Ai nodded in agreement and said, "Following the river seems our best option for now. I do not have any better idea what we could do."
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I will be gone June 18th through the 23rd for Origins Game Fair in Ohio and then again on July 31 through Aug 4th for Gencon in Indiana and will be unable/exceptionally slow to post during those time frames.
Ai was not surprised to see the drawn bows aimed at them, though not particularly threatened by it either, as she still had her elemental gates open. She did not close them, nor did she demand they put down their weapons, she did say, "Aiming weapons at those you want to parley with is not the smartest way to get what you want," she shrugged and then added, "but I am not in a place to criticize you either." Ai nodded in agreement with what Yorah said, "I agree, there is little point in fighting them if they do not want to fight. That is why we went straight for their leader." She looked to the highwaymen and added, "Your leaded did try to die fighting, and he almost succeeded, fortunately I was able to heal him in time to spare his life and question him. What you do with him is none of our concern."
Ai stayed silent and observed as they got what they could from the captive bandit leader, but she did ask one thing and looked to Lilyana as she asked, "Why would those three places be safe and can you think of a way that it wouldn’t be? Maybe once we know how this is happening that question will answer itself." Ai then considered why this was being done and, after a few moments said, "As for why to freeze everything, well, you assume they want arable land but it might simply be, as was pointed out, that the Irrisini know better than anyone how to fight in their own land. If they freeze everything over, they won't only be the only ones who know how to deal with it but the locals will be unable to resist them. In that is the case then they can take over the world without fighting much at all." Once Ai saw Noemy start to head downstairs after the leader was knocked unconscious Ai went to follow, hoping they would have little trouble dealing with what they found.
Ai was glad the fight was over with and she saw how Yorah was struggling to stabilize the bandit leader. It seemed getting information would be worthwhile so, since she still had her gate open from the fight, Ai walked over and applied some of her water to the worst of the wounds to try and heal him enough that he would survived.
Once that task was accomplished Ai began moving amongst her companions to heal their injuries as best she could.
Ai was in a very awkward position, unable to fully enter the room and instead of trying right away held on awkwardly as she sent a torrent of water out intending to slam it into the nearest skeleton in the hopes she could take it out and move all the way into the room.
Ai was surprised when Noemy simply charged into the room and sighed as she saw the others begin to enter. She opened her gates and then used the rope to enter the room as well.
The fight was short and brutal, over before Ai even got involved, and she considered what was said about their next actions. "I think it is time we go inside. If anyone else could have come out they would have. We should go in, especially if there is a spell caster in there. The less time they have to prepare the better."
Ai shook her head at Lilyana's question about attacking from a distance and said, "I can only reach about thirty feet with my blasts, any further and they dissipate into nothingness. I am sure I can reach further eventually but for now that is all I can manage." Ai looked thoughtful for a moment and said, "I can try to create impediments to funnel or confine their movements if I build up some snow banks to either side that will hem them in, and I might be able to make some ice patches given a little time." Ai suddenly grinned wickedly and said, "I bet I can also force them to come out only one way too. if I built of snow mounds against the other exits, they would have to come out one way when the fighting started"
Ai listened to the descriptions of the building and the suggestions of what they should do. She looked to Vhekk and nodded as she said, "Yes, I can create a bank of snow if needed and I think I may be able to make some slick patches to trip them up as well." As the conversation continued there were possible flaws pointed out and she said, "I do not think a fire in the forest is a huge concern with all of the snow around. Snow is simply a different form of water so it is likely to prevent the fire from spreading much, which may also be a problem with starting a fire too. As for putting them on alert," she paused to think a moment before agreeing, "Yes, that would put them on guard because it is unlikely the fire will start without help unless they were dumb enough to leave a lantern or fire going inside the stable to keep the horses warm. It would be necessary to hit their boss at the same time to avoid that and catch them out of range to help him." Ai looked toward the building the bandits were in and then added, "We also need to think about the noble woman we are looking for. If they have her in there we need to know where so we can keep her safe as well. If we bypass the goon squad downstairs somehow, they can grab her and use her as a shield later."
Working on a post, it will be ready sometime today.
As they discussed their approach Ai considered what she could do to help. She, unlike Lilyana, needed to be closer to do much good. She knew that she might be able to at least create a barrier that would help provide some cover for Lilyana while they waited and had an idea of what else she might be able to manage if she could go unseen. Making sure she was out of sight from any of the windows Ai opened her gate and allowed her elements to flow around her. Once she was ready, she focused on the snow and began to move it, slowly, cautiously, slowly building up a "snow drift" that would provide some cover for them. Once she was done with that, she turned her focus to a patch of snow nearby and tried something else. She hoped she could melt the snow and let it re-freeze as ice.
