De Inferno Liberabis
Log Info
- Title: De Inferno Liberabis
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Braelnoir, Merek
- Place: W02: The Wilderness
- Time: Monday, July 06, 2020, 7:56 PM
- Summary: Cryosanthia and Braelnoir are exploring the wilderness, looking for lost scouts when a heavenly portal appears. Merek descents drom it, dropped off by a Celestial host. He reveals he has been held prisoner and tortured by Ecalvdran virtually non-stop since he went with him in the market. Any time the Demon Duke wasn't occupied in Alexandria or the environs, he was torturing the seer. Cryo and Brae are amazed and stunned at his return, and update him a little regarding the events that have transpired. Cryo is reluctant to speak, only mentionning in passing that her decades long relationship with Zeke seems over now. Merek contemplates giving up adventuring, and Cryo agrees that is a good idea; the appeal of work for coin is lost to her. Merek passes out, and Brae and Cryo carry him to Wilderness Pointe to make further arrangements, hopefully to get him back to the Temple of Eluna, and discuss their childhood memories. Cryo discovers the Fae Apple brought back every memory, including her hatching.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* W02: The Wilderness *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The path from the village eventually narrows somewhat, with the trees on either side becoming more populous. Moss hangs from large stones that sit surrounded by beds of leaves that has accumulated over the years.
A few trails wander in varied directions though eventually even these woods will thicken. One particular trail carries with it the scent of natural brimstone...this trail wanders north and westward, where the trees grow thick once more. To the east, it's rumored that the druids have built a sacred site.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 267 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Braelnoir 5'11" 146 Lb Human Female A tall, pale Acanian woman, branded in silver. Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The plague has been cured, individuals and animals returned to health. The land takes longer. The Wardens of Mictlan have been sending out scouts, sometimes they haven't returned. The white-scaled sith speaker, Cryosanthia, was on just such a mission for Un'eth and managed to bring back two with her team.
There's still others out there, so she's back out looking for them with her scale-sister, Braelnoir, and a compass and a map. The mission was sold as a good opportunity to build a decent reputation with Mictlan, a chance for the two to talk and explore with different pressures than they encounter in the city. Perhaps some lost scouts, or a particular WitchCrow, will be found.
Cryo ducks and pushes a bush out of the way, "I'm wishing I brought a machete, a dagger won't cut this. Druids wouldn't like either though. The last rescue mission we ran into corrupted elementals, but really anything could be out here."
Braelnoir, for her part, is now more kin to the Sith than she'd preivously thought, though her scales have been subsumed into almost pristine, tanned skin. She keeps her scythe over her shoulder as the two move, a little frustrated as she's used to trailblazing with her old friend, "Why not try m'short sword, luv, blade should go through some o'this stuff easy'nough." She rubs at te back of her neck under her long, silver braid and comments, "Yeah, we wanna be mindful v'any Oruchs we come across, no tellin' if the plague left anythin o'the left that's got any sorta reason."
Meanwhile, a man fights a war, one within, and with another. Next, Merek will be brought back to the world. Which, of course being freed by the Celestial Host comes with space time itself coming to a place, then before Cryosanthia and Braelnoir, comes flying a man. The man in what looks like his old attire, white-black with what looks like a scarf as well as a beltcape, though he looks like he's been slashed into, he wears an eyepatch, he's covered in dirt and a crimson blood.
With that the man is on the ground of the wilderness floor, looking up to the starlit sky, the portal spinning back into ether a bit as the man waits. There's not a lot to him, he is slender along with being a bit thin, it's clear he's been through quite an ordeal.
The whitescale is ready for anything, almost everything. Corrupted beasts, strange things coming up out of the ground, elementals, crazed madmen, too many crows...
She is not expecting a portal, a blaze of heavenly glory and light, a sudden divine appearance. Even when she was praying at the Temples, she wasn't expecting this. Shading her eyes with her hand, she stares into the light at the silhouette of the man. Wearing a scarf, chiaroscuro clothing that is nearly all white in the light, who is suddenly standing in front of her.
In disbelief she says, "Merek? Is that you?"
Braelnoir blinks at the sudden light and she pushes the scythe off of her shoulder as she indexes the haft blade, forward. Overtrained, perhaps, but, she glances at her sister then back in time for the portal to disgorge their errant brother. She moves closer to the prone form and she hustles with some furtive glances around to the man's side where she gives him a wide eyed once over, hope laced heavily with suspicion, "Mer...?"
