The colour visibly drains from the Jedi's face as the name of the Sith is uttered once more. "N-no.....that's....not possible...." How could he still be alive, she watched him get crushed under a mountain of stone. She fought his presence within the force which all but confirmed that the Sith lord had passed on. The dull thud of her dormant affliction rearing its ugly head, It had been months since she felt even a tinge of discomfort from it but with the news that Vader had somehow survived and even moreso, Somehow projected his presence to her when she had sought her own answers.
Clutching tightly to the lear reins of the Kocra, The audble sound of creaking metal coming from her prosthetic limb, paired with the uncomfortable nosie of teeth grinding against themself.
Greko takes of his robes and begins stitching the holes and mending the burn marks made from Vader. “The rocks indeed fell on top of him but the dark side of the force must have protected him. He seemed to be more powerful this time. We will meet him again. I am sure of it. If Godzilla hadn’t blown a hole and caused a collapse, we would have defeated him. Greko is sure we will get him next time and hopefully you will be there.”
Violet looks slightly ill when Greko suggests a 'next time' regarding Darth Vader. She found one fight with him more than scary enough... but she holds her tongue. Honestly, she is kind of overwhelmed by all the new people... what has she gotten herself into?
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Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Rum sighs as the conversation continues and the news that Vader has returned becomes public knowledge to all who happened to be listening.
That along with the fall of Kings Landing and the loss of at least one AURYN made for a bleak outlook. It was hard to stomach as he looked around at what he now knew was a ship full of refugees. The last time he stood on this deck was a time of beginnings and hope. He had always felt the purpose of the Twilight Embers was to bring hope to the people, but hope felt as lost as the majority of the original members of the band now.
He looks to Greko and speaks honestly, “Vader was toying with us, friend Greko. He stood alone against the six of us and took all we threw at him. This power he has fogged my mind, I have never known anything like it. And as for how he has returned, you returned and the forces of light are hardly at their most powerful. Why are we surprised the dark forces are capable of the same?”.
With that said he reaches under his shirt and takes hold of his AURYN, trying to reach out to Atreyu or Gandalf. He feels it crumble in his grasp.
“My AURYN is also gone”, he adds sadly. “But Stasolya is right, we are here and we are not beaten yet. It is always darkest before the dawn. We must regroup”.
"So Vader and Godzilla have teamed up then?" Judal asks as he takes off his cloak and offers it to Lady Kaede without comment. "When we glimpsed Godzilla he was stopping the Tarrasque. We didn't count him as an ally, exactly... But we assumed he was at least no aligned against us."
Lady Kaede bows to Judal upon the offer of the cloak, and greedily covers up her exposed body with it. "Teamed up? I'm not so sure. Perhaps moreso a partnership of convenient happenstance? Before he was nearly defeated, Vader made one last vain attempt to frighten us by saying 'You have not beat me...You have only given me to my Master...'. I do not know which Master he's referring to, but I doubt it was the kaiju. Perhaps it's this Ganon that many refer to?"
Greko nods at Rum and speaks to anyone listening. “Absolutely the forces of darkness have us reeling and it’s no surprise to Greko Vader is back….Vader spoke of his master….Indeed he speaks of the lord of darkness who has become one with Ganon himself. Ganon is frighteningly strong.As much as this pains Greko to say, all here may have to find the remaining dawn guard and help them”
To say things were overwhelming, would be an understatement. But Thea puts on a brave face to fake it until she makes it. Off to the side since Judal stepped away from her, she stands there a bit awkwardly in a mix of awe and anxiety. Dragon's, beautiful and majestic... She really wanted one for herself... Then she's hugged. "Stas-stasola..." An unexpected yet familiar comforting embrace. She feels herself sink into it. She'd cling, nuzzling in to Stasola, ready to close her eyes and stay there. Glancing down, then back up, Thea's cheeks grow with warmth as a soft coo escapes her lips. Eventually she lets go to make room for others, especially if they were waiting on her.
