Hello, Everyone!
Last time, Bruno worked out the organisational details around the resurrections with Pamagos’ ruler and our heroes had a much necessary rest under the branches of Mary's Orange tree (and away from the paramagical effect oppressing the city). Mary tried isolating herself from the others (as much as she could, in the small space available) and fell into unhappy thoughts. Then, mercifully, she allowed herself to fall asleep.
For the first time since Mary had gotten the Orange tree, waking up inside was disorienting for her. The perpetual dim light emanating from the branches made it difficult to know what time it was outside. And since this was her second nap in the span of one day, she felt it even more confusing when the tree shrunk and revealed that it was a late afternoon.
However, she felt strong and full of energy. There was no trace of the hopelessness that the paramagical effect had put on her before. She looked at the other three and saw signs that the same was true for them as well.
Bruno was ready to revive.
"There are fourty-two people who met the criteria Aurum posted on the wall of ‘The Maimed Lion’," Mr. Perres said when he came to them later in the day. "But many are protesting that last rule about having to have been Nurvureem's victim. They're saying that a life is a life and there shouldn't be such a division among who gets to be resurrected.”
“Yeah, but I can’t revive everyone,” Bruno said. “I have a limited power at my disposal.”
And so, the long and arduous process of revivification commenced. People would come from all over the city, standing in line under the watchful eye of Mr. Perres’ guards and bringing their dead to be taken care of. Bruno would perform the ritual and the people would be revived. They were in a stupor at first, confused about what was happening to them, but, after a few days, their lives were somehow back on track.
People who didn’t have anyone to revive were sceptical at first, but the more the word of Bruno’s work spread, the more everyone believed. Some were even ready to proclaim him (and Aurum) saints.
When he wasn’t reviving, Bruno would heal people, as well as attend to Agatha's hand which needed some extra care. This was his full-time job for a while.
There were only two actual rituals that Mary took part in. The first was of the girl whose death she was responsible for. She insisted on being there when Bruno got to her.
“It might not work,” he warned her. “Don’t depend on that.”
The ritual was quick and simple. The girl's body was laid down in the center of a circle and Bruno began his prayer. He urged the others to say a few words and Mary did, but she was so anxious that she wasn’t sure what she said exactly. Warm light glowed around the body, it swirled around it, and suddenly, the girl woke up.
"There, there!" Bruno rushed to her and patted her on the back. "It's all right!"
With a well-practiced speech, he began calming her down and explaining what had happened to her. He asked her about her name and where Racox had taken her from. It turned out that she was from Pamagos. They had returned her to her hometown.
"I was so afraid!" she told them. "That man took me and he tied me up on this unnatural thing… He told me I was going to be the first one whose soul was going to be devoured, and he was so gleeful!"
She shuddered in fear but instead of feeling for her, Mary gave out a long sigh. All she could think was that she wasn’t, after all, a murderer.
The second ritual she took part in was that of Paulina. It was much higher stakes, and so, she thought long and hard about it before she was summoned by Bruno.
The circle didn’t look much different than the previous one, nor did Bruno’s clothes or actions. Only the slight tremble in his hands and the beads of sweat on his forehead showed that he was uneasy. He put a diamond on Paulina’s body and spoke the words beginning the ritual.
“Now it’s time for our part,” he said. Only Mary, Aurum and Agatha were with him in the room.
The bard stepped forward.
“Paulina,” he said, “I found an unexpected friend in you. I know what you mean to Bruno but I didn’t know how much you were going to mean to me.”
He put his pipe next to Paulina’s body and the circle glowed a bit brighter. Then, it was Mary’s turn. She stepped forward, fidgeting with her hair.
“You are one of my very few friends,” she said quietly. “You make me braver and stronger, and more... more spontaneous. Please come back!”
She took the dagger from her belt and cut off a lock of her hair. She covered it with her palm and spoke some magic words. When her hand moved, the lock was bright pink.
“I miss you, Poly,” Bruno said. “I wish you would come back. And as odd as it might sound, our mom will miss you, too.”
He put his hands over the body and concentrated. Almost immediately, the light from the circle vanished, leaving only the mangled Paulina behind.
Bruno shook his head. The resurrection was unsuccessful.
Oh, no! Poor Paulina! What happened? Why didn't she come back? Who's to say? And is it just a series of bad rolls of the dice or was it fate?
Don't worry, or heroes are sure to try again. They won't leave things this way.
See you next time, for the final episode of this chapter – and of this Arc as well!
Take care and be well!
(Also, here's a link to the Chapter Guide, the Glossaries (Part 1 and Part 2)
and the Map for the series. You're welcome!)
An important disclaimer: Mary Windfiddle's story is my notes from a D&D game turned into a narrative. All the worldbuilding and NPC encounters belong to our DM, and all the actions of the other main characters (Aurum, Bruno and Agatha) belong to my co-players. My contribution to the story is only everything Mary-related (actions, reactions, inner thoughts), as well as the writing itself.