Ardiente's heart jumps slightly and his hand trembles when she takes it, but after a moment he's regained his calm and even more of a fierce determination to protect her.
::And there's plenty of earth for me to bend here as well.:: Ardiente adds to her as the walk down the path towards the tower which was visible from all areas of the town. ::Don't worry Raelle, I don't think these people can fly. If we have to, just take wing alright? I've spent my whole life training to protect and defend. Don't think just cause I'm missing the tattoo that I'll forget what's important - my friends. I won't let them hurt you.:: There was no humour in his tone. No bravado. He meant every word he said.
::We'll protect each other,:: she said, more confidence in her voice now. She might not be willing to be passively protected, but she did find his assurance of protection reassuring in spite of that. ::I don't like this place. These people are afraid...no one should be bowing down in fear...everything here feels wrong,:: she added, more than a little anger mixed in with her fear, the anger starting to win. ::If Villem did this to them, then he really is a monster.::
"I think Simba is very beautiful, Lang-kun." Midori says back quietly, stroking the owl's feathers in a delicate, but friendly manner. "Even though he could probably pick me up and carry me off for his supper, I don't feel threatened around him at all." Midori gives a small nod to Lang to indicate that she had heard him.
no grim, I'm afraid he does not talk. one talking animal is enough for me. and we all know Sun can be quite a handful at times
"I'm pretty sure he says the same thing about you" grim says elbowing lang in the ribs slightly.
"I'm pretty sure he says the same thing about you" grim says elbowing lang in the ribs slightly.
Lang giggles a bit at that comment realizing it probably is true.
looking to midori.don't worry about him snatching you up for supper. Simba has a very particular tastes and is very picky.
::We'll protect each other,:: she said, more confidence in her voice now. She might not be willing to be passively protected, but she did find his assurance of protection reassuring in spite of that. ::I don't like this place. These people are afraid...no one should be bowing down in fear...everything here feels wrong,:: she added, more than a little anger mixed in with her fear, the anger starting to win. ::If Villem did this to them, then he really is a monster.::
::Agreed. We'll protect each other.:: Ardiente gives her hand a slight squeeze. ::If he did this... I don't know what we can even do to help these people Raelle. If they... if they think Firebirds are some kind of god... do we have the right to take that away from them? Even if the belief was forced on them or bred into them... it's part of them now. As much as I hate it... we might do more harm than good.:: Ardiente says, sounding not nearly as angry as Raelle... more confused.
"what does he eat? I don't think they make mice that big!"
Lang giggles a bit at that comment realizing it probably is true.
looking to midori.don't worry about him snatching you up for supper. Simba has a very particular tastes and is very picky.
"Are you saying I don't taste good Lang-kun? What's wrong with me?" Midori says with a little mock-anger, before giggling slightly and stroking the feathers once more. The brief window of a smiling Midori is gone once again, and she's back to her thoughtful mood.
::Agreed. We'll protect each other.:: Ardiente gives her hand a slight squeeze. ::If he did this... I don't know what we can even do to help these people Raelle. If they... if they think Firebirds are some kind of god... do we have the right to take that away from them? Even if the belief was forced on them or bred into them... it's part of them now. As much as I hate it... we might do more harm than good.:: Ardiente says, sounding not nearly as angry as Raelle... more confused.
::But...I hate this! And I really hate that you're probably right! I want to be able to fix it....:: She was clearly struggling with bringing her fiery temper under control, her sense of what was right and wrong clearly violated by what they'd seen so far. ::Alright, we can't fix it...at least not now...but I don't have to like it!::
She watched warily around them as they walked towards the center of this strange town, staying close to Ardiente.
Meanwhile ... back elsewhere on Agartha...
The walk down the road(s) to the center of the village is filled with more of these quiet, silent, unmoving folk, all doing the same, as Aridiente and Raelle walk their way closer and closer to the central tower.
There in the middle of town (best they can tell), the base of this tower is reached.
With the skills they possess, it's fairly safe to do the math and determine the base of the tower is such that it holds up the fullness of this spire with ease.
The height of the tower, is roughly, two hundred or more meters up. The odd part, clearly, but perhaps not to Firebirds, is the lack of any 'human entry' points at the floor level, or as high as they can see from the base.
Up at the top, however, there's clearly some ledge and windows, or the like, which does suggest people who can fly, probably do that to get in.
Interestingly enough too, once they are near the middle tower, the other people prostrating earlier, are up and off, going to do their own thing again, which-- it is hard to tell what that is, as the moment either of the two visitors might get close, they would return to the respectful kneeling part, unmoving and silent, as before.
