"If not then you can chop this papaya while I fry us up some eggs. No sense doing a ritual on an empty stomach."
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"Nicely done, little one," Tahi says to the (much, much) larger Visna.
Tahi calls on the raging elements to batter the demon-wolf.
Tahi hears the storm that rages around her aching to expand, and she let's it go: ice forms on the ground as chilling winds whip around her...yet somehow the ice fades away wherever her allies walk. Then she focuses a blast of water at the six-armed demon.
Tahi looks around at their fallen foes, and then at the huge mossy pit they are in, wondering where the card might be. "The ground here might be slippery. If you'd like, I can grant us all lifting winds that can carry us above the ground."
Tahi calls back her elemental aura, sending a blast of water to batter one foe. Then she builds it further, sending waves over as many as she can.
On the way down, Tahi is about to remind her new companions that she can easily grant them all flight but she decides they seem to have gotten on just fine before her arrival, and lets them each pick their own path, while swirling winds gracefully carry her down. Seeing the fiends, Tahi tsks and reaches out to Hei Feng, calling a mighty hurricane to toss as many as possible into the air, and then drop them. "Ooh sad little demons, it's time to learn the folly of your corrupt ways."
As the last of the undead falls, Tahi shakes her head and tuts. "What a shame...but at least their corruption is over. "Nice work there, Visna! Now hold still a moment, let me call on Hei Feng's healing currents to soothe your wounds." She holds gestures, and a tiny whirlwind forms around her hands and then starts to erase the worst of Visna's injuries.
She follows it up with some good old fashion (waterproof) bandages to stem the last of the bleeding, and a poultice to ease the swelling.
Tahi attempts to finish off the undead abominations, once again sending the swirling sea to pummel them.
Tahi swims closer to their foes and attempts to knock them away with the waters that are swirling around them.
Tahi laughs softly at the request, but her eyes show the depth of her sadness. "A soul to devour? Really? Aaah, it's a shame you've been reduced to such a state. I suppose the last true kindness we can show you is to end this cruel undeath you're locked in."
Tahi manages to recover from the shock, and calls out, "Hei Feng, destroy these mockeries of the natural world!"
Tahi lets the waves guide her forward, getting ready to assault their latest foes, but as she gets closer to the horrifying things she feels an unnatural fear grip her, and freezes.
As wind and lightning dance around her, Tahi keeps the torrent battering down on the remaining two.
Tahi–surprisingly nimble for a woman of her age–dodges with the manages to avoid harm. As she does, she unleashes another torrent of freezing waters to batter them.
Tahi summons swirling rain and sleet, leaving everything near the companions slippery with ice. "Don't worry, duckies, this ice won't get in your way, but hopefully it'll trip up the...whatever these things are!" Then she summons a blast of water, thundering toward the three animated runes.
"Before we go, did he have any papers we didn't examine? Maybe one has the location, or at least clues to it. "If not then I agree, maybe one of them can help us. It sounds like they'd certainly like to."
Tahi feels the creature's aura try to suck the moisture from her...and laughs, "If you want my waters, then you'll have them!" She lets the winds carry her to the side, where she has a better angle. She calls a torrent of water to batter the undead snakething, while with the other hand she calls a soothing mist to wash over Briar's wounds.
"There ya go!", Tahi smiles as her young friends manage to ride the winds. She maneuvers to get into position and then sends forth another two torrents of water, one bludgeoning the lich while another rattles the skulls. [ooc] Goal is to be able to nick the lich without hitting my allies, and also fire another at a swarm on the ground.
Tahi shudders, as the two unblocked swarms descend on them. Even rattled as she is, the old legend seems to have no problem staying out of the way of their assault: it seems as though the winds themselves aid her in staying clear. "My, those buggers are creepy! Let's get away from them!!" Tahi calls for the rain and winds to rage around her, and as she does she sends a small deluge to batter the lich. Then she wills the winds to whirl around the base of each of her companions. ”This’ll get you off the ground and away from those dreadful bones.”
Tahi looks at the piles of bones converging from every side. She calls on the elemental might of the Chief of Thunder to surround her, letting it surge into thunder and pelting rain around her. Then she channels the rainwaters to surge forth and create a frozen wall, keeping two of the swarms at bay.
Tahi shrugs. "No matter. Shall we try to deal with him first though? Delaying our meeting with him is only likely to make him more suspicious, or give him time to learn more about us. "Perhaps we ask Yezom here to guide us to his ossuary tomorrow?"
Tahi listens to Yezom, looking him in the eyes. "You know what, sweetie, I believe you. And I believe it must suck to be ruled by a lich." She looks at her companions and says, "If you three agree, I'd love to help." Turning back to Yezom, Tahi asks, "Is there any chance we could negotiate to meet him somewhere other than whatever place he asked you to guide us? Or else, can you tell us what defenses to expect if we were to have you guide us to him and then have us attack him?"
