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A Cappella Part 44 - Moira


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#1 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 06:06 PM

Long after Jarran and Keldorn rejoined the others at the Five Flagons, Anomen returned. The group had already eaten supper and was relaxing in the upstairs sitting room. He walked past them into the bedchamber without acknowledging their presence.

A few minutes later he was back, silently stalking by with a thunderous look on his face. He had left behind his helmet, shield, and pack. He obviously had not found the calm he had hoped to regain at the temple.

After waiting for the priest for some time, Jarran went down into the common room of the inn, looking for Anomen. He found the man, as he thought he might, sitting alone in a dark corner, with a bottle before him.

Anomen looked up with an unfriendly glare as he saw Jarran approaching him. "What do you want?" he snarled as the skald took a seat.

"I came to see what you were doing."

"Well, what does it look like I'm doing? I'm getting drunk. I fully intend for the wenches to have to roll me out of the way to mop the floor in the morning."

"And then what will you do tomorrow when the liquor wears off and your sister is still dead? Get drunk again? And the day after that? And the next? Why don't you just go home, Anomen? I'm sure your father would be pleased to have a new drinking partner."

Anomen slammed his fist down on the table. "Do not speak to me of my father!" he roared. The patrons of the tavern turned to gawk at the disturbance, but quickly lost interest when they realized that no fight was breaking out.

Jarran could see that Anomen was shaking with rage. Slowly the priest cooled, then whispered, "Damn you. Damn you for always being right."

The skald snorted. "Don't let Jaheira hear you say that. I'm sorry my friend, I know this is painful for you. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Nothing can help. Moira is gone and I am barred from my family home. I don't know why it should bother me so. I have seldom crossed its threshold since joining the Order. I certainly do not go out of my way to see my father, the miserable old bastard. But to know I cannot return should I wish to do so… hurts."

Jarran studied Anomen's face. He's avoiding what is really troubling him. He's holding his pain inside. "I am sorry I never got the chance to meet your sister. It obviously meant a lot to you."

"From what my father said, she might have been dead before we ever left Athkatla. She was so wonderful, Jarran. Lovely, intelligent, sweet… ah, I have told you all this before. I had once hoped I could persuade you to meet her on the chance you would fall in love with her and marry her."

"I'm flattered that you would consider me a potential brother-in-law, my friend."

Anomen laughed, a dry humorless laugh. "Don't be too flattered. I sang Moira's praises to every eligible man I knew. The knights and squires at the Hall were probably sick to death of hearing me speak of her constantly. They would listen politely, but none ever expressed any interest. They all knew that no matter how delightful she was, marriage to Moira meant having Lord Cor for a father-in-law, and what man of virtue would want that?"

"I am sorry you felt you had to do that."

"Of course I did. Have you never wondered why this paragon of a sister, this jewel among women was not already married? It was the same when I tried to find a patron to sponsor me in the Order. No one leaps at the chance to ally themselves with the Delryn name," he said bitterly.

Anomen tossed off the remainder of his drink and continued, "I am a spineless excuse for a brother. Time and again I wondered if it would be better to take Moira out of my father's house, even if it meant placing her in a squalid place like the Coronet. Anything would have been better than living under Cor's roof. Before we left for the Windspear Hills, I was too proud to let you buy me a suit of armor, but I shouldn't have been too proud to ask for an advance of gold to set her up in her own household. She might be alive today if I had thought of someone other than myself."

"Anomen, you can't blame yourself for her death. How could you have possibly known that this could happen?"

"Bah! Moira was at risk every second she lived in that house. How could I leave her there? How could I leave her unprotected and vulnerable, when our father has collected enemies the way a house collects dust? If only she had told me that there was no money for guards, I would have found some way…"

Jarran waited while the priest stared off into space. "She's gone, Jarran. The only other person in the world besides my mother who ever cared whether I lived or died, and she's gone." Anomen stood. "I'm going to bed. Here, take this bottle and give it to some drunkard. Tell them it is compliments of Lord Cor." He walked away with a reasonably steady gate.

Jarran heard a deep sigh behind him, and then Keldorn slid into the recently vacated chair. "Well done, lad. He needed someone to snap him out of his destructive mood, and I feared I would only antagonize him more. You and he are more of an age, so he would not resent your words the way he would mine."

"I can hardly be surprised he feels so guilty, Keldorn. Daily I blame myself for Imoen's capture, how is that so different than what Anomen is feeling? I can't deny that this turns my mind to things I'd rather not think about. I look at Anomen and I wonder... what will I do if I can't get Imoen back? What if this magical prison is just a lie the Cowled Wizards tell to the Council, and they kill their prisoners? What will I do if the woman I look upon as a sister is... gone?"