It's a clear day, with the exception of all the soot and dirt from smoke filled chimneys filling the air-- the 'Sun' is hard to see, though some light does trickle through occasionally, while thicker clouds far above, billow by silently.
Vare waves his hand dismissively at the 'just a student' part of what Anahita said, obviously not caring overmuch for the distinction. "Do not recant of your opinions, Anahita, and certainly not for the sake of one who clearly overvalues such titles. If I've understood the objections that others have raised considering our... relationship, then we are /not/ to consider you my student, in any formal sense." Vare rearranges his robes and looks up at Anahita's huge form, not seeming overly worried at her massive size.
"As for whether I should be concerned - I do not think so. This must have happened yesterday at some point. Perhaps a student enjoying a prank, or some ability stripping me of it. I do not believe it is related to the attack. In any event, I recast it this morning, and it is still active."
His hand does come up to chin again though, in that way he has when he is thoughtful. "Further, I do think I would be targeted so directly, and not simply eliminated. From what I have heard, the attack was brutal and few that were attacked actually survived. Even further is the fact that I am far from the most powerful being at the school."...
It had taken a bit, apparently, for Anahita to respond to Vare's shared thoughts on the matter, but, she was a fire elemental of huge size and looked more bear than anything else-- her expression remained impassive.
"If the smallest form of life can destroy a person, and we are incapable of seeing such things with our naked eyes, Vare, then perhaps the sign of your spell triggering, seemingly by either a prank, some vague undefined ability or the self proclaimed lack of importance you hold yourself too, seems to mean little to you. I shall let this matter drop, my concern does not seem to bear root with your thoughts. We are in a state of disagreement. Very well."
Glancing around some more, she then asks, "Well, Fei's left-- what will you do? return with your teleport spell and see to the school? I suppose I could return as well. I'd set my goals for the weekend, but this attack-- who was the instigator? What was the result? Do you have any further details to mull over? It appears that the ... technological students and another Champion have dealt with this ..." she vaguely waves to what's left of the crater from the lifepod's impact, "dealer of death, for now. They are extremely rude by my standards of socializing."
There was a slight bear frown at that, which was more of a snort, really.
::You definitely don't have to like it Raelle. I'm very glad that you don't, this... actually reminds me a bit of your grandparents.:: He says soberly. He wonders briefly if magic is holding these people sway, as had been the case with him and his oath-tattoos. They had to focus on the task at hand.
::Well... I think we have our answer as to whether or not this is a Firebird construction. There's alot of buildings like this on the Sun - no street level entryway. Before we go up, I want to see something.:: Ardiente steps closer to the base of the strange, dark tower, a hand extended. He is searching with his bending, to see if whatever material from which the tower was constucted will be subject to his Earthbending abilities.
Having double-checked if his abilities will work inside the tower, Ardiente cranes his neck and looks up at the entrance far above. ::Well, I suppose there's nothing for it Raelle. Let's get this over with.:: Ardiente says, a bit creeped out that the people seemingly wanted to be away from the tower at all costs.
Unless there's direct opposition, Ardiente takes to his fiery red and orange bird shape, shot through with 'amethyst' coloured feathers - his Grandfather Chan's legacy - and waits for Raelle to take her shape before they both take flight, ascending in steady circles up the some two hundred meters to the high entrance.
"If it happens again, then I shall bend more of my mind to it, Anahita. There are more important things to worry of now, I believe. Disagreeing is a natural part of life after all, and I do value your opinion. But let us leave it to the side for now." Vare says with a nod, his hand returning to his side as he looks up at the fiery bear muzzle - though he does not see the bear, as per his previous statements.
"I must return to the school to learn these details. My efforts have been focused on healing and restoring the wounded, and so I have not yet learned the /why/... though with this level of wanton destruction, I fear that there may be no sensible answer. Do not feel the need to return with me, if it goes against your desires. I will do as we've discussed, and seek out Professor Sunwake. I will also learn what I may about the details of the attack. I suspect our aggressor has either retreated, or is dead, given that the school has returned to a peaceable state once more." Vare does not seem to be overly concerned with the rudeness of others - being ignored was far better than some rudeness he had experienced in the past, and so he simply shrugs at that. "They are focused on themselves and their goals. Such people exist. Do not let them trouble you. Now... I am going to the school. Would you like to join me?"
