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Val takes a deep breath, tasting the night air on her tongue and letting the familiar scent of cooked rabit fill her nose and the scent of wood smoke drifting around her. She feels truly at peace for just a moment under the stars. She smiles as the traveler approaches her, then shakes her head as the dream-like haze lifts from her mind. Her eyes widen slightly as she recognizes the traveler from so many years ago. "Good evening my lady," she says with a bow of her head. "Please, have a seat by the fire and rest a moment. If you've come out of your way to see me again, you must want to speak for a bit." She nods toward the other log, offering her a place to rest.
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Dear Lord Gwerm,
Your faith in the Crusades is both inspiring... and well-placed. Today, we succeeded in our mission. Had we failed, all would have likely been lost tomorrow. Though, I suppose, sooner for us. While I did manage to discover where your pilfered belongings had gone (at least the platinum), I wasn't able to reclaim it; at the moment, it has fallen into the hands of cultists of Deskari.
Major movements occurred today... a meeting with the Worldwound Witch, the Wardstone itself acting as our savior, and visions heaped upon visions for us to watch. It's... quite complicated now. I'm not sure how it was less complicated, before... but somehow this has added more to it.
While we won the battle, it was almost assuredly only the first of many; our mission required that we destroy the Wardstone; a stone of ancient power re-purposed by celestial song and willpower into a beacon against darkness... but had we not, it stands to reason that the darkness would have despoiled it and turned it against us. I do not know all of the consequences, but I do know one: The wardstone field over Kenabres has fallen. From my understanding, however, this is not entirely a bad thing; Kenabres was the target of such a powerful attack explicitly for our stone - without it, the chances of the Demons being able to muster an army to assault us once more is much less likely, but the town is not going to be nearly so demon-proof as it was before. I am glad to know that you are safe within your walls.
On that note, there is a young man here who has been quite helpful to the Crusaders, specifically myself. He has busily delivered missives throughout the Heart, and has been quite useful in doing so; as for family, I know little. His grandfather was saved by mine, and his father yet lives. While he is young, he has a powerful drive. He would also like to one day become a Crusader, when he can become a squire; if he does come to work for you, I would like for you to bear that in mind with any sorts of contracts you may make with him.
Your Friend,
Ary Bishop.
P.S. Stay Safe.
By the time Ary finishes up with all of her errands, the night has begun to wear on her... and she doesn't go to visit with Markus; she makes a mental note to see if he'd needed her come morning... and instead moves back to her room to also sleep. Like Valaria, she doesn't bother to get out of her clothes. Unlike Valaria, hers consists of a shield and breastplate. She winds up sleeping in a seated position, back to the headboard.
For a moment, Ary is reminded of her other recent dreams and daydreams... of finding Radiance. And that is quickly replaced by memories of her vision of the Wardstone being blessed. Of seeing Queen Galifrey, still 'young' in the flesh. Of the Hand of the Inheritor. She takes a moment to take in each of the scenes as they flow by, a small smile playing on her lips, as she feels her heart bursting to life in her chest. She doesn't even notice the woman across the room at first, simply enamored with the beauty of everything around her.
While she had felt warmth just moments before... now she felt only awe. She was dumbfounded, as she froze in place, brow furrowing in confusion, and heart threatening to beat out of her chest. She forgets to even breathe as she stands in shock. When she finally does remember to breathe, she swallows, and quickly draws her sword, kneeling, and placing the sword behind her shield, in a knight's salute. She casts her eyes downward, allowing herself to take in the Light of the Sword's boots and the fringes of her cape. The entire movement is so swift that her cloak is still billowing downwards around her when she registers that Iomedae knows her name.
"I..." she stammers out, "I... My Lady... Inheritor?" she says, trying to tug herself back into a whole person. "Have I died? No... I was sleeping. I am sleeping." she says, and suddenly realizes how dumb she must look, spouting the first thing that comes to mind, her cheeks flushing pink as she focuses on the way the light is playing through the glass before her. Finally, she settles on what she should have likely said when she first spoke, moments before. "The pleasure is mine."
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Isilme stares in awe at at The Great Dreamer hovering before her. "I..." She tries to speak, but her words catch in her throat and tears of joy stream down her face. She falls to her knees before Desna, the ground beneath her a grassy field beneath the starry sky, though she'd been soaring only moments earlier. Swallowing hard, she digs deep inside herself, back to the time she'd spent locked away in the darkness of the blade, and had come to terms with it finally. In that place she had called out to Desna, begging her forgiveness. There she'd composed her thoughts into a words for her goddess, though she never knew if they'd be heard. Now, here before her, the words came to her easily, flowing as freely as the tears running down her face.
"In this place devoid of light, only my thoughts for company,
I wonder if you're out there, Starsong, watching over me,
A thousand stars I'll name, a million, or perhaps them all,
if only you'll forgive the errors that led me to this fall.
I loved a mortal elf it's true, you'll see no sin in that.
Together we roamed hand in hand, and many stories we begat.
And when my pride cost me all, it wasn't me I blamed,
but deemed my Lady abandoned me and left me there ashamed.
My faith in you I tossed away, some weak, ephemeral thing,
and left me with a hole inside where once I'd heard you sing.
My rage and wrath went on for years, smoldering deep inside,
but having heard your silence now, those feelings I can't abide.
I offer you these words, this song, for they're all I have to give,
I ask not that you restore me, nor free me now to live.
Forgive me Starsong for doubting you, forgive my mindless hate,
for the truth is you watched over me, and saved me from my fate."
Having said her piece, she kneels there silently watching Desna hovering before her, a sight more beautiful than she has any right to bear witness to.
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Ehren dreamt often of trees, of mountains, of rivers. Of the places his father had shown him when he was but a child. Every last one of them had been committed to memory. But even with the four hundred years' worth of Sarkorian lore he had been bestowed with, he was not certain that he should be so familiar with this place. And never before had a dream been so lucid for him. He could feel the ley flowing beneath his feet, as surely as he could in the waking world. For several moments he watches his progenitors as they work, communing with the Green. Only when he hears a voice does he turn around, and when he does, his heart goes still. Instinct at first compels him to avert his eyes, but he does not.
