Following for now Shadow, Gabriel's voice rings out loud for everyone to hear, he hid his body and kept following, I Hate killing, fighting and bloodshed...i am unfortunately cursed with skill at it. We may not be friends, but we are not enemies... Actually, it may be time for me to Shadow dance again, my Shadow living and appearing means my connection has deepened.
Gabriel's shadow dances a wild, angry beat for a moment, completely out of time with Gabriel himself, then nods.
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Dressed in armor that appears to be a blend of stone, bark and other natural materials, the tall, sleek oread studies those around her with sharp citrine colored eyes, her shrewd, yet calm expression giving the impression of a predator at rest, assessing those around her to categories as prey, enemies or pack mates.
The powerful tiger beside her, striped in green and deep brown, with the occasional deep violet flower sprouting from his thick mane, matching her own lush verdant hair intersperse with the odd deep purple iris, watches each of the elen present, occasionally glancing back at the huntress, almost as if reading her thoughts.
Having felt somewhat overwhelmed by the teleportation process, she was content to remain silent, learning as much as she could of the strangers. Now resting quietly before they moved forward, she looks over at Kallik, sensing the volatile oread’s emotions were in turmoil.
"What do you think of these new, companions....allies?" she asks with a shrug, while idly running her fingers through Mishipeshu's mane.
Returning the shrug while idlily tracing the green veins on the white axe, "Hard to read them. They are so very different from el I have dealt with before. Different experiences and.. well they are strange." You have been quiet.
Shifting uneasily, "Doesn't help that my temper might have gotten away from me."
Inam spends a candle tending to the sick and frightened that flock to her symbol. Under the phoenix, she seems to have an endless supply of merciful healing magic.
Gabriel, your shadow whispers, Shall we find a quieter spot to rest a moment? It is so loud and crowded here.
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Samen hasn't done anything particularly strenuous or emotionally taxing today, so he doesn't need the rest. Instead, he wanders the halls of the temple, etching elemental runes, much like he uses on his staff, in defensible positions and instructing guards on how to access their power when the time is needed.
Moreover, he takes Moon-form to have a proper grasp of Doppish, so as to prepare traps that only those who know Doppish would be susceptible to.
Returning the shrug while idlily tracing the green veins on the white axe, "Hard to read them. They are so very different from el I have dealt with before. Different experiences and.. well they are strange." You have been quiet.
Shifting uneasily, "Doesn't help that my temper might have gotten away from me."
"You're dealing with a lot. I can't tell you how many el's heads I practically bit off while my sister was missing. If talking helps, I'm here." the huntress says supportively.
Yes, indeed. we'll meet back later and with that Gabriel will wander off somewhere quiet
With conflict delayed due to the impending presence of a greater enemy, Ibinu heads up the temple steps and asks where his guard captain might be located.
In the Happy Swords camp, the mindless snake--once a noble v'Apore destined for greatness--keels over dead. Eight teal tentacles sprout from its stomach like a flower from a rotting log.
***
The cobblestones near the Mithril Makers begin to hum eerily. The alchemists, alert to all oddities, dump copious amounts of acid upon the street, wiping away the stones and the noise.
Rubbing at her eyes, "I know she is safe. I am just tired but apparently I became a hero." that last word is said with a notable degree of malice. "Cause I got lumped in with better el."
Kallik, I'll answer this outside of spoilers, since others might want a refresher too:
***
Ibinu,,
Shortly after you go looking for her, Sophia finds you. Your guard contingent snaps into place about you. Sophia's face is carefully neutral, but you can tell she is thrilled to see you alive again. Under the old triangle scars, her dark eyes twinkle as she says, "What do you require, Your Strength?"
As she bows, you see her horns, reminding you of your bond. Her longsword is sharp and ready; her helm is adorned with bloodied jewels and holy inscriptions that ward against mental intrusion.
From the Temple Courtyards, the wailing of elderly els fills the air. The eyeless oracles have returned home, expelled from that small pocket of Dreams the inquisitors forced them into long ago. They see nothing of the future; they simply weep at the present.
Ibinu looks at his guards, already stretched thin rushing around with preparations. He gives them a nod and turns to Sophia, "Time. Days and days of time." He sighs then continues, "But with the approaching concerns, I will only ask for ten minutes alone."
He hands her one of the potions of mind blank, "Take this now. The only thing that would kill my soul would be to have to battle you."
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Abnaki is touched by the kindness that Krz showed him. He has resolved that if they run into Ohzna, he would do what he could to capture him alive. He spends a good deal of time writing letters, a letter to his parents to send now, a letter for if he doesn't survive, a letter to Gethis should he die in combat, a last will and testament. After he finishes preparing for his untimely demise, he'll shape the earth around the temple, building fortifications, narrowing corridors to funnel the enemy into fighting one at a time, sealing off additional entrances that we don't have the guards for, things like that. If there's any time afterwards, he'll spend some time with any bards of the area, extolling the virtues of the distraction and countersong performances when dealing with mind bending effects. Unless Gethis comes to him, he won't seek her out. Ensuring the safety of the civilians must come first. He will however try and convince any of the Blessed to take a Happy Swords banner, or otherwise display the iconography. Captain would be pleased by that.
And of course, Abnaki takes some time to feed a crow, and whisper secrets to it.
"Or because you did what needed to be done...despite personal cost or difficulty. You do not give yourself enough credit Kallik...or any at all. Others see your value, even when you do not, they cannot all be wrong."
Always the huntress, Sequoya prepares her mind and body for what may come, even as she takes advantage of the rare opportunity to rest, lake a predator, ready to shift from lounging to pouncing in an instant. Most of her life had been preparation for life and death battles, for her, those she cared for, her tribe....this would be no different, other than perhaps in scale.
