In the halls of the dwarven citadel of Uthaz Ydgraf, the trial (in her absence) of Lynora-Jill commences...
In the halls of the dwarven citadel of Uthaz Ydgraf, the trial (in her absence) of Lynora-Jill commences...
Esmerelda approaches the halls.
"Ah'd lahk ta testifah on behahf o' Lynora Jill!"She calls out, her old accent returning.
In the halls of the dwarven citadel of Uthaz Ydgraf, the trial (in her absence) of Lynora-Jill commences...
Esmerelda approaches the halls.
"Ah'd lahk ta testifah on behahf o' Lynora Jill!"She calls out, her old accent returning.
A shocker lizard appears next to her.
"With little to do, I is help too."He yipes.
"I is losin' nay family to the gal,
And knew Lyn little,
So unbiased is I, pal,
Let's is get into trial, an' go beginnin', end, middle!"
Esmerelda sighs.
"Ya had trubble fahndin' sometin dat rahmed, didn't ya?"
Esmerelda approaches the halls.
"Ah'd lahk ta testifah on behahf o' Lynora Jill!"She calls out, her old accent returning.
A pair of guards cross halberds blocking any further progress.
Unless you are here as a witness to testify to her guilt, go away old woman. The prosecution is just opening its case and it will be days yet before that is done and the defence starts to call witnesses.
Esmerelda approaches the halls.
"Ah'd lahk ta testifah on behahf o' Lynora Jill!"She calls out, her old accent returning.A pair of guards cross halberds blocking any further progress.
Unless you are here as a witness to testify to her guilt, go away old woman. The prosecution is just opening its case and it will be days yet before that is done and the defence starts to call witnesses.
She drops her accent.
"This is an unfair court. It is held by those that 'Lynora' supposedly hurt the most. If you had any honor, you would let a third party hold the trial."Now, I'm not budging."
Esmerelda approaches the halls.
"Ah'd lahk ta testifah on behahf o' Lynora Jill!"She calls out, her old accent returning.A pair of guards cross halberds blocking any further progress.
Unless you are here as a witness to testify to her guilt, go away old woman. The prosecution is just opening its case and it will be days yet before that is done and the defence starts to call witnesses.
"Yip, yip, isn't old wemen, is young lizzy. An' she's a lizzy too, save bigger, now, missy."
Esmerelda approaches the halls.
"Ah'd lahk ta testifah on behahf o' Lynora Jill!"She calls out, her old accent returning.A pair of guards cross halberds blocking any further progress.
Unless you are here as a witness to testify to her guilt, go away old woman. The prosecution is just opening its case and it will be days yet before that is done and the defence starts to call witnesses.
She drops her accent.
"This is an unfair court. It is held by those that 'Lynora' supposedly hurt the most. If you had any honor, you would let a third party hold the trial.
"Now, I'm not budging."
"Anyways, I'm just a greater sending, I physically can't be budged and unless one of you has a caster level higher than what you can count on your fingers an' toes, you ain't gettin' rid o' me."
I am legally required to warn you that if you continue to disrespect dwarven proceedings in this manner, that I will be obliged to inform the defence and prosecution of your presence, the next time the guard shifts rotate, and they will be able to cite it in court as evidence to build their cases.
And I know for a fact that the old devil who's prosecuting would be delighted to hear of it.
I am legally required to warn you that if you continue to disrespect dwarven proceedings in this manner, that I will be obliged to inform the defence and prosecution of your presence, the next time the guard shifts rotate, and they will be able to cite it in court as evidence to build their cases.
And I know for a fact that the old devil who's prosecuting would be delighted to hear of it.
Esmerelda shrugs.
"Sorry, it's been a bad day. One of my friends just died, and my son is pulling a Willow. Out of curiosity, who's the 'old devil' you speak of?"
I am legally required to warn you that if you continue to disrespect dwarven proceedings in this manner, that I will be obliged to inform the defence and prosecution of your presence, the next time the guard shifts rotate, and they will be able to cite it in court as evidence to build their cases.
