@Maiathreen: Servais gives no response. You come out of your trance in the same study nook you entered an hour ago. There are still sounds coming from the main room of the library, and everything seems in order.
@Min: You walk past Eustacius, who makes not a sound as you do, though his hideously empty eye sockets follow you. Upon entering, you are greeted with a most hideous site; the main room of this museum -- if it really is a museum -- is very large, probably 100' square, and has a ceiling two stories up. There is a balcony running around the room on the second floor, but you don't see any way to get up to it.
As normal as the interior itself is, though, its contents are less than savory. The entire place is filled with monstrous skeletons and corpses in glass cases. Not monstrous in size, necessarily, but monstrous in shape and how deformed they are. Some of the skeletons are over ten feet high, others are barely six inches. In one display case is an unidentifiable lump of gristle that you're pretty sure is dead. In another is what appears to be the ossified form of an elven baby that has no skin. Its dead eyes stare glassily out at you. In another is a pair of conjoined orcish twins. In another is a pool of green sludge. Up on the balcony are other display cases filled with similar horrors and worse.
Shuffling footsteps alert you to the presence of someone else, and through a small door in the back of the room comes a severely hunched and old man. He's human, but does not look well. His hair is thin and white and his eyes a bit milky. He wears very thick glasses. He has a lantern in one hand. "Tarien! You're lucky Eustacius told me it was you or I would have reported you as more of those blasted gnoll pups pranking me again! What are you doing here so late? And who is this?"
Tarien smiles. "I am sorry, doctor, but I met someone tonight who may have use of your great knowledge. May I present to you Min, who has recently had cause to inquire as to the disposition of the Lionhearts...?"
The doctor swivels his head slowly to look at you. At only 5'3", you tower over him. "The Lionhearts?" He says disbelievingly. "Why in Nethys' mighty name are you after them, man? Nothing good is going to come of that."
Maiatheen stands and stretches muscles cramped from an hour of sitting with his legs crossed as he was in his trance. Hearing the sounds of movement in the main room he wonders who else could be using the library so late.
@DRA
Min bows his head slightly when introduced by Tarien and, despite the horrifying contents of this museum, he remains cool and calm. "A pleasure to meet you Doctor, apologies for our coming at this late hour but I insisted. My interest in the Lionheart's originally stemmed from the ideal that they were wiped out during the last great war. During my travels we came upon a mountain fortress where a great host of Lionheart's spirits, whose bodies were trapped forever in a state of slow rot and eternal suffering. After a mighty struggle we were able to defeat the demon that had appeared to be tasked in the safekeeping of their spirits."
He gave the strange Doctor a moment to digest this before continuing. "I understand clearly that no good comes with trifling with Deamon kind or their infernal contracts but doing nothing is just as bad. So I seek to break the contract the Lionhearts are bound to, completely and utterly. So that is why I have come tonight as I have contracted a local force of these doomed soldiers to join my cause in aiding Tautha during this war. So any information you can provide me with is greatly appreciated, if you wish I can return in the morning when at a more decent time of your choosing."
@Mai: Peering around the door of your study nook, you look into the main room and see a collection of a couple dozen hard-working students all with their noses buried in books, or conferring quietly and intently with each other. They're all quite focused, and none have noticed you as of yet.
@Min: The doctor makes a dismissive gesture. "Well you're here now, so we may as well talk now. Come, come up to my study where things are more comfortable. Eustacius! Resume guard duty." The skeletal beast shambles off through a side door that leads who-knows-where as you and Tarien follow Dr. Schrebel up a cramped and winding back staircase to the low-ceilinged third floor. You traverse a creaky and creepy hallway with several closed doors behind each of which bizarre sounds can be heard; raspy breathing, a low conversation in an unknown tongue, a loud humming sound, a sound like breaking glass, a sandy and shuffling sound...other things. Eventually the doctor ushers you both into a cozily overstuffed room piled high with prodigious stacks of books and scrolls and parchments. Every wall of the barely 15'x15' room is covered with bookshelves, and there are three well-fed-looking housecats lazing around in various out-of-the way spots. None of them pays you any attention as you walk in, though they flick their tails in annoyance at the intrusion on their naptime.
Dr. Schrebel sits at the overloaded desk and gestures for you to sit in the only other chair in the room; a very comfortable stuffed chair made of fine hand-worked leather. He pours klah for all of you. Tarien is in the corner petting one of the cats, who seems to be tolerating his attentions by leaning its head back so he can scratch under its chin.
