[Hopetoun] I believe in miracles....

[Vega]

47th Ashan, 721.

Following the consequenceSome people around Hopetoun have taken to thinking that Vega is a miracle worker. They begin making outlandish requests of her, and at one point a line/crowd of about a dozen or more begins to form, and they all have the most embarrassing and outlandish requests to make of her. given here

"Wot?"

Vega turned to look at the man. He was a resident of Hopetoun, yes. She knew him, had seen him a few times. He was nice, or seemed it. He was friendly - which she was starting to think wasn't a good thing and, before this moment, she'd thought he was sane.

"I'm right sorry, but I thought you jus' told me that..." she stopped. No. No, he couldn't have said that. It would be ludicrous for him to say that. "I think I misheard you, love, I'm right sorry. What did you say?"

He said it again.

Vega looked at him and - for possibly the first moment in her life, she was dumbstruck. It didn't last long, but she was. "Well," she said, quietly. "I mean. I'm not sure that it's appropriate of you to ask me that." He looked at her with wide, desperate eyes. "Why do you even want that?"

"My brother," he said. "I've seen his. It's enormous."

Questions, Vega decided in that moment, were bad. They were bad, bad things and she was going to stop asking them. Unfortunately, he did not stop answering, and he just continued on.

"It's thicker than mine, and longer. I'm trying everything, you know? I mean, one of my friends knows a biqaj and he swears that rubbing a mixture of cranberry and mint on it before dusk every night, and washing it off in the dawn makes it grow. I've tried that! It did nothing."

Vega sighed. "I don't know what to suggest, I mean, why are you askin' me about it?"

He clutched her arm. "I've seen and heard about you! You work miracles, I know you do! Everyone knows it and I've got nowhere else to turn!" Vega sighed again. "I know it can be difficult, but have you ever considered that you should jus' be happy with what you've got?" She looked at him with eyes which swirled in a range of colours. "I mean, at the end of the trial, it's not a competition, is it?" Although, she thought, knowing men and how they were it probably was. Especially since he was comparing it with his brother's.

"Please, please let me show you it? You might be able to see a problem, or might sing to it and it grows. Or... something?"

Vega sighed. "I mean, alright. But I'm not touchin' it if you've rubbed that stuff on it."

"Oh, I haven't, not to-trial! I just took care of the surrounding area today, in case you agreed. First impressions are important."

Vega frowned. "As long as you're clear, I'm not touchin' it, alright then, I suppose." He beamed and spoke eagerly, grabbing her wrist and almost running along with her. "Gerroff me, I hope you've washed this hand since you've been pawin' at it," she grumbled.

But, eventually, they were standing together. Just the two of them, and Vega looked down in some surprise.

"Well," she said, genuinely. "Honestly, I don't see what the problem is." He looked at her, hopefully. "Really?"

"Definitely," Vega replied. "That's the biggest marrow I've ever seen."

[Vega]

47th Ashan, 721.

Following the consequenceSome people around Hopetoun have taken to thinking that Vega is a miracle worker. They begin making outlandish requests of her, and at one point a line/crowd of about a dozen or more begins to form, and they all have the most embarrassing and outlandish requests to make of her. given here

While they'd been looking at the marrow, Vega had noticed that there were people watching them. She turned her attention to where these people were and she realised that they weren't watching. No, they were queueing, in a largely orderly fashion. Turning to the farmer in question, she said. "I think there's people here to buy your marrows," and she was just about to leave when he replied - and she spotted at the same time. "No, they're not here for me. They're here for you."

As one, then another, and then another of the people in the line waved with the sort of enthusiasm usually reserved for stalkers and lunatics, Vega sighed. "Alright you lot," she said, walking over to the line and looking up and down it, "What's goin' on here?" That was a mistake, of course, since they all started talking at once, and the babble was near to incomprehensible. Vega sighed, lifting her hands in a surrendering gesture. "One at a time, tell me why you're here. Lets start this end of this line an' move through?"

And so, they did just that. Vega listened carefully as they spoke. "I can't find love, no matter how hard I try," said one. "I'm colour blind, and I was hoping you could cure me," was another. "I have a wart on my thumb, and it won't go away, will you help me?" Vega felt irritation build as the requests came - each one as silly as the next. But, she listened to them all. Then, she sighed slightly. "An' could someone please explain to me why you think I'm the person to speak to about this?" Again, they spoke over each other but at least this time she could mostly understand them. It was because of Mavis and Reggie - the cadouri she'd helped have a baby - it was because of the Beacon - it was because of the freeze.

