Keelix's eyes fly open wide and his hands grip Jasmine's arms, "On the first sub floor, Fia is with her! Fia couldn't heal her!" His voice is a terrified, exhausted thing as he gives directions to the room Vala is in, "Please hurry! Not much time."
"A forbidden weave." She shook her head. "It does not matter. It does not make her invincible, simply reckless and dangerous. We are dangerous, too."
"Perhaps if we joining together I can add my power to yours and together we can defeat her Analin Sedai? I sense my blade will do little but get me slain here and now".
Fia feels Vala go limp in her arms and curses as she realizes she is losing her. She curses again for good measure.
Then, as hope threatened to die within her, a half formed idea began to coalesce - one born from a memory of what one of her spear sisters had once done for a wounded warrior - and she had not had the power to aid her as Fiallain did now. She set Vala's head down upon the floor and crouched over her, frowning down at the other woman.
"I did NOT come all this way just to have you give out on me now, wetlander." She tilts Vala's head back, chin up.
She doubted he could hear, but yelled for him anyway. Then she channeled once more.
She did not know where Keelix had gone. Nor did she know what weave she was using - or even if there was such a weave. As she had learned so many of her weaves, the Aiel wilder was feeling it out as she went - changing and adapting what she knew based on her need.
"If you don't have the strength, then lean on mine. For him, and for your babe."
It began as another delving, but then additional threads of spirit cradled Vala's heart, then joined by other threads, gave it a gentle squeeze. Another, and another, and Fia breathes into Vala's mouth, repeating again and again... doing for it what it no longer had strength to do on its own..
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"I know the new Healing," Ryvin tells Jasmine, "but you're the superior Healer. Go. I'll... do what I can, here. I need to unravel the ward on Chen, too. GO."
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Jasmine nods at Rhyvin once before she then weaves together multiple strands of the one power into a complex pattern which snaps into place, a brilliant white line appearing in the air as a gateway forms.
Stepping through the gateway, hauling Keelix with her and moving under his direction, Jasmine rushes to Vala. Reaching there, she does a quick delving to see the issues. Fiallain, tell me what you can about her condition and quickly.
"She has been running on adrenaline for days." Fia says between breaths. "Giving birth took her last strength. My healing only sapped her more. She stopped breathing. I am breathing and pumping her heart for her." She finishes as shortly and concisely as she can, still continuing to work.
Jasmine curses under her breath before saying Alright, let's see what we can do. Likely you used the older healing weave that uses the strength of the healed as much as the healer, yes? Without waiting for a response, Jasmine siphons the exhaustion away, utilizing a renew weave. Jasmine begins muttering to herself while she works, her domani accent coming in strongly as she does so. She then pours herself into a healing different to the one done on Keelix. She does not want her to exhaust her any more so she utilizes the Rejuvenate weave to speed her natural healing processes.
Looking over at Fiallain she says Where is the baby?
Keelix is exhausted by the ordeal in Tel'aran'rhiod, the anguish of Vala's predicament, and his near death experience moments before. But he has enough strength for his daughter. He staggers over behind the desk where he had laid Litheene. Picking her up he tucks the child close in his arms and begins to try to soothe her. His voice is soft and tired, "She is here, Jasmine Sedai, she is here." Then, though his body does not change, his voice goes all hard and viciously sharp edges, "Someone, the same one who cursed Chen, has laid a curse upon the baby. She feels pain at the sound of Vala's voice. At the touch of Vala's skin. This person will suffer for what she has done."
Jasmine looks at the baby and says gently Bring her to me, Keelix
Jasmine looks her over, and places a delving upon her as well. Jasmine smiles at Keelix and says She is beautiful.
While all this is happening below, Ryvin tries to do triage - and waits for Chen to answer her question.
A warm, soft smile flickers onto Keelix's face as he holds his daughter, "Yes, she is."
Fiallain watches closely as Jasmine works, answering her questions when asked, though Keelix tended to beat her to the answer. She had indeed used the "older" healing weave - it was the only one she knew. Her talents had always run in directions other than healing.
[dice=Weavesight "other healing"]1d20+17[/dice]
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Chen staggers to his feet, it was hard to see the blood on his already dark armor, but it glistened with a wet sheen. lifting his newly acquired shield from among the rubble, he looks at Ryvin from the ornately patterned eye sockets of his mask.