"My... my understanding is that it is I who should be thanking you, Inheritor," he replies meekly, with one hand held over his heart.
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Joy filled Hinagiku. Spending time in the garden always had this effect on her, it was calm and beautiful. She could smell the fragrance of the flowers, the fresh air, and the dew when she her hand gently brushed leaves and petals. She could even hear the whispers of the flowers and their needs when she touch them. She could hear them demand water, sun or shade.
Teenage Hinagiku was about to pick one up to finish the arrangement she had been working on when she sees the Inheritor. Still in a dreamlike state, she picks up one of the nicest flowers in the garden, and walks toward the goddess. Well, until she leaves the haze of the dream and realizes that she is having a vision.
In respect and to demand pardon, Hinagiku bows her head. After rubbing of the dirt from her hands on her apron, she bends down on her knees before assuming a prostrate position. She does not answer to the goddess’ thanks. Instead she remains immobile, finding the Inheritor’s divine presence perfect to behold.
Such pure valor and strength. Truly, gods must be the perfected essence of parts of existence.
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The goddess Desna smiles at Valaria. ”I’m sorry, dear. I don’t actually have that much time at all. I’m here to let you know that I’m proud of the path you have chosen. I’ve put my faith in the right champion.”
”But now, I want to know how you are doing.” She rests her chin in her hands.
”What will you do next?”
The Inheritor nods. ”Rise, Hinagiku. Not only have your actions saved the whole of Mendev, you have devoted your life to kindness and service. For this, you have my thanks.”
Her steely gaze softens. ”I am sorry that I cannot help you more in the future.”
"You have a great power, Hinagiku. What will you use it for?"
Iomedae shakes her head at Ehren.
”No. Without you, none of what happened today would have been possible.”
The goddess turns to the Circle of Hierophants. ”Even the gods are governed by ancient laws and edicts. You’ve had a glimpse of some of them, haven’t you?”
”Though, I do not deny my own hand in these events. Terendelev served me long and well. To the end.”
The Inheritor poses him a question. ”Why do you believe the Green is showing you this vision?”
”Rise, Ary.” Iomedae simply glows with warmth. She beams at the ranger. ”I have known many, many Bishops. But none of them are you, my lion. The girl who returned.” She reaches upwards, as Ary stands a full head taller than her goddess, and touches her cheek.
Her expression grows more serious and she backs away. ”Humankind lives in dark days, as you have witnessed these past few days. My Crusades are in need of a hero. My church in need of a marshal.”
The goddess steps towards Ary, drawing her sword. It blazes with light. ”Will you be my legion’s shining beacon?”
”Kneel, Ary Bishop. Swear my oath before me.”
”My dear,” The goddess Desna descends softly into the field and moves towards Isilme, cradling her head in her hands. ”Don’t cry. You have just been reborn from your chrysalis. Birth is always traumatic. But now you are truly free. More free than you ever were, even in Elysium.”
She smiles at her warmly. ”And best of all, it is all due to your own choices. All beings deserve to choose their own destinies.”
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Val says nothing for a moment, turning the spit over the fire once as she stares into the flames. Even if it's not real, the familiar action helps clear her mind. "I'm not really sure," she admits. "We've spoken before, you know me better than most. I've always walked the road ahead of me not really looking where it was going. I'm a wanderer, an explorer, and a vagabond. People may have called me a hero before, a champion of the little people, but I've never seen myself as one. I'm just... me." She pauses, taking a deep breath and staring deep into the flames again. "But right now, the people here need a hero. And I'd never be able to live with myself if I let everything they've made, everything in this world even, be overrun by the things rising in the Worldwound. I won't join the crusades officially, I won't be tied down by anything, but as long as there's a fight here, I'll stand at the front lines with them. Because there are still people that need someone who's fighting for them. And maybe I can learn to actually be a real hero somewhere along the way."
She hesitates a moment. "Perhaps it's presumptuous to ask. But can you see where the road I'm walking leads? Because I think that, for the first time, I want to know where it's going. And I'm afraid of where it might be leading."
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Markus looks up from his books and scrolls - coincidentally about Iomedae - to see Iomedae herself sitting there, in the flesh.
Well, sort of. Markus isn't really sure what... matter things are made of in the realm of dreams.
He feels sort of uncomfortable, so he doesn't treat the situation with the deference it probably deserves, merely saying, "Um. Hi." He quizzically raises an eyebrow. "What are you thanking me for? I didn't do anything."
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Iomedae smiles, bemused. ”For what?”
The world around Markus shimmers and warps into another. He is alone, back in the Grey Garrison, in the Hall of the First Fatalities. Areelu Vorlesh stands at the wardstone, using a deep purple crystal the size of a human’s head to corrupt the fragment.
The wardstone flickers and churns until it lets loose an explosion of nauseating mauve fire.
The world vanishes, and Markus is no longer corporeal. Several images flash through his mind, one after the other. He witnesses the rolling save of mauve fire sweep across Kenabres, and all along the wardstone border. The crusaders at Defender’s Heart, mounting a desperate last ditch attempt to save the city…. But when the explosion washes over them, they are transformed into tormented half-fiend slaves of the Worldwound.
Again and again, the scene is repeated. Crusaders in all of the border cities, corrupted. Wiped out.
Then Markus is back in Caliphas. In the Archives. Iomedae sits across the table from him. Her gaze feels like it bores into his very soul.
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Quickly, as an addendum, he realizes he should be probably more polite - "Not that I'm not honored by your presence and your gratitude." He furrows his brows. "I... I just have trouble believing that it isn't misplaced."
Ehren follows Iomedae's gaze, looking back to the Circle of Hierophants. This place was so peaceful, unmolested by the Abyss. The druids were in perfect harmony with the Circle, with the Green itself. He could only think of one answer to the goddess' question.
