Talking Back
The weather today is oddly neutral. It's overcast, a mist hangs around the streets. It's warm, humid and still. While objects are obscured, it's not a deep fog. There is visibility, but the further something is the more its features fade into monolithic grey shapes. Far aspects of the city are one dimensional patches, some lighter, some darker, eventually all blending with the sky.
In close proximity visibility is clear, only the cloying weight of the air remains. Cryosanthia sits on the rim of the fountain, her tail hanging down into the water, swishing slowly and making small splashes. On either side of her are papers, held down by paperweights to protect them from breezes which haven't come.
The white-scaled sith-makar has been working on two things since morning bells. A composition intended for the King of Light and Illusion, and watching her snowflake mark. Her eyes glow, giving her an eerie visage, and her glove is off and her hand always in her field of vision. When the Detect Magic drops, she recasts it. So far its been inert. The composition is extrapolating from the Spring is Coming song the Wee Fae gave her. While she did promise to never perform it again, using some of its pacing, themes, tones and composition to inspire another work should be fine. At least, in her mind, though she is making a great effort to create something distinct as she doesn't want to run afoul of the Wild Hunt. The sheets spread out beside her are some experimental chord progressions, and an attempt at lyrics.
Toha is mostly restored to her proper pre-Eclavdran gleam, even if some of her armored plates have been replaced entirely as a result. Her stride is smooth and a soft melody of her own emanates as the construct wanders almost without direction. The song draws her attention toward the fountain, and the Sith who's been near at hand when she's been in her worst conditions. Her hand lifts and her song fades, but she doesn't interrupt as such. She could be trying to learn the melody.
Kira steps out of Althea's temple, her usual smile and basket in place. She might look rather odd without either. The smells of bread waft after her, but it's the unusual sounds that catch her attention over the milling pedestrians. It sounds ... almost familiar, in a way?
After following the intermittent melody to the fountain, her smile beams at a sight that is quite familiar. That smile gets flashed to Cryosanthia along with a wave, but she doesn't call out. That would interrupt and be rather rude as she's in the middle of things.
"Oh! Peace on your nest." Cryo looks over. There isn't much song to interrupt. Right now she's only singing a bar or two at a time, then making some changes. Singing too much of something similar to the original song would be dangerous, she's taking at least that much care. "I'm working on a piece. The lyrics are worse. I can't think whether I should praise the King, or Summer, or light and illusionary things."
"AH Ssshsss! It turned on!" The white sith holds her left hand as far away from herself as she can. Not that she can really escape it. "Ah... um. The Mistress is watching."
The golem nods in return, lowering her hand for, "Peace! How're ya doin?"The explanation brings another affirming nod at first, then her head sort of lists to one side. Again, unable to blink, she offers a vaguely puzzled, "Ahh... Hello, Lady?"
"Peace on your n-Oh!" Kira starts to return the greeting when Cryosanthia startles and makes her announcement. This makes Kira startle and straighten some, as well as clasp her hands behind her back. "Oh my..."
She is more than a little perturbed as her smile dims and tightens, though she doesn't sacrifice her manners. A nod is made to the golem along with a polite, if distracted, "Hello" before she looks back to Cryosanthia with some concern.
A rider moves through the street, the horse moving at a good clip. Malik sits on a steed, heading toward the temple of Vardama, where Seldan is currently exiting, going about whatever business he might have. The wizard doesn't exactly slow as he approaches the steps of the temple, nor does he dismount. With a whispered word, the horse simply disappears, the wizard landing on his feet as he starts up the steps to meet the paladin, pulling his hood down as he offers a smile. "Ready?" he asks.
"Even so." Seldan seems in good spirits, gesturing with a hand that the pair should venture back towards the plaza proper. It's a short journey down the hill towards the Temple District proper, and Seldan seems content to talk of inconsequentialities as the pair approach. "The private sanctum spell ... I studied the scroll, but can make naught of it save perhaps the base formulae. It will work as written, but its structure...."
Cryosanthia stands abruptly, her tail pulling a small wave of water out of the fountain. Now her feet are wet and she's standing in a puddle. Very dignified. A confidence boost. Nervously she glances at the others, although the approach of Seldan and Malik has escaped her notice. She's focused on her hand and near objects, not mist-shrouded ones. "Well... this could go badly, but she initiated it so..."
The whitescale sith makes a graceful gesture, casting a cantrip. Atypically, with her right hand. Small sparkles of light trickle along her arm, vanishing under the glove still worn. She makes a small loop with her fingers, touches her lips, then the snowflake mark. A Message cantrip. Without being sure it will even work, she asks demurely, "Hello Mistress. Might this one ask why you are watching me?"
Toha turns to look toward Kira as she makes her greetings and offers a pleasant, "Hello, how are you?" her face turned to an angle somewhere between the two females to put them both in her fan of perception, just in case Cryo's dismay is a precursor to things getting... awkward. The incantation, followed by the query makes her puppy head again, but she doesn't interrupt, nor reach for any of her assorted accessories. She doesn't catch the inward drift of the two men, not with her current facing, and her focus is too intent to pick up the familiar voice.
