The Cleansing

The Cleansing … another story of Nik, the Jaguar, and his Ranger after the death of the lich and the securing of Ta’Vaalor.

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Category: Towns
Topic: Ta’Vaalor

Date: 02/26/2017 11:46 AM CST

From: ARSHWIKK

Subj: The Cleansing

The Cleansing

He removed the warblade from it’s sheath, admiring the craftsmanship briefly before setting it upon the pile. It was old, the blade, a family hierloom. Recently, he had it retooled and refurbished as he was diligently training to master in it’s use. Having found his arrows as useless against the demons as his fists, it had been time to adapt, adjust, and learn even more. Despite not being quite the expert he hoped to eventually become, he had made good use of it in the final battle that night in the old city. “Ah yes…”, he thought aloud to himself, thinking back. Three times the lich, whom he now knew as Vindicto, had almost killed him. The empaths on the line were exceptional, but even so, some of his company yet fell. Sure, they prevailed in the end, but it was messy. A brilliant plan put forth by the Legion that was in turn well executed by all parties was the real difference. It left it’s mark on him though. It always did. All of it. The wounds of the flesh were easy to heal. The wounds of the soul, another matter. He would allow nature to take him. Return to him his balance. He needed to get to work helping to refill the ranks of the Ardenai Temple Knights. First though, he would embark on a Soul Quest. So, leaving most of his material possesions behind, he stood looking out into the forest south of Illistim, bare save for a breechcloth, a plain bow of elven make, and his thigh-quiver. Gazing toward his feline friend, he spoke once more, “It is time, Nik.”

Nik ran through the forest along with his ranger. Ah, his ranger…what could be said about him. Arshwikk had commissioned a new collar. It was a special thing between them. The ranger wore one too when he wasn’t out of his mind. Apparently it was considered very fancy, studded with a substance that Arshwikk himself favored. It also had Nik’s name engraved. Arshwikk had explained that Nik was now very famous and it was important for people to know it was him when he came to towns, that it may ease any apprehension. Indeed it did. In fact, Nik seemed to have his own personal groomers anytime he was in public. Still, he worried about the ranger. Running around disgustingly hairless for some reason. Yet, deep down he considered if that is what it took, so be it. He could feel the pain, being so closely linked. It was subtle, sure, but it was an itch he could not scratch. A sickness.

Silenty raising his hand so the jaguar could catch sight of it, Arshwikk slowly eased them to a stop behind cover. He gestured towards a small clearing ahead. He could see Nik’s gaze follow his own and the jaguar looked back toward him almost incredulously as though to say, “are you sure?”. The arrow was already on it’s way though. He was damn sure. The arrow caught the doe perfectly, piercing it’s heart. It ran hard for a short time before floundering, and falling. “How ironic.”, Arshwikk said aloud to no one, “Such is often the way with matters of the heart.”

********

That night Nik lay by the fire after deliberately engorging himself and achieving a nearly comatose state. Arshwikk was recounting tales of the two and he even laughed once or twice. The sickness may not be entirely gone, but it was fading. He could see his ranger would be fine in time. This is good, he thought. The hairlessness is working.