Aftermath of Seen by the Shore

BOOM.

For one minute, the world had gone from bloody to red. Seldan had been flung back several feet across the alleyway, the explosion enough to hurl him, who'd been at ground zero, into the stone and brick of the side of one of the warehouses and burn him rather badly. He lays for a minute, sprawled against the foot of the building, groaning. Reunion is several feet away, having clattered to the cobblestones of the alleyway.

That hurt.

Slowly, he begins to gather his wits and take stock. Everything hurts, but he seems to have the use of all of his limbs, and his eyes, after a little bit of work, blink open.

It's not a pretty sight, there. The armor is fine, but it is a simple task to tell what of his is magical, and what is not, by what is and is not singed / smoldering / sporting new holes. The ginger-blonde hair is very nicely singed at the ends, and some of it is more than just the ends. He's burnt quite a bit.

Hovering overhead, the fireball didn't reach Telamon enough to injure him, but he's tossed about by the pressure wave, whirling for a moment before he recovers. "Gods and stars," he sputters in shock. Immediately, the half-sil sorcerer zips downward to where Seldan lies sprawled, encouraged as the other man is already stirring a bit. "Sir Seldan! Are you-- okay, that's a dumb question. How about, 'Can you move?'"

Tel looks around, exhaling. "At least it was just us, and not some innocent bystander."

Being somewhat opposite the source from Seldan, Kira finds herself at a wall equally opposite him in the alley. She is disoriented for a moment, blue eye blinking through the dissipating smoke, some of which wafts from her person. "Seldan?!" Her concern bears no offense to his resilience: knowing he is accomplished does not mean she presume he is impervious. She brings herself up to her feet with the aid of the wall.

"...I can. A moment." Seldan seems to be slowly gathering his wits and checking out limbs, but moves - sparingly. "You are - unhurt?" he manages to ask of Telamon, even as he reaches slowly for the silver holy symbol around his neck. This he clasps in one thoroughly burnt hand, automatically beginning a series of rote prayers. Silver light begins to form in that hand, but this is clearly going to be a minute.

He's got no eyebrows.

Telamon nods. "I think... yeah, I'm pretty sure that four-armed son of a... anyways, he was going to try and grab me as a hostage. Hence why I hopped into the air. I got slapped by the pressure of the explosion, but I wasn't hurt, just tumbled a bit." He winces, looking at Seldan's scorched countenance. "Um... wow, this is the second time in a week I've had to talk to a friend who's lost hair from a fight. Maybe I should start carrying around some bottles of Perriman's Hair Tonic."

He looks over at Kira next, his brows furrowed. "Ma'am, are you... dammit, there I go again. How badly are you hurt, miss?"

"Kira," she offers to Telamon, before pausing a short cough. "My name is Kira, Sentinel in service to The Healer. I am glad you weren't harmed." Fortunately for her, she has at least one eyebrow. Presumably. Fringe benefit eye-patches? "I will survive, by Her Grace." Her concern is not upon herself, however, and shifts back to Seldan. "Would you have help, Seldan?"

The sound of the explosion draws attention. And one of those closest to the fire is a familiar blue-scaled sith-makar who rounds the corner of the alleyway at a pace quite a bit faster than that he normally goes. He takes in the situation quickly and draws down the alleyway. "Peasssce." He offers, marshaling the injuries acquired. "Peassce on your nessstsss, thisss one isss here to offer aid."

Seldan does not immediately answer either Kira or Telamon, focusing as he seems to be on his prayers. He shows little interest in moving more than absolutely necessary, but does shake his head at Kira in a gesture that clearly reads _I'm good, give me a minute_.

The silver light that formed under his hand has spread to the other hand as well, and is quite clearly having some effect, blasted and burnt skin healing over into new, pink skin. The hair will likely have to grow back, and when the silver light fades after some minutes and he relaxes, he's clearly not entirely healed yet. Still, he sits up, moving much more readily. "We meet again, Sentinel. Would that it had been under better circumstances."

When Zeke appears, he lifts his head, inclining it to all present, lastly to Zeke. "It is in my mind that I have located one of your demons, brother." He turns then to Telamon. "It is well that you were able to fly with swiftness and skill, although fear me not, it was in my mind to barricade you."

Telamon makes an abbreviated bow to Kira. "Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon at your service, miss Kira." He grins suddenly at Seldan, his expression boyish. "No harm done. That fellow looked a bit big to wrestle, at least for my tastes." His brow furrows. "Do... they always explode like that? I remember when Aryia reclaimed Aya and it was a bit messy, but not like this."

Tel nods to Zeke, before offering Seldan a hand up (although in truth, it's unlikely Telamon can help the man to his feet). "All over but the healing and the fire-extinguishing. Speaking of which..." He eyes where a pile of rubbish is burning, and he gestures deftly. "Anumun lirum," A gout of water jets over the flaming trash, putting it out with a hiss.

"It is good to see you, regardless," Kira notes to Seldan with a smudged, singed smile. "It is good to meet you, though not the best circumstances." At his question, her smile purses some in thought and recollection. "I don't think all of them do, but some are much, much worse."

Her smile returns at Zeke's arrival. "Your advice was very helpful, Zeke. Thank you."