Kira assumes that She can only stare through one mark at a time. That's reasonable, right? Besides, if she's already watching and listening, she doesn't need to do it twice. That makes Kira feel a little less self-conscious. Maybe. "I am well, thank you."
Cryo looking to and then speaking to ... Her(?) is surprising enough to take her attention away from her own concerns or even the joy of meeting new people. She just watches, concerned, and now quiet, not sure what might happen. Would an answer be good to have, or not so good? Both?
Malik slows as they approach the fountain, faces both unfamiliar and known there. And none of them looking overly pleased. He nods to Seldan, adding, "It can be difficult to work such things out, sometimes. Perhaps step away and come back to it with fresh eyes. It's difficult enough to work through your own style, much less someone else's." Though as Cryosanthia starts talking back to, apparently, Salina Malik reaches up, putting a hand on Seldan's bicep and directing his attention that way.
At Malik's nudge, Seldan pauses, and glances back at Malik, then back the way they had come, but he says nothing, his eyes unfocusing just a little even as they remain pointed at Cryosanthia. He says nothing, does nothing, simply waits.
There's silence in the wake of Cryosanthia's words. Then, that calm, collected voice that those who had met Salina would certainly recognize. "Greetings Pet. You know that you may ask, but I rarely give answers."
"Greetings Mistress," Cryo has to force the words out, her mouth and throat suddenly very dry. With a huge fountain behind her no less. Her posture is very straight, her best efforts at containing herself, tail tucked in, crest down. Her hand and the mark have her entire focus, and her arm remains outstretched. She wasn't expecting an answer, and didn't fully expect to need a list. Although, why, is always a good one and large in her mind. She has permission to ask, so she does. "Then Mistress, this one will ask why you are watching me? This one would ask other questions, with no expectation of answers, as it pleases you."
That's something, anyway. Toha's face turns slightly toward Cryo as her efforts of talking to the hand actually nets a response. She doesn't like that term 'Pet', though it puts Cryo's seemingly preferred address of 'Mistress' in perspective. She watches with an expression of vague disapproval, because that's what she's been built with, though, honestly, she's rankling at the inferred dynamic, but she's still trying to look before leading with her face. Again.
It's not until she hears that voice that Kira realizes the best answer to her question would have been no answer. No answer to Cryosanthia's call, that is. Her eyes widen, her smile falls slack, and she might not be able to speak, now. Even if she intended to (which would interrupt and be impolite) or could think of the words to say (too many come to mind, and many might be ones she would never actually utter).
Malik, for his part, doesn't interrupt. Just yet. He glances to Seldan, the frown there on his face still, though he keeps his eyes firmly locked on the white lizard while he unclasps the buckles on his bag, fingers just hovering at the edge as whatever it was he wanted to find seems to come to hand.
If Malik looks ready, the look that Seldan wears as he narrows his eyes runs the gamut, from doubt, to worry, to anger, but he says and does nothing yet, making no move to interfere.
"It is enough that I have my reasons Pet. It seems that you are not alone. Shall I send you more company?" The woman's voice is unchanging, no tonal inflections. Nothing to suggest an emotional response to anything she is saying.
"I understand Mistress." Cryosanthia's pupils go wide. Despite that sign of panic, she reveals no others. Her scent has vanished, her tail is still. She makes 'back up' gestures with her free hand. When she speaks, her voice is a close mimicry of the Fae's, in flat inflection, cadence, a close copy. "This one does not desire more company, would appreciate if you did not send more. This one asks them to give distance."
She inhales abruptly, then exhales carefully, staring at the mist shrouded buildings in the distance. She makes her offer carefully and politely, "I have a scroll, to share memories. They returned in an instant, so the scroll would let you know it all. To see yourself as I did, experience your care, for all those years. Does you have any curiosity about this, Mistress?"
Toha reaches out for the Sith's shoulder as the conversation prickles more of her sensibilities, but the motion stops as Cryo starts to wave them back. Her chin dips to focus on the white clad hand, looks back to her face, then, after a moment or two's pause, she steps back with a very soft, 'Hope ya know what yer doin'...'
Malik, for his part, simply draws the wand he was searching for fully from the bag. It's rather nondescript, a simple wooden thing as he narrows his eyes at the conversation, clearly not liking what he's hearing. But he doesn't take another step, or another action. He simply waits, tense, lips pressed into a tight white line.
Seldan's narrowed eyes echo Malik's, and one hand drifts to rest on Reunion's pommel. He does not draw, nor make any move to do so, but it rests there. His gaze remains only about half-focused behind narrowed eyes.
"Have you forgotten everything I taught you? I know you returned your memories, so it seems more likely that you have chosen to ignore them. You may wish to tell your companions to run." The woman's voice fades, until it is gone entirely not to return.
"RUN!" Cryosanthia doesn't waste any time. She shouts the moment Salina's voice fades. The chastisement stings. Perhaps there is something she's forgotten, ignored, or overlooked. The whitescale sith half-turns to gather her papers, then changes her mind. Run, just run.
"Run! Kira! Toha! Run!" She takes off too, even if she wasn't specifically instructed to do so. That might also be important, but not worth betting her tail on.
