It had been a little less than a mest since Thimble's, and a few others', journey to the Pit. Her mind would swarm with questions at night, making it near impossible for her to sleep. The questions would only increase by the day; her time in the mines often be lonesome allowing her mind to wonder.
Why and how could Zwey have known about my parents? How am I supposed to defeat him? Is there even a way for me to defeat him? What was all that bit with Istensia, I'm assuming Istensia, causing me to go all prime-y? Gotta talk to someone.
WIth a few ideas in mind, she decides to take the day off from her normal activities, except for her morning ritual to Istensia, and paying the library/docents a visit. After making a bit of breakfast, throwing on some casual clothing and her hat, she makes her way to the Tower.
Upon entering the Tower, Thimble remained silent all but her foot steps that clomped against the stone floor. Rather than seek out a docent, she figured she would take time to glance over book titles to see if any might hold subjects on how to deal with demons and the like.
As Thimble enters the library and begins to browse the volumes within, she hears the gentle crinkle of the turning of pages. Upon turning a corner, she finds Blaise, sitting on a wooden chair across the way from Swift, and quietly reading a velvety-red tome with yellowed pages.
He looks up. "Thimble! So good to see you." He pauses for a moment. "You look troubled. Anything I can help you with?"
*Esgir was currently over in a far corner, trying in vain to examine the books that had been recovered fro mthe experience in Talaud. They were in no known dialect, and even trying to compare them to runic and pictoral languages was proving to be a fruitless endeavor. Perking up a bit as I heard voices in the tower.*
Thimble looked over at Blaise and smiled, walking closer to notice that Swift was also in the libraries nook. In her searching of the library Thimble had picked up two books, one titled All Things Angori Horns and The Many Weaknesses of Pit Fiends.
Nodding at the two, Thimble spoke, "it's nice to see you both! I missed you guys on the last round of adventuring." Her expression went from cheery to a more somber one. "To answer your question, you might actually be able to. You see, I just had another run in with Zwey and he had my parents... My parents were swallowed by the Void when I was an infant so yeah... Anyway, their souls were stuffed into Riven bodies and, uhm, I purged their souls from them."
She paused for a moment before looking directly at Blaise. "I know that you're able to connect with the Nether or know people that connect with the Nether. Is there anyway you'd be able to know where they passed?"
Blaise's countenance became more grave as Thimble spoke, the runes on his face glowing dimmer. "I see. I am sorry to hear of your suffering, and that of your parents. The forcible separation of a soul from its body is a truly awful experience, let alone transferring it to a new body."
The Ifrit stopped suddenly, realizing he was not making things easier for Thimble. "What you did...purging the Riven husks...was not an easy thing to do. But it was right. I respect you a great deal for that."
Blaise shuts his own book, causing a small poof of dust to fly out. "As to the whereabouts of their souls, I'm afraid I can't say. If they were lucky, they will have passed through the Gates of Judgement, and found peace. However, it is possible that these wayward souls could have gone astray, or perhaps grabbed up by this Zwey character once again."
Swift visibly grimaced. "I'm...I'm sorry to hear that Thimble. I'm unfamiliarly with the workings of the Pit and of souls once they depart the physical world. I think you made the right choice however."
"However...." The ixifar paused for a moment considering his words. "I understand that talking to anyone beyond the Gates is impossible. But if they didn't...."
Swift's voice lowered. "If we had something of value to them, or a strong connection, we might be able to find their whereabouts. With say a childhood item, or your blood? An experienced warlock would know."
Thimble silently listened to the two, half smiling at their remark for her actions. She first turned to Blaise after they had both spoken their peace, "I worried momentarily that they may have returned to Zwey's grasp but I don't think that's the case. I feel his intentions in showing me my parents was a poor attempt to force me to relinquish my mantle. Now he knows that's not going to work. I'm not sure what he could be up to next."
