Taniths and Totems

Log Info

• Title: Taniths and Totems

• Emitter: Zeke

• Characters: Andelena, Dolan, Telamon, Zeke

• Place: Temple of Daeus

• Summary: Andelena and Zeke are caring for an almost-to-wake Dolan when Telamon arrives to check in on his friend and ally. Andelena gives Telamon strict instructions to follow, but it seems Dolan's in good enough spirits to handle talking a bit about what he's learned about Kol, the werewolf camp, and the totems, while he manages to get a little tea into his system. Telamon reveals he's also done a bit of dreamwalking of his own and managed to meet (and pull) Tanith out of the dream into the waking world. Eventually, Dolan goes to get more rest, and Zeke shoos Andelena out to do what the Sunguard couldn't bring herself to do: take a break.

Deep in the bowls of the temple, where most are never allowed to tread, is a moderately sized room which holds very little in the way of comfort really. A single bed, three small stools, and a bedside table holding two tea pots and a few tea cups. The two tea pots are of different sizes. One smaller than the other, and one a ruddy orange-red, with the smaller pot a deep blue fading to purple at the bottom.

A blue-scaled sith-makar sits on one of these stools, watching the form laying on the bed with care while he sips some tea calmly. He seems entirely at peace, and yet there's a certain readiness to him as well. He turns toward Andelena for a moment however, nodding to her gently. "He will wake sssoon."

Andelena looks up from the book she's been reading, borrowed temporarily from the Temple's collection of mundane books as a means of passing the time when she isn't helping in tending to Dolan's care. She nods and puts the book down carefully, shutting it before putting it into her bag that sits at her stool's feet. "Got it," she says softy, before looking at the resting Dolan. Her gaze takes on a warm and compassionate hue, but there's also the anticipation of readiness, too.

Footsteps outside. Not the soft pace of the priests and acolytes, but a slightly heavier tread of a well-crafted pair of walking boots. A pause outside the door, then a sound -- as of someone gently rapping at the sickroom door.

Outside, Telamon shifts ever so slightly. His expression is grave, but in his eyes sparkles that relentless optimism, the hope that comes from devotions both mundane and magical.

The room is quite warm, a bit above normal room temperature thanks to a little bit of timely magic. On the bed is a figure who appears to be asleep. Dolan looks - a great deal better than he did when telamon last saw him, but that does not mean good. He is still without his right eye, but the bed has been turned so that the empty socket faces the wall, and his remaining flesh-and-blood eye faces the room. The blood has been washed away, the wounds healed, the knives removed, but the scars remain, a pattern sprawled across his chest that looks like nothing so much as a careful basketweave of scars. A pair of fangmarks are visible just above his collarbone, and his left shoulder is firmly slung and lashed to his left side and chest in a way that makes it impossible to move without restricting blood flow.

He seems asleep, and yet Zeke is right - his breathing has deepened a little in the way of one who will wake soon.

The sound of the knock at the door has Zeke rising slowly and ponderously to his feet. He opens the door carefully. One small inch at first in fact, but recognizing Telamon he pulls back to allow the other man entry into the room. "Thisss one mussst asssk that you remain quiet and calm in thisss room." He says these words gently and without any sort of judgement laid upon Telamon. He closes the door behind him firmly. "Would you like sssome tea?"

Andelena seems almost relieved to see that it's Telamon at the door, her hands having clenched together when she heard the knocking. "He's going to wake soon," Andelena informs Telamon in a similarly gentle and quiet tone as Zeke's. "If he wakes with a start and is frightened, let us handle it. Do not touch him or restrain him."

The last sentence is said with a bit of pointed authority, like a lioness who is fully willing to show her fangs and growl if she has to.

