun ascends. Its light spills over the world, warm and soft, caressing the land and filling every heart with a sense of peace. Beneath its glow, emotions of love and connection bloom like never before. Strangers exchange heartfelt smiles, old friends embrace as though no time has passed, and lovers find their feelings deepened, their bonds strengthened.

Even the air feels different—lighter, sweeter, as though the universe itself is celebrating. The songs of birds harmonize with the melodies of impromptu musicians who feel inspired by the sun’s radiance. Those with magical abilities sense their powers of healing and creation magnified, as if the sun itself lends its strength to their intentions. Long-held grudges seem to melt away under the sun’s tender gaze, replaced by tears of reconciliation and words of forgiveness.

The Radiant Sun touches every heart differently:

◾A widow finds peace as memories of her late spouse no longer bring sorrow but gratitude for the love they shared.
◾A timid youth finds the courage to confess their feelings to the person they’ve admired for so long.
◾A gruff warrior lets down their guard, laughing freely with their companions for the first time in years.

For a fleeting moment, the world feels as it should be—unified, harmonious, and drenched in love.

But as the day wanes and the Radiant Sun dips below the horizon, an unease begins to settle...

JEALOUS MOON

The golden light gives way to deep purples and silvers as the Jealous Moon rises, its glow pale and cold. Its light pierces the heart, not to warm it, but to expose the insecurities that lie buried within. Where love had flourished during the day, doubt begins to creep in.

Under the Jealous Moon’s influence, emotions twist and darken:

◾A once-reconciled pair of siblings argue over old grievances, as jealousy over perceived favoritism resurfaces.
◾A couple, who had spent the day lost in each other’s arms, now question each other’s loyalty and intentions.
◾A nobleman, inspired to be generous during the day, grows suspicious of those who received his gifts, fearing they may exploit his kindness.

The air grows heavy with tension, and the magic of the Radiant Sun fades, replaced by the sharp sting of distrust. The moon’s pale light seems to follow people like a judgmental gaze, amplifying every fear, insecurity, and lingering resentment.

Worse still, the night seems endless, as though time itself has bent beneath the weight of the Jealous Moon’s envious glow. For three long days and nights, the moon lingers high in the sky, its pale, piercing light casting a shadow over hearts and minds, amplifying discord and despair. Its power sows strife among even the closest bonds, driving some to dangerous extremes. Yet, when all seems lost, the scholars of the three factions unite their wisdom and uncover a glimmer of hope—a means to dispel the moon’s cruel influence. For those who have not yet succumbed to jealousy’s grip, there remains a chance to reclaim harmony, a chance for redemption before the damage becomes irreversible.

The solution lies not in complex rituals or rare relics but in the simplest and most instinctive actions: physical connection. To weaken the moon’s hold, people must embrace one another—offering a hug, a handshake, or even resting a hand on someone’s shoulder. These gestures of closeness disrupt the isolation and mistrust that the moon thrives upon. Sitting side by side or holding hands creates a barrier against its oppressive light, reminding the afflicted that they are not alone. Even small acts, like sharing warmth through proximity or clasping arms in solidarity, build a shield of connection that the moon cannot penetrate.

As these actions ripple through the night, the Jealous Moon’s light begins to dim, its sharp, cold glow softening until it fades from the sky entirely. The tension in the air lifts, replaced by a quiet calm that feels almost foreign after the chaos of the past three days. Slowly, the world seems to exhale, and the darkness that clung so tightly to the hearts of many begins to loosen its grip. People step back from the brink of despair, their minds clearing as if waking from a long, disorienting dream. Relationships strained by the moon’s influence begin to mend as apologies are exchanged, tears are shed, and bonds are reaffirmed.

ALL IS WELL(?)

With the Radiant Sun rising again, its golden-pink hues spilling across the horizon, life begins to return to normal. The birds resume their morning songs, markets reopen, and the hum of daily activity fills the air once more. Though traces of the moon’s influence linger in whispered memories, there is a collective sense of relief and gratitude among the people—gratitude for the light, for connection, and for a second chance to heal.

In the outskirts of Ignacia's Cradle, Aella and Terra, two of the three leaders of the factions, come together to address the gathered crowds. Together they assure the people that this celestial event was a rare anomaly, something never before recorded in the annals of history. They explain that while the Jealous Moon’s influence was unprecedented and deeply unsettling, it was a unique alignment of cosmic forces that is unlikely to occur again in their lifetimes—or ever.

The leaders thank the people for their resilience and compassion, emphasizing how their acts of unity—simple gestures of closeness and connection—proved stronger than the moon’s envy. They commend the scholars for their quick thinking and the Visitors for their role in guiding others through the chaos. Finally, they urge everyone to move forward, not in fear of what has passed, but with the knowledge that even in the darkest moments, their strength lies in the bonds they share.

