Her eyes widen just a bit when Amnayel is swallowed, but she continues to pepper the turtle's vulnerable spots with magical arrows.
As it becomes inevitable, Amnayel starts to protest, loudly. her loud procolomation fades as she disappears from sight.
As she slides down into the stomach acid, in an extremely tight and uncomfortable space, she knows escape is going to be challening. Her best bet may just be to stay alive until her companions can free her.
Will they free me? The twins are not what I presumed, the doctor is plotting against me and the muscle-bound woman cannot speak a complete sentence. You test me, Arshea. I have faith and will remain strong.
My allies will free me.
Deciding against attacking, she tries to undo the damage that's been done to her while her companions hopefully freeher.
"Just touch it! Damn it, Kamosh!!"
Kamosh gives the turtle creature the slights tap with the tip of a single talon.
Allie growls and starts pounding the turtle's head with jets of gray light.
Ulrich lowers his staff and blasts the turtle and sea with a cone of cold.
The turtle manages to resist both spells but the cold still hurts it. Allie blasts it with searing light before Gabby shoots it several more times. With a groan, the mutant beast collapses, sending up a huge spray of water. Its mouth hangs open, eyes staring up at the sky.
"Well. That was unfortunate."
"Sh*t. Someone give me a knife!" Allie yells. Grasping the first blade that she's offered she leaps off the ship and onto the turtle before starting to hack her way into the turtle's throat.
She is no bladeswoman, but she is at least strong...
Kamosh very hesitantly hops around near the turtle's mouth, pecking just in case it's actually still alive. As he determines it's moderately safe, he starts descending in search of the Aasimar. Every now and then he says
"Hello? Amnayel? Are you there?"
"Please don't eat me. Please don't eat me."
Allie slices right through the turtle's massive throat and carves a slit down into the creatures belly. She then wedges herself into the cuts and starts levering the wound apart until she's braced, legs spread wide and the pale sunlight filters into Amnayel's fleshy prison.
"Well? Are you going to get out or what?" Allie yells, bending herself nearly double to reach an arm down into the turtle and give the armor clad paladin a handhold.
Amnayel calls out to Kamosh in celestial.
Amnayel hears the slashing and tearing of skin and that blessed fresh air shines in with the sunlight as a Alessandra's hand is thrust down to her. "Ah, my savior!" she proclaims and pulls herself out of the gullet of the turtle.
"Thank you all, for coming to my rescue. I knew you would fell the beast and retrieve me from its belly. You all have my thanks."
Stepping free from her would be grave, foul smell acids drip from her armor as she moves back to the boat. She looks down at herself and frowns. "I am disgusting."
She looks at Alessandra and says "Would you mind doing me another favor and help me with these?" as she asks for her help in removing her armor. She begins to remove the numerous pieces and layers until all of the metal is removed. Next she removes her hauberk and then the chausses before stripping off the cloth underneath. She hands Alli her large blade and asks with a smile "Would you hold this? It is very special to me."
After a few minutes she is standing completely naked in front of you, her unnaturally beautiful and tanned skin is flawless, marred only by slimy streaks of the contents of the large turtles stomach. Her muscles are extremely toned and accepted by her wide hips that give her a truly voluptuous figure that is streaked with golden blond hair that seems to shimmer (even though it is filthy).
"Excuse me, I'm going to jump into the water very quickly to rinse off. If there is trouble, please alert me." she takes a few steps and dives into the water.
Gabbi watches the woman strip down in silence and when she finally dives into the water, the inquisitor turns to her sister.
"She still talks too much," is all she says.
Kamosh flops out of the cut turtle and just takes things easy for a minute. Later, he gets up and flies over to Ulrich, demanding a Prestidigitation. Ulrich says something along the lines of That doesn't sound like my problem, which is promptly followed by relentless pecking. Eventually, a glorious and clean Nosoi perches at the bowsprit.