Dr. Schrebel speaks: "Now. Min. Dealing with devils and demons is sometimes an unavoidable necessity. It's quite fine. But why did you seek the Lionhearts, specifically? Theirs is a tale of woe, of misunderstanding and misplaced loyalties, of unfortunate luck, and is a tale mostly told. Their time is done. Surely you could have procured the services of some...other army, or taken up some other cause to fight for?"
@Belsarious: "Ah. I have heard of the Abominations, I think, but don't know much about them. I doubt the Snow Bud has anything to do with them, though; it's just a plant. A tea plant."
Maiatheen smirks at his innate distrust and heads towards the main door of the library ready for hot food and a soft bed.
"While I am certain you has my name I am still trying to nail yours down. An then thar is tha matter o tha Gekos."
Belsarious tries not to confuse the short man, but for a mission he needs details.
@DRA:
Min sits in the chair reluctantly, he usually preferred to stand but not wanting to come off as rude he did as bidden. At Dr. Schrebel's question he thought for a long moment to gather his thoughts. Finally with a quiet sigh he spoke. "There isn't a force that could be gathered quickly enough for what I need done. I needed cohesion, teamwork and tactical knowledge gained from working together. They have all of that and at the time I thought I was doing them a service. I hadn't realized the extent of the infernal contract that they were bound to until today."
He leaned back, eyeing one of the cats curiously before looking back to the doctor and saying. "Truth be told until I reached this city I had assumed their order was wiped out and had planned to resurrect it in a new light myself, but now I seek to pull them back from the brink if I am able. It's not about me, never was, I just wanted to help free them and the souls of those trapped elsewhere. I can't accept the idea that they are finished, not yet. They're still here and If we don't help them how will they ever be free?"
Taking up another cause had crossed his mind but he had a goal to complete. He had to do what he could for the homeland that hated him, despite their foolishness he was starting to outgrow the elves and their woods. The Leylament gave him clarity and not being bound to it like them gave him strength to make decisions without bloodlust. He had lost one homeland and he wouldn't stand to see another burn, not if he could help it.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
@Belsarious: " "Ah, my apologies good sir. I am called Fastolph. As for the geckos, you will know their placement when you see the arrangement of the trees around the Sunderer in the fountain at the center of the city. I can give you no more information than that, I fear, as the arrangement of the trees will undoubtedly have changed since last I was there."
@Min: Dr. Schrebel nods. "I understand. You have undertaken a crusade of sorts. A personal one. This changes the angle from which we must approach the problem. Well, as you have discovered, the contract binding them is...ummm...labyrinthine, to say the least. Very difficult stuff, crafted by skilled Contract Devils. So...let me think. Hmmm...answer me this, Min, are you more dedicated to bringing the Lionhearts back as they were, including re-instating their captain, Tanner Stormblade, or are you more interested in doing what you can for the warriors of the Lionhearts, the fighting men and women?"
@DRA
The Professor's question struck Min sideways, as he hadn't really thought of such a choice needing to be made. It was obvious in the way he stumbled that the Professor had caught him off guard and he was unsure as to how to respond. "Well... Uh. If the order couldn't be saved I would want to try saving the people, including their Captain if possible. At least that's what I hope to do."
"Well met Fastolph! You err an amourous delight at any age, which I beleve leads me to mah final peice o business tha total numbers an types o gekos I must have tah complete things?"
Belsarious has come of age and though the last member of his tribe of elves from the great trackless woods, he begins the process of making the tattoos upon his person.....
@Belsarious: "Ah, why thank you, my good man. And thank you for the tea, as well. It has been some time since I've been able to remain in a single when for more than but a handful of instants. It is...refreshing. I believe the types of geckos were just...geckos? I confess that knowledge of various gecko breeds is outside my normal purview. There should be six of them, though; that much I recall for certain."
After finishing up your various bits of business in the rainy but welcoming metropolis of Stormfare, you all get a solid night of sleep and awake in time to complete morning rituals and retrieve any items that were being crafted for you. You meet at the garrison building for the guards and soldiers from Izmir and Warbane that help protect the town, where your respective riding companions are brought out, all refreshed and well-cared-for.
It is 11:01 in the morning, 52 degrees, and pouring rain; a steady, drenching, straight downpour.
He wasn't surprised when Damian was the first to arrive. Min stood alongside Lin who appeared as grim as her rider, his news hadn't gone over well with her at all and his stubbornness to change his mind worried her something fierce. Sophitia stood at attention the Lionheart banner unfurled, covered and strapped to the tip of a brand new lance. She too was furious with Min's stubbornness and she was mortified that it was her fault he was in this mess.