"I think... it is showing me the way things were. The way they were meant to be. And the way they must be once more."
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Desna's words fill that small emptiness deep within Lleuad-a'r-Sêr's heart like a key. In the span of a single mortal heartbeat--something she's keenly aware of there cradled in her goddess's hands--that key turns and releases the shackles that had weighed her down for so long. The doubts, regret, sadness, her fears and sense of powerlessness all fall away, leaving her truly unburdened. She places her hands upon Desna's, which still cradle her head, and sits there for what seems like an eternity. Isilme's gratitude shines forth through her smile as her eyes finally meet Desna's. "Thank you, my Lady. Your words are moonlight filling the darkness that had haunted me so, revealing it to be no different than any other of my Lady's nights. There is no blessing greater than to hear you say that I have been, and ever will be, free to make my own choices."
She thinks of all the people she's met in the short time she's been alive again, and of the one she'd known before her rebirth as well... many of whom have become dear to her in such a short span. Unburdened, she knows now what she wants. "I will use this freedom to aid those I can. So much pain and suffering has been endured by those in Kenabres... What has happened to the city and its people is no different than what happened to me is it? Though what it has endured is truly terrible, the city slumbers now as I did, forever changed. If I... no... if we do all we can, perhaps something greater and more beautiful will arise in its place. I want to be there to witness that, to hear the stories that are born of its heart."
She stands up, taking Starsong's hands in hers and letting them fall away from her face to rest in the space between them. "If you would grant me the honor of making a request of the Song of Spheres..." she asks quietly, though there's no hesitation or doubt in her words. "Li'an Va'ardalia gave her life to save an innocent girl, and I was reborn of that choice. I will do all I can to bring her back, for her sake, and for Elan's. Please take care of her until then."
Isilme lets go of Desna's hands and steps back to take look over her goddess in all her glory standing before her. "Is there anything my Lady would ask of me? Even in my life before I do not believe I ever had an honor so great as this, so if there is any way I might serve my lady directly beyond walking the path before me, please tell me."
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As Iomedae commands that she rise... she does so. When she does, she's surprised to see the goddess before her so... small. Much smaller than she'd ever imagined as a child. But then, everything is a whole lot bigger when you're little. As Iomedae's hand touches her cheek, she turns pink, but doesn't slip away... and just like that, the feeling of warmth slips away, as does her goddess, yet she can still feel that hand on her face.
As Iomedae's thoughts turn to war, once more, she closes her eyes and exhales as she listens, realizing she'd held her breath again. Everyone needed heroes, and she definitely could not deny that her church needed a shepherd, if nothing else, in recent years.
"Of... of course." Ary says as she kneels once more. "I... would be your anything." she says, self-consciously, beating back the fear that was trying to stop her from breathing. It was the sort of fear she very, very rarely felt. That she rarely let herself feel. Then she began, inhaling between each affirmation, and exhaling what she had left at the end, each line a breath of her own life. Each word a memory. They did not carry the same intonation that Ary was fond of using when she quoted them, they were as statements to an old friend.
"I will learn the weight of my sword. Without my heart to guide it, it is worthless--my strength is not in my sword, but in my heart. If I lose my sword, i have lost a tool. If I betray my heart, I have died. I will be temperate in my actions and moderate in my behavior... I will strive to emulate your perfection. I will guard the honor of my fellows, both in thought and deed. I am the first into battle, and the last to leave it. I will not be taken prisoner by my free will. I will not surrender those under my command. I will have faith in you, I will channel your strength through my body. I will shine in your legion, and I will not tarnish your glory through base actions. When in doubt, I may force my enemies to surrender, but I am responsible for their lives. I will never refuse a challenge from an equal. I will give honor to worthy enemies, and contempt to the rest. I will suffer death before dishonor." And she saved the last and hardest of her affirmations. "I will never abandon a companion... though I will honor a sacrifice freely given."
As she stated each, her mind traveled backwards, unbidden, to memories. She did not betray her Heart when she freed Hrut from the Darkmantle, threatening to leave herself to die alone in the darkness. Every moment that she was with others, she strove to share the strength and hope that Iomedae gave to her. To the moment she saw Markus's blood dripping into Annabelle's mouth, and the unquestioning trust she had in him. To the deadly strikes she had levied upon the fly demons when she was allowed to enter first, and to the fear she had felt - and guarded her allies from - when they had forced her to retreat. To her transgression against Liotr when she realized they had failed entirely... and worse... and then to what she felt when she had sent the letter of apology. To how she had stuck around for the light interrogations of her allies, and stood by Sana... even when she was wrong. To Hosilla, who she could not save from her wicked ways, and to Garil, who she hoped she had impacted. And maybe even Jeslyn, gods-willing. To every drop of contempt she had given to each and every cultist. When had she given her enemies honor? Mostly only after they lay at her feet. And then her mind traveled unbidden to Isilme and Li'an. Isilme was a companion... and Li'an was the sacrifice. And it was still so very, very hard. She fought back the last swirl of emotions so that she could continue.
"I will eliminate evil at its root, I will serve as an example to others, as I eliminate the source, not the symptoms. I will withdraw when I must, but I will hold the line if it can save others."
She pauses, briefly, once more, before continuing. “I do so swear under the Light, by the Sword and Scales of Truth and all the fires of heaven, to undertake this holy Crusade. I pledge to guard heart, spirit, body, and mind from the corruption of this Wound upon the World. I furthermore promise and declare that I shall wage relentless war against the Spawn of the Pit and their manifold legions, as directed by those with charge of this Crusade and whenever opportunity presents, to extirpate and annihilate their execrable race and any who serve them.”
Then, "My heart has been with you, from the moment I learned who you were. My strength and sword have always belonged to you, no oath was ever required." she added, without looking up from her prayer-like stance.
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Standing in front of a goddess? How... inappropriate. Hinagiku would have at most sat on her heels, hands on her lap. Still, her body, or rather her personification in the dream, listened to the words of the inheritor rather than to her own thoughts, and she stood up gracefully. No more head bowing either, for she could tell that the goddess did not desire her to be submissive.
