Session 59, VP2

(These notes were written by the player for Sylvie, from Sylvie's POV. Sylvie is currently in disguise as "Erika".) 

I have a feeling that these next few days are going to be long, so it’s best to keep a record of what’s going on. I met the rest of the party at breakfast. It’s weird having bangs. Reinhold asks questions without even batting an eye. You see, he forgot he’d met “Erika” in Forgerun, during all of the Solgaleo business. Brunick’s grandparents live in Harbinger Valley and would be happy to help out his friends, so I’d lead the way. Bronze seems…way too interested? She keeps asking where Sylvie is. Oh no, I think this is a bad idea, but…maybe it’s the best idea. I tell her Sylvie is staying behind to help Morphada, but leant me her Pokemon and some items. Typical running away from her problems, right? Bronze says we must be good friends, and gives me her custom Pokeball if I needed a partner of my own. Morphada is finishing packing, and even when Bronze asks why she isn’t staying with Sylvie, she thankfully reads my look to run with it. Sorry, Bronze. As soon as she’s ready, we’re getting onto the road.

I got a little worried that they wouldn't use my name “Erika” in battle, but we got a practice run as on the last leg of travel, we were ambushed! Lucario had a small gang of Pokemon to direct, which didn’t go to whatever its plan was, since Gary put Lucario to sleep. It was all going really well, but the ground rumbled and shot rocks up at all of us. None of these Pokemon were rock type, or seemed to use another move, weirdly.

 

After defeating Morphada, I felt a bit stronger than before. I thought of Reidun and how she could sense the tremors in the ground and focused, detecting a distinct shape below our feet. Bronze set out Amy, and I recommended she use her hammer to strike the ground. At least Bronze can trust her “new” friend, because the creature was struck and rumbled again. Now that Lucario was captured, we had to take care of the extra enemy quickly. Amy and Jasmine work together until the jet of water creates a geyser and in a roar of pain, the gigantic mantle of earth on the back of an equally gigantic Crustle rises! Its “shell” was crumbling and it started to throw those rocks at everyone. Seeing an opening, I retrieve the Solid Ball that Bronze gave me. Somehow, it falls into what remained of the shell, bouncing around before capturing it! Huh, that’s the second gigantic Pokemon we fought recently, and that I have caught. It was able to carry our Pokemon on its back, so it could be a mount, right? Lauren had a point that it would be really, really slow. But it would be cool to have a walking fortress! We all looked worse for wear as we went back to the campsite. I changed my mind. Tomorrow is going to be the longest day. What if Morphada’s magic doesn’t work, or the place had changed even more than Bergie made it sound? Reinhold ropes me into learning this “shogi” game, and WOW. That’s not going to be a hobby I pick up. My head was still spinning, so I refused the “one more game” to go do my foraging. It was bittersweet seeing the old but familiar things that grew around here. I found a few pieces and had an idea. I haven’t done it in a long time, but I made a little bundle of the grasses and herbs and tied the stems together like a tiny bouquet. Hopefully that’d be enough to let Donner know how much I Scribbles

 

I don’t get a lot of sleep on the first watch, so it’s easy to get up for the second with Donner. He asks if I’m ready. Ready to face my family, Hestr, Hysterig? Fuck no. Ready to do whatever it takes to help free Hestr? More than ready. Ready to get this over with? Also yes. Our last night in the Hive I did want to run away. But when would I ever be ready if I never got close enough to take the leap?

I gave him the flowers, thanked him for promising to stick by me, and for getting his hands stained pinkish. I wanted to say that I hope whatever he thinks of me doesn’t change after this.  He asked for it to go in his hair. It helped to talk without having to face each other. We sit by each other and watch the stars as I tell him of the wide cloudscape for Duna to fly in, like a Noctowl. Was I ever going to get over trying to hide? Maybe in the future, but for this next adventure, I had to. When I was finished he was smiling.

Now we match. 