Before Damian could speak Min raised his hand. "Villicent isn't dead and plans to hunt us down. Brooke may not be safe Sir." He spoke in a matter of fact way, hoping Damian wouldn't question how he came across such information and would trust his foolhardy lieutenant. "We are ready to depart at your word."
The night before
Bel works diligently on the tattoos on his inner forearms, the inking and magical infusion taking most of the evening, the symbols swirl appearing at times to move, and perhaps they do, or perhaps it is an illusion of the eye beholding them.
In the morning
Bel meets up with the others attempting the final component of the ceremony, he brings his gear down from his room, a page is carrying part of the stuff. Bel is dressed only in a towel with bandages over his forearms, he steps into the rain. Once soaked he drops the towel and then the bandages to the stones below. He raises his arms they are red and swollen with dried blood and blackish ink smeared across his forearms.
The rain intensifies in the area directly around him, he rises into the air screaming into the sky he makes a sound a word unlike anything anyone has ever heard before, his arms glow for a second as if lightening had struck with no external light. A nano-second later thunder erupts as if from the pores of the elf even his hair stands on end.
He comes out of the storm his skin steaming as he walks back under the over-hang of the buildings, completely dry he puts on his gear without offering a word to explain any of the unfolding events. He just smiles and dresses.
DM
Your call on if what I described completes the ritual for a tattoo, or is the start of it. So either I have it or I don’t.
Let me know.
This is the one I am going for.
Tattoo, Reservoir
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 7th Slot none; Price 10,000 gp
DESCRIPTION Once per day as a standard action, the bearer can transfer into the tattoo an ongoing single-target spell (of up to 3rd level). The spell must be one the bearer cast on itself. While stored in the tattoo, the spell’s effects are suppressed, and the spell’s duration is similarly suspended. As a standard action, the bearer can bring the spell back into effect on itself. Spells stored in reservoir tattoos are lost when the bearer next prepares spells.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS Inscribe Magical Tattoo; Cost 5,000 gp
Still acting as if nothing just happened Bel looks at the others.
”Any ting interestin happen?”
Sophitia stares in awe at the strange elf's display of arcane might. When she finds she is the only one surprised by his display she turns away from those present. While subtly trying to avoid saying out loud. Seriously I'm the only one surprised by this?! Swallowing hard she refocused but found it hard not to wonder just how powerful Min's allies were....
He steps up to his and Livain's room he opens the door to step in. Livain I'm ba...
When the others begin trickling in, Damian is standing in the rain with little sign of discomfort. His armor and shield both appear freshly cleaned and restored, glowing with new runes. Brook attends to Keythan, affixing the griffon's leather barding, under Damian's watchful eye.
Damian raises an eyebrow at the Lionheart's banner that Min's new ally holds. "Brook is as safe here as he is anywhere." The faint memory of Brook disappearing in a massive, white-hot flame flashes through his mind. "As for Villicent, I expected as much. Devils have a problem staying dead, unless you travel to their home plane to kill them. His return will have to wait, however. We have our mission to attend to." He glances over at Belsarious as he speaks, paying little attention to his new tattoos.
With the Skyknights assembled in front of him, Captain Lamorak launches into the summary of their duty. "Skyknights, we have fought hard for the sake of this world. We have braved darkness and the unknown, seeking to free the Land of Abominations capable of its destruction. Our task has been fraught with difficulty, with violence, with risk. I ask you all to continue this journey with me. We must travel now to the Empire of Mists, far to the east, and we must do so quickly. An agent of the Red Dragonflight, a man named Kyras Erodal, used one of the abominations to erase Na-Calanon, a creature of immense power and one of the last true protectors of Izmir. We cannot spend weeks in travel, just to arrive there and find that the trail is cold. We must brave the horrors of the Astral Plane, horrors that some of our numbers have faced and beaten before. I know that you will face these challenges with bravery, for the price of failure is too high. For duty, Skyknights, we will do what must be done."
Livain helps him to his feet again and sets him down at the table. She wraps a warm blanket around him and then sets Sar next to him on a chain with two pillows to prop her up with Livain’s shawl wrapped around like a cocoon. While waiting for him to decide, she placed the food on the table in their chamber and began to light some candles for a relaxing ambiance. Sar studied Maiathreen curiously. Sending him mental messages of affection and buzzing with questions. That night Livain set 3 plates down on the table. At last she felt like she had an official family.
Belsarious begins to tediously study the area near the fountain looking at the structure as if he had never seen it before and had just arrived, he traces a fingure over it taking in the details.