"I....I don't know." he pauses with a slump in his shoulders. "I was so sure of myself, so sure of my cause. Now it seems, my will was not my own. As if I was outside of myself." he seems to be more stammering now, not directly talking to Ryvin. "All the while, a voice in my head, assuring me of the righteousness of my actions, reinforcing what I had been brought to believe at my core, from my youth. Saying the will of the Empress, right into my soul." his voice lowered.
"Now, it seems so....hollow." his voice trailed off and he stared at the floor.
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"There is much I could say to that, but it seems cruel given the circumstances. ... Will you submit to me?"
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Defeated and a failure, Chen drops his weapon and shield with a crash. Still looking at the floor, he responds. "Yes."
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Ryvin dismisses the Master Ward.
"Look me in the eye."
Provided Chen does so, Ryvin walks over to him and whispers something for his ears only before returning to the wounded.
Ryvin proceeds to use base Healing on all who seem to be in immediate danger of death or mutilation...
To anyone other than a female channeler, Jasmine sits, staring intently at Vala. She holds her hand and cups her cheek. But to a female channeler, she blazes with the One Power.
Strands thicker than the largest trees in the oldest forest penetrate into Vala's head and chest, and like an old forest, other smaller strands, finer than the thinnest fair, branch out and suffuse her entire body.
The strands gently caress and massage the heart, the lungs, the organs. They stimulate the brain.
She is too far gone, for this Jasmine says, distractedly. Yet something calls to her. A source, a warmth, something that could help. Where is it? Where?
Her head whips around back and forth, searching for the pull. what could it be? There! There it is!
That! That Iron! Bring it to me!Jasmine commands.
Laying on the floor, amongst the refuse of the room, lays an iron rod. Yet, at the end of this rod is a strange symbol upon it. A wavy line with a disjointed H set upon it.
Keeliz doesnt hesitate. He disappears, reappears kneeling, grasps it, and then appears in front of Jasmine and Fia, handing it to Jasmine.
In a monotone voice, Jasmine commands.
Keelix, remove your shirt. Fia, link with me. but grasp the Iron
Keelix pulls of armor and shirt, revealing muscular chest. Fia reaches out and puts her hand upon the Iron.
What is happening...she trails off, as if such a question is beneath her. A sense of rightness to this situation fills her, and she allows herself to link.
Jasmine, nodding, her eyes far away yet in the present, nods. just a little bit. Too much can kill both. If we had a male we could do more Jasmine says, instructing.
Fia feels herself as a conduit from Jasmine to the Iron. A warmth fills her hand, and the end of the Iron, where the strange end is cast, begins to warm. Suddenly it glows yellow hot! Heat emits from it, causing what chest hair upon Keelix's chest to flash burn away.
Jasmine and Fia lean forward and pushes the brand upon Keelix's heart. The sound of flesh searing and burning fills the room, but to Keelix, he feels no pain. Instead he feels a hole begin to grow within himself. He opens his mouth to speak, but instead stays quiet.
After several hearbeats pass, the twin ladies pull the Iron away from Keelix. a strange redish yellow trail connects the brand to Keelix. Mouths move in unison, the Iron moves like a snake in the air, hot and cool at the same time. The ladies move as one, breathing in and out. Thoughts are blank, only action, only precise movement.
JasFia look upon Vala.
Remove the robethey instruct Keelix in a strange echo tone voice.
His hands move quickly and opens the robe that hid Vala's naked body.
Her chest, moving under the power of the Weave, quivers. Her breasts shake, her lungs expand and contract. her legs twitch, and goose bumps cover her body.
As one, both women place a hand upon a breast and hold the body in place.
The Iron bar moves and takes position above Vala's heart. The strange red trail connected to Keelix follows.
The two plunge the Iron upon Vala's heart.
Vala's eyes snap open and takes in a monstrous gasp of air!
Keelix slumps to the ground, groaning.
JasFia moan in ecstasy as they channel into both Vala and Keelix through the connection, subsuming some of the shock.
All four hear a single heartbeat, it beats.
it beats again.
and again.
suddenly the Iron rod crumbles to dust and JasFia crumble to the floor, spent from the sheer pleasure of the experience.
Keelix gasps loudly What the blood and ashes was that?!
Vala flops a hand onto keelix's I dont know, but it kept me alive.
delving the child and mother simultaneously, you do denote a connection between the two..but it is not a curse. It is a simple weave of air, fire and spirit, set to be activated whenever Vala holds her daughter or speaks to her. A simple weave of spirit can cut the weave that is placed upon them.