 

Outside the barrel, Morphada uses her swordthane power and hides on the back of my neck, under the scarf. They all look at me. Right, I have to lead the way here. I remind them that people are nice enough, but being polite and friendly is the way to go. Hearts and Minds, Reinhold said. The worst case scenario in my head doesn’t happen; there’s no alarms blaring or fanfare. I quickly take us to the Pokemon Center to help our many injured and fainted Pokemon from the Crustle fight. The woman at the counter has been here for decades. She loves being the first to know anything in town. She gets everyone’s hometowns, our business there, well, everyone but me. Outside I point out the peaks in the valley: one Hysterig’s gym site, one where Hestr worked, and one behind the fields I don’t recognize. I lead them through the manmade forest where we can have privacy as everyone is working and loitering on the other end of town. The red tree is still there, and still has those ugly drawings she tried to make probably ten years ago. Sylvie was drawn like a stick figure with a flower head, and “Hestr” had one stick arm longer than his legs.

Bronze points out the houses outside the forest, and the lake beside it, wanting to start this “dry run”. (Talullah says by the lake it would be a wet run. OK.) Out of everyone, my-- Sylvie’s-- parents wouldn’t be tricked. I don’t think I could stay calm by them either! I tell Reinhold to do some fishing by those houses. He doesn’t think manmade lakes would have fish…I don’t remember if it does either. So I re-iterate to fish. He takes Bronze and Talullah, and the rest of us go to find where we would be staying. Which for all I told Bronze I’d lead the way…I have no idea where they live. Lauren tries to use his psychic sense but, with nothing substantial to follow, we could ask for directions. Easy! The first person we find can point the way. 

 

That first person? Ritha. I push Lauren ahead of me. I don’t know if Hestr hates me, but no doubt his mother does! Lauren asks directions and surprise, the house right past her is the one we’re looking for. We cut the small talk short and carry on, and thankfully so does she with just a couple veiled judgments. Why’s everyone say I look eclectic? Knocking and shouting doesn’t get the person inside to answer, so Lauren knocks on the floor to make it vibrate. An elderly man looks over from the desk, whittling, and…makes some motions with his hands? 

 

“Oh shit.” he must have understood that when we all said it. 

Telepathy, chalkboard, and a pot of tea later we can talk to the deaf man. Odd Afl is Brunick’s grandpa. We updated him on his grandson and he looked so proud. He finally asked why he sent us their way, and I wrote down all I could think of.

Sanctuary.

He doesn’t miss the seriousness, but I won’t tell him from what we’re hiding. I finally trusted everyone enough to ask for their help, and even told a few more, but I can’t help it. We just met this person. He’s lived here for years, he’s seen what happens to outsiders, locals, to Hestr, and nothing’s been done. They’re scared of Hysterig too. His wife, Erna, arrives suddenly and with some chiding, we offer to help around the house. Odd shows her what I wrote and all she does is bring out cookies and lament about how dusty her grandson’s room is. Something invisible taps my shoulder, so I cough to get some air outside, waving the concern off. 

 

Gary makes a game of showing his smile first and hands me something with flair. It feels weightier than the flimsy metal it is as Hestr’s name, with a thin bit of dust, stares back on the arrow of the weathervane. Gary looks expectant. Boss said you would know what to do! He grins. 

 

Reinhold, I have no idea what to do with this! 

 

I thank the Gengar and advise that this is where we’ll be staying the night, and he can lead the others here. The ghost is looking at the cookies Erna brought out and vanishes quickly. I warn Erna and Odd that our party was more than just the three of us, but I did say one was strapping enough to take care of the troublesome thatched roof. By the time Reinhold arrives he set about being the most interesting thing to grace the old woman’s home. Lauren has been learning a couple signals from Odd. Bronze showed him what Brunick taught her with rune magic, and Odd is willing to share some of what he knows. Apparently, the two work together on small charms, like the pendants Brunick leant them. I’d been wondering how much they could do, I’d even asked Ilvri if she knew of some enchantment that could help us protect our minds from being read.

 

We bring up the last visitors they had, Bergie and Gunnar. While they didn’t know much, they pointed outside to the walls of the valley basin. The two left the valley not through the entrance, but from the slope over there. And after they had gone, Hysterig himself came and went from that place, looking…happy. 