Toha doesn't have an enemy to face this time, a target she must engage, and so the call to run doesn't end the same as it had before. She does, however, take a second to scoop up Kira as Cryo's already off to the races and she -bolts-.
Malik blinks at the warning to run, some tension going out of him. He turns, grabbing Seldan by the arm and attempting to turn him. "You cannot help them if you're dead!" he shouts, not exactly in context -- but pointed. "We need to leave. If they cannot run, you cannot make them run faster!" And indeed, the wizard seems poised to do exactly that.
Seldan is grabbed, just as he raises his voice to shout across the temple square. "RUN! Get clear of the fountain! NOW!" He fights Malik, trying to shrug him away. "I shall follow, as swiftly as I may! RUN! ALL OF YOU!" He swiftly backs away from the fountain, scanning the area for any who cannot run.
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (18)+19: 37
It's a good thing that everyone runs from the center of the square. Cryosanthia's quick movement and Seldan's words are the only warning that anyone gets before a cold wind blows out from the fountain and it instantly freezes over. A woman's form flickers to existence at the apex of the fountain, bare feet touching the frozen water.
People are running, fleeing as quick as their feet can carry them. Mostly thanks to Seldan, but where there's chaos things are bound to get complicated. A woman recently exiting the temple of Althea with her newborn in her arms is knocked down by a group of men too hasty to notice her presence. She's not the only one either, an elderly man trying to run stops, clutching his chest and looking even more panicked.
The woman on top of the fountain has delicate little horns, and white hair that falls around her like a river of pale color. In a way she looks rather like Salina, but her eyes are pure red, not ice-blue. She smiles at the chaos.
"RUN EVERYONE!" Cryosanthia repeats again, having put some distance. She has no idea what's coming, Eclavdran, another ooze. Something bad. Too curious, she has a glance over her shoulder. The Mistress? Here? She came?
In surprise she stops, turns to stare. It's then she sees clearly. Despite the wintery motif, the woman on the frozen fountain is not Salina, only very similar. It's the eyes, and the horns. Without thinking she blurts out, confused, "Yukia? Why are you here?" Not very loud, but who knows how good demon senses are.
Then there's that knocking in the back of her head, her emotional guardian and model sith-fae telling her forget curiosity and Run! Run!
Kira blinks, finally seeming to come around from her stupefaction. Perhaps she wished she hadn't as what greets her return to the present seems to be chaos and terror. People scrambling trying to get away. And many of them might not... even as she realizes she's getting further away. With a horned thing in the center of it all. It's horrible, and too much like...
"No!" She suddenly squirms and flails to get herself free. Not violently, but energetically. Once on her feet, she starts dashing back for the fountain... or at least those still too close. Within a few strides, she's making pace enough to negate the distance, and then some. Because she's not leaving innocents behind to be harmed.
Not again. Never again.
Toha's warnings in effort to get the message across are basically repeats of the general "RUN!" in Jotun, in Yrch-speak, in Trade, hell, she even breaks out in Kulthian for some reason. Her accent is actually pretty good. She feels the woman's struggling and, suspected a similar code at work to her own, she slows and sets Kira down. She turns and runs in another direction, toward the fallen mother and her child.
Malik shakes his head, letting go of Seldan's arm. There's a moment there, an angry, level stare. And then he's simply turning back to the thing in the fountain, whispering the words of a protective spell as he unslings the bow from his shoulder, dropping the wand back into the pack.
GAME: Malik used a Wand of Wand of Shield.
Seldan doesn't seem to care about any angry stares he may be receiving right now, instead standing his ground some paces from the fountain. In a rasp of leather and metal, Reunion is suddenly free of its sheath and in his hand, and his other hand draws in the air a celestial, with two joined circles over it. "Holy Dreamer, aid me in shielding your faithful from harm," he prays, and both the platinum ring on his hand and the platinum ring on Malik's hand glow silver-blue-golden. "So. You are Yukia." A even, level stare that does not look back at the others. "We do not desire company."
GAME: Seldan casts Shield Other. Caster Level: 8 DC: 19
The demon licks her lips, looking around the square with interest. "My Mistress told me to have a little fun. And I will obey." She chuckles, a low sultry sound that echoes through the square as people continue to run away. The woman with her child is huddled on the ground, protecting the much smaller form as the men run by her without regard for her safety. The old man falls to the ground. There are a handful of others. Either too stupid or too stubborn to run, but the vast majority of people are fleeing as quickly as they can carry themselves. She points her long finger at Cryosanthia, paused briefly - long enough.
"Time to return to your Mistress Pet."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls will+3: (8)+5+3: 16 GAME: Malik casts Break Enchantment. Caster Level: 14 DC: 19 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+14: (10)+14: 24
"Ok!" All the voices and impulses in Cryo's head switch and suddenly agree. Go back to the mistress. This is a good idea! She'll also, hopefully, get to spend some quality time with Yukia. They can trade cold style ideas.
The whitescale sith-makar walks towards the ice-demon. "She wants me back? I was enjoying being outside so much. Where are we going, isn't her tower destroyed? I haven't met you before. You aren't going to hurt my friends or anyone here if I come along peacefully, right? Are you sure you don't want to stick around, get some BBQ chicken first? I know a great place. Eclavdran drops by it too! Do you like tea?"