Wide Violet hues then just watch, bouncing back and forth between the parties. Ears twitch as she tries to take in all the exchanges, sifting through all the information. Thea was genuinely just in a constant daze of being lost and confused these days. It's been an emotional roller coaster, especially considering she thought things were over and Judal and Malenia were going to go their separate ways prior to the descending of the dragons. Considering others knew some of these individuals who came from the 'heavens', it was best to leave the sharing and discussions to those who know and understand more about what's going on.
The only thing Thea could think to offer, or focus on, was healing. Lady Kaede was obviously injured and since she noticed, Thea's eyes have been tracing the woman's wounds which covered her body with gentle concern, which was obviously more concern than the confident lady was herself. Significantly too slow, late to participate, and others being more quick to respond and act than her, she hesitates and waits, contemplating to even speak up or offer. She touches her two pointer fingers together. Eventually taking a breath, Thea rocks on her the balls of her feet. "D-do you need some... Ca-can I help?" She stutters as she reaches a hand out before returning it to herself, half expecting her assistance be rejected or brushed off. But then she holds up her hand a little timidly. "I-i can do all those things you requested and more..." She could clean, mend, heal... She could be a lady-in-waiting.
"It is not just Vader that returned either. We had to fight off the Gmork too as we descended into Subternia. The Apex Predator, Godzilla, was in Subternia to fight the second Tarrasque that happened to be lying dormant next to an Imperial fortress. There is certainly no alliance there, as the fortress was mostly destroyed and about to be submerged as we left", Rum explains.
And he carries on with some more good news, "In fact, that is one piece of good news. Whatever the Imperials were planning down there, has taken a huge setback. Not just the destruction of their fortress, but as Greko mentioned they no longer have their forge. They had acquired something called a Blast Bellows from a Duergar settlement, and they were using volcanic energy to fuel it and allow them to forge powerful items. Not only do they no longer possess that ability, but it is now ours if we can figure out how to use it".
He looks around at those present, having given up on the idea of privacy for the moment.
"Atoh Khan and his Luck Dragons were sent by Atreyu and Gandalf to find us all. They must know the AURYN are powerless now. We need to decide whether to spend our time heading to them, or pursue some other goal", he says and looks to Greko. "Even potentially looking for the Dawn Guard", he adds skeptically.
"Greko thinks bringing the forge back to Atreyu would be the best bet. All here can mend their wounds, stock up on things needed, and rest a little before heading out to the next important place...Greko believes securing one place of refuge may be the best bet, but which one.....which one...."
To say things were overwhelming, would be an understatement. But Thea puts on a brave face to fake it until she makes it. Off to the side since Judal stepped away from her, she stands there a bit awkwardly in a mix of awe and anxiety. Dragon's, beautiful and majestic... She really wanted one for herself... Then she's hugged. "Stas-stasola..." An unexpected yet familiar comforting embrace. She feels herself sink into it. She'd cling, nuzzling in to Stasola, ready to close her eyes and stay there. Glancing down, then back up, Thea's cheeks grow with warmth as a soft coo escapes her lips. Eventually she lets go to make room for others, especially if they were waiting on her.
Wide Violet hues then just watch, bouncing back and forth between the parties. Ears twitch as she tries to take in all the exchanges, sifting through all the information. Thea was genuinely just in a constant daze of being lost and confused these days. It's been an emotional roller coaster, especially considering she thought things were over and Judal and Malenia were going to go their separate ways prior to the descending of the dragons. Considering others knew some of these individuals who came from the 'heavens', it was best to leave the sharing and discussions to those who know and understand more about what's going on.