He nods at Sir Damien as he rambles on.
Belsarious sets the location in his mind firming and solidifying it into a location he can teleport back to as long as he is within range. He knows he must set the locations or thus embrace risk in magical sojourns. Belsarious knows if aflame he could bring himself into the water or just to the general area.
Afterwards Belsarious stands away and casts a spell calling forth the dark void,
An aura of darkness surrounds the elf, taking the very ability to breath from the air, he then transfers the magics into the waiting tattoo.
"Tha tapestry is made from light and dark and nothingness, I have brought forth the nothing."
The breath is blasted from Maiatheen's lungs as his back hits the ground. He laughs out loud his amusement a counter to his melancholy whilst walking through the rain. And suddenly he feels something wet on his ear and he lets out a surprised yelp as he turns to see a small Wyverling next to his head. "Well hello there little one." He says and then listens to Livain's story. " Saronnen Selene, huh?"
When Livain offers her hand to him he pulls himself up and wraps his arms around her waist and kisses her neck."A new perfume? I like it." He says as she gets the table prepared for food. He enjoys a peaceful meal with his beloved and their new friend and for a short period of time forgets about the abominations, the black dragon flight, Shadowguard all of it. Just enjoying the presence of his beautiful wife the balm to his tortured soul.
As she arrives with her two celestial companions, Aylaeth takes a slow scan of her fellow Skyknights, admiring and appreciating the vast strength, capability and determination arrayed before her. If any party had the ability to save the world, surely this was the group to do it.
Dismissing any lingering thoughts on the poor druidess Aduila and her heartbreaking dilema, the Staff Magus concentrates her full attention upon her leader and captain, Damian. She frowns slightly at the news of the demon Vilicent still being after them, but as she had never had direct contact with the foul being, her emotional charge is negligable.
At the conclusion of Captain Lamorak's speech, she echos his words, stating loudly and with absoloute confidence "For duty, we will do what must be done!""
Maiatheen's illusion of a peaceful life was shattered when sleep brought on the dreams nay the nightmares of his creation. Often it was like dying only the pain never stops. He clawed his way out of slumber coming to with a gasp. With shaky unsteady steps he stumbles over to the table and pours a cup of dark red wine....
When morning comes it finds Maiatheen asleep with his head on the table the bottle lay forgotten on the floor. His dreams muddled through wine induced slumber. A small voice cuts through. ::Are you ok?:: He looks through bloodshot eyes and spies the little Wyverling peaking out at him from a little nest made of sheets and knick-knacks. "I'll be alright little one." He says with a wane smile. ::I'm not little all of you are just oversized.:: She replies indignation written on her reptilian features. Maiatheen can't help but laugh. ::Mistress Livain is sad when your upset. She said even though you don't always say it she knows and it makes her sad...and if you make her sad then I'll have to bite you.:: The little dragon threatens.
"Ok ok" He says with his hands up in mock surrender.
Maiatheen stands ready his fears and uncertainties once again locked away behind iron bars. He raises an eyebrow in response to Belsarious's display of magic with the tattoo. He listens silently as everyone speaks in the quad watching waiting. When it seemed no one had anything important led to way he speaks up. "If we are truly going to teleport to the Empire I suggest we get prepared to face these Ethereal Slayers, and that means scrolls to dispel any binding magic they may cast upon us. Because I for one do not plan on dying in limbo."
Belsarious cocks his head towards the Magus, and raises an eyebrow.
@ Maiathreen
"We hast survived tha Everwhen, I have mastered tha void, Limbo is no death sentence upon us, should we sojourn there, we shall scratch and claw our way back from oblivion."
"Scrolls we ave need o' indeed. Let us find as many as we err able."
Min looked to Belsarious.as his comment irritated him greatly, same with Aylaeth. Afterwhat he saw last night he could no longer blindly follow, never again. "I hate to break it to you Bel but dozens of people were dying there if not hundreds. I seriously doubt we stand much better of a chance if we appear in the middle of a swarm. I will do as duty asks but I won't change my mind on what we witnessed there. Those creatures moved unbelievably fast and were remorseless hunters as well... So we best be prepared for a hard bloody fight."
He looked to his companion's and spoke confident in his ability to do what he could. "When we do finally Tavel through limbo I would prefer if as many of you stay as close to me as possible. That way I can intercept their rays with my own body and if we do indeed get swarmed at least a good portion of us can escape more quickly."
Lins grim expression darkened at Min's words, as what he had shown her in his memories of their short stay in limbo shocked her to the core. Now with Sophitia and Serenity amid their number it made things more difficult to assure everyone made it out unscathed.
