Recovering from the Message
Log Info
- Title: Recovering from the Message
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Merek, Aya
- Place: A12: Memorial Gardens District
- Time: Monday, September 21, 2020, 2:38 PM
- Summary: Reinforcements arrive at the Memorial Gardens, in time to see the last of the devils leave and Aya minister to Merek. There is no one to fight, but some things to sort out. The guard who witnessed the entire 'message' gives his perspective, which condemns Aya. Merek explains she was dominated. Seldan arrives, treats the injured guard, and talks with the paladins. Lancer Co, the most experienced of them, asks the Silverguard to lead the questioning. Slowly details emerge, Taara and her followers want the Animus shards, are willing to go after adventurers interested in them, and felt Merek deserved a special visit for the communing efforts he was undertaking. Merek believes these shards will cause a war of the gods, and Seldan concurs, one of them must fall and even the Light and Twilight gods could disagree. The fallen oruch veterans are taken by the Mourners, and the guards and paladins look for additional witnesses. Seldan, Merek and Aya make themselves scare, and regular people start to return now that the commotion is over.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A12: Memorial Gardens District *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Among the gardens, scents mingle: green, loam and subtle sweetness, wafting from the meticulously groomed grounds. The lawns are richly green, dense and close-cropped, bordered with polished pale marble stones the size of a human man's fist. The pathways are smoothly cobbled in muted tones that subtly echo and contrast with the surrounding greenery, shaded by the lush canopies of tall, straight trees whose branches arch over the walkways to form open, airy tunnels. Elegantly ornate, tall mana-lamps of wrought black iron keep the paths softly lit in the evenings; they are often situated near benches of matching material and style. It is peaceful, here. Somber. It is also curiously warm and green no matter the time of year; leaves do change color in fall but remain on the trees until spring comes again.
At the heart of the park where the paths converge are large marble pedestals supporting bronze or marble statuary, chiseled letters upon the heavy bases naming the subject of each piece. The previous sculpture celebrating the union of Alexandros with Myrddion has been removed from the center of the garden and replaced with a gorgeous statue of the Crown Princess Lianna Rena and a marble walkway that leads to the Monument of Heroes - a newly-raised edifice celebrating those who fought and died on behalf of others. Tribute is still given to the friendship between Myrddion and Alexandros in the form of the paired standards mounted above the entrance to the Monument of Heroes: one from each nation. The flagstaffs are crossed and held by a Myrrish Knight and an Old-Alexandros Miner.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. Aya 4'7" 105 Lb Shadow Elf Female Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing. Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The alert is raised:
Demons in the Memorial Gardens!
The response is rapid. Seconds are cruicial. How long did the hue and cry take to reach the Temple District and the authorities. How fast can they make it there. Lives are on the line.
And the battle is done when the reinforcements arrive. Just in time to see the last 'demon' leave, teleporting out as eyes are laid on him. There are casualties.
The combat took place around the Monument to the Fallen. Near it, a city guard is on the ground, attempting to put out a flaming arrow that pins his foot to the gravel. He's in poor shape, but conscious. He points to the cavalry, past statues of Angels, to one of the paths with a tunnel of trees providing a canopy of cover. In a strange mist sit Merek, pireced with arrows, unconscious, roped up. Aya is on his back, pouring a potion in his mouth, which heals him a little and rouses him.
The seer casts some healing as one of the arriving guards approachs and says, "We have some questions."
Beside the pair, three elderly oruchs wearing veterans uniforms lie in the gravel. Dead, their bodies opened up by some wicked weapon and on fire from flaming arrows.
GAME: Seldan casts Teleport. Caster Level: 16 DC: 22 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d100: (66): 66 GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/religion: (8)+14: 22 GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/the planes: (17)+11: 28 GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/religion: (15)+22: 37 GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/the planes+2: (2)+8+2: 12
Merek looks to the skies then to those fallen, while he takes a moment to begin mending his wounds, taking the time to pull arrows from himself. The man pulls a few arrows from his body while he looks to them, his attire covered in his blood, looking to Aya and to all of the guards while they arrive, nodding along.