Delving the large warrior, Ryvin spots remnants of a recently cast weave upon CHens mind. It feeds through his mind like tendrils of strange connections. Some spots they connect, others they constrict, and still others they sever completely. From the little bit that you have read, and piecing together the strands cast, you figure out that the weave compulsion was cast upon chen.
everyone else upon the landing is too injured to really do much of anything at this point.
Jasmine shudders as the waves of pleasure crash over her and through her. The more we think we know... she muses. Seeing Vala's eyes open Jasmine says Perhaps there is something else I can help with. She fashions a blade of pure spirit and slices through the pain causing weave. There...let your daughter hear your voice and cradle her to thy breast. She will feel no pain from your touch or voice again. You all need rest and food. I am needed upstairs, the Alantin...well I don't think he was responsible for his actions but suffice it to say he has caused untold damage.
To Fia, Keelix, Vala, and the baby, she gives a kiss, one of the thousand known to Domani, any who know of their culture however know that a kiss upon the brow above each eye is one of great respect and love between friends.
Barely staying conscious after all the exhausting events, utterly confused, but grateful beyond words, Keelix simply holds to Vala's hand and cradles his daughter in his other arm. He is not senseless, however. Vala just came back to him almost from beyond the grave, and Jasmine and Fia look more exhausted than he does. He keeps as alert as he is physically able to while remaining at Vala's side.
Vala smiles as she looks upon her friends and to Keelix and especially little Litheene. She is weak but her spirit is high. She would feel better with a sword about her and her armor, but she was happy.
"thank you" she whispers as she breathes in.
Fia simply nods, a slight hint of a smile cracking her lips, and too exhausted for much more at the moment.
She nods and smiles at Vala... and looks utterly nonplussed (and borderline scandalized) at Jasmine's kiss, the odd wetlander Domani customs likely still lost on the woman. The Aiel decides to take it as stoically as she does most things however, and occasionally looks at the Aes Sedai as they all recuperate. She was still a bit amazed and in shock at what the two of them had done.
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A purer way? Chen’s mind gave heavy thought to Ryvin’s words. Who am I without my bonds? Without the Empire? The Empress? These questions racked Chen’s very soul, a worse torment than any physical torture he could endure. Then he noticed, he had thought of the empress and had not added the dogmatic may she live forever at the end of his thought train. Perhaps he was changing. Looking down at this human woman, who offered wisdom well beyond her years, a tear fell from his eye as in his heart, the large blademaster changed.
He thought of the Dragon, the Carethon Cylce, the end of the Wheel. He thought of Ryvin’s words, ‘no safe harbour’ she had said. No bonds, no nations. Only the way, only the light. People needed a safe harbor, needed an anchor. He glanced around at the bodies he had felled, the small girls eyeing him with livid terror. How easy it had been to assign blame to these women, for a crime thousands of years past. Had he willingly slain allies of the light, willingly aided the shadow. His own honour. He would have to fight for a thousand years to regain it. This woman before him was trying to save him. Less than a week ago he had called her an animal, worthy of shackleing and culling. Here she stood able to use the power, so tainted by the Dark One’s touch, yet she was nobler than he.
If he could find redemption, he would. If he could be a rock in the storm for the people he came across, he would. Kneeling down in front of Ryvin, the Deathwatch Guard removed his helmet. Long reddish brown hair matted to his face with the effort of battle. Tears fell freely, leaving red trails through the blackened dried blood of his enemies on his face. My victims. he corrected himself.
”The path to nowhere.” he chuckled between a sobbing breath ”Are you sure you’re not a blademaster?” he asked. ”Long have I fought. For country, throne, honor and glory. Those things seem so small now. Long have I been only a sword. A tool. A weapon in the hands of others who call themselves greater. My bonds have been broken, not by a dragon, or a king, but by one woman’s kindness.” He put his huge hands on Ryvin’s shoulder’s gently, cupping most of her torso. ”I will walk the Way with you. No longer just a sword, but also a shield, for my friends, for the light. I swear to you, I will never harm an innocent soul ever again. My promise to the Creator. I can be that safe harbour, for all those I encounter, all those I travel with. And if I ever break this oath, and harm the helpless and the innocent again, I want you to kill me.” he finished that sentence with a grim seriousness.
”Can you ever forgive me for what I’ve done? Can the others?”