QUESTBOARD

Settled in? Good. It's time to make your way to the Questboard located in every city in numerous, easy to access locations. That is, if you want to make any kind of impact on the world or just get some Bones for anything you might wish to purchase. Visitors are given a very small stipend in which to survive every month, but all it does is keep you fed and housed. These quests will assure you greater wealth, and they're the main reason you're here: each finished quest helps the Calderans fix their shattering world.

Quests can be accepted at the questboard via magically signed parchment upon the board. Just sign your name to accept and the paper will be whisked away... somewhere. You're not actually sure. Probably nothing to concern yourself with.

Once quests are completed, earned Bones will be dropped off at the character's residence by Bonita, the mysterious artisan who has supposedly handcrafted every Bone circulating in Caldera. Please do not speak to her, she startles easily.

*February will be the last month to complete quests for this rotation. New ones will go up on March 1st.

OOC NOTES

Welcome to Caldera's fifth TDM! All characters awaken in a strange tavern with nothing save the clothes on their backs, all of their powers stripped, and a piece of parchment directing them downstairs to the Tavernkeeper. There is a thread of all questions answered by the Tavernkeeper here, and if you have more, feel free to ask there for what would be offered ICly.

For OOC questions, please direct themhere.

All locations are available to be explored! Ignacia's Cradle and Ember Veil have been added, along with details about the Violet Drop regarding the Cult of Triton.

The TDM is game canon and all completed quests can be carried over once accepted into the game.

Participation in the Radiant Sun/Jealous Moon effects is not mandatory.

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Comments

[getsyourbloodgoing]

If Corypheus shows up, they will deal with him like they did last time and kick his ass all over again.

He watches as she fixes her hair and her clothes again, quirking a crooked smile because he doesn't have to fix himself. He can merely stand there and wait for her to try looking more dignified again so she can answer his question.

Why does shit have to be weird?

Every time he thinks the world will start making sense again, some crazy thing happens to throw him for a loop but hearing that she is from ten years ahead of him? He doesn't let the reaction in his mind show on his face though as he merely digests that information and considers what to say. Still looking calm, he tilted his head. "You're going to have to give me a bit more to understand here, Boss."

[arlathvhen]

Well, if she wandered around without a shirt on like he did, she wouldn't have to fix it. The tavern would, incidentally, be a much more exciting place to visit. Though...Solas might have a few heart attacks.

Lavellan, generally, considers herself fairly perceptive. She's got a decent eye for reading people, and trying to gauge their emotions--a useful skill when plying politics. She is, unfortunately, no match for a trained spy, and she has no idea what is going through his head when she tells him the date. Obviously, something is going on, but what it is, she can't say.

Arms crossed, she tilts her head up at him (briefly considering fetching a chair to stand on while she does so), expression thoughtful. "As I said, the current year for me is 9:55. I had been running the Inquisition under Divine Victoria--Leliana--and then, the Evanuris, the elven gods, escaped their cage and entered the world. With them came the blight, and I spent a great deal of time trying to save Southern Thedas." It was not, in truth, entirely successful, though past blights have shown that she did about as much as could be expected. "A group of people that had been started by Varric worked to oppose the Evanuris, and when they managed to get to the point of confrontation, I came to assist them."

It is a very watered down version, and several prominent figures are missing from it. But, well. Yanno.

"I was taken to Caldera shortly after Elgar'nan, who had taken over Minrathous at that point, was slain. I hope that is a better explanation, though if you have any questions, I am obviously at your disposal."

[getsyourbloodgoing]

Bull would never complain if she wanted to walk around shirtless because he already thought she had fantastic tits. Not that he had told her as much, especially not after noticing something was brewing between her and Solas but that didn't change the fact.

He notes the stance she takes, wondering what it is she is talking about that makes her feel a touch of defensive. He imagines he knows the source behind it but he listens dutifully while rubbing a hand over the sharp angle of his jaw. Waiting until she is done talking, he glances around before pressing a hand to her back so he can guide her back to his table. There is no need to have this conversation while standing in the middle of the tavern.

"How did the Evanuris escape? How did they bring the blight?" He takes his chair, motioning for her to claim the one beside him so they can duck their heads together and talk quietly. As he waits for her to answer, he wonders where he is in all of this. Maybe in Southern Thedas helping even though he would be quite a bit older? Or was he dead by then, having died in battle like he had always planned?

[arlathvhen]

She appreciates his discretion, Solas or no. She's too reserved to be able to take such a declaration without risk of exploding.

He guides her off to the table, and Lavellan follows along obediently, trying to ignore the apprehension starting to climb up her spine. He's right, of course, that the conversation needed to be held more privately, and she takes the chair, even as her mind is working away. Because it's not as though she dislikes Bull--quite the opposite. But the topic that he's poking at--she tried to be a little vague. But she should've known better.

Briefly, stupidly, she wishes that she were better at lying, or that she was more willing to do it to him. But she isn't, and she's not. Instead, she clasps her hands on top of the table, lips thinned. "The latter is the easier. The Evanuris wield the blight, in a way I've never seen. Corypheus was a child with a toy hammer, in comparison. They can grow it, and turn people into...monsters." An unpleasant topic, but easy enough to explain. It is the next one that she is unsure how to bridge. Or more truthfully, she doesn't want to.