She paused a moment before looking over to Swift. "Suggesting that maybe they didn't pass? Hmm... I guess that's possible. I do have gnomish locating abilities, maybe that could be useful. Although as far as a childhood item... Oh! The blanket they wrapped me in the night we fell into the void! I should still have that. I don't know how I'd feel about using my blood and warlock magics, that sounds like something I can't really do..."
"I'm speaking of Auras, Thimble. The strong emotional bounds of a location, person, or item. The love of your parents would probably be enough to leave such an Aura on a childhood item. A skilled warlock could possibly backtrack a lead to the fate of your parents. But it is only a guess. I'm not trying to pressure you, just give you other possible options to satisfy your curiosity."
Swift thought for a moment. "If what you say is true then the demon is after you, not your parents. Having already used them against you and failed I see no reason for the demon to pursue them again. They are probably save or have passed beyond."
Poppy had been sitting a few bookscases over before she decided it was time for her to step in. " I would not place it past a fiend to have there souls again Thimble. Fiends play by there own set of rules." The fae said shaking her head. "And as Blaise said there is a chance they are lost in the Nether as well. But before we get any of the warlocky art involved" the fae said wiggling her fingers to get a smile out of the gloomy gnome. " Have you asked your immortal about their fate? Would she tell you if they were in the prime? And I know you lost your parents at such a small age but do you know of any who would know more about them? There will be no spirit to consult if their souls have went through the gate of rebirth, if they possibly lived a fairly morally even life." The fae said with a light nod before taking a deep breath. "I hate to think that they would be in the pit but I know nothing or there mortal life or what zwey had done to them. So the more we can narrow down the options some the better."
Poppy glanced to the cover of the two books she gathered. "Is there anything relating to the pit I can help you with as well? I made my warlock pacts with the nether so my tie with it is not strong, however I still have collected a large amount of knowledge about it over the years."
Thimble clutched to the two books she collected a bit more tightly as Poppy examined them and inquired about her curiosity with the Pit. "Well..." She looked over at Swift before responding to Poppy, "to tell you the truth, I don't know much about my parents. I know they were miners and from visions I've been shown they appeared to be good people, leading normal lives. I guess I could try reaching out to Istensia to see if she can see them in the Prime."
Thimble brought the books away from her body and absantly flipped through one. "Zwey had said something that's been on my mind since, well, he said it. He said that I won't be able to truly harm him until he gets his horns back? Or at least that's what I thought I heard. You were there with me? Do you remember him saying something like that?" She asked Poppy directly.
Poppy's face saddened when she saw the gnome grip her books tighter. "Start with asking Istensia, then hopefully she will give you an answer. I can help you look in the other two realms if they are still trapped. But I am afraid the prime and me dont get along." She said with a light laugh. "It also stands a good chance there souls went though the gate of rebirth going by your visions. " she said nodding.
Poppy nodded lightly at the gnome. "Yes I do." The fae said shifting back and forth for a bit trying to find the right words. "I think it is the horns that are tieing Zwey to you and this realm. Like an anchor of sorts. Or how a lich would be a phlactary." She said trying to explain it the best she could. "Sense it is odd that even as a pit fiend he has no horns. And even though I have had it all this time he made no attempt to gain it back, so I dont think returing them to him would strength him." " And I would rather try that first then out right destorying the horns...." she said trailing off before snapping back.
"Though I would be cautious where you take and place the horn. I would imagine since it is part of Zwey he could locate or portal to it at in time, though that may mean you could also use it as fast travel way to find his ass."
Thimble would nod as Poppy spoke. "Hmm... You do bring up a good point. Why would a pit fiend not have horns? He did suicide and Arimir might have been mad at him for it, made him not even have horns in the afterlife." "I'd agree that it some what ties him to being a mortal but I don't think he can really just pop up because he probably would have while I was sleeping and killed me if that's his end goal... There's so many possibilities..." Thimble sighed and shut the book, setting the two down on a small end table.
