[Acacea]

Well, more blissful nights/afternoons of sleep have gone by, and also I have another place to stay! Hurray for Acacea! And for Cole, in whose room my pillow-corner is located. Hurray for pillows! It's thoughtfully right next to both the door and the chest containing the liquor and blankets. Hah! Although, I have given up whiskey completely because I think I might have scoured away my liver at some point, and possibly woke up with half of my brain missing and in someone else's room.

I have gone in and out of the Arms several times with no demons popping up to smite me, which is a very good thing since Xandrial's mistress crashing the "Celebration of Heroes" was something of a downer! We decided that she was surely no ordinary succubus since she killed most of us just by breezing through, sort of like an old dwarf on a bad diet. We're pretty sure that she was all narky about him moving back to the Abyss and leaving her with the kids, and got wind of us celebrating his departure and well, you know the rest! I mean I do. Because I was there, kissing the cobblestone shortly after turning my head to look at her. Ah well...

I did a lot of the chasing after Cole once she'd left, because he showed up kinda late and apparently was rather envious of the whole dying bit, since that's pretty much all we accomplished by facing her and he wanted to repeat the event. I mean, I know how it feels to be frustrated that you were not there or cannot help with something, but I'm just not too keen on having the life suddenly ripped from my body without so much as a "how do you do," you know? It's just a tiny bit invasive and she didn't even have the decency to buy me dinner, first. Honestly...succubi. They just don't know the protocol!

Although, I guess they kind of don't really need it either, being...well...succubi, and all. Talk about someone who knows they are quite literally heart stoppingly attractive. I guess that is just their area of expertise? Or is it the nymphs'? I do not know, but I really should ask since one of each visited the Arms that night, both apparently bent on snatching away our patrons! First they all get killed or scared away, then the remaining ones end up being treehuggers who are all whisked away to Arborea by Maurelle. Honestly... It is a good thing I was getting my cards read again, otherwise I might have decided to ride piggy-back on someone and tree allergies be damned!

Oh, but I did get my next task from the gypsy, so I have to hop in a portal to the library in Saidinia and chat up the librarian until she lets me take three books back to Kali. If she doesn't go for it, I might have to set off a stinkbomb somewhere and then just make a break for it with books stuffed under my shirt. If that's how it goes, I should prolly wear a mask or something so word doesn't get back to Triba, because I have a feeling she would be a tiny bit upset about stinkbombs in the library. Probably because the smell would settle into the pages or something. All the more reason!

Also! I gave my Testament of Devotion or whatever they call it at the Rites, and so rather than being Affirmed with the A for Acacea, I am Beloved, instead. Because while mages and the like are Brothers and Sisters in Magic, bards are the beloved lapdogs in the happy family. Oh well! Anira cailo willnyala amirama anira fmaaja ameccla, like the long winded elfies say for "that's life."

Lots of people went up before me, though, and the Warder asked each of them some funny question, like Alantha having to choose between a crown and a scepter if the throne of the world was left empty. That one was hard! She didn't even SAY if the throne had cushions on it, or if the crown was the sort that would slip over your eyes at inopportune moments. Which is totally why I would have had to go with the scepter! You can pose regally with it, point with it, whack things with it, poke...really it is a completely multifunctional tool, fit for a multifunctional halfling!

When it was finally my turn (at least I looked good!), I was asked to choose between pie flavors, and frankly I completely saw that coming! Still, after racing up to take my place in front of her with all those people watching, I still was not entirely sure what to expect--it could have been some really heavy question! She said it all dramatically too, it was kind of funny. "Acacea...spirit of fey..." and kind of paused and I was thinking "WHAT?" "...Blackberry, or blueberry?"

It was pretty funny, and of course that one was easy since there is just no reason whatsoever that one can't have both in a pie! In fact, I later decided that cherries would be a good addition, also. Let's just put ALL the berries in the pie!

After that, it was left up to the magic of the Warder, and she and Eldárwen did their funny shoulder thing. Then all of a sudden-like, I had one key, and two very different things chained to a tower in front of me. I kinda figured I was supposed to free the angel, I mean, they're just nicer in general I think, but that rotten demon-sort just looked so broke-down and unhappy that it would have been just plain mean to leave him there! So Acacea freed the devil, and the Warder stepped back and welcomed me.

"...Acacea. In your testament of devotion, I call you beloved. Our brotherhood will be here to offer you support and care eternal. May your compassion spread freely and without restraints..."