The only thing Thea could think to offer, or focus on, was healing. Lady Kaede was obviously injured and since she noticed, Thea's eyes have been tracing the woman's wounds which covered her body with gentle concern, which was obviously more concern than the confident lady was herself. Significantly too slow, late to participate, and others being more quick to respond and act than her, she hesitates and waits, contemplating to even speak up or offer. She touches her two pointer fingers together. Eventually taking a breath, Thea rocks on her the balls of her feet. "D-do you need some... Ca-can I help?" She stutters as she reaches a hand out before returning it to herself, half expecting her assistance be rejected or brushed off. But then she holds up her hand a little timidly. "I-i can do all those things you requested and more..." She could clean, mend, heal... She could be a lady-in-waiting.
With lightning reflexes, Lady Kaede quickly grabs Thea's outstretched hand, and with a gentle yet firm grip, takes it and presses it to her chest, right over where her heart would be. "Bless you, my friend. You honor me with your offer!" She then pulls Thea in close and whispers into her ear "...and your offer couldn't have come a moment too soon, as I'm quite embarrassed right now with my unkempt and disheveled state!" When she pulls pack and lets go of Thea's hand, you notice that Kaede is starting to blush (likely from embarrassment).
OOC: Assume that Thea takes Lady Kaede somewhere discrete, when the time is appropriate, and heals her wounds and helps her get cleaned up and put her regular armor and helm back on.
A simple glance back toward the west south west can confirm the truth for Lady Kaede, or any of them. The sky glows orange. It's not the same kind of orange that the ceaseless twilight sometimes displays. This is burning, a fire consuming an entire city. Occasionally bright blue blasts of light can be seen, lasers lancing out into the darkness of the overhead.
A light twinkles a few miles off of the starboard side of the Scorpion as lanterns on the deck of another vessel become visible.
Princess Zelda slips down off the back of the Kocra, the brilliant bird, that she sits on. The last time any of the AURYN Chosen had seen a bird like this was Running Bird, the giant ostrich that Ralik Two Knives had taken from the stables at the Ivory Tower. Except this one is beautiful, and changing colors. The Princess slowly walks toward the AURYN Champions gathered on the deck of the ship and meekly waves a hand to wave.
She is a child, maybe in her early teenage years. She is far too young to be in this situation, and yet here she is. The girl that Atreyu and Gandalf have put so much faith in carries herself with a mixture of childhood apprehension and deep seated grace. She minds little when Lady Kaede and Thea wander off to get the Samurai's clothes back in order.
"Do we have time to go back to Atreyu? We are off the coast of King's Landing, and I think I heard that Atreyu and Gandalf were in Celestia? When my father went to Celestia it would take weeks to get there. Weeks there, weeks back. Where does that put us with all this?"
She raises her hands and gestures to the skyline, of the lone sun that now swirls around the horizon of Hyboria without enough light to even brighten the horizon.
"I have spent time with Stasolya, Malenia, Thea, Judal... They all told me, in their own ways, here and there...the things that the Childlike Empress, and then Atreyu and Gandalf tasked them with. The unicorn is...she's dead..."
Her eyes shift behind Thea...
"...but we have one piece of the Triforce! The Triforce of Courage! And I know someone has the alicorn. So what's left? Did anyone get the Shard of Division? And we know that we still have to get the Triforce of Wisdom, from beyond the Sphinx Gate of the Southern Oracle. I feel like we're running out of time. The AURYN's are crumbling. The world is in darkness. Even when I was in the Great Grass Sea with the Dothraki, they were afraid of the grass dying. Don't you feel it? Something worse is happening. It's not just the grass or the AURYNs. It's the life of Hyboria herself. It's ebbing. It's being sucked out by Ganon."
"You are very astute, Princess. The Great Dragon has blessed you with great wisdom", Rum says as Zelda summarises their options. "The shard of Division has yet to be retrieved, and will require a return to Subternia. I am not certain what happened to the Triforce of Courage and the Alicorn, but they may well be in the possession of the Dawn Guard. If not, perhaps at Celestia".
"It is heartening to hear the location of the Triforce of Wisdom is known".