Aya's medical treatment plan may leave something to be desired, considering it was little more than shaking Merek's head followed by pouring in the potion. The end seems reached regardless of details on the means, however: Merek is still breathing, conscious, and subsequently able to (much more efficiently) mend himself.
Aya may be somewhat content with this, after removing herself from Merek's person to stand, though any hint of smile, uneven or otherwise, vanishes as further valiant defenders of the city NOW arrive. Their timing is peccable. Worse, they have questions.
On the far side of the great statue, a space in the air twists, then untwists to reveal Seldan in full armor, staggering briefly at the abrupt change in location. Reunion is in his hand, and he seems entirely prepared to jump into the fighting without hesitation. When did the Silver Guard learn to teleport?
It doesn't take him long to get his bearings, and he looks around him swiftly, assessing the situation on seeing that the fight is done. No time to enjoy the success of that trick - he is all business, and immediately strides over to the city guard with his foot pinned to the cobblestones. "Allow me, guardsman." Reunion clatters to the cobblestones, and he kneels at the guard's foot, attempting to put out the flaming arrow with a gauntleted hand.
There is a large stain on the gravel beside Merek and Aya, evidence perhaps of an infernal casualty. Some stains near the statues, lots of arrows, some still smouldering.
The arrow pinning the guard is easily extinguished by Seldan. The guard, grimacing, has a grateful expression. "Thank you, Silvergaurd."
Helpfully, he points towards Aya and says, "She was holding him down while they shot him. The attackers looked like the statues, but with black wings. There was a priest too, she could fly. Lady Tilly or something."
Merek looks then to Aya and back to the guardsmen, while he notices Seldan along with the man which he's tending with. He nods a bit, "What questions?" A look to the place where the angels were, then he takes a look to his holy symbol, an amulet.
Aya gives a brief glance to the guard who was quick to arrive to notice fine details AFTER the fiends had sprung their trap as he explains said details to Seldan. Her eyes pass over the Silver Guard as they turn to the guardman arrived before herself and Merek. "They were fiends, servants of Taara, seeking to deliver a message. The dead are probably part of the message, if just for emphasis. What other questions do you have?"
The City Guards, simple fighters responding to the call, defer to the paladins present, but not before one of them says, "Well, what happened."
The paladins, more experienced and able to respond swiftly to the call, are more accomplished than the guards but still rather green in regards to extra-planar activities. The most senior of them, still Seldan's junior, elaborates on the guard's question and answers Aya, "Details, like those, and your involvement."
She stares into Merek's cat-eyes, seems mildly taken-aback. She defers to Seldan, "Do you want her arrested? Charged? Silverguard Seldan, you have more experience with this. Would you take the lead when you're ready."
The explanations bring Seldan up short. He snaps off the snuffed-out arrow's feathers with a quick jerk, as close to the foot as he can manage. "Can you pick up your foot" This will hurt." Without waiting for an answer, though, he turns his flat, cool, level gaze to Aya. "Even so?" he asks, with deceptive calmness. "Perhaps you but aided your own? It is even as the guardsman says. I would hear your explanation." The edge to his tone is unmistakable.
The hotfoot guard nods, gritting his teeth he pulls his foot free.
Merek looks to the guards while he nods a bit, "She was dominated by magic," he notes, while he nods to Seldan a little bit as well. The man takes a moment to stand up while he draws a hand along his thick stubble, "They were delivering the word of their faith, they aren't wanting Animus to be brought back. They want all of the shards for the goddess of theirs."
"Aiding my own?" Aya arches a brow momentarily before her eyes narrow. "I am not one to consort with fiends, despite what the Sun, the Moon, or any other heavenly aspect or their devoted may believe." Her frown deepens as Merek brings for that information, even if it is true and of great relevence. "I was ... caught off-guard by her magic."