Finished her brief swim, she once again assess the danger and finding none, she begins to clean off her armor by dipping it into the water one piece at a time, scrubbing it. After cleaning her helm, she looks over at Shemyaza. She asks the familiar nosoi a question in celestial.
Kamosh (Shemyaza) flaps his feathers proudly.
"My master has prepared Prestidigitation. It will clean your armour. He also has a mending spell prepared, which could help with your armour. Come, and I will speak on your behalf."
Rising to her feet, she walks alongside of Kamosh and arrives at Ulrich with a pleasant smile on her face. Her body still is dripping wet, the rivulets of water dropping from her hair and traveling over the contours of her body as they make their way alllll the way down to her feet. Slowly.
"Ulrich." she says with a smile, staring up at the doctor who is the same high as she, but with no boots or armor on she is slightly shorter. "If you would cast your prestidigitation spell upon my armor and using your mending spell to fix the dents and gouges, I would be most appreciative. I could wash them all by hand, but I would rather speed the process up so that I am ready for our next challenge."
"Of course." Ulrich replies, unphased. "It will take me just a minute or two."
With that, he starts casting Prestidigitation and Mending on the armour pieces. Each piece is clean, well polished, and fully repaired.
Amnayel clasps her hands in praise as the non-necromantic spellcaster cleans her armor for her. She then begins the process of putting each piece back on one at a time and then reclaiming her falchion. After five minutes she addresses the troup "Thank you for your assistance. I'm ready to proceed now."
With the barge secured, the crew begins to make preparations to cast off. The survivors from the Sancta Iomedae and the ballista tower crowd onto the ship, and soon enough, you leave the destroyed city at last.
The closest refuge to Vigil is Castle Everstand, so the sailors pilot the Golden Dawnrose slowly up the River Esk toward the junction with the Kestrel River. As the Golden Dawnrose sails away from Vigil, a few other smaller boats containing survivors join in a ragged flotilla of refugees. Of the nearly 12,000 people in Vigil at the time of the attack, you’d estimate only about 2,000 made it out alive. The vast majority of these survivors have your early warnings to thank for saving their lives. The mood on the barge is grim, but the Aylunna Varvatos tells you that you have accomplished great deeds in the face of terrible tragedy, and you should be proud of that.
Still, it’s hard to feel anything close to pride looking back at the devastated ruins of Vigil’s capital city...
As the barge sails away from the devastation, the aasimar is unusually quiet and keeps to herself. She sits on the stern of the barge, legs hanging over the edge, looking back at all of the death with her helmet and blade sitting behind her. She stares into the distance thinking about all of the lives that have been lost, all of the ones that possibly could have been saved if she had been faster.
Gabriella sits at the stern of the craft watching the ruins of the city retreat into the distance. Eventually she places her head down on her knees and begins to sob quietly.
Amnayel is sad, but she sees Gabbi is sadder. She scoots over next to Gabriella and puts her arm around her, making sure to stay silent.
Gabbi starts at the contact, wiping her eyes and moving away, getting to her feet and looking down at the too-beautiful woman. "What are you doing?" she questions with suspicion.
Amnayel looks over at Gabriella, her eyes teary but not running. "A lot of good people here died here at this place. This is a sad time." she says, sadness evident in her voice.
"That's right, they did. And do you know why they died?" she says before turning to look back out over the city. "They died because we ... because I wasn't good enough. We were chosen. We were the ones that were supposed to stop this."
She looks back at Amnayel. "They died because I failed. All those ..." Her voice breaks and she clears her throat as the tears begin again. "All those people." She sits back down and looks back out at the river.
Amnayel nods, the tears now running free. "I failed all of them as well. I was supposed to be here. I was too slow and too late. Everyone died. The blame is mine."
She hangs her head, defeated.
"I hate to say it, but if you're looking for comfort or absolution, then you want to talk to my sister," Gabbi says without looking up.