"You will survive, lad, as Anomen will," Keldorn said softly. "You are both strong young men, and you will survive."



#2 Guest_Oyster Girl_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 06:19 PM

> A few minutes later he was back, silently stalking by with a thunderous

> look on his face. He had left behind his helmet, shield, and pack.

Left behind his helmet?! OK, that's double-plus ungood.

> Why don't you just go home, Anomen? I'm sure your father would

> be pleased to have a new drinking partner."

Ouch.

Jarran has a death wish, right?

> Jarran heard a deep sigh behind him, and then Keldorn slid into the

> recently vacated chair. "Well done, lad. He needed someone to snap

> him out of his destructive mood, and I feared I would only antagonize him

> more. You and he are more of an age, so he would not resent your words the

> way he would mine."

Yeah, their air-clearing is still a bit too recent, I think.

> What if this magical prison is just a lie the Cowled

> Wizards tell to the Council, and they kill their prisoners? What will I do

> if the woman I look upon as a sister is... gone?"

*nods* I wondered that my first time through the rescue part of the game.

> "You will survive, lad, as Anomen will," Keldorn said softly.

> "You are both strong young men, and you will survive."

With a little help.


Blue Screen

#3 Requiem

Posted 19 August 2001 - 06:28 PM

. Anomen looked up with an unfriendly glare as he saw Jarran approaching

> him. "What do you want?" he snarled as the skald took a seat.

> "I came to see what you were doing."

> "Well, what does it look like I'm doing? I'm getting drunk. I fully

> intend for the wenches to have to roll me out of the way to mop the floor

> in the morning."

Oh no...

> "And then what will you do tomorrow when the liquor wears off and

> your sister is still dead? Get drunk again? And the day after that? And

> the next? Why don't you just go home, Anomen? I'm sure your father would

> be pleased to have a new drinking partner."

OUCH!

> Anomen slammed his fist down on the table. "Do not speak to me of my

> father!" he roared. The patrons of the tavern turned to gawk at the

> disturbance, but quickly lost interest when they realized that no fight

> was breaking out.

> Jarran could see that Anomen was shaking with rage. Slowly the priest

> cooled, then whispered, "Damn you. Damn you for always being

> right."

> The skald snorted. "Don't let Jaheira hear you say that. I'm sorry my

> friend, I know this is painful for you. Is there anything I can do to

> help?"

*snicker* reminds me of a birthday card I saw yesterday: To Mr. Right from Mrs. Never Wrong.

> "Nothing can help. Moira is gone and I am barred from my family home.

> I don't know why it should bother me so. I have seldom crossed its

> threshold since joining the Order. I certainly do not go out of my way to

> see my father, the miserable old bastard. But to know I cannot return

> should I wish to do so… hurts."

Yes, rejection always hurts regardless of who does it.

> Anomen laughed, a dry humorless laugh. "Don't be too flattered. I

> sang Moira's praises to every eligible man I knew. The knights and squires

> at the Hall were probably sick to death of hearing me speak of her

> constantly. They would listen politely, but none ever expressed any

> interest. They all knew that no matter how delightful she was, marriage to

> Moira meant having Lord Cor for a father-in-law, and what man of virtue

> would want that?"

That's sad, but probably true.

> Anomen tossed off the remainder of his drink and continued, "I am a

> spineless excuse for a brother. Time and again I wondered if it would be

> better to take Moira out of my father's house, even if it meant placing

> her in a squalid place like the Coronet. Anything would have been better

> than living under Cor's roof. Before we left for the Windspear Hills, I

> was too proud to let you buy me a suit of armor, but I shouldn't have been

> too proud to ask for an advance of gold to set her up in her own

> household. She might be alive today if I had thought of someone other than

> myself."

Now we move to self-pity... While I can't truly blame the boy, I'm always torn since it doesn't accomplish much. *pats Anomen on shoulder*

> "Anomen, you can't blame yourself for her death. How could you have

> possibly known that this could happen?"

You tell him!

> > "You will survive, lad, as Anomen will," Keldorn said softly.

> "You are both strong young men, and you will survive."

Truer words were never spoken. Very effective use of dialog. I like the way you've used the game concept and added your own words to put together a very powerful chapter.



#4 Arcalian

Posted 19 August 2001 - 06:49 PM

And so the Anomen subplot moves forward. Question is, with Moira dead and buried, would he have any reason to go back to that estate? I wouldn't wish to!