Maiathreen frowns at Min's tone seeming too defeated. He thinks back through the last couple of days...everything seems so wrong to the Silastrixian magus. Something snaps in him and he draws Servais from its sheath which releases an eerie scream that sets ones teeth on edge. He spins the blade in his hands and with both hands stabs the blade into the ground sending stone chips and fragments flying. "So you'll sacrifice your life for ours?! If we go into limbo with that belief not a one of us will make it out alive! We've made it this far believing in one another and that's not something Livain nor myself do lightly. I know we have all seen things that mortal eyes should never witness we tried to save children and in the process lost over half..."
Maiathreen's voice fails him for a moment and those who notice see his eyes seem red and tired possibly from lack of sleep. "And that weighs no less heavy on our souls than anyone else's. But we the Skyknights will not falter we will not lose, I for one even if bleeding, torn, cut, and dying I will still get these abominations I will stop what ever Veriala is planning and the same for Kalaroth. So I'll be damned before I give up, so pick up the pieces you've lost along the way and get yourself back together we can't start doubting now. And yes this goes for you as we'll Captain. I know you saw things in the Everywhen that have shake you, but you were always first among equals, don't forget that we aren't just your subordinates but also your friends." And with that Maiathreen pulls Servais out of the ground and steps back seeming more tired than we he began.
"Aye all err aware o tha events o ther lives an tha recent events shape all, yet we each has our own life tha makes tha shared events different."
Damian glares at Maiathreen as the winged man lectures him. When he pulls his sword back, Damian offers a sharp retort. "I have not and will not give up. I watched all of you die, one by one, but I never surrendered my duty for a moment. Our chance to win this war and restore peace to the land is slim, and grows slimmer by the day. Hope clouds that knowledge, but duty does the opposite. It is with clear eyes that I continue to fight, to never give up. You speak to me of not faltering? I watched as you accepted a black bargain on your soul, cradling her broken body, until the darkness consumed you entirely. I carried on the fight. I watched as Min and his dragon reached out to one another before Kalaroth rended her mind and turned her into little more than a puppet - and I carried on the fight. I watched as he plunged his fist into Aylaeth's chest above the flaming ruins of Katapesh, burning her from the inside out - and A dark future awaits all of us, and only duty will carry us forth to march out and meet it. But we will meet it with bravery, because of our duty. I have not doubted the mission, not for a moment. I believe in it, because otherwise your deaths - and mine, whenever it happens - will be in vain."
As he finishes, a silence falls over the square. The only sound is the rain hitting the stones. Damian stands proudly, soaked and alone even in the midst of allies and friends.
Min listened to the exchange and the possible future that Damian spoke of filled him with an unseen and quiet rage. It was foolish to imagine killing a god but if that bleak future came to pass He would strive to be the first. Damian's speech more than reminded the pair of why they fought and why they had given there oaths in the first place. His troubles were momentarily forgotten. However he had nothing more to add to what Damian had said, no words of retort, no words of praise nothing but a firm nod of agreement to his Captain before he slid on his helm and adjusted his battered goggles.
Before they jumped Min climbed into the saddle, pulled forth Avenaada and nocked a regular arrow. He nodded to Sophitia after she combed into the saddle on Serenity her Pegasus mount. She looked unsure as Min called to Damian. "She is willing to accompany us if you wish sir or she can remain behind the choice is yours Captain. Other than that we are ready to travel once more."
Bel nods once to Sir Damian. Appreciating the impact of the prophets curse upon the knight as he has to watch the fickle hands of fate at work, upon everyone. Sir Damian dealt well with his once time vision, though he had no clue of the magnitude of the daily visions Belsarious keeps to himself, the destruction of the entire trackless woods, millions of voices crying out in horror, angony and then the silence of nothingness after.
Ironically if the knight saw his own fall would he speak of it, Bel knows that anyone could fall first or last as the fabric weaves and the fates cut.
He just adds at the end....
"In Vain you say, Ah Vanity....So am I first to perish upon this errand?"
Using scrolls supplied by expert scribes in town, you open a portal to the Empire of Mists, all of you braced for the onslaught of Ethereal Slayers...