"I feel as you do, time is running out. I don't know how long it would take to get to Celestia with Luck Dragons and Star Lancers to carry us", he says and looks across to Atoh Khan who would likely know. "But the Remnants have a job to finish. We should rest and then return for the Shard, or at least some of us".
He looks across those present and then around at the rest of the ship, "Where were you planning on going? Eternia?".
Stasolya looks around at her friends, at the companions she has fought and struggled beside, and given all her strength to defend. At the AURYN crumbling in Rum's hand. She looks up to the horizon, first to the orange glow of the burning King's Landing, and then to the twinkle of lights that seems to be an approaching ship. Softly and musingly, she sings.
"You've run so long You've run so hard Does it seem you're going nowhere?
You've heard my song You've come here scarred Does the Childlike Empress still care?
AURYN crumbles into dust Our leaders far away to trust Does the dream still look as fair?
Reject the Nothing's siren song The darkness cold will not last long We stand and fight As AURYN's blade Our hearts for right and true are made..."
As the Princess speaks, the centaur waits to see if the vessel on the starboard side moves closer or becomes visible, but then she turns to the Princess Zelda, smiling at her, and looking around at the gathered group.
"If we know what we need to do," Stasolya says, thoughtfully, "then we do not need to travel to Atreyu... let us choose our path, Princess, by your guidance, and take the next step to reclaim what must be reclaimed." She bows to Princess Zelda. "I am, as always, at your service."
Lost in thought, The Jedi's emerald eye's cast out over the water. Watching the orange glow on the horizon dance upon the waves. Her mind was racked with the news of Vader's survival. Master Qui-Gonn, A Jedi had helped her discover a untraveled road when it comes to the force. Yet the battle before her meeting with the Jedi was certainly with Vaders presence in the force. How was he still alive if that was the case.....Could that mean the Qui-Gonn is also alive? And what was this about a Master? Yet another chess piece that had not revealed itself.
Not so lost in her own thoughts to be oblivious to the goings on with the others, The Princess did make an excellent point. What would be the goal going forward. There were plenty of paths the could choose to follow, While the concern that Vader is still lurking out there would be at the forefront of her mind. It was concerning as to the fate of the AURYN's, with no way to contact Atreyu or Gandalf. The best course of action may be to reunite with them and relay just what had occured. The journey would be long, perhaps too long.
It was comforting, Witnessing Stasoyla's loyalty toward the Princess. The Centaur seemingly would never change. Casting her vision to Judal and Thea, then to the new faces who had arrived moments before.
"Then I think our destination is set, To recover the Triforce of Wisdom. The loss of the AURYN's is concerning and does make me nervous as to the safety of both Atreyu and Gandalf. If the very life of Hyboria is being drained by Ganon then we have no choice. We have to press on and recover Golden Power of Wisdom." Crossing her arms over her chest, stepping up beside the Kocra known as Kazu to lean against the soft plummage.
"You're name is.....Rum....Right?" Unsure as to if she was remebering the individuals name right. "Whatever your mission, I think that the higher powers that have guided us thusfar has worked to bring us all together. To split now would do nothing but pull those plans asunder. So I will join you, If the Princess will allow it. I am sworn to be her Blade afterall."
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Malenia - [Monk - Way of the Jedi] - Auryn: Princess of Destiny
Judal ponders and wanders. Listening to all who speak up and just kind of pacing the deck where they all stand.
In fact Judal makes it a point to walk within 30' of everyone and take a good look at them with his Blindsight. It is not Truesight and he doesn't expect to really gain any information but he's feeling a bit paranoid and even knowing none of them are changing their shape via illusion would help put his mind at ease...
As Judal passes this Greko, he stumbles a bit and places a hand upon them to regain his balance. "Sorry. Don't quite have my sea legs yet," he says in apology.