"I see." Seldan takes a moment to extend a balancing arm to the injured guard, unmoving, his eyes equally narrowed on Aya. "It is confirmed, then. Taara's servants desire the shards. Very well." From the way he's surveying Aya, he probably is not yet fully convinced, nor is he totally disbelieving. "That you do not consort willingly with fiends, I believe."
He looks over to the guardsman. "Sit. I can aid you, or I can permit another to do so, by your preference." If the guardsman does so, he'll support the man to the ground, but without taking his eyes from Aya and Merek. "Seer ... how badly are you injured?"
The guard carefully lowers himself to a sitting position, gasping with some pain. In addition to the arrowhead, the flame has seared the flesh on the foot and partway up the shin. He gives permission, vigorously. He also says, "They shot him full of arrows. He was at deaths' door. When it looked like the next would kill him, they slew those oruch veterans instead. There were some spells, a lightning bolt, that mist, a fog that killed two other veterans. Regular crossbow bolts bounced right off them."
He had to slip that in. There are a few bolts lying around. "Gel and I are regular foot patrol, we weren't equipped to deal with this. I'm Eldren, by the way. Any aid you can give, thank you."
Merek looks then to Aya and to Seldan, "I will be fine probably, I managed to heal," he notes. The man seems to watch the place, while he stands up. There's a shift while he begins to unwrap that chainmail, placing that into his belongings while he nods a bit. "... Yes, they definitely want the Animus shards."
"I'm glad that we can agree on that much, at least," Aya notes to Seldan. She doesn't interfere with the tending of wounds, though also has naught that she can readily add to the aid. Certainly nothing better than what the Silver Guard can bring.
Despite his focused attention, or perhaps because of it, she remains where she is, even rather casual in posture. "They made it clear that they don't want others to have the shards; they wouldn't want a god, certainly not that one, to return."
"Did they indeed?" Seldan's tone remains cool, and level, but finally, he takes his gaze from Aya, long enough to turn to the guardsman, remove his gauntlets and set them aside to reveal a pinkened hand. He lays both of them just above the damaged skin of the foot, and murmurs what would seem to be rote prayers. It takes only a moment for a silver-blue glow to form under his hands, restoring torn and burnt flesh. "The damage to your boot, I fear, is beyond me."
He waits for the guard's acknowledgement, then looks up. "Seer, are you yet in need of assistance? And what of others?" His eyes go to the fallen oruchs, and lower. "This was their purpose in coming here?"
"I think they might be after all Adventurers looking for shards, although these ones were sent specifically for me. I don't need anything, we'll see to the fallen, and to those in need, I don't want to make a problem of drawing attention away from these folk." The man looks to Aya, and nods a bit. "I will fix the boots as well," he notes. The man pulls the hood up along his features, "I will be away from the city eventually, that way it will not bring them to Alexandros. We can't afford to let Taara have these shards either way, else the whole world may fall."
"Thank you sir!" Eldren is happy, he wiggles his toes, "I'll lose the boot over the foot any day!"
Over by Merek and Aya, the paladin that deferred to Seldan, nods, watching Merek. The seer has said he can handle the healing himself. She makes a quick arcane gesture, her eyes start to glow and she carefully examines the area. Another paladin, her junior, asks, "Lancer Co, what are you doing?"
"Checking auras and magic residue." She gestures at the rope on the ground beside Merek, "That's fiendish. There is a lot of residue about. Not sure the schools."
The other patrolman guard, Gel, answers, "The veterans were here for a changing of the standards at the Monument. I think they were Alexandria's defenders, from years ago."
"They went to help the seer," Eldren adds, looking in Merek's direction. He'll get his boot back too. Outstanding.
Cryosanthia pages: just 'were Alexandria' no from You paged Cryosanthia with 'just 'were Alexandria' no from' Aya concurs with Merek and confirms, "They seemed here for him, specifically." A glance to Merek. "Whatever you learned or asked of these shards, it earned their attention. You might want to consider a bit more discretion."