"Great Inheritor, you honor me with your presence." she ponders for a moment what Iomedae just said. Had she truly saved the whole of Mendev? Valaria had mentioned the importance of the mission, that it would save the world. So it was not an exaggeration.
"Goddess of Valor, your words are kind." she says, uncomfortable that the Iomedae refers to her directly rather than saying that their group succeeded. To the Tian woman, it seemed like too much attention was paid to her, that it should be her roll within that should be praised, or even better, that the group should be praised.
Still trying to process what the goddess told her, she takes a second pause to figure out what to say next.
"Yes, the strength of ब्रह्मा, I can feel it so much stronger now... why? Has my... progenitor... given me its blessing? Is it calling to me to continue my quest?" she pauses, now looking toward Iomedae, almost into her eyes.
"Or is it the blessing of your followers that suffuses us?"
She barely pauses before answering the last question, for she already knows the answer.
"Power or no power, I will strive to continue reach for my goal." but clearly the goddess knew all that, she must have wanted to hear it from her. To have a pledge. "One step at a time I will advance, perfect myself, and as I do so I will stem more and more the Wound's bleeding. I will do so until the wound is healed or until I fall. As long as it stands, I can never truly attain enlightenment, nor can all the people living in fear of the Oni."
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The goddess stares at Markus with a mixture of curiosity and bemusement.
”Ehren was important, yes. His presence was precisely what was needed.”
She reaches across the table to grasp her own holy text. She flicks through the pages and frowns. ”What this book leaves out is that nothing I accomplished within these pages was done alone. I had allies back then… friends. And together, we were more than the sum of our parts.”
She pauses on an illustration of the Whispering Tyrant, tracing her finger along it. ”Tar-Baphon never had allies. Only slaves. Minions.”
She looks back up from the book at Markus. Her expression is serious. ”I am not thanking you alone. I am thanking all of you. Together you have saved my church. My people.”
”You were an important part of that, Markus. I don’t want you to forget that.”
Desna listens to Valaria, smiling. ”Valaria…. The dreams I grant you are tools for exploration and making choices. Not for despair.”
”But of the path you are on, I will tell you this. There is always a chance for success. Especially when you have luck on your side.” She grins mischievously.
”But enough doom and gloom!” Desna stands up, her colorful scarves billowing around her. ”I need to go, soon. Even I cannot fully control the realm of dreams… But before I do, I have a gift.”
She steps aside, revealing Li’an Va’ardalia, illuminated by the campfire’s flickering flames.
Iomedae nods at Hinagiku with approval as she moves to her feet. ”There is a time to be humble, and there is also a time to be bold. When facing the Abyss, one must be bold.”
”There are ancient forces beyond even the knowledge or influence of the gods. You are being directed by such a force, Hinagiku. I cannot tell you its will. That is something you must discover for yourself.”
”What I can do is offer you my blessing. You and I, we share one enemy. Deskari must be stopped. You cannot stop him alone, even with the ब्रह्मा. But you don’t have to.”
”You have met a group of remarkable individuals, have you not? Surely, you have felt connected to them. You will come to draw power from the trust of your bonds with them. I do not ask you to seek glory nor fame for yourself.”
”I ask you to safeguard your allies. To be their guardian. Will you do this for me?”
”Ehren, you were chosen by forces beyond my influence. Someday you will wield power beyond what mankind has seen in a very long time. And you will have the wisdom of the ages to help decide what you do with it.”
”Druid, I do not appear before you today to tell you what to do. Only you can choose your path.” Iomedae turns to look Ehren in the eyes.
”You have met some remarkable people, these past few days. A mage and a Desnan who refuse to let their blood decide their fate for them. A child of the ley itself. An azata who has evolved into something beyond a celestial. And… my lion. The girl who returned.” Her gaze softens, just for a moment.
”Will you stay with them?”
Iomedae touches the flat of her blade to Ary’s shoulder as she speaks. She steps back, gesturing for her to stand once more. The goddess looks up into her eyes. Her face is heavily scarred, but she wears them with pride. Each scar was a wound taken for someone else.
”I know, Ary. You have followed me without question, because we follow the same beliefs. We have the same values. You have never needed divine gifts like my clergy do, to inspire them into a life of valor and righteousness. It is just inherent within you.”
”I am honored to have you fight as my sword. This war, my war has gone on for long enough. I cannot stand to see my people suffer for much longer. I need you to help make it right.”
”You understand, more than anyone, that you cannot fight alone. You have made lifelong allies, Ary Bishop. You will inspire them to greatness.”
Desna listens, smiling as Isilme pours her heart out to her.
”I was hoping you would tell me this. It seems your path and that of Mendev’s have become linked. So all that is left is to follow it through to the end, and see where it leads.” She grips Isilme’s hands tightly.
”I have my eye on Li’an. So does Elan. Whether she comes or goes, though, that is her choice, and no one else’s.” She grins cryptically.
”Isilme, you have made new allies these past few days. I ask that you be patient with them. You are something that is difficult for them to truly understand. But someday, if you let them, they will.”
She laughs, and the stars above seem to twinkle in response. ”The young Inheritor is using my channels tonight. She wanted to speak to you, also! Ah, I told her no. I could not sit idly by while you are in so much pain. You must heal yourself first if you plan to heal the world itself.”
----
Val pulles the rabbit off the fire and turns it over in her hands. She smiles and jams the stick into the ground, keeping it upright. "Uncertainty, excitement, potential, but not despair," she says, steepling her fingers and slowly tapping them together. "Hopefully luck will be a bit less fickle this time." She grins mischievously at her goddess.
Her eyes widen slightly as Li'an's familiar form steps into her campsite. "Li'an..."
"I... hope so." Ary says after a moment. "And either way, it will be my honor to try, she says as she looks down on her own goddess. "I can only hope that I make the right choices. There are so many different ways to be wrong." she shakes her head.