Malik seems ready for a fight. But as he sees the sith-makar woman turn and start to go toward the ice demon on command -- apparently against her will. He says something sharp in that native tongue of his, the words flowing into those of a spell as if it were the most natural thing in the world, fingers reaching out and tearing like a claw as magic works to rip away whatever binds are on the sith woman.
GAME: Kira spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL. GAME: Kira casts Knight's Calling. Caster Level: 10 DC: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+10: (5)+10: 15
Kira is running towards the woman and her child when the ...whatever she is points and speaks at Cryosanthia. Oh no. Then Cryosanthia answers. Oh no no. No.
She almost skids as she turns to approach the icy woman. "No! You won't have your fun with them!" Diplomacy? No, Kira has harshly realized that doesn't always work, because there is no why. At least not one that makes sense. Also, she may not be fast enough to run around and get everyone away... but she can stall, and calls on The Healer's Aid to try and turn the focus to herself.
The construct, probably not a comforting sight, herself, skids to a halt near the parent, and with only a, "Hold'er tight!" she scoops the woman up and tears off to something resembling cover.
GAME: Kira rolls reflex: (18)+19: 37
The demon vanishes from where she was, and reappears standing at Kira's side, her red eyes narrow on the woman, her body posed and ready for attack. It seems up close that the demon is sporting long wicked claws. More importantly however, another burst of cold expels from around the demon, causing ice to slide over the ground.
....and she is gone. Seldan's even features twist in a snarl of anger, even as he raises the hand not holding his weapon to trace several complex sigils in the air, the last of which is the crescent and sphere of Eluna through all of them. He speaks a phrase, and the whole complex bursts into blue/silver fire. He says another word, then raises that free hand and gestures the sigils to the ground. They follow, laying themselves in a circle ten feet around him. "In the holy Dreamer's name, I will see your end, Yukia!" he shouts clearly, then takes off running across the square after her.
GAME: Seldan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 14 DC: 20 GAME: Cryosanthia casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
The temple plaza, the site of so much mayem and tragedy as of late. That is, perhaps, one of the reasons Serene finds herself finding more reasons to be at Eluna's temple these days. One of those times is now... the moment she hears the yelling, she is rushing around the pool to get outside, drawing forth a mace-like rod from her belt as she shouts at the people inside to be prepared for trouble. Then she emerges into the plaza, assessing the situation as quickly as she can.
'Pop'. It's almost an audible noise for Cryo. Suddenly her thoughts crash and reverse. What was I thinking? Immediately, the sith stops advancing towards the demon. She shakes her head, looking around, "Thanks?"
It's only a respite, it could still happen. Fast and elegantly, she traces symbols in the air. It's a simplified repeat of the gestures Seldan made. Dragoneyes appear, and the last two sigils are a sword which fades into a moon. Her highlight scales trickle across her body, as if rain is falling on her and flashing where it lands.
Unsure what to do, she moves closer to Toha. The construct may need similar protection.
GAME: Malik casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 18 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+11+6+1: (18)+11+6+1: 36 GAME: Kira rolls will: (14)+20: 34
Malik watches Seldan take off at a run. He's already tracing out the words for another spell. He angles himself to the side, getting a clear shot as a bright green beam erupts from his hand, striking the demon and enveloping her in a shimmering field, pushing off the stones with his heel and zipping along the ground faster than he could even run.
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+charisma+paladin: (3)+19+7+5+10: 44 GAME: Toha casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 3 DC: 13 GAME: Toha rolls heal: (7)+1: 8 GAME: Seldan rolls reflex: (18)+20: 38 GAME: Malik rolls Reflex: (5)+15: 20 GAME: Kira rolls reflex-2: (7)+19+-2: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 10d6: (36): 36
The golem sets the rattled mother down to protest or gratitude it's hard telling as she's already turning her attention for-there! She starts to run toward the fallen man, pulling a small brass and glass sphere from one of her pouches and yells between the staccato pounding of her armored feet against the ground, "Just a suggestion-PERHAPS YOU SHOULD FLEE!" to the glory struck tourists still foolishly peopling the area. She takes a knee next to him, "Don't worry, I'm gonna get you outta here!" and she sets the globe against the man and flicks a switch. Odd pink and orange lightening spiderwebs along his torso, alleviating some of his body complaints, though he still seems pained.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (10)+24: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (20)+24: 44 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (18)+24: 42 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (14)+24: 38 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (12)+24: 36 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (12)+24: 36 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (2)+24: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 4d6+16: (12)+16: 28 GAME: Serene casts Paladin's Sacrifice. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24
The demon is surrounded by cold, a pulse of it that freezes everything in its wake. Though Seldan narrowly evades it, he still looks cold for some reason, and the rings that he and Malik wear flash in response to the damage they take. It's Kira who is at the epicenter of the bloodbath however. The demon's claws dig again and again into the woman, creating bloody furrows that bleed the woman until there's a puddle of crimson around her feet and her blood is still spraying in every direction.
Meanwhile, the man that Toha is helping murmurs something to her, clutching his chest and in evident pain. It sounds like he's begging her to help him.
