She sighs sadly. "Cultists. Even after their goddess is dead, they just won't give up."
:Yes, I would like that very much, Sky.: she says eagerly. Blodwen seems eager to learn more about him and his kind.
Slowly Sky begins to play and eerie tune. At first nothing seems to happen, then ghostly figures begin to fly around the Eyrie, becoming more solid with every pass they make. Soon they can be seen clearly, an entire flock of dire and modern were-eagles. Several fly over to sky and hugs him, while others wave hello. Still others stand to stare at the hatchlings, crying and nodding their thanks to Sky for watching over their young. His family begins to attack the invaders but the tune abruptly stops and Sky's family fades from veiw. Sky has started to cry silently and he is shaking slightly. Despite this he is about to join the fight when he sees the invaders have been defeated.
:Oh,: Blodwen says, distressed. She shifts into the form of a human teenage girl.
:It's alright. Please don't cry. I know you miss them, but they are still with you, and you are not all alone.: she says, giving him an awkward hug. She is still not really familiar with how this body works, but she is obviously trying to help.
:Oh,: Blodwen says, distressed. She shifts into the form of a human teenage girl.
:It's alright. Please don't cry. I know you miss them, but they are still with you, and you are not all alone.: she says, giving him an awkward hug. She is still not really familiar with how this body works, but she is obviously trying to help.
*Sky looks up, startled by Blodwen's new form.*
"It's not that, I can see them often. It's just that I... hadn't expected them to try and fight. And the memories that rose when I saw them this time were too much."
*He slowly and reverently places his flute back in his pack.*
"What everyone saw... it wasn't an illusion."
*Sky looks up, startled by Blodwen's new form.*
"It's not that, I can see them often. It's just that I... hadn't expected them to try and fight. And the memories that rose when I saw them this time were too much."
*He slowly and reverently places his flute back in his pack.*
"What everyone saw... it wasn't an illusion."
She looks at him quizzically.
:Yes, I know. Illusion looks much different. I am here to help, if there is anything that I can do.:
*He calms down smiles weakly, wiping away his tears.*
:There is nothing you can do. But thanks for the offer. How long have you been able to take that shape?:
*He calms down smiles weakly, wiping away his tears.*
:There is nothing you can do. But thanks for the offer. How long have you been able to take that shape?:
:For about two minutes. I specialize in personal transformations, but I've never bothered to do one that didn't have wings before. It's kind of disconcerting.:
:I'm flattered that you chose to do that to comfort me. I can help you with any problems that form may give you.:
*When he realizes just what those problems could be, his face turns red and he looks away.*
:Um.. maybe some of those problems should be taken care of by LJ or some of her friends...:
:I'm flattered that you chose to do that to comfort me. I can help you with any problems that form may give you.:
*When he realizes just what those problems could be, his face turns red and he looks away.*
:Um.. maybe some of those problems should be taken care of by LJ or some of her friends...:
:You mean because I am a female: she says, amused. :Yes, I suppose you are correct. But in the meantime, how in the world do you balance like this? I can just about manage standing, and sitting, but walking? With no tail or wings for balance? It seems rather...precarious.:
:Then perhaps we should move to a wider area than my nest. Have you ever been carried by somebody else flying?:
:Then perhaps we should move to a wider area than my nest. Have you ever been carried by somebody else flying?:
:Not since I was a chick, but I trust you.:
She watches carefully as he shifts to his hybrid form.:Ah, so that's how you do both at the same time. Interesting. I will have to try that once I figure out how to use this form. Thank you for helping me, Sky.:
When he sets her down, she stands shakily, but nearly topples over when she tries to take a step, clutching his shoulder for balance.
Keehaar looks startled by his minder's change
Krrr .... You look odd as a mudcrawler Blodwen!
The small chick looks lost in thought
Why do I ..?
:"Here take my hand and slowly begin to walk forward.:
Slowly, Sky begins to teach Blodwen how to walk steadily, keeping her from falling and encouraging her.
Blodwen is a quick study, soon stumbling only when she tries to turn or stop abruptly. She still has a lot of work to do to truly master her new human form, but she is encouraged by how much progress she is making.
:I suppose it's good for me to be learning how to do this. If I'm going to be helping look after were-eagle chicks, I should probably know how to use this form. It is very difficult to pick up a soft-skinned chick with wings and talons. Possible, but difficult.:
LJ smiles as she watches Sky teaching Blodwen how to walk.
"She's a sweet girl. I'm glad that she'll be staying behind. I would hate for anything to happen to her. She's still so young."
Harumph. "Not that much younger than you, granddaughter."
She looks sad. "I know. But this isn't the time to dwell on that."