 

I can’t think of a single twig of that miserable old guy ever being happy. I knew I wasn’t being dramatic, that he was always mixing up some new scheme. That and no one was allowed to leave without using the tunnel! Hypocritical old bag--

 

When I look away from the window, Odd is holding up the chalkboard. He asks if I know Hysterig. Even with the scarf, his name being said is like smelling curdled milk. I give a shrug, and he writes out: I wish I didn’t. It was hilarious. I felt better enough to suggest we make the most of the working hours and visit the mountaintop where Hestr would be waiting. 

 

It’s a long walk and I go on the spiel I’ve heard for years about this place. Hestr’s family tended to the area for hundreds of years. We got to the point where we could see over the clouds into the open sky. My feet stop working when I see the small shrine-like shelter looking out over the basin. This was a bad idea i’m going to be sick. Donner takes my hand and walks us to the overlook, remarking how I was right, that Duna would like this place. I nod and the others go to approach the wooden stall. I’m watching Donner call out Duna and encourage her, but I can’t help but listen. I can barely hear Hestr, but Lauren and Bronze are easily heard. They ask how he is, how we were nearby, how we really did want to help him. 

 

They ask about the tether Lauren had described. I watch Duna dive in and out of clouds, until another brown and yellow …creature flies among them, bobbing away before stopping to hover over the roof of the bench. I retrieve Poppy and ask her to get a closer look in my stead, and she’s probably too eager as she sneaks closer like a comic book character and climbs Lauren to watch. Hestr starts to look over and I spin away. Donner points out the top of a rock out somewhere and I nod as it’s very interesting. He waves in the direction of the others behind me. “Just shy,” Lauren says. I’ll just ask Poppy what they saw later. I ask if Duna could do another flip and she seems to revel in a moment to show off. I hear an owl cry as she dips and …she looks bigger than before all of a sudden-- 

 

I got a face full of bird, big silky brown feathers hitting my chin, nose, forehead, shoulders. Nattvig looks down at me. I want to ruffle his cheeks but I completely forgot about how to disguise myself from Pokemon! I bundle him upside down in my arms and say something dumb until Duna saves me from probably getting on the wrong end of that sharp beak. Everyone is carrying on and I can’t so much as eavesdrop anymore, just standing at Donner’s side and he doesn’t say anything. Seeing the sky, I tell Poppy to let the others know we should be moving on. We didn’t need to get scrutinized for following Hestr down when the sun fell. 

 

The steps are well-worn but long. After deciding to go investigate the spot on Heimdall’s Gates I suggest stopping at the Afl home, because Donner should rest. I don’t want him getting tired out our first day here, especially because of all the stories of how treacherous the mountains could be. While there, Erna finds a pendant they made to make the walk a bit easier, and Bronze draws something on the chalkboard. She said it’s what made up the “chain” on Hestr, that we wanted to rid him of it, and that if they knew anything about crafting the runes, we’d want to know. They promised to do some research while we were gone, but hopefully we find what we’re looking for quickly. Hopefully they understand why I couldn’t share much earlier. 

 

The pendant must do something because we make good progress and no encounters. Somehow Lauren sees this hole in the rock, and Bronze says on the other side is a perfectly spherical chamber, no one’s inside. I tie a rope down and Lauren slips inside. How did anyone know this was here, and how did it get there in the first place? From Lauren’s view: Broken runes, old torches, signs of battle, and a carved out part of the rock wall. He says focusing on that spot, he can see Bergie and Gunnar fighting a guardian, but there were words on the wall. I send Bergie a message asking for the details, wondering what would be so important that Hysterig had to collect it himself. They are the only three people that know of this place, just another secret we have to keep in mind. We return to the unsettling quiet of the house.

 

Erna and Odd are still awake. Donner is gone. This is why I They let him do whatever he wants What is he going to say Why does he always get hurt following me

 

I need some air. I can hear Bronze assuring them that there’s no danger and Reinhold’s tone is not in agreement. I’m ready to march down there before I lose the drive when my Pokedex goes off. The content is enough to take the initial gust of wind out of my sails. No, Bergie can’t apologize for not maiming the leader. The others come outside and I share the message--the prophecy. It’s about us, and whatever else we have no idea. Lauren and Reinhold say they’re going to get Donner, and I’m leading the way whether they like it or not.