I am very sorry to hear that, take the time you need.
Ai listened to the discussion and tried to figure out what she would do if she were a nasty necromancer or fae. After a minute or two of thought she said, "Ambushes wouldn't need magic, just have zombies lie still beneath the snow until someone comes close and then have them attack."
When Ai saw Yorah, cute bunny that she was, hop to them, she could no longer resist the urge and knelt down to try and run her hand through the soft fur and scratch her ears. While she otherwise seemed more focused outwardly Ai had been listening and she finally added her own thoughts, " I agree, it would do you good to aid us in fighting your former boss to earn a measure of redemption. If you choose to flee then so be it," she decided to leave that she may be able to uncover his stash until he decided. If he was going to flee, she wasn't letting him keep hi ill-gotten goods if she could help it.
Ai had been following as quietly as the others when they spotted the man ahead. She did almost give it all away when Yorah apparently turned into a rabbit as she stifled and aaaawwwwww and the urge to pet the bunny. She waited until the others began to move in on him. She hung back a little but did activate her aura and kept watch just in case any pesky fae or other things decided to attack them.
Working on a post but it is going to be a bit before I am done.
Ai was relieved that the attackers had all been dealt with and only slight harm had been done to some of her companions. Without closing the gates that let her call for the elements Ai went to Maq'la and channeled water into her hands which she then dribbled on the woman's wounds to try and help her heal.
"Well, this is turning into an adventure isn't it," Ai said, "At least we managed to deal with them without much trouble." Her expression became worried at the thoughts of the locals getting caught though and said, "I just hope we can get to the bottom of this before anyone else gets hurt."
Ai was somehow not surprised at the ambush by the fey, that stag was shifty right from the beginning. Unfortunately she was not prepared for the sneakiness and swift strike of the fey attackers. She opened her elemental gates and pulled together a ball of water that she launched at the only fey she could see in the midst of the fighting. ]ooc]1 action to actiavte aura, two action to use my blast on the only fey I can see.[/ooc]
Ai was surprised when the stag actually talked and a bit shocked that anyone would just follow it. She thought caution was the best course. She did agree completely and said, "Хуй indeed." Ai decided to stay close to Lilyana as the other woman followed Yorah. She was being quite cautious though and looking out for any sign of an ambush as she listened for the stag's response.
Ai was more than a little nervous as they continued on their way but she shoved that down deep and tried to ignore it as best she could. When someone saw something moving and thought it was a white stag Ai seemed to recall something from earlier and asked, "Um, was there not someone who mentioned a talking stag back in town? From the sound of what you describe I think we might have just found it."
The fetishes bothered Ai, they were disturbing but she felt that was a large part of their intention. She did her best to put them out of her mind until someone said they might be there to curse those going against the witches. Ai shuddered at that idea but she had to agree, "I don't feel cursed either," but then a thought came to her and she asked, "but would I even know if I am cursed right away?"
Ai was greatly relieved when they took down the Tatzelwurm. The thing had been a rather vicious adversary, or at least it seemed like it, until they managed to overwhelm it with concentrated attacks. She allowed Yorah to finish her initial work on Maq'la's wound and then, when the woman was finished with her stitching, Ai said, "I think I can heal the rest of the wound for you." Ai pulled forth a small amount of water from the matter orbiting her and slowly pressed it into the injury. The water was targeted and simply helped accelerate the healing process without getting the stitching or anything else wet.
Ai quickly opened the gates and became surrounded with a swirl of elemental energy. She began to move, gathering and forming some of the water into a ball and lobbed it at the creature.
"Fill the hole with water? It will freeze over at least until this weather calms down."Vhekk raises an eyebrow. "But therein lies the problem - any water we could use to fill the hole is already frozen." He glances over at Ai before continuing. "Unless your magic can bring this about?" Ai nodded and said, "That is not a problem." She opened the gate and held her hand palm down over the whole. Water began to form below her open hand and fall into the hole and would eventually freeze solid to seal the hole with ice.