Ice crystals ripple across Seldan's skin and freeze there, leaving frozen and broken skin across his arms and hands, and complex ice crystals on his armor that fade away near-immediately, but there's a fierce grin on his face as both rings flash blue/silver/gold in unison with the attack. Seeing Kira bleeding badly, he makes a snap decision, and purest white angel wings unfold from his back, the armor seeming to make way for them somehow as they spread wide. He launches himself into the air with a quick crouch-and-jump, shouting, "Sentinel, retreat!" It takes him just seconds to reach the pair, sword at the ready.
GAME: Serene casts King's Castle. Caster Level: 20 DC: 26 GAME: Cryosanthia casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls heal: (18)+0: 18
Cryosanthia keeps running towards Toha. She can't help in this fight, directly. Perhaps she can help the others get people to safety, and hand out a little protection. As she reaches the construct she repeats her earlier cast, drawing a simplified structure in the air, where the power points are her arcane mark, finishing with the sword and moon symbols. Again, there's a sparkle of lights along her scar scales, and a magic shimmer around Toha.
The sith reaches for the old man. He seems frail, struggling. It reminds her of things. "I can help this one Toha, see if there are others, or help the others." She's ready to take the burden, get the man to safety, carefully.
Serene reaches forth as the clawed creature -digs- into Kira, quickly shouting, "Eluna, preserve her!" A few of the mass amounts of shredding cuts showing upon Kira manifest upon Serene instead, a long rake along the inside of her armour that begins to bleed. Then she is dropping her rod to clatter upon the stones leading into Eluna's temple as she calls out another prayer... and just like that, she and the Althean paladin switch places, their translocation marked by faint, silver motes. Then the scraping of steel on leather announces the drawing of Promise as Serene readies it and her shield.
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+11+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (13)+11+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 34 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+11+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (1)+11+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 22 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+11+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (2)+11+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 23 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+6+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (20)+6+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 36 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+1+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (14)+1+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 25 GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+6+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (10)+6+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 26 GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (8)+5+3+6+2+(4): 28 GAME: Malik rolls 1d8+5+3+6+2+1d6: (5)+5+3+6+2+(6): 27 GAME: Kira rolls will: (13)+20: 33
Malik feels the blast of cold before he sees it, turning out of the way. Not quite fast enough, though, as the icy shards rip through his skin, the black blood underneath starting to pour out. Booted feet have no need to touch the ground, but do anyway, the wizard stopping his flight on the icy rocks as he lets fly a volley of arrows, two finding their mark in the demoness as one strikes all the way to the feathers.
GAME: Kira spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS. GAME: Kira rolls 8D6: (23): 23 GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+charisma+5: (15)+19+7+5+5: 51 GAME: Toha casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 7 DC: 16
"No. No one else..." Kira isn't letting go. Her face is clenched in determination rather than pain. No one else. Not if it takes every last drop of blood. Which it might, at the rate its spilling. No one... wha? Suddenly, she's holding nothing?!
"No!" This seems to be her goto word for the day, and she might be in tears when she realizes she ...away. Or that could be spatter. She struggles with the first step, but calls on The Healer's Grace to help her do what she -must- do.
Re-invigorated more than repaired, she dashes in to grab just below a slashing claw once more. Tightly, so her grip doesn't falter on the bloodied wrist.
GAME: Toha rolls ranged: (2)+11: 13 GAME: Toha rolls ranged: (14)+11: 25 GAME: Toha rolls 4d6: (18): 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (1)+24: 25 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (13)+24: 37 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (1)+24: 25 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (12)+24: 36 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (10)+24: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+24: (10)+24: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (4)+8: 12 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (3)+8: 11 GAME: Serene casts Paladin's Sacrifice. Caster Level: 20 DC: 24
The man's plight is distressing, as Toha has little clue what to do about problems with someone's "Heart...? Your heart!?" She looks around furtively, "Some-!" and she straightens as she's suddenly joined by, "Cryo! His heart!" she says reaching out to grab her, "His heart, it's his heart, I don't know what to do!" With the Sith's cast, her reassurances, she nods and gets to her feet, "I will!"
She moves closer at a brisk jog and thrusts her fist forward, growling a harsh, tearing invocation in Yrch-speak and extends her index and pinky fingers, unleashing two bright streaks of orange light at the demon, one passing through the area with no contact, but the other scores her rather well, actually.
GAME: Kira casts Hero's Defiance. Caster Level: 10 DC: 16 GAME: Kira spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS. GAME: Kira rolls 9D6: (30): 30
Once again the demon lays into Kira, focused on turning the woman into ribbons. It's working too. The woman is bleeding more than ever and for a moment it seems that she is about to go down when she murmurs a prayer and manages somehow to stay on her feet. The demon grins viciously, enjoying the bloodshed. Spraying everyone around her with crimson. Meanwhile, the green aura around her dissipates without seeming reason.
GAME: Seldan casts Dimensional Anchor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 21 GAME: Seldan rolls ranged+1: (5)+17+1: 23
When the shimmering green disappears, Seldan's features twist in annoyance, and he takes a step backwards, swiftly drawing another set of sigils in the air that lights up with kelly green fire. He speaks a word, and all the sigils form into a single stream of light, but the aim is just off, and it slams harmlessly into the ground.
