The Public Service in Remembrance of Sarvey

[Ragnarok]

In the months following the Cleansing Ritual of Passwall, the duchy was quickly being restored to life. The valley is in the full bloom of spring, but today was not a day for celebration. Beside the now-famous tree where the ritual to cleanse Passwall was performed, a small crowd had gathered around a newly-erected statue of a tall, lanky Oathsworn carrying a shield and harpoon-like spear, depicting him in the act of shielding another with his own body. The statue stood at the head of a fresh patch of earth where a body had clearly had been recently laid to rest, peppered with blue and yellow flowers. Several Atupali adventurers were among the crowd, as well as several newly-resurrected citizens of Passwall, a few soldiers who had fought in the war, and a handful of nobles. These included Sir Euron Gavar, Count Tanno, Baron Stone-Smelt, and Councilor Tillbane, as well as - somewhat controversially to some in the crowd - the newly-resurrected Paarl Vinland, now an old, one-armed High Orc that sat alone and in silence on the edge of the proceedings. Eventually, Sir Euron stepped to the front of the gathering and began to speak,

"Today, we gather in dutiful remembrance of the many who gave their lives to reclaim their homes, and their loved ones. For thirty years, the dark stain of Undeath gripped Passwall. They came without warning and took everything from the people who lived there. We have Passwall back, and we will never forget those who sacrificed their every life to see that dream become a reality. Our friends from beyond the Mist, the Atupali, have made many sacrifices in pursuit of this dream, but for one of them, sacrifice was truly a way of life. Sarvenius Shay was better known as Sarvey to his friends, and I am honored to count myself amongst them. Sarvey never left a comrade behind, and was the first in line to give his life for another. He said to me once, 'My life for theirs, always'. Though he was far from the only one to give his final life for Passwall, we shall not forget him, nor any of the others whose names are inscribed at the base of this monument, for their courage and sacrifice is an example to us all. May it stand here for 1000 years as a reminder of what was lost, and the spirits lost forever who died fighting for Passwall’s return."


[OOG: Any Player Character who wishes to be in attendance is present for the event. PCs who wish to give a short speech at the event are welcome to post below.]

 

[blueca]

Parthenocissus, clad in purples, approaches the monument. They pause for a moment, but decide to leave their thoughts unsaid. Instead, he places a modest bouquet of roses at the statue's feet. The dryad rejoins those gathered with his head bowed.

 

[Beaky]

Vaalk approaches the monument, his hand clasped around his Oathring.

"I grew up hearing stories of the undead blight that ravaged Passwall. Hearing about what was lost, and the constant fight to keep what they still had. I grew up in Meltith, a Duchy whose people are well acquainted with living alongside curses that would see us undone if we were to falter in our duties.
As a child, I met people who fled Passwall after the undead took the their land. I Empathized with them, their land was taken from them by forces outside of their control. They spoke about Passwall how I heard people speak of Meltith. The major difference at the time was that, we still had Meltith, where as a Majority of Passwall was lost"

"This last market, I left Meltith and joined the Atupali Adventurers, hoping to make help make a difference in Gavaria, and work against those who would see our land undone.
This is where I first met Sarvey."

"There is much to say about him, and not enough words to do so. Sarvey was an Oathsworn, he stood on his Oaths and promises as all of us should. Sarvey, from what I heard him say, did not see himself as a priority. He put others over himself at all costs. He didn't see himself as a heroic adventurer, he saw himself as one to assist others get to that point."

"In the cleansing of Passwall, I saw Sarvey in his element. Moving around the battlefield, engaging massive threats singlehandedly, and drawing them away from the ritual site, to ensure that it would succeed. Sarvey moved with purpose and intent, he moved as one willing to die to uphold the Oaths he had made to those around him.
In doing that Sarvey died"

"His spirit was not strong enough to return."

"Sarvey was the best of us, he was selfless to the point where some may have considered his path foolish. Why should one give their entire life for those of others?
but to that question I raise two more.
Sarvey died in the cleansing of Passwall. How many of those who now walk amongst the living once again will go forward to contribute to their own communities?
Sarvey's spirit was weakened by strengthening the spirits of other Adventurers. How many of those people will go forward to make further differences?
Through these two questions, I hope that you all see that his death was never going to be a foolish endeavor. His death worked to bring forth futures for countless individuals."

"Sarvey is the epitome of what it is be an Oathsworn. I can only hope to be a modicum of the hero he is."

"Passwall now stands cleansed,
It was an honor being able to stand on the battlefield with my fellow Atupali and fight for such a meaningful cause. It was a honor being a part of the force that worked to restore so much of Passwall."

"It was an honor serving with those who resurrected in this endeavor"

Vaalk looks up at the statue, his voice becoming more somber
"And it was an honor serving alongside you, during your last act of sacrifice. Rest well Sarvey, you have earned that at the very least"

Vaalk stands silently for a moment, before returning to the crowd

 

[koremorleth]

Korē stands, making her way to the front of the crowd. She nods to Sir Euron, taking a moment before speaking.
"Losing a friend is never easy. We feel their absence in the silences and spaces that they once filled. We see them in the things that remind us of them."

Korē looks at the grave, covered in blue and yellow flowers, then back to the crowd. "Last year, before the final battle of the Second Strigoi War, I made a decision. And that choice cost me. I lost one of my dearest friends and my partner to Clarissa Bancroft. I watched her strike them down while I stood helpless in a Circle I had created to rift us out. I was in shock. I very nearly gave in to despair. But Sarvey, who was standing next to me, kept me on my feet. I remember he said, "He'll be alright. He has a Cheat Death on his spirit, he will be fine." He reminded me that I still had friends who were living, who needed me to help them. And he was right. Aiden came back. So did Iban. But there was a cost."

Korē closes her eyes, a tear sliding down her cheek before she opens them again. "There is always a cost in war. A price paid. Sarvey knew this, and still he chose to protect those who were in danger, at the cost of his own life. If Sarvey was willing to risk it all for us, we should do the same for each other." She scans the crowd, silent before continuing on, her words becoming piercing and strong. "We must do the same for each other."

Nearing the end of her speech, Korē walks to Sarvey's grave, laying a single piece of paper amongst the flowers. She smiles sadly, looking out at the crowd. "Last year, I wrote Sarvey a note. In jest, but he took it and ran with it. And he saved the lives of some of my closest friends that day." She looks up at the statue, and smiles. "Well Sarvey, now you really can do what you want."

Her words concluded, she inclines her head respectfully to Sir Euron, then returns to her place within the crowd.

 

[RisenZed]

Aiden rests a hand on the monument. He doesn't turn to face the crowd. Instead, he kneels down to the grave where Sarvey had been laid to rest.

"You were there for me when I became an Oathsworn. You were there for me when I needed help in Rathfall. You were always there, whenever anyone needed you. I know you wanted this -- if you were going to die, you wanted it to be for someone. I don't know if you ever imagined it going down like this. There are hundreds, if not thousands of people, that owe their new lives to you."

He stands, swallowing the lump forming in his throat. "Wherever you are, I hope you're damned proud of what you did here. Thank you, Sarvey. Rest well."

 

[Matcha]

Ourodai steps forward from the crowd and kneels before the monument, head bowed. Her voice is low and quiet.

I did not know you, but you fought well, and fought valiantly. When I heard through the winds that there was to be an attempt to reclaim Passwall, it gave me purpose where it had once been lost.

She leaves a small, white, perfectly rounded oval stone at the monument's base, then stands.

For as long as I live, you will not be forgotten.

With that, she turns and disappears back into the crowd.