Ai was more than suspicious about the chest when they saw it, there was no rational reason it would be left in the open like that, obviously there to tempt someone in close, and fortunately the others agreed with her thoughts. When Lilyana spotted the trap Ai couldn't help but roll her eyes and say, "Wow, they really think people are stupid don't they?" With the trap disarmed and the buried equipment found Ai wasn't sure what to think, it wasn't particularly useful to them but it could be worth selling if they needed some money. Still, she hated to take it when the noblewoman whose soldiers it likely belonged to might still live and be the proper owner. "I don't think we should leave this here, it might be used to setup another trap."
Ai blushed a bit at the complikment on her skills as a battle mage, flattered that Vhekk would think so, but did reply, "T-thank you, though I am not a mage, not really, I have simply learned to tap into the elements and pull the matter forth from different planes, in my case water and wood planes. I simply open gates and pull the matter I need from them. It's not magic as most people think of it, more like an art than anything and far more limited than what a mage can accomplish. Though I don't ever run out like a wizard or sorcerer would." As they discussed what to do with the belongings Ai considered and aid, "I think we should at leeast bring some of her heavier clothing with us. If we find her alive she will probably need it."
Ai was quite relieved to see the zombies go down as easily as they did and equally disturbed that they began to freeze solid. She took several minutes to gather her wits after the fright of the fight and was just back in touch with reality as they spoke of fires. "I think fire would be useful if we find a way to get some to use during a fight with these things. I think maybe I should start trying to learn how to call forth fire..." she looked at the frozen corpses, "...lots of fire..."
Ai was more than please with the results of her attack She thought of doing another flurry of damage like before but decided that trying to take one of the zombies out of the fight would be the better option. She began more flowing movements, pulling chunkcs of wood from the matter swirling around her, into a ball and then launched the wooden projectile at one of the injured zmobies.
Ai then moved and put Maq'la between herself and the zombies.
Hearing what they were going to try to do Ai said, "Let me do the first strike, I can send a flurry of splinters out that will hopefully be able to penetrate the roof and them , though it likely won't do a lot of damage." She looked a little nervous as she added, "Just be ready to intercept them when they come out of there." Once everyone was in position Ai began to move in flowing, almost dance like, movements as she gathered some of the wood from her aura into a cone before her with the broad end pointing towards the carriage. She ended by striking the point with her cupped hands sending a flurry of splinters lancing out in a cone thirty feet long.
Ai stopped briefly at her home when they passed close to her home and let her parents know she was going on a rescue mission with a group and she would be back as soon as she could. She had no idea just how long she would be gone and if she had she just might have backed out but it would be far too late by the time she realized just how deep the snow-rabbit's hole they would have to go. As they approached the carriage and heard the sounds within Ai was disturbed by what was revealed. Knowing that something might try to kill them on site Ai activated her aura and prepared for battle as water and wood swirled around her.
Ai was relieved everyone seemed to agree with being prepared to be out longer than they expected, or hoped, they would be. It saddened her to hear that so few had family around, but it was what it was, and she knew she was lucky to still have her parents. She finished her shopping in short order, 2 sets of winter clothing and a couple extra blankets were all she really needed. "I'm ready when you are, I'll show you where my home is and stop to let my parents know I may be gone for a few days, it won't take long to do so."
With their discussion with the survivor done Ai knew she couldn't ignore what was happening. She also had a hunch she should let her family know what was going on before they left. Ai followed along to the store and said, "I don't know why but I think if we have loved ones, we should let them know we are leaving. I think this might take longer than it seems on the surface." When they reached the store Ai went through and purchased a couple of pairs of winter clothing and some extra rations seemed a smart investment as well. "Well, other than checking in with my family I am ready. Our home is to the south, so it won't be out of the way."
Ai shuddered at hearing the brief descriptions of the Witches of Irrisen. She vaguely remembered her Grandfather talk about that part of their journey, coming near the lands of Irrisen as they crossed the crown of the world from their homeland. "It sounds like I will be wishing that I had access to pyrokinesis on this adventure. Sadly water and wood will have to do."
Ai noticed all the shoes before she got to close to the apothecary and injured man and removed her's as well, pulling a separate pair of what were closer to slippers and pulling them on before entering further. Ai nodded in acknowledgement of the apothecary's permission and between one step and the next a stream of water began to appear around her with a length of vines weaving in and out of it. They spun around her as she opened her kinetic gate and her aura spilled forth in a ten foot area around her. Nothing and no one who was touched be the rings was harmed, at most it was just a tickle, as she approached the pair. When she reached the injured man she began to gesture and the directed some of the water to separate and gather around her hands. Ai reached out towards the injured extremities and began to run the water began to glow a pale blue as she ran it over the injured limbs.