...and appear in warm, humid air of the flatlands surrounding Lanzhu, imperial capitol of the Empire of Mists. You are perhaps a couple hours' flight from the city -- teleporting any closer is forbidden without imperial decree, which you weren't able to obtain -- but you can already see it gleaming in the near distance. The fields and villages that surround it for miles all look orderly and quiet and peaceful. The sun is heavy and golden and high in the sky, and there are wispy gray clouds chasing around the sky, as if it was just raining, and perhaps will again soon. The air smells fresh and wild and floral. It smells simultaneously like eternity, and change. In a place like this, one could almost forget there is a war going on in the rest of the Land.
The flight to the city is uneventful and breathtakingly beautiful. Farmers look up at your party in wonder as you pass overhead, their children and servants pointing upwards, their mouths agape. About two miles out of the city, you are intercepted by a cadre of large, strange stone creatures flying without wings. They rise up in front of your party, holding their hands out in a "stop" gesture. The lead one speaks in a stilted voice. "STOP-AND-IDENTIFY-YOURSELVES"
Maiathreen silently vows to find a way to remind Damian of his old self which seemed so much more hopeful. This new older Damian seemed such a shadow to his former brilliance. He drops the conversation at a gentle touch from Livain the Wyverling perched on her shoulder it's tail wrapped around her neck like a scaled boa.
Servais drawn he prepares to face the Slayera only to appear directly in the Empire unhindered. He stares in wonder at the sights around him it seemed to peaceful by far, almost mockingly so. He grips Livain's hand in his as he takes in the sights.
The Damian who passes through Limbo is not the same man who faced a thousand dark futures in the Everywhen. He is a man of iron will and stalwart self-control. When they cross over through Limbo, they are not pulled into the plane as expected and ambushed. Damian sees the elven man standing alone amid the bodies of the Slayers. He makes eye contact with him in this brief moment, just long enough for him to return the acknowledgement of the well-dressed man.
During the flight over the Empire of Mists, Damian looks around in wonder. For the first time in a very long time, he sees normal people looking up at him instead of cowering peasants. He feels a sense of righteous anger for the first time in a while instead of merely a rote duty. He is on this mission to protect people like the farmers and peasants below. He may not save all of them, he knows, but he will fight for their right to live as free men.
As the stone statues soar up to meet them, he holds up his hand in a motion for the group to stop. He is glad that they share the same language and that he does not need to find a translator. "Good day, great warriors of the Empire of Mists. I am Captain Damian Lamorak, commander of the Third Army of Izmir's Aerial Cavalry. These are my battle companions, the Skyknights. We come to petition for aid in our mission, and beg for you to mercifully allow us passage into the great capital of your most impressive nation."
Min was shocked when they arrived without incident, he had expected a battle and released a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding in anticipation. The humidity sticks to his skin in a way that was a little more comfortable then the cool humidity of Stormfare. However after a couple of hours the bonded pair appear slightly uncomfortable in the warm air. Both of them preferring the cold of the mountains, the cool of the plains or the crisp air of the upper atmosphere.
He waved at those below them, a poor atempt at being friendly but better than flying overhead bearing weapons in mk own lands. Lin and Min performed some quick aerial tricks when they saw children watching. Nothing too fancy but it gave them a moment to look at all the farmland, all the breathtaking beauty of the ancient land around them. It came as no surprise when they were confronted by an aerial patrol.
With Lin hovering in the air and no weapons drawn Min spoke in a clear voice, with no hint of subterfuge as he backed up Damian. "Min Bein'Meleth Ramaloce, Sir Damian's lieutenant and companion of Lindórievórea the Silver.
Sophitia introduces herself as well with the lance in it's cradle to avoid misunderstanding.
Livain had dressed warmly that morning, gulping down a quickly brewed mint tea with some bread and left overs from the night before. She stood beside Maiathreen with dark circles under her eyes from restless sleep and with a wyverling who matches her in exhaustion. Livain had dressed the wyverling in her shawl, wrapped and pinned in such a way that one could swear it was a garment intended for wyverlings. Sar sat perched on her shoulder, nodding in and out of sleep. Even with two boiled eggs and a roll Sar couldn't shake the sleep off. Hearing about Villicent she couldn't help but think "Good morning everyone! Villicent is alive and well, he wants to kill you all. Today we will have scattered showers and 100% rain and oh can you pass the eggs or bacon?" While Livain lets out a sigh of frustration, Sar chuckles sleepily at the joke Livain made in her head. Livain stood next to Maiathreen, leaning on him gently at times. Sar wraps herself around Livain gleaning heat off from her neck and hair. She wondered why he was not next to her when she awoke.