Amnayel looks up slowly and shakes her head , pulling her back and apologizing "I am sorry, I was am looking for comfort. Nor do I seek absolution. We are given great strength. Thus, we have a duty to use our strength to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
She looks briefly at the destruction as it continues to fade into the distance, before looking down at her feet with a sigh "My heart is full of sorrow and it is not in me to seek anything that would hide or mask it. I have failed and thus I must now reflect upon these failures."
Gabbi doesn't respond, but rather sits in silence.
Allie, meanwhile, does the exact opposite of her twin. She heads to the bow and coaxes Rascal into lying down for her to rest against. In the small triangular space between his warm body and the prow she begins casting relentlessly. Small spells, flickering sparks and tiny threads of magic but she does it over and over again, muttering to herself all the while.
"Too slow, not strong enough. Too slow, not strong enough." She repeats the mantra over and over again, fingers flicking through the casting motions. "Too slow, not strong enough."
She cotinues wihout pause until the bend in the river hides the shattered ruin of Vigil.
Allie stares out across the river for a long time without speaking, Gabbi can read her sister well enough to see the emotions playing across her face, a familiar pattern. Pain, sadness, anger, despair, loss and deep, deep loneliness.
"Why Gabbi?" She asks eventually. "I know I've asked before, but... I just can't understand. Why? Why did you... why? How am I meant to deal with this? How do I trust you any more?"
Ulrich will start by preparing new spells, then casting a greater version of Dispel Magic onto the book of True Names
Amnayel sits there in silence, mourning the souls that have been lost. She reflects on all of the beautiful souls that were killed, all of the exquisite artwork that has been destroyed and the freedoms that have been revoked.
After thirty minutes, she has had her share of sadness and moves to stand. She turns to Gabbi and says "I must pray. I bid you good night, Gabriella."
Reclaiming her blade and helm, she moves to leave. After a few steps stops with her back to Gabriella and asks "Your sister told me I talk to me, but I have one final thing to say this day. Up on the tower today, I saw your abilities and recognized the true devoted warrior that you are. We cannot do this without you, we all need you."
She offers the smallest smile, like an elderly grandmother would their grandchildren. "That is why when the nightwing tried to stop your heart with that spell that I established the conduit to transfer it to me so that it would stop my heart and take my life instead. Luckily, Arshea saw me through it and I was blessed enough to survive. I am glad that you did not die this day either, Gabriella. We all need you in the coming days."
She offers a small smile and says "Goodnight to you." and moves off to recite her tenets and begin her prayers and devotions.
Gabbi's face grows suspicious again when Amnayel reveals that she saved her life. "And what do want in return?" she asks, sure that there must be an ulterior motive.
~~~~~
Gabbi wordlessly follows her sister to the prow of the ship. As painfully as this is going to be, she's glad that they can finally talk.
"I've already told you why," Gabbi responds. "For the first time someone wanted me and not you. It was selfish. But that's the only reason I can give you. I would give anything but you if I could change it." She looks out over the river. "I can't lose you Allie. You're the only reason that life is worth living. You are the only source of happiness in my world." She shakes her head. "I don't know how you can trust me again. In truth, you probably shouldn't. I've already demonstrated that I'm not strong enough for the challenges that we're going to face."
Her tear-filled eyes look back at her sister. "But I would do anything - pay anything to have you back. Choose a penance. I will suffer it." She turns to fully face her sister. Turning her head, she bares her neck. "Take what you will. It would be worth it to me. You are worth it to me."
Amnayel stops walking and turns around to face Gabriella. I'm trying to talk less, but she keeps asking me questions. These twins are confusing.
Standing facing her, she puts her blade in its large sheathe on her back and tucks her helm under her left arm. She folds her hands together and says "You misunderstand me, Gabriella. I tell you this not as a means to gloat, it is quite the opposite actually. It was not a favor and thus there is no debt to be repayed. I made the choice because it was the right thing to do. With all of the loss and devastation around us, I would not allow you be lost when all of us need you so."