Her healing didn't do very much good and she said, "I am sorry, that is all I can do for now. It will take another ten minutes before I can safely use that on him again." She closed her eyes for a second and the aura surrounding her vanished without a trace.
Ai had to listen to understand all of what Lillyana said through her thick accent. She could only assume it was what Russian sounded like with a Taldane accent, but she quickly began to get adjusted to it. Ai was unsure of just how much to tell Lillyana but she decided that a general outline would be alright. In Russian:
"I was born, grew up, and died in Russia, then I was born again here in Heldren with all of my memories of my former life in Russia. I've remembered it all from the moment I was born but this is the first I've heard anything that proves those memories were real." There was the occasional word in Taldane but most of what Ai spoke was in that same strange language the pair seemed to have in common. Her voice was pitched down into a lower register, like she was trying to sound like a man as she spoke. When Vhekk asked what they were saying Ai simply nodded in agreement as she was hesitant to share much of what she remembered. Her last life was not the most pleasant and Ai didn't want to delve into it too deeply. Instead, she grasped onto Vhekk mentioning the Tien trade tongue and spoke to him. Tien:
"I also speak this language. I learned it from my mother and Grandfather as it is her native tongue." When they reached the apothecary Ai saw the severity of the man's injuries and went to where the apothecary was tending to him. "Excuse me, would using my abilities help any? It won't be as good as clerical magic but I will try if you both wish."
As they gathered information Ai let the others do the talking for the time being a she was still just a little bothered by whatever it was that was nagging at her. It was important, she knew it was important, but what i twas just didn't click. It wasn't until Ai heard Lilyana say "русскій" that it clicked to AI what was wrong. Lilyana was speaking Russian!!! Ai's face paled as she looked at Lilyana and tried to figure out if she heard what she heard or imagined it and said haltingly in the same tongue, [ooc]Too lazy to try and use google translate right now so that shoudl do. Lilyana: When Ai spoke in Russian she sounded more masculine as far as her inflections and her voice going a bit deeper in, I believe the term is, vocal fry.
I can speak anything...
No, I speak American English (Hoosier dialect) and a small smattering of German and Spanish words. I have been told that Google Translate does a decent enough job if you type in what you want to say, copy/paste the output into the what you want to say field and translate back to the starting language. If the two match up fairly closely then the translation is passable to good, otherwise it isn't.
That's likely why then change in language over time. It just dawned on me why the link for dischord wont work, it's too old! Doh!
I completely forgot about that. The link is not opening the group in dischord for me and doesn't seem to work when I paste it in manually. I figure hearing one, fairly common word in Russion won't be enough to really catch Ai's attention, she just hears it as what it is and moves on with her life without registering what the language is. Just to check you were saying Hi/Hello right? Google Translate thought the text was Bulgarian not Russian but that was what Russian gave me.
Ai found the discussion of how Lilly looked abotu the same age that she did and finding out that she was a half-elf made things much more clear. She nodded along at the discussion and explanation Lilly gave them. "It makes sense that, with the blood of a race as long lived as elves she would live longer, and probably age slower, than other." Ai had not drank anything but water while they were at the Stoat, she wasn't a fan of liquor, besides, it didn't hold up to what she knew in her first life, very weak stuff compared to good Russian vodka, so she saw little point. When they reached the town hall and Lilly greeted the woman at the desk Ai didn't think anything of it for a moment. She heard it, just like she would have in her first life, and her mind automatically translated it into common. Something seemed off but she wasn't quite sure what it was and decided to shrug it off for now, it would probably come to her eventually.
Ai went into the Stoat with the rest of them and considered the competing points of view. She understood why Yorah wanted to move so quickly, and she agreed that drowning people was an urgent issue, but she also knew they needed more to go on if they were to find where this was happening at. Missing people and the general cold were serious issues as well but again more information was needed to be able to act on any of it. After her consideration Ai said, "While I agree there is urgency in making sure no one else is drowning we can do little without knowing exactly where this is happening. We also need to know who is missing in the woods so we can try to determine where to go searching for them. We are more likely to find most of that information here in the form of rumors than anywhere else. Once we know who then we can ask the right people for more information" She focused on Yorah once more and asked, "What would you have us do instead Yorah? How would you want to go about all of this?"
