Rites

Homeland's Blood

You take little Anita by the hand and lead her home, wondering what should be done with her. Perhaps you ought to consult someone, for the girl cries so bitterly that your head pounds with the noise.

ID: 5006104

Type: None

Tips: None

Duration: 1 days

Waits For: 0 days

Marked as New Only on First Occurrence: 0

Starts Automatically: No

Triggers Result Automatically: No

Tag Tips: None

Tag Tips Up: None

Tag Tips Text: None

Random Text: None

Random Text Up: None

Actions When Wait Expires

This rite has no actions when the wait expires.

Slots

Slot #1
Anita

Locks: Yes

Is Key: No

Is Empty: No

Is Enemy: No

Conditions:

  • Type = Character
  • Card = Anita

Pops: None

Activation Conditions

This rite has no activation conditions.

Outcome

Prior

This rite has no prior outcome.

Regular

Let her stay with you.
After all, the old man entrusted her to you. You decide to keep her by your side. Perhaps—when the need arises—she may even serve to break a card or two...

Conditions:

Result:

Maggie prepares clean and well-kept clothes for Anita, combs her hair, and finds silver bangles suited to her new station, along with a pendant set with moonstone. The girl stares at her in wide-eyed silence, tears still glistening in her lashes, as though she has never once been treated with such care and has no idea how to respond.

Were it not for that vacant expression, she might pass for the daughter of a noble house. Maggie strokes her head with a smile, then turns to you: "All right, you can go."

Where?

"Samir, of course. Isn't it obvious, my dear?" Maggie chides you with a glance. "That old man is surely Samir's father. Entrusting the child to you is nothing less than entrusting her to his son. Now, quickly—go."

You hesitate only a moment before admitting she is right.

You summon a trusted servant and have the girl brought to the court physician's household.

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

Maggie prepares clean and well-kept clothes for Anita, combs her hair, and finds silver bangles suited to her new station, along with a pendant set with moonstone. The girl stares at her in wide-eyed silence, tears still glistening in her lashes, as though she has never once been treated with such care and has no idea how to respond.

Were it not for that vacant expression, she might pass for the daughter of a noble house. Maggie strokes her head with a smile, then says softly, "Let her stay here, my dear." There is a shadow of sorrow in her brow. "That old man is surely Samir's father. Entrusting the child to you is nothing less than entrusting her to his son. But..." She breaks off with a shake of her head. You draw her gently into your arms and promise that together you will care for the girl as your own.

Conditions:

Result:

In Lumera's presence, Anita quiets at once. She tilts her head back, listening in rapt attention as Lumera reads aloud from her book.

Later, when Anita falls asleep, Lumera slips out to find you.

"If you permit it," she says, "I would suggest... I would suggest sending her to Samir, the court physician—your friend. She longs to be a physician... I think such an arrangement would gladden them both."

You nod and accept her counsel.

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

In Lumera's presence, Anita quiets at once. She tilts her head back, listening in rapt attention as Lumera reads aloud from her book.

Later, when Anita falls asleep, Lumera slips out to find you. Her cheeks flush, her eyes alight with a small, hopeful spark. You realize she has never had a companion of her own age. With a smile you stroke her hair and ask if she would like Anita to remain here with her.

She nods eagerly.

Conditions:

Result:

You bring Anita to Samir and recount the old man's words.

Throughout your talk, Anita gazes with fascination at the vials on Samir's belt, his spectacles, and the physician's signet ring.

"Grandpa always spoke of the court physician... You—you are one, aren't you?" she asks timidly, giving Samir a respect she has never shown you. "How can I become one too?"

Samir bends toward her, then removes his spectacles and sets them upon her face. She stumbles back at once, dizzy from the lenses.

"These are crafted by an artisan. Many physicians must use them, for we spend long years reading countless books, squinting to observe and to distinguish. So we need such things. If you can do that, if you can endure the insults and the scorn—and perhaps even more..." He pauses, then smiles. "No. You need not endure so much. Do you wish to learn? Then come with me. I can give you a place as an apprentice."

Anita lets out a cheer, her grief forgotten, clinging to Samir's hand in delight.

Samir glances back at you. "Thank you, [player.name]... truly."

Then he leads the girl away.

Conditions:

Action:

Giving her to Samir would have been the best course. But Samir is dead now. And so, Anita has no one but you.

Conditions:

Result:

You take Anita to [s2.name]'s place.
Alim studies Anita with a tilted head.

"So, little girl... you want to be a thief? Heh... heh... heh... you'd make a fine thief..."

"No." Anita's answer is hard and quick. You and Alim both freeze for a heartbeat.

