It was a small crowd, they had gathered in the merchant lounge. Plenty of times this had happened throughout the cycles of the Chris' Mass that seemed to somehow relate to the Spider coming, a Spider that was now somehow far more alive then machine. He gave a brief thought about that strange gnomish clockwork dragon, and if some transformation would come to that thing, perhaps with enough holy magic. Was this even holy magic though, there were those that doubted it.

It was early into the former clockwork Spider's visit, he was still trying to decide what he wanted to have altered. Something in pairs: something for himself and for his wife. Not necessarily matching, but somehow similar with the differences between them being subtle reminders perhaps. He made mental notes, as he looked around and others talked of their plans.

He didn't join the list, listened and waited, discussed things. Sometimes he felt like he wasn't a social creature, but at times being with others was what he sought, dull monotony wasn't what he happened. Things to work on, to make things better for others. It might seem counter to who he was. However if Honor had anything to do with it. Which He was, then that was how it would be.

He heard the rumors suddenly, Captain Kurmin was about. He went off to find him, he had heard things about the Captain. That the Captain wasn't himself. That Kurmin seemed maddened, off in his own strange world. Focused about spiders and web things. He wanted to check on this first hand. Get some real details instead of happenstance and say. He made his rounds checking about, when He figured that Kurmin might very well be where he just left by now.

As he got there He saw Kurmin, he was talking in odd ways. An elothean woman named Myrea a known empath, had described how Kurmin had suddenly come in, that he came in from a valve, from above. That he someone grasped the ceiling and walls and skittered down it, easily, almost naturally.

They discussed things, and certainly Kurmin talked of spiders, and Her, and the Spider, and webs. It seemed long and convoluted, what was this Captain Kurmin trying to get at. Was he addled, was his mind gone. Though perhaps he was somehow different, touched by this Goddess. His vision went to a point as if he could see something or someone, that no one else could. Had conversations with this person. It definitely was strange, but possible that this was real.

Then suddenly Kurmin walked off, he followed. Tracking Captain Kurmin down in a spider that seemed to leave no traces nor tracks to follow wasn't the most ideal situation. He found him none the less. Just as soon as he found him the Captain wondered off yet again. Shaking his head he tried to find something to find the Captain.

He came in just in time to see Kurmin pestering the artist Liave. He immediately occupied the place between Liave and Captain Kurmin, guarding Liave. Kurmin still seemed to try to annoy Liave. Yet again pressing the point, was Kurmin just some pawn, was he just some crazed madman that had nothing but the loosest bit of sanity left? The discussions continued and the focus of Kurmin was on an individual who didn't follow the Kermorian gods, at least that was how it was phrased. He was more used to hearing them called the Immortals, the Thirty Nine or the Thirteen. Saying he was ill and he needed the help of Her to make him not ill.

Soon the discussion changed to the altar, the group he joined went to get gifts, and then went to where the shrine was, deep in the spider. It wasn't where the altar was, He clarified that the altar was in the clearing. The clearing that the once was Mechanical Spider stood in front of. When they got there Kurmin was already there.

Then there was noise, a voice not attached to any body, seeming to come from everywhere slammed into His sensitive ears. The noise seemed to be shrill and hag-like though bellowing loudly, "FAITHLESS come unto me! Repent! Heal what may yet be!" His ears screamed in pain and ringed from the loudness.

Very few there made offerings, very few took notice. Only some came away with orbs. Later the group met back up with Captain Kurmin. They were in the lower regions of the spider. Once was the hub of the Mechanical Spider, now it was more of a inner workings of this living thing. The Captain left, his opinion still very much muddled in his cryptic speech, though he seemed concerned, passionately so. Not of us being greedy, no of us saving the web and righting things, healing an illness.

Captain Kurmin left, and the group seeked signs. Heading even deeper into the spider, when suddenly what seemed like lightning flashed before them. They all thought they had saw it, some believed it was just some magic of someone else, or the creatures that inhibited the depths of the spider. Then He said it "Harawep wields lighting as." As a soft voice as soft as the wings of a dove filled his mind "we weep for you, lost child. Even my sister feels your pain, your loss. Refute your corruption, walk the hardest of paths. Save yourself. Be a beacon to others of the lost," just as suddenly that it came it trailed away, leaving Him with just his own thoughts, his own mind his once again.

They traveled to Crossing discussing ways to give the message, talking and asking others to make offerings there. They met few that agreed to the suggestion, but some did.

Later as He thought back on the thoughts he came to some realizations, for one. Though he thought he saw the lightning he realized he actually saw no flash but his mind heard it. Were these only things that happened in his mind then. The other thing he pondered about was, he bodiless voice saying "Heal what may yet be." Could the Spider be dying, was that what the concern was. Were not enough of the festival goers making offerings to support that now living giant spider? Was that even wanted?

He went to the Temple, visiting Phelim's shrine first. Asking "Lord Phelim, Nightingale, by vigilence, virtue, and vengence your three vestments. What way is clear on these issues that turn my mind. Is this just some sinister plot by the manipulating Spider, guide my vigilence to know for sure. Is it a true need, that by my virtue should assist with. Or is it something that needs to be struck down by drawn dagger in vindication of what is truly right."

He knew later He would have to find a cleric of Albreda and seek assistance in guidance about what portents may have been sent to them by her.

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"I think anything that forces you to do something no sane adventurer would do just in order to train is ridiculous."
DR-SOCHARIS

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"Phelim, what have I wrought?"
GM NaOHHI
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Victory Over Lyras, on the 397th year and 156 days since the Vic