They thought she could work miracles of some kind, whenever she wanted.

Vega was a brash and obstreperous individual of that there was no doubt, but she was also kind to her core and she didn't want to disappoint these people. So, she gestured to an area where they could all sit more comfortably and she moved there with them. "Look, I think there's been some misunderstandin' here," she said with a smile. "An' I'm sorry, but I don't have the answers to everythin' an' I can't work miracles on a whim." There was some confusion on the faces that looked at her, and Vega knew that she had to just keep talking now, keep explaining. Hopefully, they'd understand.

"I'm marked by the Immortal of Hope an' the Immortal of Dancin', right? Xiur an' Daia an' Qylios an' Ilaren. Those are the Immortals what have seen fit to mark me, an' that tells you a lot about who I am. Hope is real important to me, but it's not about sittin' an' hopin' good stuff will happen," she shrugged. "Hope an' courage an' companionship, they're all parts of the same thing. I don't have the answers, but I'm happy, always, to help you find your own, an' I hope I can help."

Looking at them, then, one at a time, she spoke. "I'm right sorry that you're lonely," she said to the man who said he couldn't find love. "But maybe you're tryin' too hard. Things like that happen when you least expect them, so maybe you should think about focusin' on you, an' making your life what you want it to be, much as you can? When you're happy an' content, it'll shine through." She believed that completely. To the person who was colour blind then, she spoke. "I can't cure you, but I'd ask you what you've done to find out if someone else can?" He shrugged and shook his head. "Nothing, I just heard you performed miracles, so I thought I'd ask." Vega nodded. "So, what you need to do, I reckon, is to find out exactly what it is that you've got - so see a medical person, ask them. Isra, here, she's good an' the Order are in Hopetoun, so that works. An' then, when you know that, think about things like alchemy or somethin'. I know that my blessin' from Xiur means that I can see in the dark, always, so maybe there's somethin' that can be done to help you see colour. But you've got to chase it, relentlessly, an' be prepared to work for it." He nodded, but still looked uncertain. "I'll help you, if you like?" That made him smile and his nodding was much more enthusiastic.

"I think the Order of the Adunih have a treatment to get rid of warts," she said to the woman who'd asked about that. "They do," the woman replied and she pulled a face. "But they use ice and I'm scared it will hurt." Vega gave a slight smile. "So, you don't want the wart gone so much that you're prepared to have a bit of pain for it to be gone? Nothin' I can do there, I'm afraid." The woman frowned and said, honestly, "I don't like it though, it's ugly." Vega nodded. "Then you need to make the decision of which you want more. Not to have a wart, or not to have pain. Simple choice."

And so she went on, talking to each one of them. They all listened, all hoping that she'd come to one of them and perform a miracle of some kind. By the time she'd dealt with each question, Vega hoped she'd got her message across, but just in case, she said it again. "What seems like a miracle is usually the result of hard work or devotion," she said, honestly. "An' I really hope that you all jus' take away from this that you're in control of your lives. What you do - what you don't do - those are choices, an' their your choices. If you want somethin', even if it seems impossible, pursue it." She smiled. "In my experience, you either get it, or you get the satisfaction of knowin' that you did everythin' in your power. Hope is always there, but you have to chase it, build for it, an' give it a way in." Shaking her head slightly, she stood. "An' I'm starvin', so come on then. Lets go get some food. Glem, put your marrow away, an' lets go get somethin' to eat."

And so saying, she did just that. People never ceased to amaze her, but to-trial had been one for the books.

[Pig Boy]

Player Name: Vega

Points awarded: 10
Magic xp: none

Knowledge:

Leadership x 3
Psychology x3

Renown: 5
Loot: none
Injuries/Overstepping: none
Wealth Points: none

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriately to PC's level

Notes: I'm really glad that you got the chance to wrap this thread up. The opening with the marrow and the obvious double entendre that presented was pretty amusing.

Vega gave good advice here, as she does, and was surprisingly patient with the gaggle of dweebs wanting easy solutions to their problems. What she said made a lot of sense, if you want something really bad, you work hard for it. Looking for shortcuts will lead to disappointment.

I wonder if this is the last she'll hear from people seeking miracles, though...

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!