Telamon steps inside, nodding to Zeke and offering Andelena a small smile. His gaze sweeps over Dolan, and the surroundings, before moving back to Zeke again. "Some tea would be nice. It'll also keep me from succumbing to the temptation to, ah... jump in." His eyes glint with some wry humor there. The half-elf is dressed in what amounts to subdued clothing for him -- a white linen tunic over woolen trousers and boots. He carefully slips off his long leather and fur coat, folding it over the back of a chair.

As if on cue, there's a gasp from the bed as Dolan's eyes snap open, leaving him staring sightlessly at the ceiling, far away and gone inside his mind, breathing now faster. It doesn't last long, though, and he seems to come back to himself on his own, his breathing slowing, chest rising and falling more slowly as he forces whatever it was down.

Zeke hums low in his throat at Dolan's gasp, turning away from Telamon and pouring some tea for the mage even as he speaks to Dolan. "It isss Kesenday the thirteenth, you are in the Dragonfathersss Temple. Thisss one isss Zeke, do you remember? Your mate isss here, and ssso isss one of your friendsss." He keeps his voice low and steady, offering the cup of tea to Telamon, and giving Andelena space if she wishes to approach the bed.

"Hey baby," Andelena says softly and warmly as she approaches Dolan at the foot of the bed. "Everything's okay. Telamon's here if you want to talk to him." She gestures slightly to Telamon to indicate he can come a bit closer if he wanted.

Telamon takes the cup in his hands, cradling it. "Indeed." His voice is quiet, gentle. Smoothly, he steps over to where Dolan can see him. His dark eyes are unflinching as he regards the other man's scars, both new and old. "My wife bids you greetings as well, Dolan. It's good to see you again."

Three voices at once is something extra to process, but finally, Dolan does turn his head towards Telamon, and try on something resembling a grin. It's to Andie he speaks first, though. "I got it, baby," he says. "I'm - I'm okay." For the moment, at least. "I was right." What does he mean by that?

Zeke, with the tea taken from his claw, returns his attention to Dolan. The man seems lucid enough, and Zeke is curious about his comment, but the sith-makar remains silent for now, moving toward where he had been sitting and his own cup of tea. Though he does not pick the latter up. In fact, he doesn't sit down right away either. He hovers behind Telamon somewhat, just... keeping an eye on things.

Andelena smiles fondly to see that grin again, the warmth in her eyes blooming. "Glad you're okay," she responds, just as warm as the look in her eyes. "You need anything at the moment? Something to drink?"

Her curiosity does look piqued at that comment. "Right about what?" she asks.

Telamon's eyebrows rise up at Dolan's comment. Andelena beats him to the punch, though, so instead he just takes a sip of his tea, regarding Dolan over the rim with those glinting eyes. Glancing at Zeke, he says, "This is good. Where'd you get this blend?"

"About Kol. They trust him, and he doesn't give a shit. They gave him the totem to take care of. He doesn't even know what it is and he doesn't care." Dolan looks over and up at Andelena, since Telamon is talking to Zeke. "I - kind of hungry but I guess it'll wait." A quick flick of one eye towards Telamon. "They just entertain him."

The blue-scale blinks at the question, his tail giving an amused little flick. "Am'Ssshere." He replies warmly, slowly beginning to sit down on the stool that he'd been sitting on before. "The People enjoy a range of herbssss for drinking. Many medicinal teasss come from the junglesss there. Asss well asss non-medicinal onesss." He does however keep the bulk of his attention on Dolan, and when the man indicates that he is hungry he stops moving to sit down. Instead he moves toward the tea pots and pours from the red tea pot.

"If, - if - you can keep sssome tea down, thisss one will have a cleric fetch you sssome food." He huffs a small noise and looks at Dolan seriously. "You will have to sssit up to drink your tea, would you like sssome assissstance?"

"The one we got on our way out? Huh," Andelena says, thinking to herself. "If he doesn't care about it or know what it is, odd that it was sitting there. Guess that's just where they were keeping that one."