"I don't suppose you know much of the Dalish mythology? It is said that the Creators, our gods, were sealed away by the Dread Wolf. Fen'Harel, we called him."

[getsyourbloodgoing]

It probably won't her to be better at lying. It isn't just that he is good at reading people but that he is even better when it is someone he knows. He's had a long time of watching her, learning all her signs that clue him into whatever mood she is feeling and he can tell right now that she is apprehensive. Which means she is most likely wishing she had avoided this topic or could lie to him.

"Shit," he breathes, rubbing a hand along his jawline as she tells him about the Evanuris. The few times he had heard about them, he figured they were bad but to hear that Corypheus barely held a candle to them made even him a touch nervous. The idea they could grow the blight or use it to make monsters is worse.

Then he pauses as he realizes she may not know he knew about who the Dread Wolf is. "I remember that much. We found some alters dedicated to him, didn't we?"

[arlathvhen]

She is not, in fact, sure at all. It's only now that she's even realizing that Bull hasn't shared when he's from at all, nor any information about what he knows, at all. How the heck does he do that?

The answer is obvious. He's a damn good spy, and she's an idiot.

An idiot who is trying to figure out what to tell him. She could just--no. Bull has fought beside her, bled beside her, broke from the Qun at her encouragement. As much as she feels apprehensive towards revealing this information, as much as it wears on her nerves to expect the repercussions--he deserves the truth. It would be a disservice to give him anything less.

"The black city." She says it quietly. "That is the prison Fen'Harel built for my gods. If he wanted to tear down the Fade, he had to move them." She drums her fingers on the table, as she thinks. "I'd asked Varric to track Solas down, and he took Harding and did just that. They, and their associate Rook, found Solas. Fen'Harel." She lets that rest for a moment. It is a truth that she has revealed to no one else in Caldera, and if fate is kind (though it rarely is, to her), she will never have to do it again.

"They found him as he was moving his prisoners. They tried to intervene, and in the process..." She waves a hand. "The Evanuris escaped. Quite unintentional on both sides, but both of them made it right, in the end. And I was there to help, of course."

[getsyourbloodgoing]

He can see the moment it starts to click for her that he has been waiting her out, letting her divulge more and more information to him without him offering any in return. It confirms that maybe she hasn't been around him for a while if she has forgotten some of his techniques and he can't tell if that bothers him or not. Maybe he will have to ask more about where he is and the fate of his Chargers someday.

He can hear it too when she starts to tell him the truth despite her nerves. So he listens, showing no signs of surprise when she talks about Solas wanting to tear down the Fade but needing to remove the gods he had trapped first. Nor does he seem surprised when she tells him who Solas really is.

"So the Evanuris got out and Solas helped? Or it was Varric and his associate?" He asks before arching a brow at her. "What happened to the Fade and all that crap?"

He doesn't like the idea of the Fade coming down because then that means there will be demons running around.

[arlathvhen]

Bull could keep his cards close to his (expensive) chest when he had a mind to, but even so, Lavellan would have expected more of a reaction about her reveal of Solas' nature, had he not known. At the very least, razzing him about being a weirdo after all.

Instead, he just silently listens, thinking over her story. When he asks, she steels herself, and continues.

"Well, Solas was of great help against the Evanuris, as I understand it, though Rook and her crew did most of the legwork and the actual fighting." She tugs on a lock of wayward curl, recalling the notes that had been sent to her on the subject. "They spent a lot of time fighting the various minions of the Evanuris and trying to keep them from sowing discord. I'm afraid I wasn't much help for most of it, busy as I was with the Venatori and the Blight in the South. They nearly overran Orlais and Ferelden."

The next part, at least, was easy enough to share, as she'd actually been there. "Well, Elgar'nan took over Minrathous, and he had this dragon -- twice again the size of any I'd seen before, it's a shame you didn't see it. Solas turned into a wolf nearly as large, and you'd think I'd stop being surprised by him at some point..." A soft sigh followed. He'd managed to continue the trend, even here. Maybe in a few centuries, she'd have the full make of him.

"But he killed the dragon, allowing Rook to kill Elgar'nan. After that, before he could get any bright ideas, several of us, including myself, came to him, and pleaded with him to see reason. Truthfully, I was not fully sure that he'd agree." The thought hurts, to question him, but how could she not? How could she not be doubtful? Still, she'd had something more important -- hope. And it was that which had won the day. "But he did. He tied his life to the Veil, and it will not fall now, unless he does."

Turning back to Bull, she gives him a slightly wane smile. "And then he tried to take off without me again, but I am, as ever, very convincing."

It was more than what he'd asked for. A peace offering, in a way. A show of trust. He was a good friend, and she had missed him. He deserved the full story.