d&d scenes } { of new memories and planning for the future

[iluvroadrunner6]

Ric: [once he regained his composure at the restaurant, leaving a substantial tip for the wait staff for the lack of staying for a meal, he made his way to the food bank. The two sets of memories butted up against each other harshly, and his added anger at the last twenty-four hours threatened to give him a different kind of headache.

It wasn't until he got to Lammel's shelter and entered through the back entrance that he let himself succumb to his internal distress. The door was closed securely behind him, and he slid down the wall to rest, pressing his head back against the wall as he loosened his tie]

Lammel: [comes around the corner and frowns when he sees him] Ric?

Ric: [and he will look up at Lammel and swallows. He feels like that lost kid all over again. Or had he been? Was this life a dream some god made up... he shakes his head, hands fisting] They did something to me. She did. I... I don't know.

Lammel: [concern face!!] What do you mean?

Ric: The half-dragon from last night. He was in league with the singer. She snuck something into my drink at dinner.

Lammel: What was it? Do you need to see one of the acolytes?

Ric: I don't know. I have two different sets of memories in my head. [he looked back at Lammel] Can they help?

Lammel: Won't know until we let them try.

Ric: [nods and pushes himself back to his feet, leaning against the wall. His anxiety is zapping his energy, but he fights against it to move to Lammel]

Lammel: [and he'll take him down to the acolytes and they'll run all kinds of tests and in the end he frowns] It's not ... it's not arcane, whatever it is.

Ric: What else could it be?

Lammel: Something divine? But ... old. Very old.

Ric: [swallows] This other me in my head... it's a completely different life. And it feels so real. She said it was. [his face sets and he looks at Lammel] She said something about fixing the world.

Lammel: Fixing it how?

Ric: I don't remember. My head was hurting, like it was having a seizure inside my skull.

Lammel: You said it was the singer. She's a aaismar, isn't she?

Ric: Yeah. I figured her presence would make it easier to make a few connections for us in my generation.

Lammel: Avandra's brood tends to result in crusaders. We can't make a judgement until we know more information.

Ric: She gave me her number. Told me to call when I was ready to rejoin them.

Lammel: What happened in these new memories?

Ric: [closes his eyes and tries to focus on them] I was a member of a organization. An institute. I was a spy, I think. I met them there.

Lammel: A spy? Were you on some kind of mission?

Ric: I think I did a few. I met them when... I think it was orcs... they invaded the institute. I was trying to get people out safely then fight them. [chuckles] Why the hell would I try and take on a hoard of orcs?

Lammel: I don't know. It sounds like a fool's errand.

Ric: I also remember scouting the place out from the ac vents. Like I used to do as a kid.

Lammel: Some things never change.

Ric: [and that finally gets a small smile out of Ric. Then he closes his eyes to think again] The last few things I remember was going to a rundown town called Purgatory and playing a card game.

Lammel: Purgatory. [he drums his fingers against the desk] Now that's interesting.

Ric: It is? Why?

Lammel: Purgatory is the only place a god cannot hold. And there's only one god, who would be able to walk there without seeming like a threat.

Ric: it's a place where the elements are in chaos. [wait, how'd he know that?] The card game! Something about fortune. [he stands up, hands on Lammel's desk] If I drew a good card, I would be able to get in there.

Lammel: I don't think it would have been that simple. But yeah. There's a god who holds the cards of fate. His name's Savras.

Ric: [shakes his head] That name isn't familiar to me. It must not have been him.

Lammel: Well, crossing into the plane of the elemental chaos doesn't require a card, it requires and audience with the guardian.

Ric: Well, I don't know anything else. I remember taking a card and it had a swirl in it, and everything just went white. I was somewhere else, alone and abandoned. I couldn't move, just trapped in some sphere drifting in and out of some level of consciousness. They ever came for me. No one did. That's it. [licks his lips] Maybe I died there. [shrugs, but the idea of dying alone is tugging on his worst fears]

Lammel: [well, it might not be that simple. but Lammel wants to work this to his advantage though] These clearly aren't people you should trust.

Ric: Ya think? Trashed my place, tried to beat me up, killed one of my friends, stole an artifact from my bedroom. If they were friends, they could have just taken me aside and just told me. [doesn't even remember Raknok trying to do just that]

Lammel: That doesn't mean we shouldn't figure out what they're up to, however.

Ric: [nods, reaching into his pocket to pull out the phone number Luck gave him] Well, I know a way in.

Lammel: Can't hurt to go see what they're up to. Keep me posted.

Ric: I always do. [pockets the number] But I have a feeling I'm not going to like this.

Lammel: Unfortunately not all the things worth doing you like.

Ric: I know. I just don't like walking into a lion's den without a suit of armor.

Lammel: Well, we can give you armor. [he's about to say something else when a portal opens in his office and the half-dragon they hired stumbles into the room, bleeding from two gunshot wounds]

Ric: [and he will move back, shifting into a defensive position] What happened?

Hired Gun: He had help.

Ric: What kind of help?

Hired Gun: Someone came to his defense.

Ric: Details.

Hired Gun: A dragon born. Good with a rifle.

Ric: [looks at Lammel] I think that's another one in this group.

Lammel: So he's gathered some support now.

Ric: He'll probably be at this meeting.

Lammel: Maybe that's a better way to use him.

Ric: Use him, then dispose of him. [nods, then pulls out his phone] We're going to cancel the job for now. However, since you took brought back valuable information, I'll send you the remainder of the fee for your trouble and injuries.

Hired Gun: Thanks. [and with that he will dimension door out again because these people give him the creeps]

Ric: [and he will transfer the money, then slip his phone back into his pocket] Yeah, armor at the minimum.

Lammel: We'll make sure you're prepared.

Ric: I feel like the last 24 hours has tried to tear my life to shreds. You don't think I upset the Goddess to bring this down on me?

Lammel: I don't. I think despair is a gift she gives when she believes we need it. It is her domain after all.

Ric: I know. And it's a gift I plan on giving these.... "teammates."

Lammel: Good. Keep me in the loop.

Ric: Yes, sir. [and he will go back to his hotel and take a long shower, then pull out his travel altar to sit and meditate/pray for a clear mind and guidance on this new path]

Lammel: [and she won't make an appearance, but hopefully it helps]

Ric: [it will settle him at least, bringing his anxiety back down so that he can sleep]

Lammel: [that's good]

Ric: [and he will go to work the next morning, trying to do his job while staring at the phone number. And is still debating on getting some kind of body armor before going through with this]

Lammel: [well, he certainly has the resources to provide it for you]

Ric: [yeah, he'll e-mail Lammel close to 10am about getting a set before he remakes contact.]

Lammel: [done, he will have it]

Ric: [good, he will pick it up before calling Luck in the next game. Text Messages to Lammel:] Going to the tundra first, then trying to get an audience with Avandra. Want me to bring you back a souvenir?

Lammel: I love a good souvenir.