"The Princess did ask if we have time to return to Atreyu," he softly points out to Malenia as he passes her. "We should at least inquire with the captain?" With that said, Judal too is growing interested in the lights to starboard. "You want I should go check out what kind of ship that is?"
Greko losing his footing a bit when Judal bumps him. "Oh, no worries youngling. Greko remembers when Greko was your age riding a boat this size for the first time. That's a story for another time" Greko becomes sleepy and sits down resting his eyes
Rum smiles at Melania and nods as she speaks to her, "Yes, I am Rumble of Hunger, Rum for short".
He considers her point regarding them being drawn together by higher powers, "It is possible that our coming together is the will of the Great Dragon, especially seeing as it was the Luck Dragons who found us all. This Golden Power of Wisdom, the Triforce of Wisdom, is it possible it will give us clarity of purpose? Perhaps you are right that we should retrieve that first, and at the least deny it to our enemies".
As Judal suggests checking out the other ship whose lights can be seen in the distance, he shifts his focus there as well.
Atoh Khan looks a bit downcast as Rum asks her how long it would take to fly back to Celestia, like she's hesitant to answer.
"Weeks, I think. Maybe a little less, maybe a little more. I'm not entirely sure. But it's a real trip, even by air. Uhm...Captain Saewulf, was it? How far are we from the Stygian Wastes?"
"Far..." He says meekly. "Two months by sea. We can't sail around the southern tip o' Hylia no more. There is a great Nothing storm there, from my understandin'. Absolutely huge. The most direct path I'm afraid would be around the southern coast of Eternia and then across to Fantasia."
The wind picked up for a moment, and the cool smell of seawater filled the air, more pungent than before as if kicked up from a spray.
"Do you remember what the Childlike Empress told us?" Atoh Khan said as she looked at Rum, Greko, and Jek. "On that first day so many months ago? We need all three pieces of the Triforce and the Shard of Division to heal the Crystal of Truth. What else was there? Do you remember?"
Rum returns his gaze from the other ship and looks across to Judal, "It looks to be just another ship of survivors". He then concentrates on the conversation with Captain Seawulf and Atoh Kahn.
"It seems no matter what course we choose to take, we can get nowhere quickly. We only know of two entrances to Subternia, Spook City is almost as far as Celestia, and the other is through a Maelstrom that leads only to a flooded cavern. I assume you mentioned the Stygian Wastes as it is the location of the Southern Oracle".
"Perhaps we could go to Eternia on the way to the Southern Oracle and see if they still have means of contact with the Atreyu, Gandalf and the Dawn Guard? ".
When Atoh Kahn asks what the Childlike Empress told them all those months ago, his eyes narrow as he thinks back.
"We never saw the Childlike Empress, only her Herald and Atreyu", he says as former betrayals bubble up in his mind. Lelith, Ro and then Slade. He reaches into the power of his dragonhide belt and restores some of his Ki as he studies Atoh kahn.
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The colour visibly drains from the Jedi's face as the name of the Sith is uttered once more. "N-no.....that's....not possible...." How could he still be alive, she watched him get crushed under a mountain of stone. She fought his presence within the force which all but confirmed that the Sith lord had passed on. The dull thud of her dormant affliction rearing its ugly head, It had been months since she felt even a tinge of discomfort from it but with the news that Vader had somehow survived and even moreso, Somehow projected his presence to her when she had sought her own answers.
Clutching tightly to the lear reins of the Kocra, The audble sound of creaking metal coming from her prosthetic limb, paired with the uncomfortable nosie of teeth grinding against themself.
Malenia - [Monk - Way of the Jedi] - Auryn: Princess of Destiny
Greko takes of his robes and begins stitching the holes and mending the burn marks made from Vader. “The rocks indeed fell on top of him but the dark side of the force must have protected him. He seemed to be more powerful this time. We will meet him again. I am sure of it. If Godzilla hadn’t blown a hole and caused a collapse, we would have defeated him. Greko is sure we will get him next time and hopefully you will be there.”
