Time Traveling Stories

" Funny enough, the mastiff drool is not that hard, but feather of the winged serpent? I only know the guardian of the Pyramid to the Gods and that's behind us in the House of Tezca. Would there be another nearer to Father? Wait, did you say that you have not heard from him? Since the sundering? or some other time? When was the last you have heard from him? Especially at our wedding, I knew that you two didn't get along and I was sad for that, but you don't speak? Why didn't you tell me that he has gone missing?"

Always shaken when his mother speaks to him, he grows quiet, but recovers enough self worth to ask another question. "I'm sorry Mother. I know we are all concerned for his safety. Do you know where I might start to look for him and discover where his quest might go?" I reach and hold your hand for solidarity but mainly just for comfort.

I squeeze your hand tightly, thinking to you, "Deep breath love, it's alright."

"Much better with you holding my hand and reminding me to breathe. You know how tense I get with Mother around. She is different now, not quite as judgmental and pedantic as before. Maybe she has seen that I am my own knight and that you are indeed the unrealized goddess. Do you think she is respecting us for once?"

I give you a kiss before you can formulate a thought on the subject. It was more rhetorical and I did not need an answer. I watch as Ana goes and hugs MooMoo with the force of a hurricane. Ana isn't the only child who gives hugs without a thought when Mother is around. I think I see her differently now. I turn back to you and contemplate your questions.

"I feel good. We seem to be on the same road that took us to our wedding in Ulatos. Yulus's temple was there. It is a grand city and with the war all but gone, it is thriving with all kinds of trade. Still, it is too far to circumnavigate Far Payit. We will have to travel over land, though the jungles and into the plains, across all of Payit and to the northeastern shore , beyond which lies only our little temple and the two visages of the People of the True World, where we said our vows before Qotal. We will ride Spirit, since the pluma lifts no longer run the trails, and you are not as far along with bean as you were with Ana, no matter how much minor illusion you tried to use. But tonight, let us enjoy Ibn-Tulum. Let us light a bonfire on top of the Temple to Kiltzi and commune with the winds. Ana has never seen a midnight candle ceremony on the grand ziggurat dedicated to her Mom."

I smile brightly at your idea, "That would be lovely! I think we'd all enjoy that, and she'll be thrilled to have a reason to be awake 'when the adults are.' Come, let's go settle things with Poca while Ana listens to her grandmother's stories. They could use the bonding time and I'll take as many seconds of just us as I can before we set out." I lean in and kiss you before rising to my feet, pulling on you as I do, giggling.

As we leave the room we're in, we see Margharita talking with two of the aides, her gestures while contained, show a bit of wildness to them as if she were in a panic but trying to hide it. As we approach, we hear her frantically whisper to the two girls who look ready to cry, "No! There was a little girl here of 5 years that isn't an orphan! That's my granddaughter! Are you telling me that you can't find my granddaughter?!"
The aide that had summoned Margharita timidly spoke, "Please understand Lady Margharita, I did not know! I collected all the children from outside playing and they were all orphanage children, no one told me there was a visiting child! We will search outside!"

I freeze in place for a moment, sure that my heart has stopped. Ana tends to be easily distracted, but she wouldn't ever just run off! "Duke..." I quietly say, unable to ask the question I fear is reality. You doubt for a moment this is possible as you just saw her, but you quickly realize the child you saw hug Margharita wasn't Ana, but an orphanage child who looked a lot like her from the distance we were. Ana is missing.

A child, being near enough to hear what's being said but was unnoticed, comes up and tugs at your mother's clothes. "Lady Wita? She was pwaying with me and just stopped and walked away. I towd her we can't leave the pwayground but she said she must appwoach and went to a man in a bwack dwess. I think her Daddy came for her." The young boy smiled, thinking he'd saved the situation.

I quickly grab a branch off the nearest tree and strip it to a dousing twig and cast Locate Object for Ana's necklace. If she is still within 1000 feet of me I can locate her. If she comes within 30 feet of me, she will be able to shake off the charm from my Aura of Devotion. I grab Kitty's hand and rush forward to follow the twig.

My mind reels. Squeezing and letting go of your hand, I slowly approach the dark mage. "You don't want to die. If you kill her, I will chase you all the way to the other world entrance at the Great Pyramid, but Loliath herself will be waiting inside to torture you for eternity for killing her prize. You may not harm her including taking her away from her father and mother. Let her go."

"Don't attack him, Kitty. I am compelling him to fight me instead of harming her or running."

I move up to him and cast Compelled Dual.

"Please be careful love!"

My heart stops. But my mind races. I pickup Ana and press her to my body and immediately lay on hands to pump healing spirit into her. I turn with a teary eye to pull you close. Not being able to hide my panic, I try to calm you, "She'll be ok, love. She'll be ok... She will be ok!"

"I hate magic!" I shake off the illusion, stand up and charge the last of my 15 movement, drawing my sword and slash! I do not light the fire but rather use my bonus action and shield feat to shove him prone. I critical hit him for 33 hit points. I slip as I go for the shove, but hope my strength is still enough against a mage/warlock thingy.

I rush in, crossing the distance between myself and Ana and scoop her up. Turning her away from the villain, I teleport the two of us 30ft behind you to get her as far as I can from him.

Naturally, he takes his opportunity to cast a blast at me, hitting me square in the back for 26 damage. I happily eat every bit of the damage too keeping Ana safe.