GAME: Serene spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS.
Serene's eyes flicker in... possibly irritation at Kira's quick return to the engagement, but she wastes no words on reprimands. Very likely because while she's irritated, she also understands. "Eluna.. heal this stubborn woman," she instead beseeches, getting close enough to Kira to reach forth and touch her with her shield hand, a faint silver radiance flowing into the Sentinel.
"I know, I guessed. You'll be okay sir. Let me help you." Cryosanthia says, to the departing construct and the old man. She can carry him, and it will likely be easier on his heart than trying to hustle him along. The white lizard scoops him up, then bounds up the steps to the nearest temple. "Just hold on, slow your breathing, concentrate on my voice."
Inside, she shouts, "This one needs a healer! Heart attack! Hurry! Demons in the District!"
GAME: Malik rolls 1d20+11+6+5+2+1-2-3+1: (1)+11+6+5+2+1+-2+-3+1: 22 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Malik casts Haste. Caster Level: 14 DC: 17 GAME: Kira spends ONE point of KI POOL. GAME: Kira rolls weapon0+charisma: (1)+16+5: 22 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Kira rolls weapon0+charisma: (10)+16+5: 31 GAME: Kira rolls weapon0+charisma: (8)+16+5: 29 GAME: Kira rolls weapon0+charisma-5: (20)+16+5+-5: 36 (THREAT) GAME: Kira rolls weapon0+charisma-10: (8)+16+5+-10: 19 GAME: Kira rolls weapon0+charisma-5: (18)+16+5+-5: 34 GAME: Kira rolls 1d8+2+10: (8)+2+10: 20 GAME: Toha rolls sense motive: (17)+-3: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+28: (13)+28: 41 GAME: Toha rolls ranged-4: (9)+11+-4: 16 GAME: Serene rolls 1d20+20+5+5: (17)+20+5+5: 47 GAME:Seldan rolls reunion+se: aliased to weapon1+charisma: (10)+22+7: 39
Maybe it's the fact that Kira's covered in blood? (even if it is her own) Maybe it's that she realizes what the green winking off means? Maybe it's because she so resembles HER. She's going to hurt someone else. Maybe right now. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week. Does when really matter?
She lets go, knowing it won't matter in a moment. Still, no one else. Kira won't let her hurt anyone else. So, she does the only thing that doesn't require any thought. She screams at her. Attempts to put her fist through the demoness' face. HER face. Several times over.
GAME: Kira rolls weapon0+charisma: (1)+16+5: 22 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Serene rolls 1d8+5+5+2d6: (5)+5+5+(6): 21 GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8: (3)+9+8: 20
Seeing the green glow around the demon suddenly stop, Toha quickly scans the area to see if any of the fools gawking when they should be running are, in face, enemy agents helping Frosty out. Seeing no one, she pulls the cannister from the small of her back and with a twist, expands it into a series of black rings riding collapsing tracks. She brings the 'belcher like contrivance to her shoulder and, with a loud, harsh hiss, like a geiger counter through a loudspeaker, the weapon unleashes a rippling bolt in the ait that leaves a bright blue trail in the mists it crosses on it's way to inert ground, "Damnit!"
From the back of the demon explode a pair of wings. Not like Seldan's wings though. These are pale leathery things, matching her pale complexion, but clearly demonic. They lift the demon into the air, and then with a little twist... she vanishes.
The demon vanishes, but not before Reunion sinks deeply into her on the way out, and there's an old man's cheer from the blade as it finally strikes home and comes away drenched in black ichor. "-Finally!-" the old man says. "Been waiting forever for you to do that, why didn't you do it sooner?"
Seldan looks down at it. "I wished to prevent her leaving," he tells the blade levelly. "Silver Guard Serene, your timing is fortuitous, and Her light guide your path." He looks around at all those who partook in the fight, seemingly unconcerned for himself. He's been hit a little, but not seriously.
Toha twists her weapon and presses it back down into it's cannister shape before returning it to the small of her back. She shakes her head and growls a little in frustration, but isn't sure what else to do, besides, "Everyone alright?"
Kira hasn't struck at someone in ... forever? Not in desperation, nor rage, nor even in the protection of others. It shows, as whatever her motivation was, it wasn't enough to knock the dust off of muscle memory... or fully bypass lingering hesitation. Her final flail at the lifting demoness doesn't even qualify as a strike: it is little more than her collapsing to her knees, head hanging as she sobs.
... or just cry silently, that is. Sobbing would be loud and impolite.
GAME: Malik rolls Perception: (13)+20: 33
As the demon starts to pull away, Serene lashes out with Promise. The holy empowered cold iron bites into her, but even as it carves into the outsider's flesh the demon vanishes. The sudden lack of resistance causes Serene to overbalance slightly, and she's force to take a quick step to recover. Just as quickly she starts concentrating on the area, her nostrils flaring as she... smells?.. air around her. "Her light illume," she responds then to Seldan. "It was indeed fortunate. I..." She trails off as Kira sinks to her knees. Serene considers her for a moment, then says, "Rise, Sentinel. There is still work to be done. Focus."