"That is possible." the fae said with a light shrug. "I would think that path would not be 'might' like so could see Arimir punishing him for it. I am afraid I do not know much about that immortal. " "Yea, he does not seem to want to kill you pre say, would he have any reason to hold a grudge against you? Since you are right he did not just out right and kill you" the fae said shaking her head from side to side. "There are surely a lot more questions then answer currently. But firstly you need to get your hands on the other horn. any idea where it could of poofed to?"
Thimble gave Poppy a curious look as she dug around her belt. "You mean this?" She said, pulling the broken horn of Zwey off her belt. "I still have it. I actually need to find Leofrick and get the other one from him, although it might be best to keep them a part... Who knows." She said with the shrug, horn still outstretched.
Blaise chimes in, "Thimble, I respect your...tenacity... in trying to find your parents' souls. But - have you considered the possiblity that they are...beyond your reach? You have to be prepared for that. Losing loved ones is tragic, indeed. But it is the natural way of this world. I don't want you to get your hopes up...for nothing." The sprite looks at his feet. "Pit fiends do have an uncanny knack for fucking with the natural order."
"It is the nature of that plane to confound and frustrate. Such traits are essential for breaking down the will of those who go there." echos from behind some of the shelves. From them steps the golem Rune with an old rotting tome in hand. It lays it on the table in front of Thimble.
"When you are done chasing your demons, this one wishes you to sign the Accords, and help it with a side project it seems it wont be able to do. An enforcing arm of the Understanding. You should begin looking for candidates for your Emissaries. " emits from the construct.
Poppy nods to blaise. "This is true, but I think Thimble more so wants to know they are okay and away from the fiend or not lost in the nether." she said continuing with a saddness in her eyes."though I dont know how much help I can give you with closure to that." She said looking back to Blaise"Is there anyway with the reapers to confirm that the souls pasted through the gates? Thats the ideal scenario here really."
"Yep that but the other one" she chirped "do you want me to hold on to it then until you get the other one from Leofrick then? I didnt consider something might happen if they were in the same spot" the fae said her eyebrows knitting together.
"Time always tells. It is not in this one's nature to see a problem and not seek a resolution. So far, the Understanding has quelled a guild war and created a sense of community for some." emit from the construct while it turns to face the shade. "It is to early to tell. It has not been tested again since the Bloodbear and Korgon conflict. It is desgined to handle much, much smaller disputes."
Blaise clasps his hands excitedly, "Aaah yes, I'm meeting up with old Jeb the Reaper for brunch tomorrow morning! I can ask him then!" His hands fall as his expression seethes with sarcasm. "I don't just see the reapers every day, and I dare not ask too much of them. But... for a friend, I'll try."
Turning to Rune, he continues, "As for this Understanding, we will, indeed, let time tell of its effectiveness. In the meantime, it's been ages since I've had a cold brew and a good song. So for now, I bid you all good day." The Ifrit places his book in Rune's hands. The title on the spine reads, "1,001 Documented Resurrections of the Sixth Age."
Poppy rolls her eyes at the elemental. " in Etejeril name... you know for not being the undead in the room you could of fooled me with that attitude, dont have much of a pulse for that heart eh?." She said poking fun back at the dramatic shade. " Why I would think you wou-" the fae goes say before stopping herself. "I- Nevermind."
Turing to Thimble she says " there are a few more things in the library I need to attend to for now, if you need an assistance with info on yhe things we talked about come seek me out" the little fae chimed before leaving the room.
Swift sat at a table unaware of the gnome's presence lost in deep thought. A large map of the Sirison Desert was spread out covered with markings. A stack of old journals, one of them open, lay at one corner. The ixifar fiddled with a measuring compass and inked quill muttering to himself.
"The time for the star alignment is not right," he muttered. "The distance described is not as far by Herobor's account. The road ends there. The celestial calculation puts it almost 200 leagues to the west."
The blue and white feathered human sighed putting down his instruments. "Why do I keep trying? The wanderlust is not as great as it use to be." Swift glared at the map for a long silent moment. "Maybe she was right..."