"And I guess that's exactly why I need my friends. I'm pretty much never right, except when I'm agreeing with one of them." she says, beaming. "It was nice getting the chance to meet you before... you know." she offers, as she looks around the empty hall that she had expected to be full of Iomedae's Legion. Clearly that meant that many were marching... though to where was anyone's guess.
"Thank you... and I'll do what I can, Inheritor."
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Ary Bishop, Mythic Ranger
Iomedae smiles. ”I was human once. I too, had a group of friends. Without them, none of this,” she gestures at her grand cathedral. ”would have been possible.”
”I have faith in you, Ary. You will protect them when needed. You will push them when needed. And together you will be capable of greater acts of heroism because of it.”
She moves close to Ary, and cups the back of her head gently. Her fingers entwine into her long hair, and she bends her face down slightly. Iomedae lifts herself up and kisses her on the forehead. Ary is suddenly filled with warmth as the Inheritor blesses her, personally.
Iomedae lingers for a moment, keeping their faces close, then withdraws.
She sheathes her sword and her gaze turns serious.
”Take the lead. Help your companions. And start taking the fight to our enemies. We don’t have much time.”
Ary wakes up. It is morning.
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Ary's face stays flushed even as she awakens... her heart is pounding out of her chest, and even had she tried to speak, she wouldn't have been able to. After a few moments, Ary offers a short prayer to Iomedae (significantly shorter than normal; she was fairly certain she had succeeded in her devotions for today), and went to get a nice, cold shower.
This was definitely going into the little book of celestial learning... she just had to figure out how to obfuscate it with flowery words.
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"Thank you, my Lady. Your words will forever be within my heart, the bedrock upon which I lay my foundations... the fertile soil I will till and which will bear the fruit of my hopes and dreams: Words that might inspire and hearten my allies when they are lost, music that urges them forward when the path ahead has worn them down, stories that tell of their deeds, of their losses and gains, and of their loves, so that others might know these paths are not as dark and foreboding as they once feared. And I will heal myself, and the wounds of those whose pain I share..." she says with a soft smile, her mind drifting to the night's events. She smiles at Desna, knowing that anything else she might say the goddess already knew. And perhaps she'd known everything that would transpire, but it mattered little. Even if the words were from a script, and she merely an actor, the power was in the their telling, a choice which she made.
Satsified, she falls back into the soft grass and stares up into the ever-changing night sky of her home, a sight she wished she could dream of every night. "Starsong... would it be alright if I dreamed of these skies every night? Maybe sleeping isn't so bad after all..." she thinks to herself as she begins to feel her lucidity slipping away.
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Upon hearing Iomedae's request, Ehren nods firmly, without hesitation.
"Of course. I will not abandon my friends. Not after everything we have been through together," Ehren replies, holding the Inheritor's gaze. He smiles, thinking back on the good times they had shared together. Even through such adversity, he had managed to find joy.
"They will need what wisdom I can offer them... and I will need theirs."
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"O-Oh. Okay." says Markus. "I suppose that makes sense. It's something that I've thought a lot about - probably obviously. It's gratifying to know that a goddess finds it important to consider as well as myself."
"I..." he begins to say something generic and nice, but then remembers something. "Where are the angels and azatas and archons? Deep-set planar rules are one thing, but this portal to the Abyss hardly screams 'balance' to me. Even if Deskari doesn't march onto battlefields personally anymore, someone like Khorramzadeh can personally wipe out a thousand Crusaders and I'm not sure what we're supposed to do about that."
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Stepping forth into sight, Li'an is clad in the green dress Isilme had given Valaria prior to their journey to the Grey Garrison. The campfire plays on the silver strands and gold accents of the dress, and Li'an stops for a moment to twirl around gracefully before stepping forward again. She nods briefly at her hostess and smiles in gratitude, then turns her attention to Valaria.
"I picked it for you, you know... I wanted you to see me the way I saw you when we met on Armasse," She smiles brightly at Valaria, the fire playing across her flushed cheeks, accentuating their rose color. "You took my breath away that day... and I'm not sure if I ever quite recovered it." Her words are unburdened here by doubt or hesitation, perhaps due to the fleeting nature of the dream.
Wasting no time, she allows herself to fall into Val's lap, throwing her arms around her. Her face comes to rest only inches from Val's, and she stares deeply into her eyes. "Words are wonderful, you know? I love them so much, they have beauty, and emotion, and so many other things. But sometimes they have to come second." She squeezes Valaria and kisses her passionately, letting the kiss and embrace linger for as long as she dares.
"I love you Val, even if it's silly to have fallen for you in so short a time. Promise you'll keep a little piece of me with you always... and I promise not to be jealous if someone comes along and steals your heart one day. I'll always be watching over you..." She kisses Valaria tenderly once more, this time her resting her hand on her cheek as she does.
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Val seems mesmerized as she gets the full view of Li'an's dress. Her face flushes very deep purple and her mouth drops open slightly. No words manage to escape her lips as Li'an speaks. She reflexively puts an arm around the elf's waist as as falls into her lap, pulling her close. She stiffens as Li'an's lips press against hers, then she leans in and meets her kiss with equal passion. The kiss feels like it ends entirely too soon.
"I'm not quite sure I knew what love actually felt like. I've been in lust with plenty of people, but love always seemed more than willing to pass me by. I was as surprised as you were to realize that I'd managed to fall for you in... gods, was it only a week?" She kisses Li'an again, pulling her closer. "You were beauty and kindness. And words can't fully describe what I'm feeling right now. I'll always love you I think. Even if someone else captures my heart, you'll always have a place in it. So please, don't forget me either."
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Lleuad-a'r-Sêr, Mythic Bard
Desna smiles down at Isilme.
”Isilme, once you are healed, you will have the power to do the impossible. Matched with your skills and your wit, one day you will be able to steer the fates of entire cities and nations.”
”We will meet again, one day. Until then know that I am watching. I put my faith in you.”