Violet looks slightly ill when Greko suggests a 'next time' regarding Darth Vader. She found one fight with him more than scary enough... but she holds her tongue. Honestly, she is kind of overwhelmed by all the new people... what has she gotten herself into?
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Rum sighs as the conversation continues and the news that Vader has returned becomes public knowledge to all who happened to be listening.
That along with the fall of Kings Landing and the loss of at least one AURYN made for a bleak outlook. It was hard to stomach as he looked around at what he now knew was a ship full of refugees. The last time he stood on this deck was a time of beginnings and hope. He had always felt the purpose of the Twilight Embers was to bring hope to the people, but hope felt as lost as the majority of the original members of the band now.
He looks to Greko and speaks honestly, “Vader was toying with us, friend Greko. He stood alone against the six of us and took all we threw at him. This power he has fogged my mind, I have never known anything like it. And as for how he has returned, you returned and the forces of light are hardly at their most powerful. Why are we surprised the dark forces are capable of the same?”.
With that said he reaches under his shirt and takes hold of his AURYN, trying to reach out to Atreyu or Gandalf. He feels it crumble in his grasp.
“My AURYN is also gone”, he adds sadly. “But Stasolya is right, we are here and we are not beaten yet. It is always darkest before the dawn. We must regroup”.
"So Vader and Godzilla have teamed up then?" Judal asks as he takes off his cloak and offers it to Lady Kaede without comment. "When we glimpsed Godzilla he was stopping the Tarrasque. We didn't count him as an ally, exactly... But we assumed he was at least no aligned against us."
Lady Kaede bows to Judal upon the offer of the cloak, and greedily covers up her exposed body with it. "Teamed up? I'm not so sure. Perhaps moreso a partnership of convenient happenstance? Before he was nearly defeated, Vader made one last vain attempt to frighten us by saying 'You have not beat me...You have only given me to my Master...'. I do not know which Master he's referring to, but I doubt it was the kaiju. Perhaps it's this Ganon that many refer to?"
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Greko nods at Rum and speaks to anyone listening. “Absolutely the forces of darkness have us reeling and it’s no surprise to Greko Vader is back….Vader spoke of his master….Indeed he speaks of the lord of darkness who has become one with Ganon himself. Ganon is frighteningly strong.As much as this pains Greko to say, all here may have to find the remaining dawn guard and help them”
To say things were overwhelming, would be an understatement. But Thea puts on a brave face to fake it until she makes it. Off to the side since Judal stepped away from her, she stands there a bit awkwardly in a mix of awe and anxiety. Dragon's, beautiful and majestic... She really wanted one for herself... Then she's hugged. "Stas-stasola..." An unexpected yet familiar comforting embrace. She feels herself sink into it. She'd cling, nuzzling in to Stasola, ready to close her eyes and stay there. Glancing down, then back up, Thea's cheeks grow with warmth as a soft coo escapes her lips. Eventually she lets go to make room for others, especially if they were waiting on her.
Wide Violet hues then just watch, bouncing back and forth between the parties. Ears twitch as she tries to take in all the exchanges, sifting through all the information. Thea was genuinely just in a constant daze of being lost and confused these days. It's been an emotional roller coaster, especially considering she thought things were over and Judal and Malenia were going to go their separate ways prior to the descending of the dragons. Considering others knew some of these individuals who came from the 'heavens', it was best to leave the sharing and discussions to those who know and understand more about what's going on.
The only thing Thea could think to offer, or focus on, was healing. Lady Kaede was obviously injured and since she noticed, Thea's eyes have been tracing the woman's wounds which covered her body with gentle concern, which was obviously more concern than the confident lady was herself. Significantly too slow, late to participate, and others being more quick to respond and act than her, she hesitates and waits, contemplating to even speak up or offer. She touches her two pointer fingers together. Eventually taking a breath, Thea rocks on her the balls of her feet. "D-do you need some... Ca-can I help?" She stutters as she reaches a hand out before returning it to herself, half expecting her assistance be rejected or brushed off. But then she holds up her hand a little timidly. "I-i can do all those things you requested and more..." She could clean, mend, heal... She could be a lady-in-waiting.
just an unstable unicorn.