"Are you saying I don't taste good Lang-kun? What's wrong with me?" Midori says with a little mock-anger, before giggling slightly and stroking the feathers once more. The brief window of a smiling Midori is gone once again, and she's back to her thoughtful mood.Lang giggles a bit at that comment realizing it probably is true.
looking to midori.don't worry about him snatching you up for supper. Simba has a very particular tastes and is very picky.
Lang smiles back at Midori. looking at her with that "gotcha" look.
actually Simba here resently started to like fish but growing up she used to eat rodents like mice then rats. the owls back home also help to keep predatory animals away, like wolves.
So does anyone know where Sara is? she seemed a bit scared from her message, at least what I could interpret from it.
"I said didn't I Lang-kun? She and Zilla-chan went to the lake to check on Sorun-kun to make sure he is safe."
Sorun swims close and whispers, "The purpley dragon is spending 'private time' with sheess.... Whatever that means...""We don't know. We just wanted to make sure you were safe. . . . . Wait. Your snake is eating fruit? Why do you need guarded while he does that? . . . . . Never mind. Not important. We didn't see you since it happened and we thought they might have found you. . . . ."
She strokes the nearest Scylla head as she speaks.
"OK. . . . ."
She stops petting the Scylla."We should go back up. Lang will be here soon. You should come with us and meet him here."
Sorun swims close and whispers, "The purpley dragon is spending 'private time' with sheess.... Whatever that means...""We don't know. We just wanted to make sure you were safe. . . . . Wait. Your snake is eating fruit? Why do you need guarded while he does that? . . . . . Never mind. Not important. We didn't see you since it happened and we thought they might have found you. . . . ."
She strokes the nearest Scylla head as she speaks."OK. . . . ."
She stops petting the Scylla.
"We should go back up. Lang will be here soon. You should come with us and meet him here."
"okay, goodbye scylla! Now everyone grab on!" Sorun starts gathering energy to do.....something
"Um, ok." Zilla steps closer while still trying to keep her wet clothes from reveiling anything.
Once she feels her cloths are concealing her she holds on to Soruns shoulder.
Sara tentatively holds onto his other shoulder.
"I said didn't I Lang-kun? She and Zilla-chan went to the lake to check on Sorun-kun to make sure he is safe."
ahh.. yeah, maybe you did. there seems to be so much going on; I just feel better seeing that they are safe.
Lang occasionally glances skyward Grim, you remember that shuttle we took up to the Sun? let me know if you see it in case I miss it. I need to deliver this to Sorchan.
"lets go!" Sorun enthusiastically says making a solid "cup" under the trio and pushing upwards at huge speed
"Yep when ever your able sir knight, I see ya have a good eye, you picks some of the most flawless ones over the big ens, not some gnome in ya is there?"
he chuckled
"I must say its an odd place here, free school an all, Arthur says the revalution will start here, hes all full of big words is Arthur, says this place is the only safe place left, don’t look that safe if ya ask me,"
He takes another drink then belches.
" so you know whats been going on? All this shooting, stuff falling out the sky, blasts, real Dragons and pox infected girls running around, all seems a bit of a mad house when ya think about"
"I just arrived today (?) Through a portal where a grater demon was summoned....."
Yrrin seems thoughtful....and mildly disgusted at the belch
Ace continues to study Keme, while waiting for Kitty to respond.
As he does so, he says to the others, and to Phaez via the Collective "Keme appears to have been electrocuted, but Fei's healing should have fixed that. Something very strange is going on here"
Now that his convulsions have ceased and (based on the results of his healing attempts and Ace's divinations) supernatural means are failing, Fei carefully lifts Keme up and places him into another cot. He grabs a tube of nanite healers from one of the passing pallets and tries a more...technological approach to repair the internal damage.
Sara shreaks the whole way up.
ahh.. yeah, maybe you did. there seems to be so much going on; I just feel better seeing that they are safe.
Lang occasionally glances skyward Grim, you remember that shuttle we took up to the Sun? let me know if you see it in case I miss it. I need to deliver this to Sorchan.
Midori nods at that, bowing again in thanks to Simba before turning back to Lang. "We should go to the lake Lang-kun, and see if we can find them there, ne? That's where Sara-rin and Zilla-chan said they were going."
Sara shreaks the whole way up.
"weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" The cup shape launches high up over the lake
She screams as they fall.
People outside would hear a big splash and Sara screaming. Then choking as she tries frantically canceling the water breathe spell.
She screams as they fall.
People outside would hear a big splash and Sara screaming. Then choking as she tries frantically canceling the water breathe spell.
Sorun's face is one of concern and confusion, but realizes his mistake quickly, causing some odd the water to encase his companions heads
She gasps it in quickly and breathes out the air bubbles.