Her attention turns to the pot that Zeke's pouring tea from before she looks back at Dolan. "I can help with getting him up," she offers, dutiful attendant that she is.

Telamon gives Dolan a startled look, then smiles tightly. "Well... it's good when the bad guys are not on the same page of the spellbook. It's something, anyways." He glances at Andelena. "Think about it. If he doesn't care about it, he'd probably just stick it somewhere and forget about it. It might as well have been a fancy paperweight to him."

"Yeah. I - did you get anything else?" Dolan nods to the request to sit up, and starts to push himself up using his good arm, but - he's clearly in trouble. He grits his teeth and forces himself up a little more, but a cry of pain follows, and he lays back down, rolling over on his right side with his back to the room and swearing colorfully.

This is where Telamon will finally get a good look at his back. Healed now instead of the bloody mess that it was when he was rescued, the pattern is much clearer. Strips of lighter skin and new skin and flesh frame and fill out a full set of raised whip weals, the entire pattern extending from shoulders to hips, disappearing under the brace. The pattern looks like a cracked stained glass window, wrought in flesh, and is quite aesthetic, if chilling to look at. This was done with intent and purpose.

Zeke immediately sets down the glass of tea and hums low in his throat. If anyone in the room were sith they'd recognize a sound meant to be soothing to hatchlings. Now however, it is simply a soothing thrum. A noise that Dolan would not have heard or recognize from previous experience. "You musssst sstop trying to move on your own. It isss not a quesstion of 'can you do it alone', it isss a quesstion of 'do you want it done'. If you want to move you need help. Thisss isss how it isss for now Dolan." He at least seems entirely unaffected by the scars. They are something he's seen before, and he is a healer.

"We were so focused on getting you out of there that we didn't have time to get anything else," Andelena replies, although she's unconsciously bracing to catch Dolan in the event that he falls off the bed--which he doesn't. But the pained cry and clear discomfort still causes her to wince.

Her eyes fall onto his back, and she has to tear herself away from the display, as it brings a pained, sorrowful look to those steel-grey eyes. "You okay, baby?" she asks. "Take it easy. Let it pass. Like the Sunguard said, you're gonna need help to move around, and I'm here to help if you'd prefer me to Zeke."

Telamon does flinch, a little, at the scarring. But then he forces himself to look, his eyes becoming hard for a long moment before he takes a breath. "I'd offer as well, but I think between Zeke here and your lady, you've got plenty of hands. Might as well use them, though."

"To add to what Andelena said, we had enough time to swipe the totem, and you, before we fled. The quarters were too tight and Kol was right there with us." He reaches up to rub his neck unconsciously, and shudders. "I need a better barrier spell. The aurora borealis is pretty but it's not cutting it."

At length, Dolan rolls back over onto his back, slowly, shuddering as he tries to get a grip on himself. "Damn," he whispers. "I- I- - look, dammit. I'm - Andie, can you give me a hand, baby? It - it just hurts too damn much and my head won't stop spinning. I'm sorry." There's clear frustration there. "Tel - Tel, I think the camp probably isn't too far. I didn't get to look - look outside. Maybe-"

Zeke lets out a huff, interrupting Dolan. "Thisss buisnesss can wait until you are sssitting can it not?" He asks quite clearly pointing out that the words will still be there once Dolan is upright. "Thisss one needsss to know if liquidsss can be kept down."

"I've got you, babe. Breathe in and out for me, okay? Relax," Andelena says soothingly, eyes full of affection for Dolan. She goes to help him up in the way that's best for his current condition and strapped shoulder, careful with her hands. "Like Zeke said, it can wait a few minutes. We're here in the Temple of Daeus. Everything's okay."

"The problem, of course, is keeping Kol from joining in if we sack their camp." Telamon hmmms. "Dolan, let Andie and Zeke help you up first. Then I can give you my tidings as well." He furrows his brow. "I wonder... no, Zeke is handling your healing, I don't want to second guess your healer. That's just rude if nothing else."