Loud prayers rumble from the heights of the Grand Temple as night nears.
Elens throughout the city hug their loved ones, drink last sips of wine, and whisper for salvation.
A tension hangs in the air, invisible and terrible; when will a Smiling crescent appear above Hearth? When will Moon strike?
Ibinu catches up with Samen and hands him the ring.
"Thank you, blessed, but... what does it do?"
"Say-say. do not tell me you are performing some crude fire person marriage rite. I have seen these on the fingers of ifrit cows." Abby's glance flickers to Sophia--Ibinu's ifrit guard captain--for the barest instant, nearly undetectable.
If it's nearly undetectable, Samen almost assuredly doesn't pick up on it. "No, no, nothing like that. Unless I'm going to marry a golem, I guess. Besides, people tend to want priests to do that sort of thing, not me."
He ribs her gently, "Why, you jealous?"
Ibinu is about to supply his own sarcastic reply, but is beat to it. He shrugs, "Controls golems, in theory. I expect we will face quite a few from Light. Might be useful. The magic to activate it is a bit complicated though, above my pay grade. I just usually point my staff, imagine the shape of the fire I want, and boom."
"Ridiculous! Who would be jealous of such a lengthy and boring event? Although the aspects of people giving me gifts would be advantageous. Hmm. I'll consider it, I suppose. But you have to give me many diamonds first, if I understand the customs correctly. But for now keep your mind on the upcoming battle, Say-say!" All this in one gusty gushing breath.
Abnaki, the ordinary crow caws a raucous thanks and abruptly disappears with your secrets in its ears.
During the eve, Gabriel finds a quiet spot near a flickering flame, sitting and watching. Focusing his mind on the coming battle, he mutters to no one in particular, just out loud though in a quiet tone, Through the dark, not the dark... Through the dark, not the dark... i must not become like them...the corruption in the flame, the blood and steel...
A flame sparks across his blade, as Gabriel seems stuck in some deep memory, now speaking to himself...or arguing? You've killed again, you've been killing. I don't want to but it's necessary, now of all times. You can't keep running Izalith... you're still one of them the quiet self argument ends with Gabriel rather loudly and suddenly yelling, I AM NOT!
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Smiling at Sequoya's words despite herself, "I don't mean to make you have to spend your time reassuring me. Its hard to believe your words but I am out numbered."
Twisting her fingers in a familiar pattern, "Sleep while we have the chance. I don't want to sleep until all this is over."
Kallik, your brother's spirit within your axe chimes in agreement. Let's crush some stuff!
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"Alright. If you need me though, I'm here." Sequoya says, leaning back against the reclining Mishipeshu, and closing her eyes. [spoiler]"Eventually you'll start to believe it yourself."[/smaller] she mumbles with a smile.
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Smiling at Sequoya, "Until then you will just have to stay alive to argue with me about it." It is what I am good at.
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As the fear of the coming night takes hold, the Wargame crowds--so boisterous among the smoke and sizzle and sport of the day--rapidly thin out. Streams of huddled elenity find refuge in the Temple, and in the Elder. Many others simply lock their doors and pray.
Still, a scant few elens rebel against the fear, playing brutbreve in the streets as dim approaches. The guards on patrol are divided, some calling the players fools, others admiring their brass.
Volcano slowly begins the final fade toward dim, restless reds ruminating.
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The peaklight continues to die down, like embers in a cooling fire. Darker than usual for this time of year, though; the light seems to stutter for a moment, a skittish candle. Elens stop what they are doing to watch - there is a shared sense of something monumentally wrong. The brutbreve ball thumps to the ground. The city holds its breath.
...and then, Volcano is out. That small amount of ambient light, taken for granted by the eyes of elens for centuries, is gone. The streets of Hearth are dark. In the far distant north, you can see a grinning silvery light, a cold light that reveals nothing, only throws vexatious shadows.
Etrah begins to glow, of course, all the brighter in dark times. His divine illumination can be seen from a good portion of the district as he perches near the top of the Temple. "Prepare, you brave champions! Moon approaches!"
Ibinu steels himself and then remembers the potions, slamming back an alchemical remedy to help his standard mental protections. He looks over at Inam, "I'm uh... sure Volcano is just taking a really short nap. They will still be with us... probably."
Samen's heart skips a beat in light of the sudden darkness. Keep your wits about you, it's probably an illusion. Even if it isn't, good riddance to the old tyrant.
Nevertheless, he feels the need to tap into elemental power that hasn't just winked out and assumes Fey-form.
"If you hadn't already figured it out, don't use cold magic on Moon creatures, it can heal them."
"Or Illusions, figments, or anything that could be vaguely construed as a dream-spell."
Moving down to the courtyard and pulling images, doubles, of herself. By time she reaches the courtyard there is a group of Kallik's.
Gabriel having wandered off in the night, is probably coming in from either behind or is near the temple entrance
Selecting herself an ideal spot in the middle of the expansive temple stairs, Sequoya draws upon the sacred energy of life, infusing herself and Mishipeshu with some degree of defense against the coming death and darkness, while enhancing their ability to react and granting her bow greater deadliness.
Taking in what would soon be a battlefield, she makes a point of noting Kallik's position below, the great cat beside her instantly aware as well.
Samen pulls up beside Kallik and feels a strange affinity for her. As different as they may be, she seems to have a similar combat style of charging up her weapon. Perhaps her anger is a cover for deeper traumas as well.
"You, um... You might want to get rid of those reflections. Last time we fought a Moon inquisitor, it backfired hard on my compatriot. One of Moon's major aspects is reflection, after all."
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Growling at the stranger, "It would be a waste of a good spell. Its saved me plenty."
Knocking the axe blades against her leg and frowning at her illusory twins mimicry, Best not be a lie. I know your face now."
All the images fade away leaving one surly oread.