"Your cunning, wisdom and battle prowess were pivotal in saving the lives of ever single soul on this barge right now. None of us could have done the work you performed with the needle on the ballista. Look around, Gabriella. Had you been taken, it is likely that each and everyone of us would now be dead and all would be lost. No. To sacrifice myself in order to save you required not a second thought and I am blessed to have survived myself."
"Know this, I will do it again a thousand times over should it be necessary. I do not wish anything in return, Gabriella. Thank you for saving my life today, if anything I owe you. You are my hero this today and it is to you that I will give thanks to Arshea this evening in my devotions."
"Thank you Gabriella, for saving my life today. Good night to you."
With that, she turns once more and heads off to pray.
Having difficulty understanding altruism, Gabbi frowns as the paladin walks away. One thing she does take away from the speech, though ...
She's going to be thinking of me while she's touching herself tonight. Wonderful. That's what I need.
19 Pharast, 4719
Smoke still rises from the horizon like a grave marker over Vigil. The winds carry the Golden Dawnrose west on the Esk River. The gathered survivors aboard huddle against the morning chill and eat in reserved silence. Faint hope shines in their eyes.
The lazy lap of water against the hull is drowned out by stunned gasps as an angelic figure descends from overheard. Reaching the deck, it stands as tall as a human, but the creature is clearly artificial—pieced together from lacquered wood and hammered bronze, with a wooden mask hanging over its chest on a chain. The mask’s eyes begin to glow, and a woman’s voice issues from the construct’s chest.
“Well met, Walkers from the Boneyard. I am truly impressed with your tenacity and skill. I would impart more florid greetings, but time is precious—now more than ever. I must speak with you as soon as possible in a private sanctum. Your ship approaches Naderi’s Bastion at the crux of the Esk and the Kestrel rivers; you can find me in the lower levels of this... quaint fortification.
“I understand you may feel some responsibility for these lives you have saved, and so as a sign of respect I offer you this golem. It has served as my guardian these past several weeks. It is both powerful and loyal. My mask serves as its focus— entrust it to someone you believe will not abuse such power.
“The wealth I have offered you up to this point has been a pittance compared to what I can present you for the dire tasks ahead, and I can only assure you that these lives you have risked everything to save may be forfeit if we delay.”
You recognize the voice of the mysterious woman who met you outside of Roslar’s Coffer and directed you to Vigil. After delivering the message, the mask’s eyes fade.
Gabbi keeps her face studiously neutral as the voice speaks, recognizing the source. When she finishes speaking, she turns to Amnayel.
"If you're coming with us to meet ... her, we need to talk first," she says. "The woman that we're going to meet has assisted us in the past. I won't claim to totally understand her motivations, but as far as I can tell she's working against the Whispering Tyrant. I have my suspicions about her identity, but I don't know anything for sure. All I do know is that she is extremely powerful ... and she's undead. So keep your righteous indignation to an acceptable level. If she can help us stop ..." She gestures back towards the ruin of Vigil. "... that from happening again we will take her aid."
She raises an eyebrow.
"Is that acceptable? If not, then you can take the amulet along with Ellie - and the rest of the survivors - and find them somewhere safe while we talk to her."
Amnayel watches the angelic figure with wing descend, and takes her helm off and takes a knee during the process. For a moment, she had thought another angel's presence was upon her. When it becomes clear that it is something else entirely, she returns to her feet and pulls out her blade, simultaneously both embarrassed and frustrated someone would pull this trick on her.
As the speech progresses, she relaxes somewhat as it becomes evident that this is not a foe but an ally who is willing to assist them. She is eager to meet this benefactor right up until the point that Gabriella says that she is undead.
Amnayel is not one to cut people off and always waits patiently for her turn to speek, but the the mention of undead causes her insides to turn and she nearly speaks out of turn. Instead, she narrows her eyes as Gabriella finishes, though she eagerly wants to speak.