Finally, Dolan allows Andie to support him, and with her doing most of the work, this time he manages a sitting position, leaning heavily against her, sweat beading on his brow. "Damn it, I hate this. All right, I'm sitting. What have you got?" He blinks several times, quite clearly struggling to focus.

By the time that Dolan is upright, Zeke is there with the tea. He does not offer it to Dolan's hand - one of which is bound and the other which is around Andelena's shoulders for bracing. Instead he offers it up to Dolan directly, waiting patiently for the other man to be ready. "Thisss one hass tea. It isss mint and orangesss. It ssshould sstimulate your appetite with-out upsssetting your sstomach." The sith-makar glances sidelong at Telamon. "If you have sssome experiansce healing, thisss one welcomesss advisce."

"Sunguard Zeke," Andelena says, using Zeke's title in a way that suggests she respects his position and efforts greatly, "has been nothing but a boon. I've probably given my gratitude to the Knight almost a hundred times over for Zeke being here when he was."

She turns to Dolan and smiles. "I know, it won't be forever, though. Do you want me to hold your tea? I don't want you to burn yourself."

Telamon shakes his head. "Nothing beyond a spell I can access from one of my rings. But," he lays a finger alongside his nose with a smile, "it never hurts to have friends."

He leans against one of the chairs as Andie and Zeke fuss over Dolan. Once the man is settled, he continues, "I probed my totem on our return. I was... a little distraught, I suppose. Seeking answers, anything. And... well, I found something."

His expression turns faintly amused. "Do you remember the little dragon, Tanith, from before? She found me, in the dream. And... followed me out."

Dolan merely nods to Zeke, but only manages about half a cup before he shakes his head at Andie and Zeke and turns his face away. "Put me back down," he says. "My head is spinning."

Desperately, he turns his face towards Telamon. "The little gold dragon? She's so cute. A little crazy, but cute. I guess there's worse things you could have gotten. Yeah, those totems can do that." He leans more heavily on Andie. "I was going to work on finding out more about the totems when I had enough strength. I'm not just giving up. I can do that by dreamwalking with them. There's some that nobody has yet too. Need to find those. And - Verna wants to go somewhere. Can't remember where."

Zeke sets the cup down and motions for Andelena to help Dolan back onto the bed. Perhaps a little eagerly. He seems to recognize something in Dolan's state that has him very serious all of the sudden. Yet his voice is still gentle and calm when he speaks. "Thisss one will have sssome broth brought, assuming that the tea ssstaysss down." He offers quietly.

"Tanith?" Andelena's surprise is evident in both face and voice, which is helpful as she turns to help gently lay Dolan back down into the bed. "Yeah, she is a cutie. Seems like hanging out in different realms is sort of her thing. If you can bring her out, that has really interesting implications for what dark and handsome here can do."

She's obviously referring to Bry, giving him a little wink in the process. It's a little return to form for herself. I'd almost suggest that I dreamwalk with you, Bry, but I think it's probably better that I watch over you while you do that."

And safely onto the bed Dolan goes. Andelena gives him another affectionate smile, warm and wide, before she looks back to Zeke. "Broth's a good idea.

Telamon nods. "The first thing I did was head to Verna's and apologize to her, because it was quite the shock to wake up to Tanith demanding fish." He shakes his head. "And goodness, she does love her fish."

"I think Verna is looking for the place in the Vast where the black roses are growing. That... may be where the werewolves are hiding. Or it might be something else, but in the dream I saw a black wolf slinking out of the roses and heading off." He shrugs. "I don't think it's just allegory."