And I know for a fact that the old devil who's prosecuting would be delighted to hear of it.
"I isn't in any side, but I is knowin' a great bit 'bout this case. Is really a witness, mainly."
"I isn't in any side, but I is knowin' a great bit 'bout this case. Is really a witness, mainly."I am legally required to warn you that if you continue to disrespect dwarven proceedings in this manner, that I will be obliged to inform the defence and prosecution of your presence, the next time the guard shifts rotate, and they will be able to cite it in court as evidence to build their cases.
And I know for a fact that the old devil who's prosecuting would be delighted to hear of it.
The guard looks slightly cynical at this but replies courteously anyway.
If that is the circumstance, sir, perhaps you could give your name and a place where an official of the court can contact you at some point in the next few days to evaluate your value to proceedings.
Severus Melthammer, the dwarf guard answers Aunt Esmerelda's question. Half dwarf, half-dragon, dines regularly with lawful outsiders and approaching three centuries old. Finest prosecutor in the guild.
"If I thought that would I be here trying to help you? Do you truly belive I would be helping you if you deserved to die? You didn't do any of those things. The instant you were bitten, you stopped being Sera. You deserve to live the life that was taken from you!"
*He hugs her again tightly, letting silent tears flow.*
Serafina manages to stop crying, but still has a wild shocked look
Rio, I need to go somewhere where I can be alone for a while.
She rubs her tear-streaked face.
Can you take me somewhere?
Serafina manages to stop crying, but still has a wild shocked look
Rio, I need to go somewhere where I can be alone for a while.
She rubs her tear-streaked face.
Can you take me somewhere?
"I'll have my friends -my pokemon- make a cave if you want. It won't take them long While they are doing that though, why don't we get under some trees? We should probably stay out of sight for a while."
*He gets up and helps her to her feet. Then lets his pokemon out(Aurora flies in) and explains what he would like them to do. Then, holding her steady, Rio leads Serafina under some trees. He casts a few illusion spells to odscure their position and a few divination blockers just to be safe.*
Beneath the eaves of a haunted forest, the black dragon Smagnavast meets with Shovastika, and takes possession of a sack from her. Then the pair part and go their separate ways.
When the cave is finished, Rio leads Serafina to it and begins placing what meager wards he can. He then asks if she would like him to go with her or wait outside the cave until she is ready to come out.
Serafina tosses in an uneasy sleep, The faint calling of the goblins reaches her ears and she moans and tosses, her dark curls sodden in night sweat.
Rio is glad to see at least the goblins couldn't pierce his veils. He readies himself for battle, just in case something does happen. Armor appears on him and his daggers slip into his hands. He moves just barely into the cave and watches from it, intent to keep intruders out.
Serafina wakes up walks out of the cave and looks over the sleeping form of Rio by a banked fire. Her eyes are haunted, but her crying seems to be done. She studies the stars above for meaning, but sees none.
Why am I alive? She thinks to herself
A flash of memory consumes her. The white marble pyramids of Chichen Tlazcla. The smile on her mother's face as her white wings spread and she ascended to the cerulian sky. Her father, quietly dignified in his Quetzalcoatl regalia, chanting the songs of renewal at the Solstice to relight the Unconquered Sun.
Other memories spread in her mind like a stain. The conquest of Chichen Tlazcla. The hooting vampires, the snarling feral zombies, the flash of a Macuahitl as it severed her father's head. Her mother tumbling from a smoke-filled sky, pierced by a dozen spears. Serafina being brought before the invaders' leader, Ebony Jaguar. Her ...
Serafina paces in a tight circle around the dim fire, trying not to let anguish and pain overwhelm her.
Rio wakes to the sound of Serafina pacing, but he gives no indication he is awake, he simply lays there and watches her, ready to comfort her if needed.
Meanwhile, Kiba continues his search for Lk.
In a cavern several miles beneath the surface, amidst the roots of a mountain chain, the vast dragon sprawls on one of its hoards, idly shifting coins, and waiting for the return of several of its minions.