 

Talullah waits outside with that weird Taillow thing. Lauren and I go to the door and we hear people inside. He knocks and it goes quiet. A woman, dressed weirdly, opens the door and….implies we’re beggars? Lauren is acting calm but I can tell the politeness is feigned. Ingeborg, this must be, is blocking the way inside and mutters that they don’t want more guests. It reminds me that the way we ask doesn’t work on these people, you can’t meet them on even ground, but must bow your head. I request to offer our apologies for not meeting the elder when he came by earlier, that we were rude to not introduce ourselves upon our arrival. She groans but lets us in. They follow me in, they follow my deference. Hysterig speaks and I don’t remember what he said because the last time I heard him speak I couldn’t focus on the words either and I don’t know if I can bear facing him so I watch the floor and what I can see of Donner. 

 

Seeing him makes my heart ache. It feels like I’m looking at a mirror and I hate it here, back to being a foolish scolded child. He did the right thing by coming here. I’m no better; I’m scared of Hysterig. Whatever the conversation was about, it's eating at him. My legs are stuck in place because you’re supposed to just stand while you’re reprimanded but Lauren goes to Donner’s side. Bronze is quiet by me. I feel the searchlights scan over us all and…he talks to Reinhold. Heart and minds, he’d said, and panders to the elder like he hadn’t offered on the walk over to remove the same man’s limbs.

 

I can’t believe this worked. 

 

We plan to meet him tomorrow afternoon. He dismisses us, and I lead the pack out, Lauren waits at the door. The further we get away the more my legs come back to themselves to run away. Instead I just weave us through to that special place where the rest of the town goes quiet. I have to sit and Donner has his hands on my shoulders before I can finish what I was saying. The elder had sensed him entering the valley, that he’d known whatever the fire giant had done to Donner, that he would be useful with training. But nothing about our plan. Reinhold was picked out as a swordthane, and his new aura powers prevented his detection too. We would need to plan what to be ready for tomorrow for these “tests”. It would be a small blessing his attention was on other things. 

 

Suddenly I want to slap a buzz of wings at my back, but stop. It’s Morphada, disoriented and depleted of energy. We don’t want to keep her out in the relatively open town, and after protest, Reinhold proves the strapping young man thing again by carrying her off at a clip. We apologize again to the Afl family because yes, there’s one more person for this clown car of a house. Odd has that look in his eye, yeah, they’re getting more of our secrets now. I apologize for shouting earlier. The only one to blame was Hysterig himself for making this place what it is. 

 

Morphada has no reason to deny the single bed because of all things, she forgot her sleeping bag. We catch her up while she recovers. Ingeborg was a …character. Erna tells Bronze that from what she researched, they think that having the rune itself would help. So now we do have to face him in battle. Reinhold says he’d planned that there would be a battle. Tomorrow we can go to the market and get extra supplies. With Morphada’s exhaustion, each day we have less time with her help. After tomorrow, I might not be able to risk being near that nutcase, another small blessing.

 

With the events of the day hanging over us, I think we did end the Dry run a bit early. As we get to sleep I ask Lauren how Hestr was doing. Lauren gave him something, in case we needed to trail him. I have to trust that we can keep Hysterig off his back for a while.  “He’s having a hard time, but doesn’t want to show it. He seems kind.” He’s always been like that. It’s so much worse. He says Hestr couldn’t believe someone was really coming to help him. That we weren’t leaving without him. 

 

Everything he knows is here, hey knew, lied and no one helped him. Can you be so surprised? 

 

Lauren makes breakfast, I start tea, then work on dusting and washing the floors. The grandparents are a bit incredulous we took them seriously, but with how we crammed into their hallway and porch we are, it’s nothing. I offer to lead everyone through the main part of town to explore the market, and any supplies we may need for the gym battle. Bronze had offered to sell her pokeballs, but also wanted to finish her newest creation, setting herself at a picnic bench. Somehow I finally got another evolution stone on my list! In my excitement I forgot to grab the Revives I wanted to hand out to everyone. As I pay and leave, someone else collides with me. He’s apologizing the same as me as I pick up one, him the other two. By the time his words slowly trail off I recognize the voice, the shoes: it’s dad. 

 

Sure, I was afraid to see Hysterig, and yeah, I didn't trust myself to keep it together in front of Hestr. I had no intention of being anywhere near my parents. 

