Abrupt Violence (Open)

[Kender Bard]

Mikhail grimaced and winced, hands starting to cover his ears reflexively. "My but you stirred up some noise amongst the dead. Okay okay, one at a time.. Yes.. Hmm.. Interesting. Apparently that was a demon. Straight from hell."

[Darastrix]

Leif's brows rose in surprise. "I thought demons were supposed to be scarier than that." Or at least bigger. "I mean, yeah, it attacked us, but...what kind of demon would have a sting that made you feel good?"

[Kender Bard]

"Well, it makes sense," Mikhail reasoned. "I mean, it does to me. We don't know much about demons other than they are supposed to be the denizens of some other plane of being, the abyss, where the damned and unwanted souls go. Now most priests would have you believe that they suffer eternal torment and punishment there, but I'm not entirely sure. It's an entire level of existence and it seems odd that it might be dedicated only to poking the bad people in our world with hot iron rods."

"Just as the Veil surely cannot be simply where the Forces live and the souls of the departed... what? Hang in limbo? It might be a more blissful and perfected world in the Veil, but it's still a world, and so is the Abyss. So all the demons probably serve a function for each other than exist solely in the off-chance they can break free to our world and torment us. The demon that attacked you probably gives pleasure to other demons all the time."

The priest took on an almost bitter look. "A bit of a strange theory but..." He shrugged.

[Darastrix]

Leif gave Mikhail a curious look. "Does something about that make you angry?" he queried, unable to account for the older man's expression.

[Kender Bard]

"I can only think of the Abyss as a product of the Forces," Mikhail replied. "And if that is so, then I think that they have a very twisted sense of humor. Well, I've thought that of Taed at least prior to even learning about the Abyss and contemplating it. I really don't think the Forces are perfect beings; and much of what I see done by their 'hand' either angers me, saddens me, or both."

[Darastrix]

"Why're you a priest, then? If you don't like what they do, why serve them?"

The comment about the Forces not being perfect beings either hadn't registered, or Leif didn't seem to consider it an earth-shattering concept. Then again, one might assume from Leif's relaxed posture as he sat against the wall, and his sleepy-looking eyes, it might just take the earth under him shattering to get a strong reaction.

[Kender Bard]

"At first, I thought that it was Taed offering to make me a bargain," Mikhail replied. "So soon after the death of my family... and the robes were there... it seemed like a sign to me. When I saw the ghosts of my wife and daughter, I was quite confused." He let out a heavy sigh. "And when I saw the other ghosts, eventually, I became even more so but thought that perhaps I had a duty to help them. If I did that, I might win my family back. And so I served... and kept serving. And now I feel that it is all some joke that Taed derives amusement from and it fills me with a bitter rage. But I'm too deep into things to back out now. I don't wear these robes and assist the dead for the Forces. I do it for the dead."

[Darastrix]

"Oh." That was...sad. Seeing ghosts was one thing, but he imagined it would be different to see ghosts of people you actually cared about. Leif frowned. Something about that thought was unsettling in some vague manner that he couldn't put his finger on.

"Did your family get to go to the veil, at least?"

[Kender Bard]

"They were given the opportunity," Mikhail answered. "At least, I believe they were. My daughter, I've not seen in years now. My wife remained behind, however. I fervently hope it was her choice to do so. She's here, always, with me. I often don't know how to feel about it, but it's time like this I feel glad for her presence."

[Darastrix]

"If she's there, can't you just ask if she wanted to stay?" Leif wondered, mumbling as he took the pipe from his mouth. He turned the well-worn object in his hands, staring at it almost as though he were examining it. In truth, it just gave him something to focus on while he thought.

[Kender Bard]

"I have, but she won't answer me," Mikhail sighed. "I don't know. Perhaps she doesn't want me to know. Perhaps she's barred from saying. It makes no sense to me."

"Are you done?" the guard asked Leif, tired of all the seemingly pointless chitchat.

[Darastrix]

Leif jumped at the guard's question and nearly dropped his pipe; he'd forgotten anyone else was there. "Yeah, I guess...," he muttered as the thought he'd been groping toward blew away like smoke.

He stuck the pipe back into his mouth and pushed himself up the wall until he was standing. "Well, maybe I'll see you around," Leif said to Mikhail. "Hope they let you out soon."

[Kender Bard]

"Me too," Mikhail responded. There was a sadness about him, suddenly; he'd sincerely enjoyed his chat, bittersweet though it was. But this man was merely a stranger, he couldn't really ask him to stay or visit. Or could he? "If you have anymore questions, feel free to seek me out again. I may serve the dead more than Taed, but I don't mind speaking like a true priest to people."

[Darastrix]

Leif gave Mikhail a slow nod. "all right." If he could find the man again. And if he remembered.

"I, uh, need to go see a guy about some roots," he said as he shoved his hands into his pockets and sauntered out.