But still, well done.

The road to the abyss may be paved with good intentions, but it is those with bad intentions that race down that road as fast as they can.

#5 Guest_NiTessine_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 06:59 PM

I am getting an overdose of Anomen here... Gods forbid, I may soon begin to LIKE the man if stories of this quality are written of him...

- NiTessine, enchanting an arrow of Anomen slaying +5


#6 Luned

Posted 19 August 2001 - 08:19 PM

Darn, I don't think I can really respond right now after all, I need to go find the box of Kleenex first.....

Well done. *sniffle*

Cheesecake is a state of mind.

<i>---John Myers Myers, <u>Silverlock</u></i>

#7 Guest_Rose of Jericho_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 09:01 PM

Whoo. Solid next chapter to the tale. Poor kid. I'm glad Jarran was able to bring him to his senses.

I do not look forward to seeing his reaction later on. ...

Rose of Jericho



#8 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 10:29 PM

> Left behind his helmet?! OK, that's double-plus ungood.

And a pretty good indication of his state of mind.

> Ouch.

> Jarran has a death wish, right?

Think of it as tough love.

> Yeah, their air-clearing is still a bit too recent, I think.

That's what Keldorn thought. Anomen's still a little too touchy around him.

> *nods* I wondered that my first time through the rescue part of the game.

It's a logical thing to wonder.

> With a little help.

*grin*


#9 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 10:43 PM

> Oh no...

> OUCH!

> *snicker* reminds me of a birthday card I saw yesterday: To Mr. Right from

> Mrs. Never Wrong.

LOL!

> Yes, rejection always hurts regardless of who does it.

I think probably one of the common threads of most portrayals of Anomen is that he hates and loves his father at the same time. He still wants the approval he can't get.

> That's sad, but probably true.

Would *you* want Cor for a father-in-law?

> Now we move to self-pity... While I can't truly blame the boy, I'm always

> torn since it doesn't accomplish much. *pats Anomen on shoulder*

It's something that needs to be wallowed through before he can move on.

> You tell him!

*grin*

> Truer words were never spoken. Very effective use of dialog. I like the

> way you've used the game concept and added your own words to put together

> a very powerful chapter.

Thank you.


#10 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 11:01 PM

> And so the Anomen subplot moves forward. Question is, with Moira dead and

> buried, would he have any reason to go back to that estate? I wouldn't

> wish to!

> But still, well done.

There's always a difference between choosing not to do something and not being able to. Even he admits he never really wants to go home. I'm glad you liked it.


#11 Guest_Anonymous_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 11:06 PM

> "Well, what does it look like I'm doing? I'm getting drunk. I fully

> intend for the wenches to have to roll me out of the way to mop the floor

> in the morning."

Oh, not a wise idea.

> "And then what will you do tomorrow when the liquor wears off and

> your sister is still dead? Get drunk again? And the day after that? And

> the next? Why don't you just go home, Anomen? I'm sure your father would

> be pleased to have a new drinking partner."

That was incredibly brave of Jarran but probably the right thing to say. Anomen seems to respond better to shock therapy.

> "Nothing can help. Moira is gone and I am barred from my family home.

> I don't know why it should bother me so. I have seldom crossed its

> threshold since joining the Order. I certainly do not go out of my way to

> see my father, the miserable old bastard. But to know I cannot return

> should I wish to do so… hurts."

That makes sense...you never miss something until it's no longer there.

> "I'm flattered that you would consider me a potential brother-in-law,

> my friend."

He must have been fairly desperate if he wanted a Bhaalspawn to be grafted onto the Delryn family tree.

> Anomen laughed, a dry humorless laugh. "Don't be too flattered. I

> sang Moira's praises to every eligible man I knew. The knights and squires

> at the Hall were probably sick to death of hearing me speak of her

> constantly. They would listen politely, but none ever expressed any

> interest. They all knew that no matter how delightful she was, marriage to

> Moira meant having Lord Cor for a father-in-law, and what man of virtue

> would want that?"

Yikes...I think even a guy like Korgan would have drawn the line at that.

> Jarran heard a deep sigh behind him, and then Keldorn slid into the

> recently vacated chair. "Well done, lad. He needed someone to snap

> him out of his destructive mood, and I feared I would only antagonize him

> more. You and he are more of an age, so he would not resent your words the

> way he would mine."

Keldorn is showing his wisdom again. I doubt Anomen would have reacted in the same manner had he tried to pry the bottle away.