When her turn arrives she says "This benefactor is undead? This is ..." she doesn't finish her statement, but just closes her eyes and shakes her head. After a two deep breaths she opens her eyes and says "The third tent specifically outlines my responsibilities in protecting against corruption & vilification, two qualities that are personified in the undead monstrosities of this land."
She looks down at her feet and says "However. The fifth tenent more specifically states that an Arshean are duty-bound to depose thoughtless tyrants. Seeing as there is no greater tyrant than the Whispering Tyrant, I feel compelled to leverage whatever assistance is offered us in accomplishing this task."
She crosses her arms on her chest and scowls, "I will accompany you to meet this benefactor and make my judgment of at that time. I cannot promise I will keep my thoughts to myself, but I do give you my word that I will not seek out unnecessary danger to you and the others."
Ulrich prepares a whole collection of Dispel Magic spells, and keeps attempting to cast them on the book of True Names.
------------------------------
Spells Prepared
------------------------------
0th (at will) Detect Magic, Disrupt Undead, Mending, Prestidigitation
1st dancing lantern, 4 open, 1 nec open
2nd blood transcription, false life, eagle's splendor, 2 open
3rd dispel magic x4, 1 nec open
4th 4 open, 1 nec open
5th 3 open, 1 nec open
6th dispel magic (greater), wither limb
Ulrich finally manages to dispel the trap on the book of names with his final attempt, allowing him to finally peruse the tome thoroughly.
After two more hours on the river, you reach Naderi's Bastion. Elly takes the shield guardian's amulet solemnly and nods, indicating her willingness to part ways and see the survivors to safety. Aylunna Varvatos and Evni Zongnoss both say their farewells as well, wishing you good luck and that Iomedae and Desna may guide your journeys. You debark the Golden Dawnrose and watch as it sails away towards Castle Everstand.
Once it has vanished past the horizon, you turn back to the structure before you. This squat, dismal motte-and-bailey fortress looms over the intersection of two wide rivers. A moat connects the waterways to completely encircle the stronghold, while a simple lighthouse rises above the main building’s tower.
"You hate me." She says through her sobs. "That's the only thing that makes sense. I'm sorry about Macland Gabbi, I thought he liked me. I thought..." She loses the conversation in more sobs. "It was a bet, I found out later. That spiteful b~%%@ Emma told me, he bet that he could get us both at the same time. I don't want people to always look at me like that! You're the smart one! I just want to be like you! I want to be the one people respect no the one that is always 'nice'. And now you hate me as well. You hate me, Ellie hates me and I can't even go someone like you can because men... I'm sorry. It's my fault. I'll, I'll get over it. Then it won't be a problem any more."
------------------------
Allie nods in approval, or something like it, as her sister speaks to the paladin and then herself walks over to Ellie. "We need the Bloodstone." She says bluntly and then waits, glaring at the fighter, for the object in question to be handed over. She doesn't say thank you, goodbye or anything else, just walks away once Ellie hands it over.
"Cheerful stories about this place." She says calmly. "Just be careful in case something pops out of the moat and wants to drown you."
"I will be thankful if there are no turtles lurking, that was rather unpleasant." Amnayel remarks with regards to the moat. She remarks "Stay behind me and let me go first just in case, I would rather it eat me."
She stands holding her twin for a bit, until - unable to resist - she adds, "And I don't think Sister Theodosa ever gave out just two swats."
"It wouldn't be a turtle. It would be an undead father that ... nevermind. It doesn't matter," Gabbi says. "Fine. You go first. Just remember; This woman is currently an ally - treat her as such."
"Understood. I will endeavor to not smile her where she stands before she has a chance to speak." she reassures.
"Did I hear right earlier?" Allie asks eventually, raising her tear-streaked face and trying to smile. "Is Amnayel touching herself to thoughts of you tonight?"
--------------------
Allie just rolls her eyes as the paladin threatens to smite a living deity, but hey... it's not her problem, even though losing the view would be a shame.
Ulrich starts flipping through the book of True Names with haste.