Zeke nods politely nods to Kira, and shifts his tail. "Are you in need of healing Kira?" The smell of burned flesh is prevalent in the alleyway, a discomforting scent at the best of times. The bluescale has a serious look on his face. "It doesss ssseem asss if you found ssome-thing Ssseldan. A demon then?"

Seeing Telamon engaged in the working of magic, Seldan declines the hand up, and slowly and carefully gets to his feet. He's still quite clearly aching, but he is, at the least, functional. "My thanks, I would not disrupt your spell. As to that - nay. Demons are as many and varied as the sins of mortals. Exploding upon death is not unknown, and is not confined solely to fiends. Ware you, for the Guild occasionally contracts out work in places where such may be found."

He looks down at himself, then at Kira. "It has been some time. You look well, aside from the demon's handiwork." He lets out a breath, and turns to Zeke. "It was. It would not speak of whence it came, and how it came to be in the city should be learned. Still -" Suddenly, he freezes, and looks to the mouth of the alley. He pulls the now-singed hood, and the iridescent one beneath it, up over his head, and speaks a word. Although the singed look remains, the armor vanishes into the nondescript leathers.

Telamon's mouth turns down at the corners. "They really need to rethink the city wards. This -keeps happening-. They usually just walk in, disguised as a traveler or merchant -- who suspects those? And then they're free to cause trouble. They're as bad as the damned werewolves." He heaves a sigh of disgust.

When Seldan looks to the mouth of the alley, Telamon looks as well, one hand coming up in reflex as his eyes search for what might've drawn Seldan's attention.

Kira offers a nod to Zeke. "I would welcome your aid, always, if you offer it." Could she tend herself if needed? Yes. Does she understand well the Healer's Call? Also yes. Seldan's actions garner a quick glance to the road outside the alley, though she suspects it might be general wariness, from little she is aware of. "I had thought demons and the like would have left entirely, after he was gone... but this is the second I've seen in almost as many days."

Zeke nods politely to Kira, laying his crystal hand on her shoulder and bestowing the promised healing upon her. The warmth builds up and spreads over her form, healing the injuries she sustained and when she is hale once again Zeke turns his attention on Seldan. He doubted that the man would allow himself to be healed before others, and so he had delayed that long. "And you kin, do you require further healing?"

The source of Seldan's attention draw is obvious after a moment. A pair of city guard are carefully searching the alleyways in search of the source of the explosion. They will arrive shortly.

Seeing that, Seldan lets out a breath and pulls his hood down again, revealing the burnt bits and the armor. "Nay, kin, there is no need. I will ache tomorrow, come what may, and yet am I well enough pleased, for the ridding of Ea of that one. Mal may say what he will." Suddenly, a feral grin, laced with humor and all too rare these days.

It is short-lived, though, and he looks around him finally, assessing the damage to the area outside of what has already been put out.

Telamon releases another burst of water to put out a smoldering spot on a wall. "Some things just have to be done. Fields plowed, garments mended, fiends given the heave-ho... that sort of thing." He offers another charming smile. "All part of building a better world, for ourselves, families, and those who come after us."

He reaches into his haversack, and retrieves his hat, giving it a shake and checking to make sure it's not bent. "I guess I have a new perspective on that sort of thing. In any case... Lady Kira, Sir Seldan, Master Zeke... you seem more familiar with this matter. What would you have me do?"

Kira exhales a more comfortable sigh following Zeke's aid (and that of the Golden Dragon through him). "Thank you, again." Her smudged-yet-no-linger-singed smile shifts to Telamaon, then. "Be safe, and watchful. That is my suggestion. I hope there are no more, or those were the worst but I won't assume it's so."

She looks to Seldan, as she adds, still smiling, "You could try to convince Seldan to also take care, rest... though I think many have tried to convince him of that for years..."

Zeke makes an amused noise. "Sseldan caresss for him-ssself, but he caresss for othersss more." There's a fond look in his green eyes as he looks at the other man. He nods though, acknowledging Telamon. "Thisss one would sssuggessst caution. If you are not able to sssee their evil, any-one could be one of thesse demonsss. Until the other issss caught, thisss one would sssuggessst being on your guard."

He turns at last to Seldan. "Would you go before the guard getsss here kin?" He knows well that the other man has reason to avoid the city officials at least to some degree.

"Quite so." That's a _yes_ from Seldan, but he has more words for Telamon before he turns away, delivered with a small smile. "Do you know any who can sense evil, and have experience with demons, they may be good companions so long as these are at large. "Each of us has our task, and do we act in the service of all, thus may the world become as the gods envisioned."

He inclines his head to Zeke, then, and reaches towards his scabbard - to find it empty. A quick search of the area turns up Reunion, which he sheathes.

"That was fun," Kanian remarks, and a general chorus of agreement emerges from it.

"So it was, but silence now, please. I should go. Her light upon your path, Sentinel, Master Telamon. You know where I will be found, kin."

With that, Seldan makes to turn away from where he'd seen the guards, towards the other side.

Telamon looks thoughtful. "I... might have a few ideas. And some suggestions. But I think it might be time to slip away. Let's not give the watch any reason to feel grumpy." He inclines his head to Zeke and Kira, as Seldan slips off. "If you need me, I can be found in the university district."

Tel actually blushes a touch. "My wife and I actually bought Sir Seldan's old house there, though we didn't know it. But feel free to drop by. The teakettle is almost always whistling, and the wards have been restored."

-End