She kneels beside Isilme on the ground, clasping her hand in her own. Warmth spreads from the contact and the feeling persists as her consciousness drifts out and away from the dreamland and back into reality.
Isilme wakes up. It is morning.
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Ehren Ferron, Mythic Druid
”Not only your friends. Ehren. Someday multitudes will come to look up to you as a symbol. Exactly what that will be will depend on your own actions. Even once the rift is healed, it will be a long time before Sarkoris itself recovers.”
The goddess approaches the druid and places a hand on his shoulder. He is suddenly filled with warmth as Iomedae blesses him personally.
Ehren wakes up. It is morning.
"I'm not sure I could if I wanted to," Li'an says with a laugh. "Good night Val... maybe I'll sneak into your dreams again some night, Desna willing. You were responsible for truly introducing me to her after all, and I think that merits an extra reward," she says with a smile before kissing Valaria one final time. With that, she stands, her hand holding onto Val's as she does. She turns towards Desna and walks away, her hand holding on until she can no longer reach. She smiles at her goddess and walks off into the darkness, knowing her time here was at an end.
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Markus the Grey, Mythic Necromancer
The Inheritor is patient with Markus' questions.
"The difference between a mortal soul and an outsider is one of free will, Markus. Think of the crusaders you raise. You give them a second chance to fight, it is true, but do they truly have free will? Yet your requests of them are just, and you understand that using their bodies must be done with respect and dignity."
"It is much the same as myself and the legions that serve me. As a goddess I am now Valor exemplified. I am everywhere at once. I can see everything. But with that comes a cost. I must respect the free will of mortal souls. I cannot interfere. There are laws that govern what even the gods can do."
"Angels, azatas, archons. They do not choose to do good. They must. So when I make requests of them, it must be sparingly, and with respect and dignity."
She bridges her fingers together. "I can, for example, bestow upon my most faithful soldiers the power to summon them... or make requests of them. And I do. As long as it is that my faithful choose to do these things. I do not command."
She gives Markus a long look. "Markus, you are coming to learn that you have the power to weave the very fabric of reality itself. These questions you ask of me... others will ask the same of you, in time. What will you say, then?"
The Inheritor stands and clasps Markus' shoulder. She closes her eyes, and Markus is filled with warmth.
Markus wakes up. It is morning.
Hinagiku stood there, dumbfounded. Her one goal was to protect, and help people grow. This could only happen if she fought the Oni. Surely, the Inheritor knew that. Then, why was she asking her to protect Ary, Ehren, Isilme, Markus, and Valaria? Why them specifically if she wanted to protect all living beings? Because the very essence of the world had suffused them? No, it had to be something else. Hinagiku’s mind slowly reached the obvious conclusion: Iomedae wanted her to play her role, be her very self among the other people that wanted to heal the wound. More than that, the Inheritor had faith that they could stop Deskari, the one great Oni at the center of it.
“ब्रह्मा’s chosen, I will stand by them as long as we reach for the same goal, as long as they need me as their protectors, and as long as we can heal the world together. I will stand to this word, but I cannot promise more oh great Inheritor.” she says, shamed that she would have to make such evasive promise to a goddess. Still, binding herself to others for the sake of binding herself people rather than her one goal would not be right.
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Markus gasps as he wakes up. He frowns in dissatisfaction. "Hm." is all he says, before he heaves his legs over the edge of his bed and begins to get ready for the day.
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Valaria Alazario, Mythic Swashbuckler
Desna waits patiently while Valaria and Li’an reunite. After a few moments she intervenes. Valaria can feel her lucidity slipping back into consciousness.
She moves up to Valaria and touches her cheek, the butterfly tattoo. It flushes with warmth as the goddess blesses her again.
”Be ready for challenges and unexpected friends, Valaria.”
Valaria wakes up. It is morning.
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Hinagiku, Mythic Monk
Iomedae smiles warmly at Hinagiku’s response. ”I could not ask for anything more than that, Hinagiku.”
”I will not sit idly by, myself. I can only offer you this one blessing. I wish you the best. Your journey will be a long one.”
Hinagiku wakes up. It has only been three hours. The rest of the heroes are still asleep.
Annabelle isn’t, though. Her eyes seem to glow, slightly, absorbing the faint light from the torches in the hallway, appearing as two glowing red orbs in the darkness. She is watching Hinagiku sleep. Once Hinagiku stirs, she speaks up.
”Senpai? Are you awake?” She closes her eyes. ”You were right. I can’t sleep.”
Val reluctantly lets Li'an hand slip away from her, still feeling the ghost of her last kiss on her lips. She watches her walk off into the darkness and feels a tear running down her cheek as the dream fades away. "Goodbye," she whispers to both Li'an and Desna. She feels the warmth fill her body and closes her eyes.
The instantly snap open again and she flinches as the morning sun hits her eyes. She groans as she sits up and rubs her forehead for a moment. Realizing she's still wearing her clothes, she gets up and wanders off. "Maybe Markus or someone can do that trick to clean my clothes."
Isilme awakes refreshed, her memories of the dream still vivid in her mind. She gets dressed and heads off to find some water to clean up, having decided the best way to start would be a bath. Finally finding someone to help her get a bath drawn, she asks that they only heat up enough water to ensure that her bath won't be unpleasantly cold.
As she passes Valaria in the hall, she smiles at her warmly. "Good morning, dear, did you sleep well? Your clothes look like they never got a chance to rest," she says with a wink. "Would you care for a bath? I was about to take one, and if we're going to draw one, a second shouldn't be too much trouble."
Val stops when she sees Isilme, then smiles. "I think I slept better than I have in long time. And yeah, I think a bath might be in order. Hey, do you know... what's the spell... Prestidigitation. I think my clothes could use a little cleaning too."
25 Arodus 4713
The heroes were up late, and their bodies were exhausted, so all except Hinagiku slept until almost noon.
The inn is busy with moving crusaders. Every scout that had returned so far reported no demonic presence in the city. The inn was beginning to empty of citizens as they left to investigate their homes... to see what they had left.
