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When Keeper was more coherent, she realized she was chained and surrounded. The lead sentry, a hulking warforged with a fiery golden aura named Twelve, interrogated her about what her intentions were. Zone of Truth was cast on her to ensure she wouldn’t lie. Still being exhausted, she couldn’t will herself to fully overcome the spell, but was able to tell half-truths. Keeper told them she had prepared an idol offering for this occasion and was looking to obtain cleansing. Twelve decided that she would be allowed to remain for one hour before being escorted away. She would also, of course, be under heavy scrutiny the entire time. Keeper asked to be taken to the base of the Gleamtree so she could personally deposit her offering. Luckily, before being enthralled by the Shining Stamp, Keeper had deposited multiple sound emitters on the outskirts of the area. She stealthily pressed the trigger she had kept on her person as she approached the tree and they went off, immediately drawing the attention of the sentries. Keeper broke away and made a mad dash for the billows of Glimmerflame coming off the Gleamtree. Then everything went dark aside from the haunting sound of the half-orc’s laughter. | When Keeper was more coherent, she realized she was chained and surrounded. The lead sentry, a hulking warforged with a fiery golden aura named Twelve, interrogated her about what her intentions were. Zone of Truth was cast on her to ensure she wouldn’t lie. Still being exhausted, she couldn’t will herself to fully overcome the spell, but was able to tell half-truths. Keeper told them she had prepared an idol offering for this occasion and was looking to obtain cleansing. Twelve decided that she would be allowed to remain for one hour before being escorted away. She would also, of course, be under heavy scrutiny the entire time. Keeper asked to be taken to the base of the Gleamtree so she could personally deposit her offering. Luckily, before being enthralled by the Shining Stamp, Keeper had deposited multiple sound emitters on the outskirts of the area. She stealthily pressed the trigger she had kept on her person as she approached the tree and they went off, immediately drawing the attention of the sentries. Keeper broke away and made a mad dash for the billows of Glimmerflame coming off the Gleamtree. Then everything went dark aside from the haunting sound of the half-orc’s laughter. | ||
When Keeper woke up, she was back in the Shining Stamp, but this time she was sitting behind the bar in a wheelchair. She tried to stand, but her legs were utterly limp. As Keeper dealt with a pounding headache, a few fragmented memories returned to her. She remembered seeing the face of Aiza and feeling her wrath at being stolen from. Keeper also found that she couldn’t remember her name. When she tried to think of what she was called, the only thing that came to mind was the title innkeeper; as such, she came to dub herself Keeper. Days passed and Keeper could not muster up the energy to venture far beyond the inn. Whenever she tried, a terrible compulsion to return would overcome her. It became clear that she was under imprisonment. When another traveler wandered near the Shining Stamp, Keeper could feel it at the edge of her mind, and she could feel herself reaching out to draw them toward her. The traveling human entered the inn and Keeper did to him what the half-orc had done to her: she spoke in ways that meddled with his mind, played dice and card games that he could never quite get the hang of, and told haunting stories she didn’t even know she knew. The entire time, she listened to him complain of feeling like he was burning on the inside, and she somehow knew she was preparing him for something awful. | When Keeper woke up, she was back in the Shining Stamp, but this time she was sitting behind the bar in a wheelchair. She tried to stand, but her legs were utterly limp. As Keeper dealt with a pounding headache, a few fragmented memories returned to her. She remembered seeing the face of Aiza and feeling her wrath at being stolen from. Keeper also found that she couldn’t remember her name or anything about her past. When she tried to think of what she was called, the only thing that came to mind was the title innkeeper; as such, she came to dub herself Keeper. Days passed and Keeper could not muster up the energy to venture far beyond the inn. Whenever she tried, a terrible compulsion to return would overcome her. It became clear that she was under imprisonment. When another traveler wandered near the Shining Stamp, Keeper could feel it at the edge of her mind, and she could feel herself reaching out to draw them toward her. The traveling human entered the inn and Keeper did to him what the half-orc had done to her: she spoke in ways that meddled with his mind, played dice and card games that he could never quite get the hang of, and told haunting stories she didn’t even know she knew. The entire time, she listened to him complain of feeling like he was burning on the inside, and she somehow knew she was preparing him for something awful. | ||
Days later, during dinner, the man’s body burned away until nothing was left but a perfect bundle of flame. On instinct, Keeper used a torch to carry the fire to the Gleamtree. The sentries barely acknowledged her as she held the flame to the tree where its colors shifted to a golden yellow. This was how Glimmerflame was truly made. Apparently, it wasn’t just Aiza’s essence—no, to truly become Glimmerflame, fire had to be kindled from mortal souls and then “sanctified” by being offered to Aiza. Somewhere deep down inside, Keeper felt sickened. On the outside, however, she was forced by Aiza to maintain the facade of an ever-pleasant barkeep. Keeper spent the next one hundred years preparing the souls of those who approached the Gleamtree to be transformed into Glimmerflame. At first, Keeper was unable to do much other than internally scream, thrash, and beg to be released while going about the motions of tending to the Shining Stamp and its guests. Eventually, perhaps because Aiza’s grip on her lessened or because Keeper herself adapted to the restraints of her punishment, Keeper began to spend her spare time tinkering with her wheelchair. She added compartments and adjustments to make it more combat capable: not because she anticipated any fights, but to keep herself occupied. Twelve noticed Keeper’s work on the chair and, about fifty years into her punishment, asked her to help build artillery for the sentries. Keeper agreed; this was what led her to become so good at making canons. | Days later, during dinner, the man’s body burned away until nothing was left but a perfect bundle of flame. On instinct, Keeper used a torch to carry the fire to the Gleamtree. The sentries barely acknowledged her as she held the flame to the tree where its colors shifted to a golden yellow. This was how Glimmerflame was truly made. Apparently, it wasn’t just Aiza’s essence—no, to truly become Glimmerflame, fire had to be kindled from mortal souls and then “sanctified” by being offered to Aiza. Somewhere deep down inside, Keeper felt sickened. On the outside, however, she was forced by Aiza to maintain the facade of an ever-pleasant barkeep. Keeper spent the next one hundred years preparing the souls of those who approached the Gleamtree to be transformed into Glimmerflame. At first, Keeper was unable to do much other than internally scream, thrash, and beg to be released while going about the motions of tending to the Shining Stamp and its guests. Eventually, perhaps because Aiza’s grip on her lessened or because Keeper herself adapted to the restraints of her punishment, Keeper began to spend her spare time tinkering with her wheelchair. She added compartments and adjustments to make it more combat capable: not because she anticipated any fights, but to keep herself occupied. Twelve noticed Keeper’s work on the chair and, about fifty years into her punishment, asked her to help build artillery for the sentries. Keeper agreed; this was what led her to become so good at making canons. |