"They were Erinyes and devils. Some easily confused for angels or divas, others not. They were also much more incompetent than I would have expected."
"May their journey to the Halls be swift, and their stay short," Seldan murmurs, nodding to the guardsmen. "Even so? Do they come for any adventurer seeking the shards, let them come for me." There is a dangerous edge to the paladin's tone, one that leaves unspoken the words, _If they dare,_ but he turns his attention away as Eldren seems to be hale again, and picks up Reunion."
"Who are we killing now, Seldan?" The voice from the sword is that of a crotchety old man.
"None yet, Kanian, save do they come for me."
Seldan turns then to the other paladins, with a small smile. "Sense you evil, here? Does it linger, or dissipate?"
"It's dissipating," Lancer Co says, gesturing towards the statues of angles. "Fading auras there, some in the air. Outsiders" The others with her nod, also looking around. Co lowers her head, "I'm not knowledgeable enough to tell the schools of magic."
The city guards all switch to readiness when Seldan retrieves Reuinion. Weapons are raised, stances are lowered, they're also looking around, seeing even less but prepared for something to happen.
Merek looks then to Seldan and along with the paladins as well as the guards with the people. "You know, I recall things like them, back from..." The man nods a bit along to Aya, "Thank you for trying to assist with that."
GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/arcaba: (12)+knowledge/arcaba: 12 GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/arcana: (10)+15: 25 GAME: Merek rolls spellcraft: (10)+22: 32
Merek adds, "Powerful Enchantment, Necromany, Evocation."
Realizing that the guards are all primed for action, Seldan quickly slides Reunion back into its sheath and waves a bared hand in apology, bending down to pick up his gauntlets. "Forgive me, I had not meant to startle. All is well." He turns his attention back to the junior paladin. "It is no trouble, I can -" Merek beats him to it, though, before he can even cast the spell that will let him look. "Even so? If necromancy is about, it may be naught of import, and yet would you would be wise to swiftly involve the Vardamen," he tells whoever appears to be in charge of the guards and paladins.
"I'll let the Temple know, we'll get the fallen to them." Lancer Co replies to Seldan. Her eyes are still glowing, when Merek describes the schools she makes some mental notes.
The other paladins and guards stand down with the reassurances. Eldren is on his feet again, next to Gel, also watching. He gestures at Aya, "There was a flying priest too, a priestess. In black and grey vestments. That one head-butted her in the face. She cast some lightning and rays."
GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/religion: (16)+14: 30
"Most likely the Tempter's minions," Seldan tells the others, without hesitation. "It is as I had thought." His eyes remain on Aya as he speaks. "But one powerful enough to bend devils to their will is not one to be trifled with. "Seer ... what knowledge did you seek of the Shards, that you drew the attention of such a one?"
Merek looks then to Seldan while he would look into local magic, then he nods a bit, "I was communing with Eluna and seeking knowledge in divination. It is possible that powerful clerics would be able to notice and intercept."
Aya is quiet as the others discuss fashion, allegiances, and similar. While she -did- note something of allegiances, she also knows better than to expect most to accept her word on most anything. "Given her references to her 'Mistress' and the... wonderfully high opinion of Eluna that she voiced... " She lets that trail before changing up slightly. "Speaking of the 'Lady,' I would very much like to meet her again. She needs far more than her nose broken."
The guards looks at each other. Lancer Co consults with her other paladins, and one heads off to inform the Vardamen. Otherwise they listen, allowing Seldan to guide the interview. Aya, is watched, although not in an overtly hostile way. Co takes out a notepad and jots a few things down.
"I see." Seldan directs his attention to Merek first. "I had not realized that such was possible, and yet, if we are being watched...." He lets that thought die unspoken, and turns his attention back to Aya. "On that do we agree, as well. Have you a further description of this woman?" he asks carefully.