> "I can hardly be surprised he feels so guilty, Keldorn. Daily I blame

> myself for Imoen's capture, how is that so different than what Anomen is

> feeling? I can't deny that this turns my mind to things I'd rather not

> think about. I look at Anomen and I wonder... what will I do if I can't

> get Imoen back? What if this magical prison is just a lie the Cowled

> Wizards tell to the Council, and they kill their prisoners? What will I do

> if the woman I look upon as a sister is... gone?"

Good conclusion here...Anomen and Jarran have more in common than it would appear on the surface.



#12 Guest_Oyster Girl_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 11:08 PM

> Think of it as tough love.

Yeah, but tough love aimed at someone with a volatile temper and the strength of an ox is living dangerously.


Blue Screen

#13 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 11:45 PM

> Oh, not a wise idea.

Anomen's not in a very wise mood at the moment. :(

> That was incredibly brave of Jarran but probably the right thing to say.

> Anomen seems to respond better to shock therapy.

Jarran can run faster :-)

> That makes sense...you never miss something until it's no longer there.

That's how I felt.

> He must have been fairly desperate if he wanted a Bhaalspawn to be grafted

> onto the Delryn family tree.

Very, very desperate.

> Yikes...I think even a guy like Korgan would have drawn the line at that.

Which is why Anomen was desperate.

> Keldorn is showing his wisdom again. I doubt Anomen would have reacted in

> the same manner had he tried to pry the bottle away.

I doubt he would have calmed down as quickly, and he wouldn't have been as frank about what was in his heart and mind.

> Good conclusion here...Anomen and Jarran have more in common than it would

> appear on the surface.

Which is the basis of their friendship. Jarran can see a certain amount of himself in Anomen.


#14 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 11:46 PM

> I am getting an overdose of Anomen here... Gods forbid, I may soon begin

> to LIKE the man if stories of this quality are written of him...

> - NiTessine, enchanting an arrow of Anomen slaying +5

Hmmm... I think there's a compliment in there somewhere. :(


#15 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 11:48 PM

> Darn, I don't think I can really respond right now after all, I need to go

> find the box of Kleenex first.....

> Well done. *sniffle*

*bows* Thank you.


#16 Guest_Silrana_*

Posted 19 August 2001 - 11:51 PM

> Whoo. Solid next chapter to the tale. Poor kid. I'm glad Jarran was able

> to bring him to his senses.

> I do not look forward to seeing his reaction later on. ...

> Rose of Jericho

It's not going to be easy for him, that's for sure.


#17 Guest_NiTessine_*

Posted 20 August 2001 - 03:36 AM

> Hmmm... I think there's a compliment in there somewhere. :)

There is, no fear. :)

- NiTessine, who's soon running out of witty signature lines


#18 Guest_Oyster Girl_*

Posted 20 August 2001 - 05:04 PM

> I am getting an overdose of Anomen here... Gods forbid, I may soon begin

> to LIKE the man if stories of this quality are written of him...

Given that he does an awful lot of growing up over the course of the BG2 storyline, it's hard not to like the man he eventually becomes. Granted, you have to run through the romance to see a lot of it.

If they had just given him a post-knighthood soundset that better reflected the changes. *sigh*

> - NiTessine, enchanting an arrow of Anomen slaying +5

Let's not start that again. I can't think of another joinable who has been the target of offhanded death threats, and it becomes very tiresome very quickly.


Blue Screen

#19 Guest_NiTessine_*

Posted 20 August 2001 - 05:39 PM

> Let's not start that again. I can't think of another joinable who has been

> the target of offhanded death threats, and it becomes very tiresome very

> quickly.

Ah, well... Maybe the arrow will work on Cor... And wouldn't Haer'Dalis fit that cathegory? By the way, I don't have anything against that guy. Tieflings are fun, as long as you don't allow them as a player character race for a bunch of munchkins.

- NiTessine, with nothing even remotely witty to say this time


#20 Guest_Oyster Girl_*

Posted 20 August 2001 - 07:00 PM

> Ah, well... Maybe the arrow will work on Cor... And wouldn't Haer'Dalis

> fit that cathegory?

What category? Disliked NPCs? To judge by most BG2 boards, H'D is one of the most popular. I admit that I gave up on the other boards during the height of the "Bioware Hates Girls Because They Didn't Give Us Haer'Dalis As A Romance" rants.

*shrug* It's one thing to not like an NPC. (If you've seen my recent comments on Aerie, you know I'm the last one qualified to throw stones over that.) But Anomen's the only one who's taken enough abuse around here that a "Royal Protection Society" has formed around him.

Beware the RSPCH!

:)


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