The crusaders themselves are busy with collecting the bodies of the dead. Inquisitor Wardsev is seen with a small group of Pharasmins preparing the corpses for burial rites in the courtyard by the stables.
Aitha is packing her things in the common area, getting ready to attempt moving back into her and Klarah's home. She is almost done, and only needs to make arrangements for a mule or horse to help carry everything. She is not short on money right now, so it is only a matter of waiting for one to be available.
Aravashnial is delivering a lecture on illusion magic to the riftwarden orphans in the makeshift "library" of Defender's Heart.
Annabelle is in her room, alone, with the curtain drawn.
"I can take care of them when I get mine as well. No sense taking a bath and then getting into dirty clothes! We should see if Ary and Hina would care to join us as well." Thinking about it for a moment longer, she adds, "I imagine everyone will probably want a bath now that I think about it. Maybe we should just sit Ehren down in front of a large depression and force him to create water until we have ourselves a small lake." she says with an impish grin.
As she goes about helping get the baths prepared she thinks about things she needs to get done now that there's no pressure on them. "I should visit Elan's house and see if there's anything left there. If it's still in good shape I'm certain I can find a good use for it. Also I should talk to Irabeth about officially joining when I get a chance." Her mind wanders for a moment and she pauses, thinking about the previous night's festivities. She blushes slightly as she remembers her answer to Anevia's question. "I should check on Ai'sintar... I did promise we'd work on finding the right script for his new spellbook."
"Thanks. It's been... I actually don't remember that last time I actually cleaned these. It's been a long week." She giggles. "Very well then. Shall we? I have blood, demon ichor who knows what else to wash off."
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Ary comes out of her room about ten minutes behind the other women, and begins drawing water wordlessly. She listens to the other women talk for a few moments, noting the lack of chatter about visions... and so doesn't bring up her own. No need to get into details of such things.
Even still, the two busybodies would likely be completely unable to miss the occasional big stupid grins plastered across Ary's face... or the occasional turns of her ring.
Finally, after moving quite a lot of water, she joins into the conversation. "So... you're both doing a lot better than I expected this morning. Did you find an alchemist?"
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"I am so ready for a bath... the last time I got a cleaning it involved a dry cloth and some wax." she says, laughing at the thought.
Isilme finishes preparing her water and disrobes without thinking twice about it, tossing her clothes into a pile far enough from the tub that they won't get wet. Stepping in gingerly, she slides into the water, disappearing beneath it for a few moments. When she pops up, she pulls her hair back, wringing most of the water out of it and looks at Ary. "You're looking awfully cheerful yourself. If I had to guess I'd say you had someone on your mind Ary!" she says teasingly.
"As for why I'm in such a good mood," she begins, "I had a dream last night, of Elysium and my Lady, Starsong... How can I explain it? It's as if I'd run away from home after a fight, cursing my mother, and suddenly I came home ages later only to find out she was never angry, only worried about me, and relieved to see I've returned. I told her everything I'd held in all that time, and she just comforted me and told me I was free." She smiles brightly, her voice almost sing-song as she recounts the tale. "In all my days wandering the world that I can remember, I've never slept so well. Perhaps not feeling the wine this morning is also a side effect?" Isilme grabs her soap and proceeds to wash herself slowly, enjoying the chance to relax.
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Val chuckles. "I... actually didn't need one. Which is weird now that I think about it. I had a... visitor last night who kept me occupied a bit. Maybe she was kind enough to keep me from getting a hangover." She turns to Isilme with a smile. "The same one you did from the sounds of it. The Great Dreamer paid me a visit along with... Li'an. We spoke for a bit and she helped me remember something that I'd almost forgotten. And... and gave me a chance to talk to Li'an once more. To say goodbye." She's very quiet as she slides into the water and gets comfortable. "What about you?" she asks Ary, changing the subject. "You look in particularly good spirits this morning. Did something happen last night after you dropped me off in bed?"
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After taking in the vision, Hinagiku slowly opens her eyes without moving any parts of her body. Only her eyes move, they veer to the side to focuse on Annabelle, or rather on the cavaliers now glowing red iris. She sights inwardly upon hearing her ally’s comment.
”Annabelle. I am sorry.” she says, gently moving toward the bed where Annabelle still laid on her belly. She takes her hand and pats it for a moment.
”Annabelle, you know, it took me 12 years to master my body enough to be able to spend most of nights awake. One thing that I realized after that was that I could use all that extra time to do more than many people can do. Now, I can take ever more time to read and practive… is there anything you wish you could do but never had the time?”
Hinagiku did not wish to leave Annabelle alone too long, but she needed to speak with Ary, and the others as well as get a book to study. So, she left her comrade’s room, and after some difficulties inquiring about the whereabouts of the others, she finally reaches the bathroom. Upon entering, the others can notice that she is somewhat cleaner than yesterday. Her face and hands are clearly clean, and her hair is tightly braided, but her clothes have barely been washed, with her shawl still severely covered with blood, some of which apparently still fresh and wet.
”All, good morning.” she says with a bow. ”I caught a glimpse of your conversation while coming. I also had a vision, but not of the Song of Spheres, it was the Inheritor that visited me. I think that she wanted to make sure that I would be at your side during the battles that are to come.” she says still standing straight in front of the three women, not at all preparing to bathe. ”And so I have come to ask you something. Feel free to keep your answer, or to postpone our discussion for after you have all relaxed. What I desire to ask all of you is this: what is it that you expect to accomplish here? Where will you go, what will you do?”
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Annabelle looks at Hinagiku and eases herself up into a sitting position. Her movements are listless and heavy.
"Hmmm. I like to paint, but I don't have any supplies." She curls her legs up to her chest. "Being a crusader keeps you fed and gets a roof over your head but not much else."
She stares at Hinagiku. "Senpai, where are you going now? I don't know what's going to happen to me. I think...I think I have to follow Markus. I have to leave my brigade." She wraps her arms around her legs and rests her chin on her knees. "I tried to talk to him about it a little bit earlier but... it didn't go well."