It occasionally pauses in its coin-clinking activities to pick from between its teeth the remains of a sentient war-mammoth that returned with a report of failure from the last mission it was sent upon.
The legendary dragon daydreams of being able to put its upstart little half-sister in her place, and making it clear that there are only two dragons worthy of being the centre of attention in the great events of the moment.
Sibling rivalry, I suppose, is a common theme in stories and soap-operas.
After night next falls, Kiba finds the small cave Rio and Serafina are sharing. Sniffing the air, he recognizes Rio's scent quickly. When he identifies the other scent however, his hackles rise and his mouth twists in a soundless snarl. He is about to rush in when Rio appears at the cave's entrance, wearing armow and holding a dagger in one hand and a pokeball in the other. He stares into the night, trying to see if anything is out and about. Silently, Kiba moves away, confused by what he has just seen. He moves quickly for the Oasis, hoping he does not have to wait long for The Bard...
Serafina wakes up and looks over Rio.
I have to get going. She thinks sadly. She touches his brow gently and moves off to the distant omniportal.
*Rio wakes not to long after that, and it takes him awhile before he finds her footprints and tracks them to the portal. He can only guess as to where she has gone, and that prospect does not sit well with him.*
Serafina flashes back to the warded area, hoping that Rio is still in residence
Serafina flashes back to the warded area, hoping that Rio is still in residence
*Relieved she is okay, he greets her warmly. He can't help but wonder where she has been. He doesn't ask though, afraid to push her until he is sure she isn't still sad over what Innocent Blood did.*
Serafina flashes back to the warded area, hoping that Rio is still in residence*Relieved she is okay, he greets her warmly. He can't help but wonder where she has been. He doesn't ask though, afraid to push her until he is sure she isn't still sad over what Innocent Blood did.*
Later, Rio sits next to Serafina.
"Um.. I think we should go somewhere else, this isn't exactly the best place for an extended stay. Is there anywhaere you'd be comfortable?"
Serafina sighs
I need a place with a lot of quiet and somewhere I can think and get my mind together. Rio, thank you for staying with me, but I just want you to know you don't have to if you don't want to.
Serafina sighs
I need a place with a lot of quiet and somewhere I can think and get my mind together. Rio, thank you for staying with me, but I just want you to know you don't have to if you don't want to.
He shrugs and smiles at her.
"I like you. Most people would call me crazy for that, but today, in this world, who isn't? I just wish you could go with me to see Arceus. We can stay here, but we should try to stay out of the cave whenever we can, the daylight does us good. It is from which most life grows, what keeps you warm, and things can become clearer in sunlight than in shadows."
In a little half-ruined chapel somewhere, the fallen celestial, Auziark, is whipping an audience of the poor and desperate from society up into a frenzy. At the front, in the recently cleaned chancel, a beautiful marble statue of Arielle is set up.
Worship her! For she is the goddess of beauty and of war, the survivor of along line of tragic martyrs, and she will lead us to victory! the angel exhorts his congregation.
The fallen angel bustles around the chapel cleaning up after another service, taking especial care as he polishes the statue of the goddess. There were more people today than yesterday. More people yesterday than the week before.
He is confident that soon word will spread, belief will grow, and the goddess will appear to lead them to victory.
It takes time and patience, but he's getting there, he can feel it.
Serafina wakes up after several horrible dreams
Rio, I think I need to go to The Sanctum of the Sun. I need to make peace with Alaina.
Stretching, Rio gets up and walks aound a bit.
"Do you want to go by omniportal or pokemon?"
Either is fine Rio, as long as I get there
Either is fine Rio, as long as I get there
"Well, Aurora does need the exercise. It won't be as fast as the omniportal, but a lot of people don't regret it."
Walking out of the cave, Rio tosses a silver-blue ball into the air, and Aurora appears in a flash of light. He gets on and offers a hand to help Serafina up.
Serafina grabs Rio's hand and enters