GAME: Merek rolls perform/comedy: (5)+8: 13
Merek looks up while he begins to inhale, then he stands up from the ground, while he looks to the two, a little bit perplexed about it all, while he begins to nod a bit. He looks like he wants to speak, taking the time to look between the two, and nodding a bit. "I like potatoes," the man announces, as if only to clear the two to know it's Merek, then he offers a little smile a bit as well.
"Well... it sounds like you, Merek," Cryosanthia says, sounding puzzled and careful. She looks over her shoulder at Braelnoir, then back at the man, all the dirt and blood. "You are free? What has happened? Do you remember me? Braelnoir? How much time do you think has passed?"
She moves closer, sniffing.
Braelnoir blinks and glances at Cryo on the starchy declaration and, she sticks the blade of her weapon on the soil before stepping in to hug him, letting tension out in a snerk, "Mer, yer back!"
Merek blinks a bit at the hug, while he begins to chuckle a bit, then he nods a bit to the two. "Yes, I remember you both, I think it's been the same amount of that time I was there," he says. "I don't want to talk about what happened." A light hug back.
"Of course Merek, of course. There's a lot I don't want to talk about either." Cryosanthia says. She moves her hands through a quick graceful motion. Her gloves glow, and she makes a washing motion towards Merek, magically cleaning off the dirt and blood.
She waits for Braelnoir to break her embrace, and then she hugs Merek. Her hug is strong and cool, the sith a little on the cold side. "I spent a lot of time in the Temple of Althea, it was nice."
Braelnoir gives Merek a light squeeze, mindful of his potential injuries, "Alright, luv... alright.... " she says gently before drawing back carefully, looking him over for obvious
Merek looks a bit better, of course with the eyepatch he looks pretty nice. He then nods a bit to the two, "It was... Twenty four seven, each day every day." That's all he says about that, looking to the two with a little hug back, leaning up into the both of them, his arms wrapped about, while he sighs.
Cryo pulls her head back, neck straightening, she nods slowly. "This one... can relate. I don't know how you turn the injuries into strength, but you must. Be strong, be the thing others break themselves on. You've been through a lot, you've survived. Do not forget that."
She shakes her head, "I can't imagine what it was like. I'm sorry, we tried, we couldn't get to you."
"Takes time." Brae says simply, reaching out a hand for each of their shoulders. There's a subtle tension but, "Anyway.... we should getcha back someplace safe an make sure any lingerin' harm done ya gets tended to. AN' eat, yer skin'n'bones."
Merek nods a bit, while he looks to the two, then he seems to think about it, "Ah, can I stay with one of you for a while?" he aks, while he begins to balance upon the two, and nodding.
"I've got some jerky, some Candied Crickets," Cryosanthia says, reaching into her haversack, pulling out a meat strip and a paper bag. She holds both out for Merek to take, shaking the bag and saying, "Candied Cricket?"
"There is news... this one does not want to say. There is a record you can read which has what we all know." The whitescale speaks at the ground. She looks up, smiles with lots of teeth, "You are back. This one is glad!"
She inhales, exhales strongly, looks up at the sky, "That this one has no nest now is some of the news. I have been staying at Mictlan... and... you know. We'll figure something out. The Lady Brightscales, Althea, her temple has been very kind to me. Would there work?"
Braelnoir frowns a little and sighs, "I.... gotta roomate, already, luv, but..." A shake of her head, then she looks at Cryo, "What abo-owwww.... ok." A shrug, "Answers that..." The merc paces a little bit, then "Well, Ezee's back in town... mebbe I can work somethin' out?"
"Maybe that will work, I appreciate it," Merek offers, while he nods a bit as well, then he smiles, "I ah, ya I will eat," he takes that offer, while he takes a bit of the food.
"What do you need to feel better?" Cryo asks, still holding the bag of candies, in case that is one of the answers. She walks backwards in front of Merek, clearing the path behind her with her tail. There is a look at Braelnoir, one she'll recognize as troubled. "This one will do what she can. I'm not well, I know you must be worse. We shall speak with healers and counsellors. This one has more meat, it is Durrankar's recipe."
"I'm sorry Merek, I tried to stop the Demon, he killed many of my friends and I've been useless against him. I let you down and I have no idea what I could have done either."