Tahi smiles at the boldness in Visna's words and bearing. Look at her, so sure of herself! Not so little anymore, is she? The older woman nods. "Well said. "Yezom, why don't you go back to your master and ask him to relay just what this favor is. Or have him come meet us here himself. I share Visna's mistrust for aiding a lich, so if he wants our help he better put some effort into building his case." As she talks, there is a roll of thunder behind her, and a crackle of electricity across her skin.
When talking to Shanaca, Tahi holds her cheek beside the derhii's to share a breath, and says, "May the winds of Heng Fei never cross you. I am I'm Tahi Taufa and I serve the Chief of Thunder, and would keep both the seas and the skies free of soulless filth, if I'm able. Tell us more of what you know of these undead, and their whereabouts. "And please, as you've heard we are in search of these five cards. Whatever you can tell us to aid in that quest would be a great boon, and a way to show good faith in your request for aid."
Tahi listens attentively to the descriptions of Kho, and nods as the others state their intention to accept the challenge. "Doesn't seem there's a better option, does there? Maybe we'll get lucky and be able to persuade these Kho-folk that they're better off not attracting the attention of this Prince of Wolves. And if not...I'm sure together we can teach them to see reason," Tahi chuckles.
Shaking her head at Briar, she says, "Oh now, 'Tahi' is just fine. 'Auntie Tahi,' if you must. "As for our the Pactmasters, this is the first time I've had the pleasure, but Usilket has been a kind host. "I had thought that maybe I was done being sent afar by Alii Faititili, but he hates those who try to meddle with others' fates and control their destinies. I woke back home in Minata a few week ago, with a splitting headache. That's usually the first sign that the Chief of Thunder is impatient for me to go do something for him. He led me to a merchant vessel heading to Katapesh. After weeks at sea we landed this morning, just before dawn, and I was greeted by Usilket." She gestures to their host. "Usilket let me know that I was sent here to help you defeat these 'Unmatched'...who I believe you have tussled with already?" Turning to their host, Tahi says, "You certainly have my agreement to ally with you in this...if for no other reason than to prevent Alii Faititili from splitting my skull open with his thunderous headaches. And what a bonus that while we teach these fools a lesson, I'll do it beside Visna and her friends."
While Tahi does seem to register that Visna is embarrassed (at least in a slight upward curve of her lip) it doesn't seem to change her behavior in any way. Tahi gives Visna a loving pat on the head. "Don't worries about calves, Tamai Tafola. You're still young...and I don't have to tell you, there are many good currents to travel through the seas. Children are a blessing...but there are other blessings out there as well. Take your time to decide. Just know that if you want the pleasure of grandchildren, maybe don't wait too too long." Finally she turns her attention to Visna's friends. "Oh get up, you two! Don't be stuffy with Tahi! I've heard a bit about what you've been up to from these Pactmasters and you're no slouches, neither of you. Besides, if I've got to be so far from home again–for who knows how long–it might as well involve meeting friends of Tamai Tafola." Minatan:
'Tamai Tafola' is Minatan for 'Little Whale' She leans to press her right cheek against the kholo's furry cheek. After a long, unhurried breath and exhale, she steps back and says, "Talofa, Kala Briarthorn. May your canoe stay steady in the storm." Tahi turns to the elf and repeats the same gesture, touching cheeks long enough for an unhurried breath. "Talofa, Pentella Cole. May your canoe stay steady in the storm." "I am the Hand of Alii Faititili–or Hei Feng, since he's better known here by his Tien name. The Chief of Thunder sends me out when powers threaten to meddle with fate and freedom...or for that matter, when they offend him or his estranged Lady Jingxi...or just his whims, sometimes. That's Alii Faititili for you," Tahi chuckles. "And it seems these Unmatched were foolish enough to attract his attention...so Papahi is going to have to juggle the twins without my help for a bit. "Now hold on a second..." She then reaches into her bag and offers a treat to each: taro cooked with coconut and mango, wrapped in a banana leaf. "Here. Eat, and may you never know hunger."
A Tian-Sing woman with weathered brown skin and salt-and-pepper hair tied into a loose braid turns toward the group. The moment she sees the mighty Ulfen warrior, she lights up. ”Little Visna? Well this is a treat! I didn’t know you were caught up in this. Come give Auntie Tahi a hug.” She scoops the (much larger) warrior into her arms and squeezes. Tahi’s wearing a braided maile leaf and white ginger blossom lei over a loose yellow patterned tunic, tied with a red sash. As she moves, there’s a crack of electricity, and a breeze that seems to follow her. ”How many years has it been, now? Let’s see...you came home to Vapa’u to visit after we defeated those insufferable Pazuzu cultists...I think Alisi and I only had two kids so far, and little Papahi was barely walking. You won’t believe it, but Papahi’s actually a mother herself now. Twins, no less! What have you been up to? Do you have a calf or two yourself now? "And forgive my manners, who are your friends? Are you the ones who’ve been working to thwart these foolish ‘Unmatched’, whose plots to meddle with Fate have so annoyed Alii Faititili that he’s sent me away from my grandchildren?”
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