Dolan breathes a sign of relief as he is lowered back down to the bed, and his head hits the pillow. "Thanks, Andie. Zeke - whatever's fine. I'm not sick or nothing. Just dizzy, and that stopped when I lay back down." Indeed, he seems much happier to be wholly flat, and largely unaware that the blanket has fallen away from him some to reveal another pair of fang-marks in the bone of his hip. "There's something there. I don't know what, but the commune - said it might be worthwhile. I told her I'd go-"

Zeke looks from Dolan to Telamon and shakes his head. "Thisss one thinkssss that perhapsss sssome resst would do you sssome good Dolan. Can you sssleep with-out aid?" He inquires gently, trying to interject into the conversation.

"Honestly, I doubt the werewolves have moved their camp if Kol hasn't told them that we were there," Andelena says, looking thoughtful. "If he only sees them as a source of amusement, then why the hell would he tell them that we'd been there and left? Maybe we could go back for the other totems..."

She pauses for a moment, and she looks like there's something else she wants to say, but then Zeke says his piece. Andelena nods. "You know what, more rest is always a good idea," she says. "You need plenty of it, Bry."

Telamon's eyes flicker, but he simply remarks, "I have to agree. You've been through an absolutely brutal ordeal, and even with the exceptional care you're clearly getting, you need time to rest and heal." He taps his fingertips together. "I'll keep working with Tanith, and see what kind of knowledge I can tease out. Every scrap we can put together helps."

He smiles at Andelena. "And if you need anything, please let us know. Whether it's house-sitting or bringing food by or just listening."

There's a leap of hope in Dolan's eyes at Andelena's words. "You think it's still there? But - how do you get back there - without me? You've got to try. Quick, before they figure it out. You could probably find something about the demons too."

Still, he's wearing out fast. That much is obvious, and he turns his head towards Telamon. "I'm still - going to help. I've found stuff about the totems. I'm not going to just be useless." His eyes turn back towards the ceiling. "Yeah. I think so, Zeke. Andie - can the Daeus totem be put in the bed with me?"

Zeke nods, and fixes the blanket a little bit before stepping back. Not far, but enough to make sure that Dolan has a little personal space. He is in his way, keenly aware that Dolan does not know him well, and though he is the man's healer... He wants to give the other man what he can in the way of privacy and space.

Andelena looks... torn as Dolan asks for the totem. But she looks at him for a moment--and then she nods. "Sure," she says, finally. "I know you'd go stir-crazy without something to do while you're on the mend, anyway. Something made by the Knight would be beneficial, too."

She goes and fetches the totem of Daeus from her bag, bringing it back over to Dolan as she brings it over to the bed, putting it between Dolan and the wall--which means she has to lean over him a bit, but it puts the totem in a secure spot. Then she steps back, smiling. "We'll figure out something. Like you said, gotta go quickly."

She turns to Telamon. "Can you think of anyone who might be of help?" she asks. "Raiding the werewolf camp, that is. We're gonna need some firepower for that one, I think--because two-fanged-fuck is still there. I don't think it's possible to sneak in and grab the totems."

Telamon raises a finger as Dolan asks for the totem. "When you dream, Dolan... clear your mind. Think positively. It's not perfect but it does make wrangling the totem and its visions a little easier." He grins. "That's what Tanith remarked on, anyways."

At Andelena's inquiry, his brow furrows. "Maybe. I'll need to send out some messages. I can think of a few people who wouldn't mind pitching in." His lips curl into a hard smile. "I also need to do some research. Don't know if I'll find anything but it might be worth looking into."

"Yeah. I know." Dolan's already relaxing, though, turning his face up to stare at the ceiling, willing his breathing to slow.

The sith-makar turns toward Telamon, motioning toward the door. "Thisss one mussst asssk you to leave now. Hisss ressst musst come firssst." He looks at Andelena. "You asss well. You have been here too long. You mussst care for your-ssself. Eat, sssleep, take care of your-sssself, and then you may return." He points toward the door a bit sternly, and there is no brooking argument with the healer. "Out."

There is no choice but to go, leaving Dolan in the silence with Zeke, who drinks his pungent tea and waits to see if Dolan will fall asleep of his own accord.