[WFRP2e] The Power of One - Part 2 - "Transire Benefaciendo"

[BananaPhone]

Taalia Giovanni

Forensically piecing together the final moments of the family was a little trial in itself. Sadly, it was a labour of tragedy, as each step of confirmation only shone more light on the sorrowful events that had been so traumatic and everlasting, they had mystically connected the material with the spiritual by trapping the mans spirit, or at least a fragment of it, here in the physical plane and tethering him to this house in an everlasting vigil.

What the rogue wizard wanted, who could say. But as Taalia sifted through his remains and came across a rusted ritualistic knife, she could tell that he had not knocked upon their door with benign intentions. A Necromancer, most likely, that was Taalia's guess. She had originally believed this entire house was the product of a wicked and possibly insane Grey Wizard who was protecting his private study with the most malicious means available. But, now, Taalia could see that she had been wrong. It wasn't a bad guess, given the available evidence, but it was the incorrect one.

However, she wished she had been right. Perhaps it was her slave instincts brewing beneath the surface, or maybe she was getting 'softer' and more 'normal' in the years of absence from the hellish pits of the Skaven, but Taalia showed particular care for the skeleton of the small girl. Maybe there was a personal connection, or familiarity that Taalia could see reflected in those small, boney remains. Trapped in this room, starving to death, alone with nothing but her mothers corpse. It was a bleak reminder that Taalia's sad story wasn't the only one in this world. There were millions like it, and not all of them had a happy ending.

The shepardess helped gather the remains, taking care to provide any little trinkets or memorabilia she could find into the graves of the relevant owner. She ensured the family were together. The robber was buried a short distance away, on his own. The rogue wizard and his goons...they received a grave each too, but it was further away. They were the catalyst for the tragedy that unfolded here, but so much time had passed, their souls had already been sent off for judgement at whatever divine court awaited them all.

Taalia spoke a few words over the graves and offered them all at least a one minute of silence. Once they had completed the burial, the girl would stay in the house with Cestie and Bella, though she would not partake in any grave robbing of her own. The cutlery stayed, the tapestries were upheld, any valuables or jewels (the ones that didn't get buried with, presumably the lady of the house) were kept in place. Taalia played her part in helping the spirits here find rest, burying the bodies and receiving a reward in the form of a serviceable house within which to wait out the storm.

She did take the sword though. The girl found the scabbard for it and brought its 'humming' frame up to her ear, her brow furrowed in confusion and curiosity.

"Can you hear that, Singore Cestie?" she would ask, holding the blade in such a way as to allow him to attempt to receive the low-key resonations. Bella too.

But neither could.

Taking it as a sign, Taalia cleaned up the scabbard and the blade as best she could. Perhaps this should find a place on a wall somewhere. Or maybe handed over to the Amethyst wizards? Or maybe kept as a memento, of that time she and Bella helped free a tortured spirit from its eternal vigil.