 

He’s putting it together, and I pull that invisible string of fate that shows me what’s coming next. In the flash of that premonition, the Revives slip through his fingers and he flounders to catch them. I stand, fix the scarf on my face, backing away from the scrutiny and taking the items out of his hands. I reminded him of someone. I just said okay and ran after Reinhold.  Running per usual.

 

I need to calm down, and it wouldn’t do for us to be early either. I suggest hanging around the public area, near the farmlands. They love to talk shit, it doesn't take long for news to filter across the valley from that point. We split up and ‘take a look around’. Someone says that Hysterig had a new vision and the valley was to be blessed and protected. Can’t throw up in the wheat. I start my way back to the others and Ingeborg is ?????

 

It’s like watching a bird strutting around, she just happens to be doing it around Donner while he has the best put-upon face. Here I thought the idea of the village elder was enough to ruin my mood. This is new. She withdraws in annoyance and focuses her attention to Bronze while she’s finishing her newest piece. I take the moment to pull Donner out of there. Talullah and Lauren rush in as they flank Bronze before she can think about target practice with that new dagger. 

 

We’re standing in a bunch of fucking wheat and I feel more stupid as that feeling simmers down. I offer we could take a look at the newest addition to the valley. Considering that the last several hours a few of my worst fears have manifested, maybe seeing the dungeon would make it less shocking when we get thrown inside! Donner leads the way without drawing any eyes. It’s dark inside, the cells are more like giant cut stones magically, methodically put in place, and a swirl of magic along one wall. Bergie’s text earlier had commented again on the bindings they had found Hestr in, and seeing it didn’t do anything to quell the upset stomach.

 

I told him I ran into my dad. That he almost knew, but I used my powers to push him away. We’d been trying not to use them after all. I didn’t expect Donner to ask if I was going to see them before we left. I hadn’t even thought that far. All my imaginations involved us fleeing under cover of night and short of time to get out of the valley, not with reunions and fond farewells. 

 

I admitted that I hadn’t planned that far. That now I didn’t think it would do anything but hurt them (or us) more. We escape, and they live as they have. We stop by? They live as they have, with open wounds knowing I wasn’t coming back. I say I wouldn’t have started this cycle of hurt if I hadn’t left. First it was Hestr, now Ingeborg, and even Reinhold and Donner were being drawn in. 

 

A moment passes. He says that none of this was my fault. It wasn’t like Hysterig would've been satisfied just by that. “If it wasn’t you leaving, it would have been something else.” People seeking power never have a stopping point. It does resonate. That old man always found some little thing, each bad thought, to pick at like a scab. Donner found that out last night with the one-sided discussion. He didn’t consider that Donner wasn’t interested at all. He only saw how they were to be used. 

 

It makes me admit what I’ve been thinking since Bergie and Gunnar had called upon us in the first place. I don’t trust people. I see the good in them, want to help them, but never trust. He says it’s because of the life I had been living, but I lived fine. Only the day when the curtain was torn away did it seem the opposite. Since that day, everyone was willing to pull the wool over my eyes. The inner thoughts had to stay secrets, because someone would take them and pick and pick and pick and p

 

Donner says I trust them every day. With my life. And that’s enough. He also says that he learned in the military that "any mission you can walk away from is a victory", even if there's still problems left to solve.

 

Why does all the wise talk make sense when he says it? 

 

We head back out into the light. Ingeborg has gone and Bronze seems to be sharpening the knife aggressively. It looks nice. She calms down and I find I’m calmer, too. Seems some of my abilities are second nature even now. The sun reaches its high point as Bronze grouses about Ingeborg’s comments about being cheap. Lauren says she likely just needs friends. But they could work on that at another time. Eyes are back on me. Reinhold mentioned that Hysterig had expected an “offering” and that his time was offer enough. I shake my head. I already had that taken care of- and showed him the silver timepiece I’d asked of Ilvri, and it would mean more coming from Reinhold himself. 

 

More and more was telling me that all I wanted was to help Hestr, but the entire idea of being able to live with myself for leaving without helping people like Odd and Erna… It wasn’t what I'd set out to do way back then. Hysterig should be stopped but… is the valley too far from saving? 

 

…do they want saving?