She looks at something only she can see for a moment.
"It's almost time. Get everyone assembled. We'll fly out soon."
Plantjack comes in. It looks like he's struggling, holding onto one of the nests.
"This place isn't really plant-friendly.
"Lynora, I have some bad news. Well, more bad news."
Plantjack comes in. It looks like he's struggling, holding onto one of the nests.
"This place isn't really plant-friendly.
"Lynora, I have some bad news. Well, more bad news."
"I'm sorry PlantJack. We wanted the Eyrie to be safe, and the mountains make a good natural fortress to start with."
"What bad news do you have?"
Plantjack comes in. It looks like he's struggling, holding onto one of the nests.
"This place isn't really plant-friendly.
"Lynora, I have some bad news. Well, more bad news.""I'm sorry PlantJack. We wanted the Eyrie to be safe, and the mountains make a good natural fortress to start with."
"What bad news do you have?"
"Now, bear in mind that it is quite possibly untrue...but he has been a bit cynical lately...."
"Just tell me, PlantJack. Your mention of cynical leads me to believe that you speak of the kobold. What has he done?"
"Now, bear in mind that it is quite possibly untrue...but he has been a bit cynical lately....""Just tell me, PlantJack. Your mention of cynical leads me to believe that you speak of the kobold. What has he done?"
"The Protectors of teh Board has been disbanded. Kobold Cleaver has been moved to the Blackguards. They're an almost dead branch of people who use the Black's magic to protect the Board. Most of us dislike talking about them."
]"The Protectors of teh Board has been disbanded. Kobold Cleaver has been moved to the Blackguards. They're an almost dead branch of people who use the Black's magic to protect the Board. Most of us dislike talking about them."
She shakes her head sadly. "Foolish kobold. I tried to tell him. I offered to help him. You cannot use the powers of unlife in order to protect life. I fear he is lost to us for good this time."
]"The Protectors of teh Board has been disbanded. Kobold Cleaver has been moved to the Blackguards. They're an almost dead branch of people who use the Black's magic to protect the Board. Most of us dislike talking about them."She shakes her head sadly. "Foolish kobold. I tried to tell him. I offered to help him. You cannot use the powers of unlife in order to protect life. I fear he is lost to us for good this time."
"No!" Plantjack says urgently. "Kobold Cleaver knew that. He's not in charge of the Servants. Somebody else must have put him in that position. You can't leave the Servants."
"No!" Plantjack says urgently. "Kobold Cleaver knew that. He's not in charge of the Servants. Somebody else must have put him in that position. You can't leave the Servants."
"PlantJack, there is always a choice, no matter how unpleasant. But who precisely would have been in a position to disband the protectors and empower a group that strengthens Innocent Blood's goals?"
"No!" Plantjack says urgently. "Kobold Cleaver knew that. He's not in charge of the Servants. Somebody else must have put him in that position. You can't leave the Servants.""PlantJack, there is always a choice, no matter how unpleasant. But who precisely would have been in a position to disband the protectors and empower a group that strengthens Innocent Blood's goals?"
"It doesn't support them. It's a complex branch, but really they all just believe that the ends justify the means. If they stop someone from taking over, even if they use Black magic, it's all still good, from their point of view. Even if innocents die.
"And I don't know who. We had an old leader, but...no, it couldn't be him."
"It doesn't support them. It's a complex branch, but really they all just believe that the ends justify the means. If they stop someone from taking over, even if they use Black magic, it's all still good, from their point of view. Even if innocents die.
"And I don't know who. We had an old leader, but...no, it couldn't be him."
"Intentionally or not, it supports them. Using the Black disrupts the Song. You would not believe the amount of work required to put things right after something like that decides to 'fix' things. And exactly what have they protected when they accomplish the destruction of everything that was being taken over? They will only become that which they claim to fight."
"Who was this leader that you had? Even if it couldn't be him, it might give some insight to know."
"It doesn't support them. It's a complex branch, but really they all just believe that the ends justify the means. If they stop someone from taking over, even if they use Black magic, it's all still good, from their point of view. Even if innocents die.
"And I don't know who. We had an old leader, but...no, it couldn't be him.""Intentionally or not, it supports them. Using the Black disrupts the Song. You would not believe the amount of work required to put things right after something like that decides to 'fix' things. And exactly what have they protected when they accomplish the destruction of everything that was being taken over? They will only become that which they claim to fight."
"Who was this leader that you had? Even if it couldn't be him, it might give some insight to know."
Plantjack sighs.