Hearing Maiathreen and Sir Damian bickering made her slightly melancholy. She wanted to stand in between and calm the two but knew that it was better to let them handle it on their own. Hearing the vision of her fate she felt her heart skip a beat. She tightened her grip on Maiathreen's hand almost as if afraid to let him go. She then gave Maiathreen a comforting touch on his shoulder and at last a small attempt to smooth things over a bit. "Sir Damian, please excuse my husband. He is a bit of a sleep deprived grouch in the morning, especially when he has not had his mint tea..." She looks at him for a moment and smiles at the two men. "please accept our apologies, he did not mean to offend."
The soft rays from the sun fluttered about, making patterns on the wet earth. The trees were magnificent giants to behold, towering in all their glory. The view was like the finest tapestry.
Will save
In the chaos of limbo Bel sees an elf in the seconds the nobility of the elf made him think he was seeing his father....so much so he cries out
"Father!" In high elven before the vision fades.....
Then the creatures fly from an elegant kingdom....
Belsarious muses how well may one stop during flight but then is uncertain if identifing ourselves means the group as a whole of if the creatures meant individually....
He firmly grasps teleportation now.....
Aylaeth frowns as Min makes his speech, offering so bravely, yet so foolishly, to sacrifice himself for the other. Sometimes, it seemed to the Slyph Magus as if the Dragonrider desired to sacrifice himself. 'Perhaps this stems from his guilty over his perceived failures of his past?' the scholar in her muses to herself. Before she can speak on the matter though, Mai speaks up, and Aylaeth finds herself nodding in agreement with much of what her fellow magus says.
Her surprise, and disappointment is significant when Damian sharply retorts, pouring out and finally revealing some of the pain his future self has carried into this present. Despite herself she feels a chill tremble through her at the casual mention of her gruesome death at the hands of the dragon god. The emotions of dismay, denial and near panic she feels from her two celestial companions only increase this effect.
Ah, Damian' she sighs inwardly to herself 'You are so broken. Oh what, I wonder, might I do to help heal your tattered heart. How best might I convince you that the future you fear, and have experience, is but one possible future.'
Yet despite her concern over her Captian's mental and emotional well being, still, he is her commanding officer, and still, her respect for him remains solid. If anything, her respect for Captain Lamorak grows, especially considering his drive to carry on the fight despite his sure knowledge in the near inevitability of the bleak future he has known.
As she makes her final preparations to depart, Aylaeth firms within herself the plan to speak privately with Damian at some point in the near future and attempt to draw him back away from the grim and fatalist man he has become.
Aylaeth Will Save:
Ada'an Will Save:
Tora'an Will Save:
Prepared for the worst, the Staff Magus is almost thrown off by the sudden and easy passage through limbo. She thinks she glimpses something unusual, but she is not sure. With nothing more to focus on than his mistress though, little Ada'an is slightly more alert and he manages to fully see the unbelievable destruction and the lone elf figure standing in the center of it all. Excitedly, he shares it all with Aylaeth.
As the party arrives in, and flies over the beautiful lands around Lanzhu, Aylaeth slowly begins to relax her guard somewhat and take in the majestic views, and refreshingly happy and healthy citizenry below her. She does also notice her companion and celestial mount continually moving closer to the new, female Pegasus in the group. Doing nothing more than smiling to herself though, she does nothing to prevent it. She does also guffaw once or twice at biting, yet amusing comments from Ada'an regarding the possible summer activities of a certain amorous
Pegasus Lord.
The stone creatures' eyes flash at Damian's noble words, spoken sincerely in his clarion voice and backed up by his second. The lead guardian speaks again. "THE-NAME-LAMORAK-IS-KNOWN-TO-US. THE-SKYKNIGHTS-MAY-ENTER. WE-ARE-LOKAPALAS. FIRST-LINE-OF-DEFENSE-OF-THE-CAPITOL-OF-THE-SON-OF-THE-HEAVENS. YOU-WILL-FOLLOW-US."
With that, the Lokapalas turn sharply around, and start flying towards a cluster of large buildings set away from the city proper, though surprisingly near the palace, all things considered. The palace presents a glorious and towering sight as you fly around its western and southern faces. The Imperial Palace of Lanzhu manages the impressive feat of appearing both tremendously elegant and supremely battle-ready; its architectural filigrees and gilt edges, fine topiary and statuary, incredibly bright paint and sumptuous gardens and grounds are balanced by its high, thick walls patrolled constantly by sleek archers, well-armed and armored pikemen, and trundling constructs.
