K5: The Holy Mother, Kalia

Morning of Talsil 1st - Afternoon of Talsil 2nd
Experience: 188,709 total

Accepting the time had finally come, Kaylan and Giers met with the high priestess over the matter of Kalia's awakening. Finduilas was devastated, which led to an angry and tearful exchange in the privacy of her office. While apologetic at first, Kaylan found a new conviction in defense of the goddess she herself barely knew. After using this new-found presence to politely command Giers to leave (which he obeyed!), the priestess laid into her mentor and adopted mother. The Chosen had been faced with an impossible choice, and ultimately she, the prophet, made it, while others defered judgement, turned their heads, and hid behind their walls. The accusation Finduilas purposefully hid, combined with grief, sent the raptoran wailing up into the rafters.

Kaylan could feel Kalia moving through her then, heard Her voice welcoming the half-elf into Her grace. For accepting Her, the goddess promised to protect those Kaylan loved, and accepted the burdens and trials of the half-elf's family as if they were Her own. Kaylan offered Finduilas the same chance, but the old bird had lost her divine connection, and was in effect no longer a cleric at all. Terrified, the aged creature could not accept Kalia, even when she had so adamantly loved Kalinda. Finduilas did not see Kalia as Kalinda's waking form, but an imposter. She refused Kalia's love and vanished through the aid of some magical item left over from her adventuring days.

Kaylan flew into a panic, terrified what the raptoran might do in such a state, and called on all hands to find her children and bring them to her. After a terrible wait came a joyous reunion. Gathered together, Kaylan and Giers formed a new pact, one predicated on understanding and platonic love. Kaylan had truly inherited the title of prophet, as surely as if she'd fallen on a sword, and Giers assumed the vital role of high priest. He seemed, more than ever before, at peace with himself and the world. Christina mentioned she, too, heard Kalia's voice, reassuring her that things would be better now. Despite all the chaos and evil in the world, here, now, things were good.

Feeling Thamior's subtle call, Kaylan startled. Someone was trying to open a portal into the office. Initially worried it was something hostile, why else would Kalia block it, Giers and Kaylan readied for a fight, urging Christina with Christopher back.

To their relief, the majority of the fellowship entered through the spacial gap.

Gained Resources: Prophet of Kalia mantle (Kaylan)
Expended Resources: a mother in Finduilas


Returning NPCs: Giers, Mikhail, Finduilas, Christina, Christopher

Plot Developments

• Etheria meets the changing of the gods with a wiser, more matured Giers as high priest of Kalia's church, and by virtue now chief authority of the Holy City. Finduilas is nowhere to be found, her despair turning to tragic unpredictability.
• Giers is on much better terms with Kaylan, and even Diana. The former senses the ethrey at peace with himself, the latter more or less considers him finally grown up. Kalia has helped him temper the fire within him, curb the anger, and focus his passion toward more protective and productive aims. 

Thus concludes the K series.