Malik, though, seems tense. Nervous. His eyes scan the crowd, weapon still in hand -- and he doesn't wait to see if anyone else is alright. The wizard flies over and past the crowd, ducking down a side alley.
It isn't long, but it still takes Cryosanthia a little while to find the priest to attend her patient and turn him over. Mercy transport accomplished, she comes out of the temple and heads down the steps approaching the fountain.
No demonic body, that's not a good sign. No Malik, that's curious. She glances around at the spectators who didn't listen to the command to run, that's suicidal or suspicious.
The discretely crying paladin draws her attention. She approaches, crouches, and carefully touches her shoulder. "Kira..."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls sense motive: (13)+0: 13
Seldan is about to speak, but as Malik flies off, he looks up sharply, as if in response to something only he can hear. His eyes unfocus a little, and he turns on his heel, "See to the Sentinel. There is another." With that, he, too, launches himself into the air, sword in hand, and takes off after Malik, down a side alley, wings beating swiftly.
Kira reacts to Cryosanthia's touch and word rather than Serene's, even though they're later. Maybe because they're later. She looks up at the white sith a moment, and then finally looks to Serene and back. "She's gone," she finally announces the painfully obvious.
"She is. Thanks to you, and the others," Serene confirms to Kira as she touches the Sentinel once more.. and once more granting her the healing of the dreaming goddess. "See to your duty, Sentinel,
Malik, as it turns out, is tracking an older elvish lady. Her age is shown in the white streaks of her hair. She doesn't seem aware of him, and she's walking calmly but quickly away from the scene so recently left behind
Malik flies along, feet making no noise on the stones. Not that they would even if he were walking. The wizard takes his time at first, seeming to consider his options. But eventually he seems to settle on a plan. Flying overhead, he moves some distance in front of her in the alley, coming to land in her path where she can see him -- and that nasty-looking bow in his hands, though it's not raised at her. Yet. "I would have a word with you," he says, tone cool and collected, but there's a hardness to the words nonetheless.
Seldan makes just a little more noise than Malik does, although that is the steady beat of wings from behind. When he reaches a position behind the old woman, where Malik is in front, he settles to the ground, folding the mighty angel wings and allowing them to melt away into nothingness. With a quick word and gesture, he clears the demonic blood from the blade and sheathes it, then turns his attention to the old woman.
Delayed as she was, and by no means regretfully, Serene has a little bit of catching up to do. What started as a brisk walk towards the alley is elevated into a run lest she lose sight of Seldan for so long she might lose complete track of him. Her eyes are narrowed, though that may be the concentration of running with a deadly weapon drawn... her mother did teach her not to run with scissors, after all.
The woman falls to a stop, her eyes floating over Malik's form with interest. "And what could you want to say to me?" Her voice is simple and gentle, matching her frame. She's not frail for all she is elvish, but she is delicately built. Really, if she hadn't been leaving there would have been nothing really remarkable about her save perhaps her age. Elves that showed such were rare after all.
"Oh, the usual," Malik says, taking a step forward. "Good afternoon. How goes the day? Did you have any hand in the strange events that just occurred?" He keeps a respectable, if not exactly safe, distance, eyes fixed on her. "Just basic small-talk really. I like to get to know my neighbors. And I've not seen you before. You'd think I would remember, given how unique some of your characteristics are."
"Mal, who is this?" Seldan calls out from behind in the sibilant sildanyari tongue, his own stride steady and calm, although his gaze is somewhat - unfocused, at least briefly. He does not, immediately, look back at Serene, instead focusing on staying level and pleasant. "Perhaps you might spare us a moment, my lady." <sildanyari>
It's hard to be seen as dignified when one is running full tilt... and Serene is not one to manage it. But then again, dignified isn't really a state she particularly aims for at the expense of what's important. At least she didn't completely lose track of Seldan, and thus Malik.. and as they stop and confront the elf, she is at least able to slow once she sees Total Disaster isn't in the process of happening. She doesn't call out, but neither does she try to avoid attention.
The older elvish woman half-turns at Seldan's voice taking him in as she had Malik before him. "As you say. I can spare you a moment." She glances toward Malik. "Though I am unaccustomed to being questioned so rudely."
"Did you help the demon escape?" Malik asks. Rather directly. "Someone unraveled my spell. That takes some skill. And it didn't come from afar. As soon as the demon was freed, you started to leave. Is that merely coincidence?" Malik just dives right into it, it seems, not wasting time with too much in the way of diplomacy. Not that he's very good at it.
"Mal," Seldan cuts in, very gently. "I would ask your forgiveness, _grandmother_." He uses the term of respect for an elder, and spreads a hand palm-down before him in a gesture of peace. "Having a demon appear without warning before one is enough to test anyone's good humor, is it not? I fear that his ire is in truth directed at me." Malik gets fixed with a level -look-. "I am Seldan, of Eluna's Silver Guard, and I would pray for your understanding. You were not injured in the fighting, I hope?"