"He's really handsome but... he's not very sensitive... He referred to himself as a 'food source'." She winces. "I guess that's what I get for trying to flirt.... but it turns out all he wanted to talk about was my 'disability'."
"I feel stuck." She tears up. "I wonder if this is how Aron felt when he got conscripted."
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"Mmmhmm. You could say that. I... finally got to see that special someone. She calls me her Lion.." she says, the big stupid grin returning for a moment, as she also casually disrobes. Her casual disrobing takes quite a bit longer, given her breastplate, but she manages all the same. She'd planned on a cold shower, but she figured with the baths already being warmed, it'd be rude not to climb in. She does so with practiced ease, not looking at anyone else as they do; again, all business in the bath.
Glad to leave it as cryptic as she had, she gives Hinagiku a grin, "Honestly, my plan is to win. And then win a bit more. Maybe win some more. With luck, we can refortify, get the people a place to stay, and then press inwards on the Worldwound. I had a chance to think last night, and this morning... and I realized. If the Demons mounted a sizable force against multiple border towns... and they lost in the others and got entirely destroyed by the wardstone here... that will mean that there's a good chance their forces have dwindled quite a lot... which means we can gain some ground. There definitely is a gap in the wardstone field... but there's also gonna be a gap in their defenses."
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The Inheritor's words ring through Ehren's mind as he meditates, dominating his thoughts. Fortunately for him, the Green did not seem to mind. It was very much involved in this, after all. The great purpose he and his order had foreseen for him was real. The vision the wardstone gave him had already convinced him of this, but hearing Iomedae herself say so somehow made it more absolute. Knowing that he was moving forward with her blessing made him feel stronger, more confident. There were however, a few things he had his doubts about.
A symbol? he thinks, running a hand through his hair. Me?
She had said 'multitudes' of people... how many was that? Tens? Hundreds? Thousands? And just what would he be a symbol of? All questions that would be answered, he presumed, by his own actions. No pressure or anything.
These troublesome thoughts follow him out of the room, forcing him to beg the question of how he should start his day.
Isilme smiles inwardly at Valaria's mention that she'd received a visit from Li'an in her dream. "If there's anyone who deserved that closure, it was those two... thank you my Lady." she thinks to herself. "I'm glad you were able to see her as well... it was such an amazing feeling, one I never imagined I'd experience."
She grins at Ary's revelation, "Very mysterious... Her Lion, hmm? You've piqued my curiosity! I'll have to goad you into sharing a bit more sometime," she teases the ranger.
When Hinagiku comes in and explains that she had a vision of the Inheritor as well, Isilme interjects, "What an unprecedented night! I wonder if Ehren and Markus had visions as well?"
"What do I want to accomplish? I want to see Kenabres restored and full of people going about their lives again. To see the lands beyond heal and watch as the horrors of this time fade into memory, eventually existing only as tales of those who fought to turn the tide. What Ary proposes is a means to that end, and I will stay with you all to see it done. And I plan to enlist in the crusades as soon as I can. I was going to try to talk to Irabeth about it today sometime."
"But please, there is plenty of time to be serious..." With a wink she requests Hinagiku's company in her own tongue. "Hinagiku, 水は素晴らしいです, と一緒に入浴 お願いします"
"The water is splendid, bathe with us please."
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Val laughs. "It's a bit unfair, but it didn't have quite the same impact on me. Maybe it's because I've met her before." She sighs. What could have made her worthy of Desna's attention when one of her most devoted servants had never met her before. "But thank you all the same."
She looks at Ary and grins ear to ear. "Looks like I wasn't the only one that had a fun dream last night. Isilme might be willing to wait, but I don't do restraint too well. So spill. Who's the special lady that can make you roar?"
Hinagiku nods a few times, impressed/overwhelmed to see how certain Ary is about the greater picture of the war, something Hinagiku could not understand really well.
"Miss Ary, fighting back the Oni seems like a good start. If you judge me worthy, I will follow you in this endeavor, and provide you with all the help I can." she turns toward Isilme and Valaria "and it will be a pleasure to stand by your sides."
Strange, am I the only one who was told that together we might be able to thwart Deskari's plans?
When Isilme mentions the bath, Hinagiku unconsciously lifts a hand to her chest. Her action betrays some kind of concern, but her face still seems as serene as usual.
"Isilmeさん、あなたは私を感動。Tianは、あなたがそれをよく話します。 I am sorry but I should not bathe. I can get some more hot water for any of you though, or towels. Do any of you need anything?"
"I hope you're right about Markus. It...It wouldn't be so bad if he could look at me without seeming so guilty. Like if we could just talk as...as friends. But as it is now I feel like... his burden. His mistake."
Annabelle listens to Hinagiku and smiles, drying her tears. "What? You dreamed about a goddess? ...Wow." She looks impressed. "I'm really happy you're staying with me, Hinagiku. "
"I know it's really selfish, but I was scared that...once the city was taken back that we'd be separated once more. Have you found the people you were looking for? Those monks you came here with?"
"A lady does not kiss and tell." she grins at Valaria, easily switching gears, since her mind is on both war and love. "I'd love for you to follow me... but honestly, I think you're better off beside or in front. You can stop advances where I can't do a thing. I'm more designed to watch backs, and make sure others can succeed." she gives offers a grin at her own pun, but then continues. "Honestly, I'd be glad to have you, wherever you want to be. People keep telling me I should be leading, but that's more about listening and following through. Making the best decision with what I have available, you know? If I wind up in charge of anything, it'll be in charge of listening." she shrugs a little. "Either way, no thank you. I'll let the water decide when it's time to leave... I still have correspondences to do, I'm sure, and I skipped prayer this morning, I need to fix that. Then lunch... and finally orders. I also probably need to check the market... and check up on 'Belle. I didn't learn much from Markus about... and I need to talk to Markus; he'd wanted to talk to me and I ditched him." she said after a moment.