Ai gave a slight, bittersweet, smile as she said, "That is alright Yorah. You have not seen me since Grandfather passed away, it was he who I visited you with." Vhekk raises one eyebrow and crosses his arms. "Is that what you call it when I try to keep you from getting yourself killed? As I've told you a dozen times, the deep woods are not a place to enter without care. Traps cannot tell you from a rabbit or a deer, and bandits rarely bother to make the same distinction." After a moment, however, one end of his mouth twitches upwards in a smile. "Still, it is good to see you unharmed, Miss Calvianus, despite your best efforts to the contrary." Ai rolled her eyes at Vhekk's response but couldn't help a slight smile from crossing her lips. Ai tended to be very serious and there were few people she would tease, but Vhekk was one of them ever since he came across her bathing in a spring one day while practicing control of water. She knew it was a mistake, but she still teased him about it. "Of course Mr. Vhekk, I'll be more careful."
As the group began to make their way to the Stoat for drinks Ai decided to tag along. She found the discussions interesting, though the mention of the rumors brought a slight frown to her face. Ai had little use for those and said, "I would not take those stories as anything but stories. Rumors are rarely reliable." As they went Ai heard what Lilyana was saying about her grandmother's stories and something about that tweaked something in Ai's memories. She didn't really get what it was though and shrugged it off as they entered the Stoat. Ai heard Lilyana mention Tian-xa and her eyes opened a bit wider, she knew her mother came here from there as a little girl and that the journey took a really long time, as well as some about the culture and language. She looked at Lilyana and said a little sadly, "I wish you had been here a few years agon, my Grandfather would have loved to talk to you of your time in Tian-xa. He and my Mother came here from there before I was born and he missed his homeland a great deal."
A slender young woman with black hair and violet eyes walked through the streets of Heldren. She wore a white cotton dress and a cloak with some blue trimming that tightened at the waist and bust showing that she was an adult by the curves of her body. Her hair was tied in a tail behind her with a blue ribbon and she made her way through the festival crowd like a native despite her exotic looks. She did not look like a native though, her features showing marked signs of an exotic land few had seen and looked very much like her mother who had moved to Heldren twenty years ago from Tian-Xa. It was Ai and she had been wandering the town square checking out what the vendors had for sale and generally enjoying herself unaware of what was to come. Unlike many others she paid no attention to the rumors, letting them go in one ear and out the other, as she enjoyed herself. Rumors were nothing but trouble and usually exaggerated or made up just to hurt someone. Ai started to feel a bit chilled as she was outside and happened to be passing by the statue where several others she recognized were standing and talking. She didn't know many of them well, though she recognized most, though there was one completely new face in the crowd. She saw the snowflake fall to the feet of the statue and shivered even as she heard them talk of going to the Stoat for drinks. Ai smiled at Vhekk, the one she knew the most of from running into him in the forest on several occasions as she practiced using her abilities. She approached and said, "Hello Mr. Vhekk, it is nice to see you somewhere that doesn't preclude you trying to sneak a peek at me for once," she said in a teasing tone. Once Yorah has approached she said, "I have not seen you for a long time Yorah, are you doing well?" The last time she had seen Yorah Ai was very young, and her grandfather still lived. He had gone to the recluse for herbal remedies for the aches and pain of age until he passed some years ago.
Yikes! Didn't realize gameplay had opened up.
Hmmm, sounds like we are a rather scattered group. @ Vhekk It is possible you came across Ai practicing in the woods during one of your hunts. She would go there for the quiet and solitude to practice her kinetic abilities. @ Maq'la While it is unlikely Ai and Maq'la would have interacted very much I could see Ai having been around when you came back with an injury that needed more than a bandage. She could well have used her control over water to heal some of your wounds one time. @ Lilyana Given how long she has been gone it is unlikely they met unless it was when Ai was very young. Having said that, if she starts hearing the stories your grandmother told it might very well ahve caught her attention. @ Yorah Yours is another one I am unsure how to make any connection too. Given you live a long way outside of town and rarely visit makes it hard. I could see Ai having accompanied her grandfather to visit you when he came to get a remedy for joint pain or something. @ Noemy Not sure on an exact connection to you other than having seen the strange poppet wandering around town and trying to understand what you were.
Ai has spent her entire life here in Heldron, being born there a little over eighteen years ago. She has always been considered a bit odd but is very disciplined. This gives plenty of time for connections (which other than her family ones have been kept rather vague). Feel free to make suggestions.
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