Braelnoir nods, "I'll see what I can do, Mer." she says softly. There's a glance to Cryo's tail, her postures registering within the new elements in her nature. The woman steps closer, lightly touching her sister again, then looks to Merek and she sighs, "I've been... caught up in things... all my research on findin' you kept comin' up empty... I'm sorry, brother."
"I chose to come with him, to protect another," Merek offers, while he then looks between the two, "Kira is alright?" he asks. Though, he assumed of the woman being fine, perhaps. Then he nods a bit, "I'll be alright, really I will." He then offers a hug to his friends, "I just want a good meal, my garden... And I noticed with the cure being found, I noticed it went away. The Celestial Host came. I know you all won."
The man looks at the two, "That's because I was with him, personally. He didn't hand me off, when he wasn't in the world, he was with me, you guys. Each moment he was not spending with doing things to you all, or dealing with anything else, he spent with me, personally."
The duke had plenty of time when not on his errands.
The whitescale sighs, "So that explains his willingness to make pacts to leave us alone, he had you." She falls silent, although the wack of her tail against brush continues. She splays her hand wide.
"We are trying to get back to normal. All of us. Seldan and Malik have left, the Demon Duke pursues them. Acedia has managed to convince the temples to bring everyone back that was lost. Sentinel Kira, still has not been yet. It is... done. Now we who were there must piece ourselves back together."
She grins, and makes a light punch to Braelnoir's shoulder, "My scale-sister has lost all her scales! That is most tragic of all."
Brae frowns with Merek's question, but can only give a slow shake of her head with a shrug. Cryo knows what happened to Kira better than she does. His explaination brings her down a little bit and she steps in to hug him again. The comment about her scales gets a glance at her shoulder, "Not all v'em, luv." she says with a wink, "It's figurin' out what else's in here that'll take a while."
Merek looks to the two, and nods a bit with the news. Then he sighs while he keeps on following, "Well, that's a bit interesting," he admits, though he looks a bit like he's thinking. "I am thinking about perhaps taking a little... Time away from the, you know, adventuring."
"Oh Merek, you should! You need the time, to just... not be where you were. To remember the sun shines, things grow and they aren't always trying to eat you. To live without the pain." Cryo says, sounding as if this is advice for herself too.
"This one is being useful in Mictlan. Some tasks are risky, but this one has a hard time considering doing ones for money. For the people, for the eggs and their future, for friends, this one will do anything. For pay at the Adventurer's guild, I do not feel it. Salina's Tower broke me. I have paid many years to save Alexandria... your days must seem like years too Merek. Take a break."
"I been there." Brae says softly, "Take yer time, luv.... there's a time t'soldier through an' time ta bind yer wounds..." A look to Cryo as she still seems a little distressed, but she turns her attention to the path. Cryo's explaination brings her eyes down to the grass and she nods, "Take th'time...."
Merek nods a bit to the two, while he thinks about it, "I appreciate it," he mentions, while he sighs a bit, then begins following along.
Cryo leans in, so her snout is close to Merek's face. Her breath is cool when she exhales, a sensation that might be rare for him. She blinks, bright sapphire eyes glittering and focused on him. "This one is glad you're back, Merek. You will heal, we are here to help, lean on us."
She winks, "I do want to see if your horns are growing in though, later. Let's get you under Lady Brightscales' Wing. She will protect her younglings."
Braelnoir eases her stride and steps back to offer Merek some suport if he needs it. There's a glance to Cryo, "Reminds me... guess I should... meet yer Empress one a'these days." That said, she reaches up to scritch at the pebbled silver of her shoulder brand.
Merek nods a bit, while he blinks with a little bit of a shiver when that cool air begins coming. The man offers a little lean into Cryosanthia, while he takes that support that Braelnoir offers, taking the time to relax a bit, "I appreciate it, it's nice to see you guys again, keeping you in thought, it definitely made it a lot easier."
"This one would love to take you to see the Silver Empress," Cryo says, dancing back from Merek, "River Stone wishes to travel. This one needs time with the people, to remember how to be one of them and not a Fae."
She looks sideways, "I need to stay in Mictlan, Brae. Zeke said... I lost much in the Tower. I need to put it behind me. Be among my environment. You should too, Merek, find your environment where you can... forget..."