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (16)+19: 35 GAME: Malik rolls Diplomacy: (14)+6: 20
So, yes, it seems that for the moment disaster is not upon either of duo. Once more steel slides on leather, this time as Serene puts her sword to rest while she finishes her approach. Walking, now. She makes no attempt to appear any less threatening than she normally might appear, but again.. neither does she put any attempt to appearing fearsome or antagonistic. She is just Serene. "And I am Serene," she adds as Seldan completes his introduction and inquiry. She does not offer any appellations. "If you were injured, it would be our duty to assist you," she continues. "And I would beg your indulgence for a few inquiries."
"I was not injured in the fighting, no." The woman takes a moment to look over at Serene, notably the same expression given as the ones she had noted Malik and Seldan with. "Though I am curious if you intend to question everyone who watched the fighting. Or is it simply me?" The question is curious, but laced with a trace of doubt.
Malik takes a breath, un-nocking the arrow and setting it back in the quiver. The bow, however, stays in his hand. "Would you be doing differently, were our places switched?" he asks. "You were the only one who left. Fortuitous timing, for sure. And the creature behind these attacks has agents everywhere. Can we so simply rule you out?"
"You are not unreasonable," Seldan notes, most of his smile fading away. "Those who remained were either merely curious, or unable to move swiftly enough, I think. Your swift departure aroused our curiosity, as did the magical dynamics within the fight itself. Had you feared the fighting, you would have left, would you not?" He regards the smaller woman calmly. "I mean no insult, and we mean no harm, but we would understand what happened. The demon has been seen within Alexandria previously, although not in some months, and her mistress is a woman by the name of Salina."
GAME: Seldan rolls sense motive: (15)+16: 31 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+28: (14)+28: 42 GAME: Malik rolls Sense Motive: (18)+14: 32 GAME: Serene rolls sense motive: (9)+24: 33
"You saw what was out there, grandmother," Serene states, borrowing Seldan's chosen address of the elven woman. "I believe you understand the seriousness of this situation. Other witnesses will be interviewed as every possible thread must be followed. I am sorry if you feel... singled out. But I believe finding you later would prove problematic."
GAME: Malik casts Arcane Sight. Caster Level: 14 DC: 17
The old elvish woman nods to someone's words. There's a great deal more of them than of her, and answering them all is a touch problematic. "It is wise of you to suspect me." Old gray eyes, still sharp with years of experience met Seldan's. "After all. I am what you are looking for." Her words are simple and direct. Without a wave of her hand, or a single word a gate appears directly behind her, and the woman blinks calmly at them. Malik's spell slips from his lips and with a look the magic unravels just as quickly. "So much yet to learn." And then she steps through the gate and is gone.
Malik speaks the words, but the magic is cut off just as quickly. As the woman forms the gate, speaking her words as she slips through, the mage is already fumbling for an arrow again, drawing back just in time for it to be pointless to even try. "DAMMIT!" he shouts, moving over to kick at -- something that's in the alley, light and metallic that goes with a metal clang. "She was right here!"
"Salina!" Suddenly, Seldan's voice takes on a snarl of anger, but he is far too late, and she is gone before he can move. "More than ever must we watch our words and actions," he says, turning to the other two. "Serene, the white sith-makar is not to be trusted. I think her intentions not amiss, and yet did she willingly choose to speak to Salina, without prompting, had the means to do so, and offered to share memories with her. She remains subservient to our quarry." The words are laced with anger, although rather more controlled than Malik's. "Mal, are you well? I felt my spell intervene."
Serene's lips do curl downwards a touch, though perhaps it is more of a thoughtful frown than anything else. Certainly not the outburst coming from Malik. After all, she doesn't have the history that both Malik and Seldan have with the creature. When Seldan tells her of his suspicions of Cryosanthia, Serene nods grimly. "It is as you say, though I feel this is becoming dangerously close to operating in the shadows. But we will do as we must." She looks away from that space that Salina disappeared from, then, and regards the two men for a moment. "I commend your quick action to pursue her. I recommend in the future that you might do so with a little more backup. This could have turned... badly." She half turns, looking back towards the temple plaza. "I will leave the two of you. There may still be work to do back at the temples."
Malik, running on anger and adrenaline, starts to come down as the fire wears off. And suddenly, he just looks very, very tired. He reaches up, touching the blood on his face from the icy blast, closing his eyes. "Salina -perhaps-," he sighs. "Or perhaps another entirely. I don't think Salina would have shut down the magic. She cares not whether we see her. This -- could be a new complication." He shoulders the bow, looking to Seldan. "Let's go check on the others. I -- need time to think."
"Your instincts are invaluable," Seldan answers, looking after Serene as she leaves, then turning back to Malik. "Hold." He reaches out to lay hands on Malik's shoulders, if the wizard will let him, to see to those injuries. "We should indeed return to the others, and I would offer prayers as well. Are you ready?" That done, he begins to turn back to follow Serene to the Temple Plaza.
Malik looks like he's going to move, but allows himself to be caught up in that touch, not fighting. Something about Seldan's words causes him to slump a bit, his head hanging, though he certainly doesn't fight. "Thank you," he says, his voice sounding like someone just took a weight off his shoulders. "And yes. We should see to the others."
-End