Jasmine goes to stand up and head upstairs...before sitting down...rather ungracefully...on her backside. It appears that took more out of me than I thought, she says with a slight smile on her face. Perhaps I'll just stay here for a while. She looks over at Fia and begins giggling, The look on your face sister...when I kissed you...priceless.
Looking at Vala, she says No thanks necessary. I am only glad you are able to feel and speak to your beautiful child.
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"I can try," Ryvin says, simply.
She reaches up to pat Chen's hand.
"I can try to forgive you. I may fail; there is a madness in me, an anger, and the past is throwing snares in my path that I cannot see. My memories of the sul'dam fill me with wrath still, and I have no dreams of the Seanchan Empire other than to see it collapse under its own hypocrisy. But you ... are willing to walk free. I respect that a great deal, especially after your having lived so many years in chains you could not even see. So yes: I will try to forgive you. While our paths run together, I will walk the Way alongside you as a comrade."
The Ebou Dari's voice grows cold and hard.
"But chances are not infinite. I know this. You know this. Should you return to the ways of the Seanchan Empire; should you ever willingly bow your will to the Shadow; then yes, I will kill you. Kill you full of wrath. But as cleanly as I can, for killing dirty is of the Shadow. And the one thing I would like to see burn more than the Seanchan Empire and all its lies is the Shadow. And know that it was the Shadow that whispered in your ears when you went through the White Tower, slaying and capturing; a weave of Compulsion was upon you, one of the foulest things known to the One Power."
Ryvin shakes herself slightly, and her voice becomes more normal.
"I will not be a mentor. I am certainly no role model. But I can be a comrade and a sounding board. And a final friend if the Shadow threatens to overwhelm you and your only freedom lies in death. You can do the same for me. When our paths diverge, for whatever reason, we can both only hold onto the Light and our own honour. The road... will be long. For all of us, I imagine, each for our own reasons."
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Wiping his face and standing back up, Chen smiles. "What do we do now? I could use a bath, and a drink." The events of the day come flooding back.
"The white haired one! Vala! She was giving birth so I sealed her in a room so that none would mistake her for an enemy." He put his mask back on, but let his helmet hang at his back. "If I ever find that Shadow cursed woman who drove me to this, she will understand the true meaning of pain." he spits through gritted teeth. "Compulsion, to be pushed by a will not my own." The giant warrior practically quakes, seething with barely bridled rage.
"I cannot stay here. They will kill me if I am captured, and though I may deserve it, I have not yet fulfilled my destiny."
"I am honored to have friends like you all." she says as she looks up at Keelix and little litheene and smiles. it was good now that she had her child, and was ready to really raise her right. Unfortunately she felt naked with out her sword and armor.
"Still I would feel better with my weapons and armor. As I want to see the woman who did this to me dead by my hand..." He voice was harsh and cold, her anger cold and full of vengeance as she slowly perked up.
"What about Chen? Is he okay. The woman did a number on him, he..hewell was sent to slay all the Aes Sedai.Has he been subdued or do we need to try and recuperate as fast as possible and head him off before more die at this woman's foul puppetry?"
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"We need to regroup with the others, then get to the top," Ryvin decides. "Let's take the -- ah. Just follow me for now," the Ebou Dari amends, glancing at the survivors. "No need for them to know where we're going."
Before darting towards the nearest servants' passage, Ryvin addresses the Novices: "This has been awful for you, I know. I am sorry it happened. But there is a lesson for you to take away from this; Always keep a knife on you. If you're too panicked or shielded to use saidar, you can still use a knife to cut your restraints if you just hide one up your sleeve."
That said, the Wilder is off, beckoning for Chen to follow her...
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Nodding, Chen re dons his helmet and picks up both his weapon and shield. "Let's go."
Let's go chen says, putting on his armor.
The wall seperating the kitchen from the study suddenly disintegrates into dust, the blade of pure light pushing between Analin and Angrand and removing the table and wall beyond.
Litheene stands before you both, annoyance on her face.
You, have annoyed me.
The illusion of Litheene drops away, revealing the face of a mature lady, silvery blue eyes, chin length black hair, and of medium height. Her clothing quickly changes color, from red to orange to blue to green and back.
In a voice much different than her own, she says I will not destroy you, but make you slaves to the Dark Lord and turn you!