Braelnoir tucks under Merek's arm and puts her arm around his waist, "We're glad yer back, luv." she says gently. As they walk, and Cryo explains more about her social concerns, she nods, "Ya gotta get right, luv, whatever ya need."
Merek nods a bit to the two, "Thank you, for the time being, I need a bit to eat, along with a nice nap with that," he says. Then he begins to shift up into that support while he smiles.
"We are, here, have some more jerky." Cryosanthia draws more out of her haversack, holding it out to the the mage. "Sorry, this one selected mostly meat. Crickets are the only other things I have."
"We can stop at Wilderness point, and see if there are horses so you can ride? It will make the journey easier."
Braelnoir sniffs a little, "That deer?" she wonders curiously, looking over Merek's head at Cryo, then back to the mage, himself. "Yeah... there's a couple folks out that way ya oughta meet." she says quietly.
Merek nods a bit, and when he guided about to a place he can, he begins to nap a bit, after eating the jerky.
"It's deer, some of it is boar. Those are the two things being brought in." Cryosanthia says, "The refugees have left Mictlan, it is safe now for the nestling and younglings to return. Un'eth said some of the eggs hadn't hatched, but she hoped they would feel brave enough to do so, so that is good. This one wanted to see the hatchings, but would not before, because She watched. It's good to know the ones inside have not given up on the world. An egg that becomes a coffin stone is the hardest thing."
"Ooooh, nice!" Brae replies, eyes shining, then gives a grin, "Hafta find me some trade, soon." But, the rest prompts a nod, "Not an easy way in... good t'start provin' that they want it."
Merek passes out, his weight caught by the two scale ladies.
The white sith nods, "It is. The hatching is important to us, not the laying." Her tail coils off to the side. She blinks, "I remember my hatching! I kind of did before, but now that I think about it I remember it very clearly. The Fae Apple, I remember everything..."
She gets an odd, distant expression as if she's gone away, retreated inside or a thousand miles off. When she finally speaks, there's a little shock in her words, "This one remembers her first thought."
"I don't." Brae says offhanedly, "Ain't a whole lot before I's four that I can recall." That brings a shrug, a frown of though, "Though... I'spect I should had back an' see if the Matron knows anythin' about who left me there."
Cryo smiles widely at Brae, supporting Merek as they carry him along. His ordeals have made him drop off, not surprising. Safe and in the company of friends who will see him home, would be enough for any to relax their vigilance. "That would be a thing to do. This one will come, if you need. There might not be much to be found. Don't most have a spinning basket? It's sad, I'm sorry."
'W'get'm to th'wayside, we can spend th'night, most likely.' Brae says softly, looking around with some wariness, then, "I'd like you beside me, sister, but you have greater hurts. Some of my questions may have answers there, as well." <draconic>
The whitescale reaches out and places her hand on Braelnoir's forearm, "This one wants to be useful, for Mictlan, for friends, for Kin. This one will hold it together for you." A promise for both of them, that she will find some way to heal the cracks. <draconic>
Braelnoir closes her eyes and shakes her head then looks to Cryosanthia, "I have too oft been apart from your troubles, sister, and I would see them put to right." she rumbles softly, seeming a little ashamed in the admission, but resolute as it becomes assertion. <draconic>
"This one will want to talk, but not now. This one does not want to forget..." Cryosanthia's words trail off, and she shrugs beneath Merek's load, "Zeke said things. This one thought we would be together forever... and we are not. This one has no nest. This one must find new goals. You were there. For the parts you were not, this one is not sure the outcome would have changed." <draconic>
Braelnoir nods and looks to their brother, "The outcome would have been 'this one was there to try', sister." She cants her head a little bit, "Our enchanted ornaments give me an idea, sister, that we can bear our brother with more ease." With a moment's thought, her clothing shifts, gaining a bizarre mishmash of backpack and a cloak made of the same sort of heavy material used for cots, complete with handholds, "Do you think this would bear his weight?" <draconic>
"Yes, that will do nicely." Cryo maneuvers Merek onto the backpack-stretcher and takes up the handholds. He can be carried horizontally, as if asleep. A sleep he may not have had for months under the demon's attention. "This one is amazed his mind held together, he is stronger than this one. This one still needs you sister, for the things to settle out. We both may."
She carries the burden, lost in her thoughts. The Wilderness Pointe Inn is not far away. It will do. <draconic>