"You have *cough* to let me *cough* end it first. *cough*"
Lang hearing the screams by the lake looks in that direction
looks like Sara is ahead of you Midori..lets go
Lang runs over to the lake as fast as he can not sure if Sara is actually in real trouble or not.
Once there Lang tries to survey the situation not sure he needs to bend the water to Sara or away.
Sara! he yells
Lang hearing the screams by the lake looks in that direction
looks like Sara is ahead of you Midori..lets go
Lang runs over to the lake as fast as he can not sure if Sara is actually in real trouble or not.
Once there Lang tries to survey the situation not sure he needs to bend the water to Sara or away.
Sara! he yells
"I'm sorry Sara, end it when you're ready"
Seeing that Fei is tending to Keme, Ace turns his attentions to Kitty and Saffire.
"Not sure if my normal healing abilities will work on the lil guy, but I can try, if you want"
He then lays his hands on Kitty, channeling the divine power of his deity into her.
"Drop the water when I stop talking."
She ends the spell with her hand on Zilla again.
Hopefully Sorun ends it at the right time and she breathes air again.
"Did you hear Lang too?"
"Drop the water when I stop talking."
She ends the spell with her hand on Zilla again.
Hopefully Sorun ends it at the right time and she breathes air again.
"Did you hear Lang too?"
Sorun drops the water "are you okay?" He asks the pair, while looking down and spotting land
grim looks at sara "what the heck"
grim looks at sara "what the heck"
guys, we popped out of the water like 16 seconds ago
grim looks at sara "what the heck"guys, we popped out of the water like 16 seconds ago
Midori hears a shriek and the slosh of water from somewhere in the direction of the lake, and adrenaline is instantly coursing through her again, her weapons in her hands as she sprints as fast as she can towards the lake. She knew that she could see in the dark... but Lang-kun probably couldn't. He would need light to fight by if this was an enemy. He was a much more skilled fighter than she, and she had to recognize that, and take a proper role. She needed to make Lang-kun light.
As they run at speed towards the lake, Midori draws some of her silk ribbon into her hands and focuses all her mental power on it. Her horn flares to life, shedding a radiance that seems to expand more and more as Midori focuses on the now steel ribbon in her hand.
"So, melody, what now?"
"I just arrived today (?) Through a portal where a grater demon was summoned....."
Yrrin seems thoughtful....and mildly disgusted at the belch
Carl notes the look of disgust cross the paladins face, and chuckles some more,
"ya don't know much about dwarf culture do ya, if ya put on airs and graces ye get ya sen called at elf back where I come from, and that always leads ta a fight, not that I'm predigest ta elves. It's just nee the Dwarf way, a Dwarfs a Dwarf and there ant ne changing that fact."
He fins a bit of cake left from the party,
"da ya like cake, got some left from when the kids where here sheltering"
he puts it down next to Yrrin.
"Demon A, had a run in with one once, bad business, and here just a day an all, well a holy knight like ya selfs just what needed if a Demons running a-muck, best I can do is stop bits a stuff falling on a town. Its best I not get lose to a Demon, I may lose me temper and thats nee good for any one"
He looks around,
"What ya thin of me ship, it where custom made"
Carl's ship looks like a flying Bunker, very Dwarf and over engineered in a steam punk way, simple effective tech.
"I hope someone comes fa this body and pod soon, im getting ri-t hungry sitting here and I'm sick a cake"
"So, melody, what now?"
Melody looks at Roel I don't know, I will have to wait till tomorrow to talk to Kai. I guess just hang out here, finish off this ice cream, then head on over to the Sim room to get anything I left there. I think I left my guitar there.
"Alright then. You think that while we're over there, i could ask about that thing that you said we could talk about later?"
igni finishes off his chocolate.
"I'm heading off to bed. It's been a heck of a day."
he transforms into bird form, and flys off.
:: good night.::
igni finishes off his chocolate.
"I'm heading off to bed. It's been a heck of a day."
he transforms into bird form, and flys off.
:: good night.::
well okay, goodnight then
Mel starts to gather the stuff for hot cocoa with two mugs. and a tray. looking like she is takeing them to go. but she stops mid preperation.
she looks back to Ginni Ginni? do you think Vai is alright?
kind of a sudden reminder that Vai and Melody room together.
Sara coughs up a last bit of water. "Ugh. This spell is hard."
She looks down at the light.
"Lang and midori and grim are there! Take us down!"
She casts Light on her shirt(needs an object) so they can see.