"What about Chen? Is he okay. The woman did a number on him, he..hewell was sent to slay all the Aes Sedai.Has he been subdued or do we need to try and recuperate as fast as possible and head him off before more die at this woman's foul puppetry?" Vala says, struggling to sit up, her nakedness forgotten as she cries, holding her child.
you suddenly feel a surge of the One power, of a Male attempting to channel. it cuts off quickly, but suddenly is back, in greater power, before it is cut off again. Again, its back, held longer before it is put out. The source is coming from below you
A sudden hum fills the tower, and the tower vibrates and shakes. It happens again, and again, and again. Cracks begin to line the Ogier stone walls on both the interior and exterior walls.
The hum happens in short bursts before it is cut off, leaving you speechless, wondering what is happening.
As you look about, wondering what the hell is going on, you begin to see the entire tower begin to deteriorate. Once pristine murals set upon the wall suddenly wither to dust. Food goes from ripe to rotten and withered in seconds. Clothing begins to weak and become tatters. Pristine armor grows rusted.
But what captures your attention the most is the walls.
The walls with the cracks.
The cracks are growing wider.
The cracks are growing longer.
Where the cracks are, dust is starting to pour out from them.
It is as if the Tower is aging hundreds of years before your eyes.
[ooc]the basement[/b]
Vala holds her child, cooing and then suddenly yelps in shock.
No longer is she holding a new born, but instead the child has grown into a two year old toddler.
The Wolf appears, causing everyone intense pain.
"Blood and ashes," Ryvin says, eyeing the cracks. "Damn. Okay. Adapt, as little as we might like it. You there!"
Ryvin snaps at the Novices like a drill sergeant.
"The Tower looks to be on its last legs! On your feet and fall in! No backtalk or you won't get rescued! Move it, move it, move it!"
Jasmine looks around and says Blood and bloody ashes! The pattern is warping! Vala, we need to get that child out of here now! She goes to stand up before using a supreme effort of will to fight off the exhaustion.
Ryland growled and takesRyvin by the arm. "We must away! This place is going to be everyone's tomb!"
Fiallain climbs to her feet while wincing at the pain from the nearness of the huge wolf. She looks from it to Keelix as she bends back down to help Vala up. "What does he say?"
Vala winces and growls in pain as she gets up knowing that her child was in danger. Her child however was now 2? That was a new turn of events. Still she would have to get out of here and get her swords, her armor. She would need them more than ever now.
"Well whatever you do don't disintegrate the floor beneath us, that would be catastrophic for us! I am really afraid of falling. Though maybe you should watch out for that creature behind you first!"
A Will saving throw negates the effect, I doubt it will work but worth a try.
Stunned at the child's rapid growth, exhausted, and emotionally wrung out, and severely injured, Keelix staggers to his feet and picks up his armor and sword, "The Dragon is on the 13th floor. And it seems that he needs help. Let's go." He turns to Vala, "How are you?"
Finally he faces the great wolf.
Vala looks to Keelix and back to there daughter. Her face was stoic as she looked to him."I am not dead and would be better with a sword and not here, So lets get the Dragon and be Gone!"
Jasmine looks at the others and says I cannot channel a candle alight right now and so cannot fight. Give me the baby and I will carry her while you protect us with sword and shield.
Seeing the walls crack and turn to dust, the woman standing before you barely glances behind herself to see through the illusion.
Fools. So be it.
A large tear in reality appears before you two, as if a giant sword cut through the pattern and split it wide. The tear blocks your line of sight on her, and her to you. With the sound of nails on a chalk board, the tear closes shut.
The Wolf looks at Keelix.
With minimal encouragement, everyone that can walk or run, runs down the stairs. Others are helped down the stairs.
A bunch of screams and shouts are heard from up above. You all look up and see 15 feet above you all, men and women all standing on the ledge trying to figure out how to get down. But, there time is short as a large crowd is beginning to form and is pushing from the back.
Another rumble and groan fills the whole tower. the areas that are crumbling to dust are now dust, and support columns that help hold up the vast structure are collapsing. Cracks before, now large pot holes fill the walls and floors and ceilings. Dust is blowing everywhere.
With line of sight broken, Argrand grabs Analin and pulls her to the closest set of stairs leading down "Hurry Analin Sedai!"
Ryvin growls her frustration - and channels forcefully. A broad stairway of Hardened Air forms, reaching up to the landing above. With a wrenching twist, the Ebou Dari ties off the weave and turns to Chen.
"Change of plans. We need to get upstairs and find the Dragon. I can Gate us out once we have him and then we hope the others did the same. Come on!"
Ryvin runs up the stairway, waving her sword at the people above.
"Clear the way! You can come down once we're up! Clear the way!"