"Llyranesi," Aya offers, one corner of her mouth flicking slightly, "of all possibly amusing ironies. Sharp and pinched features, even for a llyranesi, and eyes that showed she was well aware, and might cut you with her cheekbone, if just to watch you bleed. Though perhaps the point of her nose will remain blunted..."
GAME: Merek casts Mending. Caster Level: 10 DC: 15 GAME: Merek casts Mending. Caster Level: 11 DC: 14
Merek nods a bit, "It's a war of the gods, we are going into one of the greatest wars we will see since before. We are talking about the ability to become a god or bring back another." The man then begins to mend a guardsman's boots, "I learned even the gods of good and neutrality don't support it fully."
"There are but twenty-one places among the gods, a number ordained by Elhim Himself," Seldan answers Merek. "Does Animus return, one will fall. It surprises me not at all that there is little support among the gods for such an upheaval. I have yet to speak to Serene on the matter, and it is my hope that she will have more to say. Still, whatever else befall, we gather the shards, and do as Eluna bids us with them, that they be protected from misuse. Now that we know that such are sought by Taara's minions, we can do naught else."
He looks up, and over Aya. "Llyranesi? A strangeness indeed. I would blunt far more than her nose."
Peace seems to have returned to the Memorial Gardens. The birds that were chased off, are back. The bugs, didn't notice. It will be a little while before the Mourners arrive, their mountain temple isn't that close.
The patrollers, Eldren and Gel, stand at the ready. Eldren very impressed with Merek's repair of his boots. "Thanks."
Lancer Co directs her group of guards and paladins to spread out, check around and then report back. It seems a force won't be needed immediately, and ensuring the area is secure is a worthwhile task. She remains, to receive any orders that might come. "I've got her description. We can circulate it. I doubt she's wandering the streets with Erinyes in tow."
"As would I," again Aya and Seldan agree on something, "should I locate her, first. I didn't much care for her magic in my skull; I want her opinion on my fist in hers."
Merek nods a bit to the guardsman, "You're welcome." Then a look to Seldan and to Aya, "I will tell the family of the fallen they went in battle, as they would want. I have my own issue with one of those servants that I wish to deal with." He walks along to the fallen, then he begins to perform rites.
"Indeed. I should return to the Temple, if none are in need." Seldan looks between all present, lingering longest on Merek, this time, but he says nothing, instead looking to the guard captain before turning away for the Temple District.
The guard captain nods, "We'll share information with the Temple Units, as always, if something comes up."
The paladin, Lancer Co listens, then looks to Seldan, "Likewise. I'll send my summary to the Temple of Eluna. We'll solicit for other witnesses and keep you appraised of any developments."
"Thanks, for the backup." Patroller Gel says, with Eldren adding, "The boots and the backup, yes. Thanks."
Everything seems to be settling down, the crime-scene revealing all the secrets that it will.
The blunting and the punching will have to wait until an opportunity presents itself. However, given current events, that may come soon.
Merek looks then to those still about, while he nods a bit, "Alright, I'm going to be away from the city a bit, though I might... Take a moment to look in on folk," he notes, while he offers a wave, then finishes with the rites. He walks along with hood up, away from everyone.
Aya does not need to visit any temples, nor report to any superiors. However, given the lack of manacles, gaol, and/or smiting, she does have a desire to be elsewhere. There is no reason to not make use of the lull, and thus she departs quietly. For elsewhere.
The Mourners arrive for the bodies and bear them away. The two patrollers leave, to report to their guard house. The response guards and paladins work over the area until they have no reason to remain either. Notes collected and collated, Lancer Co will have a small job putting it all together. Best to get started soon.
Some time later, a whitescale sith'makar walks along one of the paths. She comments to the carnation-scaled youngling on her shoulders, "It's a really nice day. I'm surprised the gardens are so empty. Oh look! Someone left a football."