"I know I'd make a good thief," she says, "but Grandpa told me I can become a good physician. I can always come back and be a thief, but a thief can't become a physician just by trying. So I'm going to be a physician, not a thief. If I can't be a physician later, I'll find you at the market. I know where you and your street friends work."

Hands on her hips, she glares at the two of you until you both burst out laughing. Alim praises her again and again, then urges you to send the girl to the Nursery to study. Once you, he bends to her level and asks gravely, as one adult to another: "When you become a physician, will you treat my street friends? Will you really heal them?"

Anita lifts her chin with pride. "If they respect me and pay my fee, then I'll heal them properly."

Still laughing, you have her taken to the Nursery and settled there.

Conditions:

Action:

You take Anita to [s2.name]'s place.
Alim studies Anita with a tilted head.

"So, little girl... you want to be a thief? Heh... heh... heh... you'd make a fine thief..."

"No." Anita's answer is hard and quick. You and Alim glance at one another, and Alim spreads his hands. "It's not that I won't help you, Lord [player.name]. You see? She refuses to come with me." You sigh. Very well. She stays with you.

Conditions:

Result:

You take Anita to [s2.name]'s place.
"She's a good child." That is Badriyyah's first remark on seeing Anita. "Child, will you come with me?"

Anita shakes her head firmly. "Cultists don't bathe. Grandpa said it's unhygienic

...You have never seen Badriyyah laugh so hard. When she wipes the tears from her cheeks she tells you she believes the girl should be sent to the Nursery; one day she might indeed make a fine physician.

She might be right.

Conditions:

Action:

You take Anita to [s2.name]'s place.
"She's a good child." That is Badriyyah's first remark on seeing Anita. "Child, will you come with me?"

Anita shakes her head firmly. "Cultists don't bathe. Grandpa said it's unhygienic

...You have never seen Badriyyah laugh so hard. When she wipes the tears from her cheeks and says to the child, "Then stay with Lord [player.name]. I've heard he bathes often."

Anita looks at you searchingly and remains silent until you give her a nod.

Conditions:

Result:

You intend to take Anita to [s2.name]'s place.
As soon as you tell Anita who you are bringing her to, she clutches at your sleeve, eyes wide with a fear you have never seen in her. "Don't send me to the Purists. I know what they do. They dunk children in water again and again, they cut them with stones, and then—then—then they chant spells at dinner! Please..."

Seeing her terror, you relent. When you tell Iman, he only curves his lips in a faint smile, then suggests placing Anita in your Nursery. Proper schooling and friends will shape her far better than a stern god.

Conditions:

Action:

You intend to take Anita to [s2.name]'s place.
As soon as you tell Anita who you are bringing her to, she clutches at your sleeve, eyes wide with a fear you have never seen in her. "Don't send me to the Purists. I know what they do. They dunk children in water again and again, they cut them with stones, and then—then—then they chant spells at dinner! Please..."

Seeing her terror, you relent. Very well. She stays with you; after all, you can afford it.

Conditions:

Result:

You take Anita to [s2.name]'s place.
"A little girl? What am I supposed to do with a little girl?"

Adila looks at Anita in confusion, then smacks her forehead.

"I can't, but my mother—my grandmother—my aunts—they'd be glad to take her. If you trust me, I'll bring her home. She's neat and clean—though her arms are too thin to lift a sword. But after some training she could handle a dagger. Look at those eyes!"

You hand Anita over to Adila. The little one seems to like this strong sister; she bites her lip, grips Adila's sleeve, and walks off without a backward glance.

Truly—without a glance. Couldn't she at least pretend to show a little dependence or gratitude?

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

You take Anita to [s2.name]'s place.
While you speak with Jawad, Arumina sits outside chatting with Anita—surprising that they have anything to say to each other at all. Perhaps Anita is precocious, or perhaps Arumina is simply late to bloom...

As you struggle to persuade Jawad, Arumina bursts in. "Anita is so clever! Cleverer than me! She must not stay here. Father, pay for her to study medicine abroad. When she returns she will be the finest court physician!" With a few pieces of pastry bought at his own expense she coaxes an easy promise from the miserly man, then drags Anita off to play without a shred of hesitation.

Smiling at the father's dazed delight, you rise and take your leave. You have to admit, this seems a good future for Anita.

Conditions:

Result:

Action:

You take Anita to [s2.name]'s place.
The father receives you without spirit. He has lost his own daughter, yes, but that does not mean he wants another. He sees you out with polite indifference. It seems Anita will remain with you.

Conditions:

Result:

Extra

This rite has no extra outcome.