"Well, you see, before the Jacks...captured him, Joe was. He was utterly incompetent, though, and only became a leader because of Meepo's and Esmerelda's interference. Back then, they were highly respected Protectors. After Joe was elected, though, everyone realized their mistake. We didn't even like to talk about him to people. It's his fault that the Servants are dying out. But it couldn't be him."
Suddenly, a cloaked figure appears.
"Actually..."
The figure takes off his hood. Under it is a skeletal kobold, with a strange orb in one eye. But it is Joe.
"...It could."
Suddenly, a cloaked figure appears.
"Actually..."
The figure takes off his hood. Under it is a skeletal kobold, with a strange orb in one eye. But it is Joe.
"...It could."
Plantjack leaps back in horror, causing him to lose his grip and fall.
"YouAAAUG!
"Joe!" she gasps in horror. "What happened to you?"
She absent-mindedly sends a wind to catch PlantJack before he hits the ground.
Suddenly, a cloaked figure appears.
"Actually..."
The figure takes off his hood. Under it is a skeletal kobold, with a strange orb in one eye. But it is Joe.
"...It could."Plantjack leaps back in horror, causing him to lose his grip and fall.
"YouAAAUG!
Joe raises a claw and Plantjack stops falling.
"You know, I should really kill you both. You jeopardize the mission. But Lynora is too powerful for me to fight, amazingly, so the bint and the plant will live. I will give you two a warning, now, and that is quite generous of me: Kobold Cleaver could be instrumental to the return of the order. So there will be no interference, or someone dies."He vanishes.
"Joe!" she gasps in horror. "What happened to you?"
She absent-mindedly sends a wind to catch PlantJack before he hits the ground.
Plantjack gasps.
"Thank you. I really have to go."He vanishes, with some difficulty.
"Djuhah, could you please take care of those bodies on the valley floor? I don't like to leave them there where anyone can come along and animate them."
"Sky, it's time to return Blodwen to the chicks. We will be leaving in a matter of moments."
With that, she begins to Sing something into being, a body. The body of a kobold to be exact. It lacks only a spirit to reside within it. When she is finished Azuri'ith asks her what it is for.
"A chance at redemption. Keep it safe until I call for it."
Djuhah returns shortly after he left.
"I have done as you asked, my lady."
Though they were making progress, Sky does accompany Blodwen back to the nest.
:I'm going to have to pay back all these babysittings your doing someday. Thank you.:
Before he leaves though, Sky fashions a large pouch and places each of the hatchlings into a smaller pouch. He explains that this is if Blodwen needs to fly away with them. After he finishes, he stands and and gives her a quick hug. His face beet red, he dives out of the nest and takes his hybrid form. He lands near LJ and draws his bows.
:Stay safe, Herald,: she says as he flies away, unsure why her cheeks suddenly feel hot. She then turns her attention back to the hatchlings.
:Now as for you, little ones, I think we will have to come up with some sort of game to pass the time while we wait. What do you think, Keehaar?:
"It is time."
The Army of the Air takes off and flies toward the RPG Plains to join the others already assembled there.
:Stay safe, Herald,: she says as he flies away, unsure why her cheeks suddenly feel hot. She then turns her attention back to the hatchlings.
:Now as for you, little ones, I think we will have to come up with some sort of game to pass the time while we wait. What do you think, Keehaar?:
:Stay safe, Herald,: she says as he flies away, unsure why her cheeks suddenly feel hot. She then turns her attention back to the hatchlings.
:Now as for you, little ones, I think we will have to come up with some sort of game to pass the time while we wait. What do you think, Keehaar?:
Krraa ..
Maybe some Greens and Blacks! I call Green!
:Now as for you, little ones, I think we will have to come up with some sort of game to pass the time while we wait. What do you think, Keehaar?:Krraa ..
Maybe some Greens and Blacks! I call Green!
:Very well, then,: she says with a chuckle. :Your move first:
Keehaar charges at the smaller chicks
POW! I hits you wif my Spear of Life evil dead thing! You die!
Keehaar charges at the smaller chicks
POW! I hits you wif my Spear of Life evil dead thing! You die!
Blodwen transforms back to a hawk in an instant, blocking Keehaar from hitting the younger ones with her wing, gently knocking him backwards.
:Keehaar! You should know better! You can practice fight against me all you like, but you must be gentle with the small chicks! They are still too small to protect themselves. It is our job to watch over them.:
Keehaar hangs his beak
Sorry Blodwen ...
Keehaar hangs his beak
Sorry Blodwen ...
:Oh, Keehaar. It's alright. I'm not angry with you. You're still so young yourself. Look, I know it's difficult waiting here, but it's going to be okay. We're going to look after the little ones, and after the evil undead are all defeated then everything will go back to normal.: