Shririn watches from a distance as Brevon begins to wish. The trembling from his voice was worrisome - too many stories of accidents involving magic cast beyond the users own power were at the forefront of his mind - these things never seemed to end well. Regardless, they had gone through the options and determined this to be their choice.
As Breven finishes the words of his wish, Shirin braces for some horrible consequence of their actions.
No ******* chance this works, he thinks to himself.
The battle outside rages, a symphony of destruction, of horror, of Halfings and Orcs and Hobgoblins and Ogres and Humans and everything that had rallied to the battle all screaming. The Wyvern roared, Luck Dragons roared...there were great temple shaking crashes as large beasts hit the ground.
And the portal opened.
There was a moment where it looked like the wish had failed. A moment where nothing happened...until there was a tiny shimmer in the center of the room, like a firefly the color of light reflecting off clear water. It shimmered...and grew...and then an orb began to swell out of the air. One foot. Two feet. Four feet. Eight feet. Suddenly it was sixteen feet across and encompassing much of the center of the room, a blue ball of waves that sparkled with crackles of golden energy...
As Team GTFO approaches the tower, Dageron sees allies peeking out the doors. "Follow my lead." He says to the others.
He leads the wagon up to the doors, and yells out in Common, "Secure the urRu, let no one enter or leave!" Then he leads the wagon and mounts through the doors into the temple. "Prepare to evacuate the prisoners if the city falls!"
Hrothgar stands firm near the wagon as they wait for the others.
With Dageron leading the wagon and horses into the temple Hrothgar rides Argento next to the horses leading the wagon. The battle tested horse will help guide them up to the temple doors. Hrothgar will not pass through the doors himself yet, not until everyone of has gone through. He uses his shield by raising it up to block some of the brighter lights from the fire and magic used in the battle. Making it easier for himself to spot anyone approaching via ground.
The Archer is the only one of the urRu that is animated by what is happening outside. He's patrolling the perimeter of this sixteen foot sphere of tangible power, looking worriedly between the members of the Order of the Phoenix, the sphere, and the door, clearly interested in what is going on outside but not wasting time to go look. Finally, fed up with the wait, he begins to hurry the other urRu into the sphere while muttering out loud that he hopes and prays that it goes to the Ivory Tower.
Dageron, seeing the portal open within the tower, wastes no time. "Everyone, go through now or get left behind! There will be no waiting on my part!" As he says it, he slaps the wagon's lead horse to stir if forward faster, and beckons the other creatures similarly. "We may only have seconds before it closes, move!" His voice is a booming command honed from decades of battlefield experience. Once the wagon is through with the mounts, he and his warhorse enters the portal as well - prepared for anything.
With Hrothgar watching the battle outside he notices the nomads are clearly losing the battle, yet they do not back down. It puzzles Hrothgar since he does not know why these nomads are here, perhaps they came to free the urRu or simply make a stand. Seeing them ride into death willingly makes it difficult for Hrothgar to stand firm, he would glady ride out to fight alongside them but he had to keep his mission in mind.
He didnt know this land very well or the rider on the wyvern. But all these people willingly laying down their lives told him enough about the tiran.
In that moment he sees the rider fly stationary on the wyvern, his gaze in the direction of Hrothgar and he sees him pulling out a red sword. Hrothgars adrenaline spikes as he realizes they have been spotted. His gaze only momentarily disrupted by Dageron's shouting. Hrothgar looks through the door of temple to see those inside rush through the portal. In a split second Hrothgar looks back to the rider and sees it heading for the temple as well.
In one fluent motion Hrothgar pulls the reigns on Argento creating light tension on them and squeezes his legs to nudge the horse into quick motion HA!he commands
The wyvern approaches! he shouts as he gallops his horse into the temple, Heading for the sphere himself he reaches out one arm to grab onto whoever is straggling behind on foot to give them an extra bit of speed while holding them up long enough to enter the sphere. Not worrying if they fall after they reached it. Or if the last one is small/light enough pick them up if he can reach them. Hurry!
Brevon had fallen back into a sitting position as the portal appeared, the air in the chamber electrifying with strange energy. Crawling backward on his hands, it had taken him several moments to comprehend what was happening.
At last, he climbs to his feet and begins to encourage the uRu to enter the portal. He stands with Melisandre, watching the procession. At last, he offers a hand to the Red Priestess. "Perhaps there is some truth to what you've said," he says meaningfully. Then he leads the pair of them through the portal.
Shirin is briefly stunned in disbelief, staring at the ever growing portal from across the chamber. As the uRu procession begins to make its way into the arcane gateway, he can't help but feel deep within his gut that something is not quite right. How could it be this easy? What will be the consequences of using such unknown magics, and what is actually on the other side of that portal?
Many questions, answers to which would not be found so easily. Though there was one certainty on his mind - the certainty that he did not want to be here anymore.
He approaches the portal, and stands for a hesitant moment before it. He could feel the raw energy wafting off of it, the thrum of magic pulsating so intensely as if to go through him.
Jek see Dageron return with the others, and Iron-Hoove with them. Then he looks beyond, trying to see if he can spot Atoh and Tola..... and sees a halfling get decapitated.
He turns and runs to the corner of the temple and vomits an inky black ethereal fluid.
He hears a lot of shouting, then feels a greatagic take hold near him. He looks up at the blue sphere before him. The AURYN worked! It answered there call.... He looks through the door of the temple as the wagon comes charging in. He realizes this is not the place for him. He is no warrior, he cannot help in this carnage. He picks himself up and watches as the order of the Phoenix and the urRu go through the portal.
Jek hears Hrothgar's yell as he makes his way to the portal. He grabs onto Hrothgar's hand as he passes by. Jek will make a silent image of the enterence of the temple collapsing. "Maybe that can hold them off for a moment." Just before they pass through the portal, Jek will offer a silent prayer to the Bright Lady, asking her to keep Atoh safe.
As the Order of the Phoenix enter the portal behind the Mystics, they are quickly overwhelmed by a falling, drowning, sinking feeling, like being drawn through a pool of water. Glancing back, a black figure storms into the room, stopping only to examine the portal. It, he, is looking through it, the Wyvern rider with his glowing red sword, and there is no doubt amongst them that he sees them as they slip away...
They're back where it all started as the portal drops them out onto the observation platform of the Ivory Tower. Things are quiet as they appear, seemingly out of thin air, the disorientation of going from the inside of the Temple enshrouding them, making them feel woozy for a moment.
Cairon shuffles down from the dais where the Empresses chambers can be found. He looks stunned to see them there, and is quick to point out Jek and Brevon.
"Jek Utinni!" He says as he shuffles closes, his eyes wide. He strokes his beard. "Brevon! Oh, this is a surprise! And the urRu! What has happened? How did you get here?"
Jek watches the figure with the red blade drawn as he begins to fall, staring at this.... creature. He falls away from Hrothgar at some point during the fall. He sees the others floating around. This just seemed too much.
As they land, Jek falls to the ground. He hears his name being called. He stands and starts to look around, realizing now that they are at there destination! Where they planned to go! They made it away from ......... flashes of the carnage he just witnessed flash in front of his eyes, followed by the stare of that thing with the red blade.
Jek once again vomits the black ethereal fluid right in the middle of the group. There is no smell to it, and it seems to evaporate almost as soon as it hits the ground. With an apologetic look to his compatriots, Jek turns his attention to Cairon.
Jek calls out to Cairon, "Cdjdjnb!" in a deep, guttural voice..... Wait... What... That's not right. What were those sounds? "Idneons? Oensnai?" Jek says, this time in a gibberish that sounds like it's being spoken under water. In a panic, Jek spinning around, looking to everyone around him. Jek tries to speak again, for only the sound of gravel and rocks to come from his mouth. "Djdn? Idbsh sks sidjsbs? Jdjs djdj sjh... Sijdn jdjsbb sishs sjsbs shhs sisbsi.... Wosnz? Sisbskss susbshs? Sjsbsk sksna apjdji sisbsh?!?!? Odndj indb!". Jek grabs his head and falls to his knees and screams {fax machine sounds} "Pshhhkkkkkkrrrrkakingkakingkakingtshchchchchchchchcch". He rocks back and forth, clutching his head, as he begins to weep black tears, that evaporate as they hit the ground.
Darla screams in angry goose, throwing Slade to the ground and taking off to fly around the tower. Dusting himself off Slade calls out.
"OI!! Don't be flying too far me darlin' Daddy loves you!!" Turning to see Jek doing his highly disturbing thing "By me shining Golden Buttons, whats wrong with Ye? Someone come and help the poor fella out already!"
Dageron sits atop his warhorse, looking back through the portal. When Vader appears, he turns the horse to face him, lifting his helmet visor as he does. As soon as his old master looks at him, he nods. Then the portal closes. "In battle, there can be no going back. Only forwards." He whispers the mantra of his childhood to no one in particular. A figure begins speaking from behind, but just as quickly Jek begins sputtering madness. Dageron leaps from his warhorse and descends upon his small companion. He has seen this before.
"Be at ease Jek of the Utinni." While holding Jek in his left arm, he touches his right hand to Jek's temple. (( For effect, he is casting Command at WIS Save of 12 - if you wish to contest it! )) "Calm!" he commands. He will continue to hold Jek, speaking to him as he does. "Do not fight what you have seen. Do not reject what is. Death and violence are as essential to life and harmony as everything else in nature. A vine murders a tree, a snake murders a rodent, a wolf murders a faun. If you only look at the soft parts of the balance of all things then you are denying the balance itself. Calm. It is not evil to survive nor unnatural to kill. Accept what is..." He continues until Jek comes around to his normal voice.
Reaching the portal Hrothgar feels himself get almost weightless as somehow he cant move fast anymore but still has the feeling of falling. His grip of Jek loosens as he starts to drift away and Hrothgar only hangs on to the reigns of Argento, moving his body to the side of his horse trying to keep it calm.
He looks around to see if everyone made it and while turning to look behind he sees Dageron nod to Vader. Hrothgar then looks to Vader and watches him as they drift further away. Unsure of what it meant and unsure if Vader would follow.
As they arrive at the tower he tries to get hit footing back, a bit unsettled from the journey he makes sure his horse can do the same and then turns to watch the portal to make sure it closes before anyone was able to follow them.
He did not know if the portal could only be entered by the group or if Vader choose not to follow. Perhaps he had no need to follow them. Hrothgar looks back to Dageron, not sure what to make of the hobgoblin. Tending to Jek he seems to care about his companions but he could still have ties with Vader. A hobgoblin would after all not likely leave their legion, perhaps Dageron did not either.
Another scream from Darla and Hrothgars train of thought is broken. Atleast for now. He looks to the surroundings. Is anyone else injured?
Turning back to Jek he asks aloud I do not speak Jek's language, can someone translate?
Jek allows the Dageron's magic to take hold of him, letting it calm him, if only momentarily. Jek takes a deep breath and listens to Dagerons words. He was not expecting.... all of this. The world is much messier than he expected. But, they have a mission. He's going to be fine. Jek nods to Dageron. He doesn't stand yet, but sits up. He's going to be fine. He will let the others speak as he tries to accept what he has seen and been through. He whispers quietly to himself "I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine.I'm going to be fine."
Since he was 'born', he has known how to speak. It came as naturally as breathing. It is how he expressed himself. It is a part of who he is, what he is. Being disconnected with a part of himself, it shook him. But, as time went on, he was able to feel his mind settling, and something clicking back in place. "I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine.I'm going to be fine. ǝuᴉɟ ǝq oʇ ƃuᴉoƃ ɯ,I. I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine. I'm going..... to...... be ..... FINE!" Jek begins to laugh, then cry again. What happened has changed him. But, they have a mission. "I'm fine! I'm better. Thank you... But, I think I still need a minute." While some tears are still falling, Jek sits quietly on the floor while the others talk to Cairon.
Brevon sees Dageron tending to Jek, so momentarily turns his attention to the herald. "Greetings, Great Cairon. How we arrived, ah--" he produces AURYN "--is through the power of AURYN and the grace of the Light. We traveled north by Castle Grayskull and then on to the Tower of the Elephant, only to find it infested with Vader's forces. We were able to gain entrance, clandestinely, and thanks to the forces of the Khun Clan, led by Atoh Khan, were able to wish for a portal to escape with the uRu back here. Atoh Khan's forces, well..." Brevon casts his eyes downward. "We also claimed some in service to or captured by Vader's forces, who may prove allies to the Light."
Cairon strokes his beard, calming as he sees the AURYN on Brevon.
"It is good to see you again, heroes." Cairon said finally, easing himself. He reached out a hand and patted Jek's shoulder gently. "It seems your team has undergone some change since last I saw you, but that is to be expected in a task as great as yours. And I see you brought friends."
He motioned to the urRu, smiling as he did so.
"I'm sorry for what has happened at the Tower of the Elephant. It seems there are many woes north of the Dragontails. Our armies have been engaged there for a few weeks now. Seems things have gotten progressively worse, and quite quickly."
As if to highlight, a warrior appears from one of the many entrances to the platform. He's adorned in half plate, a broken skull painted on the front, and the words 'Born Again' encircling a hole in the rusty-bronze colored armor just above his heart. A gelea style helm enclosed his head, and he held a halberd in his hands.
"Who uh...Cairon. Who's this?" The soldier said as he stepped up on the platform, eyeing up their sudden influx of visitors. "I didn't see them enter."
"Ah, Captain Hahft is filling in for Atreyu in his absence." Cairon says to the gathered group. He motions to the soldier. "Captain, this is the Order of the Phoenix, a group of heroes that was dispatched from here some time ago. They've been tasked with gathering the Triforce and finding the Shard of Division...though it seems they've had an encounter with Vader, and have freed the urRu from him. Though, to be honest, I don't know what to do with them now."
Shririn watches from a distance as Brevon begins to wish. The trembling from his voice was worrisome - too many stories of accidents involving magic cast beyond the users own power were at the forefront of his mind - these things never seemed to end well. Regardless, they had gone through the options and determined this to be their choice.
As Breven finishes the words of his wish, Shirin braces for some horrible consequence of their actions.
No ******* chance this works, he thinks to himself.
The battle outside rages, a symphony of destruction, of horror, of Halfings and Orcs and Hobgoblins and Ogres and Humans and everything that had rallied to the battle all screaming. The Wyvern roared, Luck Dragons roared...there were great temple shaking crashes as large beasts hit the ground.
And the portal opened.
There was a moment where it looked like the wish had failed. A moment where nothing happened...until there was a tiny shimmer in the center of the room, like a firefly the color of light reflecting off clear water. It shimmered...and grew...and then an orb began to swell out of the air. One foot. Two feet. Four feet. Eight feet. Suddenly it was sixteen feet across and encompassing much of the center of the room, a blue ball of waves that sparkled with crackles of golden energy...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
"Whatever yer doin' is working!" Slade cried to Brevon. "Keep ready me darlin', we'll be moving sharpish."
As Team GTFO approaches the tower, Dageron sees allies peeking out the doors. "Follow my lead." He says to the others.
He leads the wagon up to the doors, and yells out in Common, "Secure the urRu, let no one enter or leave!" Then he leads the wagon and mounts through the doors into the temple. "Prepare to evacuate the prisoners if the city falls!"
Hrothgar stands firm near the wagon as they wait for the others.
With Dageron leading the wagon and horses into the temple Hrothgar rides Argento next to the horses leading the wagon. The battle tested horse will help guide them up to the temple doors.
Hrothgar will not pass through the doors himself yet, not until everyone of has gone through. He uses his shield by raising it up to block some of the brighter lights from the fire and magic used in the battle. Making it easier for himself to spot anyone approaching via ground.
Once everyone is inside he will go in as well.
The Archer is the only one of the urRu that is animated by what is happening outside. He's patrolling the perimeter of this sixteen foot sphere of tangible power, looking worriedly between the members of the Order of the Phoenix, the sphere, and the door, clearly interested in what is going on outside but not wasting time to go look. Finally, fed up with the wait, he begins to hurry the other urRu into the sphere while muttering out loud that he hopes and prays that it goes to the Ivory Tower.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Dageron, seeing the portal open within the tower, wastes no time. "Everyone, go through now or get left behind! There will be no waiting on my part!" As he says it, he slaps the wagon's lead horse to stir if forward faster, and beckons the other creatures similarly. "We may only have seconds before it closes, move!" His voice is a booming command honed from decades of battlefield experience. Once the wagon is through with the mounts, he and his warhorse enters the portal as well - prepared for anything.
With Hrothgar watching the battle outside he notices the nomads are clearly losing the battle, yet they do not back down. It puzzles Hrothgar since he does not know why these nomads are here, perhaps they came to free the urRu or simply make a stand.
Seeing them ride into death willingly makes it difficult for Hrothgar to stand firm, he would glady ride out to fight alongside them but he had to keep his mission in mind.
He didnt know this land very well or the rider on the wyvern. But all these people willingly laying down their lives told him enough about the tiran.
In that moment he sees the rider fly stationary on the wyvern, his gaze in the direction of Hrothgar and he sees him pulling out a red sword. Hrothgars adrenaline spikes as he realizes they have been spotted.
His gaze only momentarily disrupted by Dageron's shouting. Hrothgar looks through the door of temple to see those inside rush through the portal. In a split second Hrothgar looks back to the rider and sees it heading for the temple as well.
In one fluent motion Hrothgar pulls the reigns on Argento creating light tension on them and squeezes his legs to nudge the horse into quick motion HA! he commands
The wyvern approaches! he shouts as he gallops his horse into the temple, Heading for the sphere himself he reaches out one arm to grab onto whoever is straggling behind on foot to give them an extra bit of speed while holding them up long enough to enter the sphere. Not worrying if they fall after they reached it. Or if the last one is small/light enough pick them up if he can reach them. Hurry!
Brevon had fallen back into a sitting position as the portal appeared, the air in the chamber electrifying with strange energy. Crawling backward on his hands, it had taken him several moments to comprehend what was happening.
At last, he climbs to his feet and begins to encourage the uRu to enter the portal. He stands with Melisandre, watching the procession. At last, he offers a hand to the Red Priestess. "Perhaps there is some truth to what you've said," he says meaningfully. Then he leads the pair of them through the portal.
How in the..?!
Shirin is briefly stunned in disbelief, staring at the ever growing portal from across the chamber. As the uRu procession begins to make its way into the arcane gateway, he can't help but feel deep within his gut that something is not quite right. How could it be this easy? What will be the consequences of using such unknown magics, and what is actually on the other side of that portal?
Many questions, answers to which would not be found so easily. Though there was one certainty on his mind - the certainty that he did not want to be here anymore.
He approaches the portal, and stands for a hesitant moment before it. He could feel the raw energy wafting off of it, the thrum of magic pulsating so intensely as if to go through him.
And with a deep breath, he strides in.
Jek see Dageron return with the others, and Iron-Hoove with them. Then he looks beyond, trying to see if he can spot Atoh and Tola..... and sees a halfling get decapitated.
He turns and runs to the corner of the temple and vomits an inky black ethereal fluid.
He hears a lot of shouting, then feels a greatagic take hold near him. He looks up at the blue sphere before him. The AURYN worked! It answered there call.... He looks through the door of the temple as the wagon comes charging in. He realizes this is not the place for him. He is no warrior, he cannot help in this carnage. He picks himself up and watches as the order of the Phoenix and the urRu go through the portal.
Jek hears Hrothgar's yell as he makes his way to the portal. He grabs onto Hrothgar's hand as he passes by. Jek will make a silent image of the enterence of the temple collapsing. "Maybe that can hold them off for a moment." Just before they pass through the portal, Jek will offer a silent prayer to the Bright Lady, asking her to keep Atoh safe.
*being the final member to pass through the gate, Slade gives the wyvern rider the finger as Darla flaps her way through*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqQglwBzFT4
As the Order of the Phoenix enter the portal behind the Mystics, they are quickly overwhelmed by a falling, drowning, sinking feeling, like being drawn through a pool of water. Glancing back, a black figure storms into the room, stopping only to examine the portal. It, he, is looking through it, the Wyvern rider with his glowing red sword, and there is no doubt amongst them that he sees them as they slip away...
They're back where it all started as the portal drops them out onto the observation platform of the Ivory Tower. Things are quiet as they appear, seemingly out of thin air, the disorientation of going from the inside of the Temple enshrouding them, making them feel woozy for a moment.
Cairon shuffles down from the dais where the Empresses chambers can be found. He looks stunned to see them there, and is quick to point out Jek and Brevon.
"Jek Utinni!" He says as he shuffles closes, his eyes wide. He strokes his beard. "Brevon! Oh, this is a surprise! And the urRu! What has happened? How did you get here?"
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Jek watches the figure with the red blade drawn as he begins to fall, staring at this.... creature. He falls away from Hrothgar at some point during the fall. He sees the others floating around. This just seemed too much.
As they land, Jek falls to the ground. He hears his name being called. He stands and starts to look around, realizing now that they are at there destination! Where they planned to go! They made it away from ......... flashes of the carnage he just witnessed flash in front of his eyes, followed by the stare of that thing with the red blade.
Jek once again vomits the black ethereal fluid right in the middle of the group. There is no smell to it, and it seems to evaporate almost as soon as it hits the ground. With an apologetic look to his compatriots, Jek turns his attention to Cairon.
Jek calls out to Cairon, "Cdjdjnb!" in a deep, guttural voice..... Wait... What... That's not right. What were those sounds? "Idneons? Oensnai?" Jek says, this time in a gibberish that sounds like it's being spoken under water. In a panic, Jek spinning around, looking to everyone around him. Jek tries to speak again, for only the sound of gravel and rocks to come from his mouth. "Djdn? Idbsh sks sidjsbs? Jdjs djdj sjh... Sijdn jdjsbb sishs sjsbs shhs sisbsi.... Wosnz? Sisbskss susbshs? Sjsbsk sksna apjdji sisbsh?!?!? Odndj indb!". Jek grabs his head and falls to his knees and screams {fax machine sounds} "Pshhhkkkkkkrrrrkakingkakingkakingtshchchchchchchchcch". He rocks back and forth, clutching his head, as he begins to weep black tears, that evaporate as they hit the ground.
Darla screams in angry goose, throwing Slade to the ground and taking off to fly around the tower. Dusting himself off Slade calls out.
"OI!! Don't be flying too far me darlin' Daddy loves you!!" Turning to see Jek doing his highly disturbing thing "By me shining Golden Buttons, whats wrong with Ye? Someone come and help the poor fella out already!"
Dageron sits atop his warhorse, looking back through the portal. When Vader appears, he turns the horse to face him, lifting his helmet visor as he does. As soon as his old master looks at him, he nods. Then the portal closes. "In battle, there can be no going back. Only forwards." He whispers the mantra of his childhood to no one in particular. A figure begins speaking from behind, but just as quickly Jek begins sputtering madness. Dageron leaps from his warhorse and descends upon his small companion. He has seen this before.
"Be at ease Jek of the Utinni." While holding Jek in his left arm, he touches his right hand to Jek's temple. (( For effect, he is casting Command at WIS Save of 12 - if you wish to contest it! )) "Calm!" he commands. He will continue to hold Jek, speaking to him as he does. "Do not fight what you have seen. Do not reject what is. Death and violence are as essential to life and harmony as everything else in nature. A vine murders a tree, a snake murders a rodent, a wolf murders a faun. If you only look at the soft parts of the balance of all things then you are denying the balance itself. Calm. It is not evil to survive nor unnatural to kill. Accept what is..." He continues until Jek comes around to his normal voice.
Reaching the portal Hrothgar feels himself get almost weightless as somehow he cant move fast anymore but still has the feeling of falling. His grip of Jek loosens as he starts to drift away and Hrothgar only hangs on to the reigns of Argento, moving his body to the side of his horse trying to keep it calm.
He looks around to see if everyone made it and while turning to look behind he sees Dageron nod to Vader. Hrothgar then looks to Vader and watches him as they drift further away. Unsure of what it meant and unsure if Vader would follow.
As they arrive at the tower he tries to get hit footing back, a bit unsettled from the journey he makes sure his horse can do the same and then turns to watch the portal to make sure it closes before anyone was able to follow them.
He did not know if the portal could only be entered by the group or if Vader choose not to follow. Perhaps he had no need to follow them. Hrothgar looks back to Dageron, not sure what to make of the hobgoblin. Tending to Jek he seems to care about his companions but he could still have ties with Vader. A hobgoblin would after all not likely leave their legion, perhaps Dageron did not either.
Another scream from Darla and Hrothgars train of thought is broken. Atleast for now. He looks to the surroundings. Is anyone else injured?
Turning back to Jek he asks aloud I do not speak Jek's language, can someone translate?
Jek allows the Dageron's magic to take hold of him, letting it calm him, if only momentarily. Jek takes a deep breath and listens to Dagerons words. He was not expecting.... all of this. The world is much messier than he expected. But, they have a mission. He's going to be fine. Jek nods to Dageron. He doesn't stand yet, but sits up. He's going to be fine. He will let the others speak as he tries to accept what he has seen and been through. He whispers quietly to himself "I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine."
Since he was 'born', he has known how to speak. It came as naturally as breathing. It is how he expressed himself. It is a part of who he is, what he is. Being disconnected with a part of himself, it shook him. But, as time went on, he was able to feel his mind settling, and something clicking back in place. "I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine. ǝuᴉɟ ǝq oʇ ƃuᴉoƃ ɯ,I. I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine. I'm going..... to...... be ..... FINE!" Jek begins to laugh, then cry again. What happened has changed him. But, they have a mission. "I'm fine! I'm better. Thank you... But, I think I still need a minute." While some tears are still falling, Jek sits quietly on the floor while the others talk to Cairon.
Brevon sees Dageron tending to Jek, so momentarily turns his attention to the herald. "Greetings, Great Cairon. How we arrived, ah--" he produces AURYN "--is through the power of AURYN and the grace of the Light. We traveled north by Castle Grayskull and then on to the Tower of the Elephant, only to find it infested with Vader's forces. We were able to gain entrance, clandestinely, and thanks to the forces of the Khun Clan, led by Atoh Khan, were able to wish for a portal to escape with the uRu back here. Atoh Khan's forces, well..." Brevon casts his eyes downward. "We also claimed some in service to or captured by Vader's forces, who may prove allies to the Light."
Cairon strokes his beard, calming as he sees the AURYN on Brevon.
"It is good to see you again, heroes." Cairon said finally, easing himself. He reached out a hand and patted Jek's shoulder gently. "It seems your team has undergone some change since last I saw you, but that is to be expected in a task as great as yours. And I see you brought friends."
He motioned to the urRu, smiling as he did so.
"I'm sorry for what has happened at the Tower of the Elephant. It seems there are many woes north of the Dragontails. Our armies have been engaged there for a few weeks now. Seems things have gotten progressively worse, and quite quickly."
As if to highlight, a warrior appears from one of the many entrances to the platform. He's adorned in half plate, a broken skull painted on the front, and the words 'Born Again' encircling a hole in the rusty-bronze colored armor just above his heart. A gelea style helm enclosed his head, and he held a halberd in his hands.
"Who uh...Cairon. Who's this?" The soldier said as he stepped up on the platform, eyeing up their sudden influx of visitors. "I didn't see them enter."
"Ah, Captain Hahft is filling in for Atreyu in his absence." Cairon says to the gathered group. He motions to the soldier. "Captain, this is the Order of the Phoenix, a group of heroes that was dispatched from here some time ago. They've been tasked with gathering the Triforce and finding the Shard of Division...though it seems they've had an encounter with Vader, and have freed the urRu from him. Though, to be honest, I don't know what to do with them now."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York