You land in an equally elegant -- if vastly smaller -- courtyard that is down the hill and southwest of the palace proper. A single, wide road leads to a massive iron gate. The walls here are patrolled by a full platoon of soldiers. Once down, a functionary comes out, carrying a clipboard. He introduces himself as Kho Shenji, then verifies your names and the names of your mounts and riding companions. He looks you all over very carefully, though it's not clear what he's looking for, exactly. After a couple minutes, though, he seems satisfied, makes some check marks on his paper, and addresses you all.
"Noble travelers, welcome visitors, you will find our city most inviting and full of wonders. Please respect it, and it will respect you. Your mounts may be left here, or you may retain the services of a boarding facility in the city proper, which will cost much more, but be a much more...sumptuous experience for your riding companions." Shenji looks at Lin. "The dragons of the West are welcome here, and may move about the city if they are capable. Many main roads are walkable by dragons. A number of your kin are here already, as it turns out, quartered on the palace grounds." Kho turns and gives a signal to the gateman. "Please enjoy your stay."
The gates of Lanzhu open.
Bel remains silent after his outburst in the air, perhaps the answer satisfied the guardians. Perhaps even his companions thought his cry one recognizing the creatures, though they were heading into the city before he even thought about them.
Lin looks somewhat shocked at being spoken too directly and bows her head respectfully to Shenji, she favored him with a warm demeanor and was very appreciative of his initial welcome. Min dismounted, helping Belsarious down and bowed respectively to Shenji as Lin spoke. "Merry meet indeed Shenji. We will most certainly enjoy your beautiful city and are most appreciative of the warm welcome. I don't wish to be rude and hope to visit the palace but it is our first time in the city, is there any place you could suggest as a decent place to stay?"
Min hadn't stopped moving as Lin spoke to Shenji, he had removed the new saddle with a smooth set of motions. Despite its size and construction it didn't weigh him down in the slightest, he did give a small grunt as he took up the saddlebag.
Min chuckled and then shrugged. "Not everyday, sometimes we fight dragons, demons' invade volcanoes and battle armies. Pretty fast paced, standard stuff, however apparently today though I'm the mount. Hopefully Lin doesn't send me to the stables." He gave her a wink as she looked back at Serenity.
Sophitia looked blown away, Min's explanation left her even more shocked as to what the Skyknights faced. The young paladin looked like she was in way over her head as she pulled the saddle off her companion.
Belsarious studies the area around the city and the city itself, he then concludes in fairly short order that he will not be able to set a place within the city to teleport to....
He scans the area widening his senses and using minor magic to aid in reading the magical auras of this place.
Having no other business in the town he turns to min and Lin....
"Did yah eyes gaze intah Limbo as we passed?...."
Min standing ready to proceed into the city while Lin conversed with Shenji looked to Belsarious when he spoke. In response to his question he shrugged. "I didn't see much of anything really a great blur and we arrived here. Although i thout you yelled something, couldn't make it out though... Why do you ask?" He was curious as to what happened in Limbo, where the great hordes had gone. He was however thankful and planned to make his thanks known to the gods when he got a chance at twilight.
Damian offers a respectful bow to Kho Shenji, fully aware that he is a guest in these lands. "Thank you for your hospitality. We cannot impose on you, and will board our steeds in the city itself." He considers the benefit of having them closer at hand in case they find their quarry. "I will report to our associates in the palace ground. Thank you." He excuses his group, and turns to lead them into the city. The veritable zoo of animals and warriors follows him through the gates.
Damian hears the conversation between Belsarious and Min. "I saw a man - an elf, wearing fine clothes in the style of Stormfare, amid the torn bodies of many of the astral marauders. Whoever he was, his efforts saved us quite a bit of effort. I suspect we should not check the dragon's teeth in this case, and should simply be thankful that our passage was unhindered."
He beckons for Min and Aylaeth to join him in the front of their walking group as they head towards the palace. "We must meet with the rest of the group that came here with Na-Calanon to discover exactly what happened. Word of his death came from General Illuminata Vittoria of Lesotho, accompanied by Captain Lilitine Citanu. Hopefully they are still at the palace. Do either of you know of them? What do we know of the Abomination that this Kyras Erodal used? Additionally - and correct me if I am wrong - Bethany Erodal was heading here at one point, was she not? We should seek her out for whatever information she can give - willingly or not."
Min kept pace with Damian with ease despite carrying a heavy load. When asked mp the questions he shrugged as he never met anyone from that region but... "Lesotho.... Aylaeth is from there if I remember you also trained under that general right?" Before she responded he directed another question her way remembering part of her report mere hours ago. "Wasn't this this eyeglass of reversal you were talking about as well? The one that complete unmakes things like People, Places and possibly even an entire plane right?"