"It is not just Vader that returned either. We had to fight off the Gmork too as we descended into Subternia. The Apex Predator, Godzilla, was in Subternia to fight the second Tarrasque that happened to be lying dormant next to an Imperial fortress. There is certainly no alliance there, as the fortress was mostly destroyed and about to be submerged as we left", Rum explains.
And he carries on with some more good news, "In fact, that is one piece of good news. Whatever the Imperials were planning down there, has taken a huge setback. Not just the destruction of their fortress, but as Greko mentioned they no longer have their forge. They had acquired something called a Blast Bellows from a Duergar settlement, and they were using volcanic energy to fuel it and allow them to forge powerful items. Not only do they no longer possess that ability, but it is now ours if we can figure out how to use it".
He looks around at those present, having given up on the idea of privacy for the moment.
"Atoh Khan and his Luck Dragons were sent by Atreyu and Gandalf to find us all. They must know the AURYN are powerless now. We need to decide whether to spend our time heading to them, or pursue some other goal", he says and looks to Greko. "Even potentially looking for the Dawn Guard", he adds skeptically.
"Greko thinks bringing the forge back to Atreyu would be the best bet. All here can mend their wounds, stock up on things needed, and rest a little before heading out to the next important place...Greko believes securing one place of refuge may be the best bet, but which one.....which one...."
With lightning reflexes, Lady Kaede quickly grabs Thea's outstretched hand, and with a gentle yet firm grip, takes it and presses it to her chest, right over where her heart would be. "Bless you, my friend. You honor me with your offer!" She then pulls Thea in close and whispers into her ear "...and your offer couldn't have come a moment too soon, as I'm quite embarrassed right now with my unkempt and disheveled state!" When she pulls pack and lets go of Thea's hand, you notice that Kaede is starting to blush (likely from embarrassment).
OOC: Assume that Thea takes Lady Kaede somewhere discrete, when the time is appropriate, and heals her wounds and helps her get cleaned up and put her regular armor and helm back on.
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
A simple glance back toward the west south west can confirm the truth for Lady Kaede, or any of them. The sky glows orange. It's not the same kind of orange that the ceaseless twilight sometimes displays. This is burning, a fire consuming an entire city. Occasionally bright blue blasts of light can be seen, lasers lancing out into the darkness of the overhead.
A light twinkles a few miles off of the starboard side of the Scorpion as lanterns on the deck of another vessel become visible.
Princess Zelda slips down off the back of the Kocra, the brilliant bird, that she sits on. The last time any of the AURYN Chosen had seen a bird like this was Running Bird, the giant ostrich that Ralik Two Knives had taken from the stables at the Ivory Tower. Except this one is beautiful, and changing colors. The Princess slowly walks toward the AURYN Champions gathered on the deck of the ship and meekly waves a hand to wave.
She is a child, maybe in her early teenage years. She is far too young to be in this situation, and yet here she is. The girl that Atreyu and Gandalf have put so much faith in carries herself with a mixture of childhood apprehension and deep seated grace. She minds little when Lady Kaede and Thea wander off to get the Samurai's clothes back in order.
"Do we have time to go back to Atreyu? We are off the coast of King's Landing, and I think I heard that Atreyu and Gandalf were in Celestia? When my father went to Celestia it would take weeks to get there. Weeks there, weeks back. Where does that put us with all this?"
She raises her hands and gestures to the skyline, of the lone sun that now swirls around the horizon of Hyboria without enough light to even brighten the horizon.
"I have spent time with Stasolya, Malenia, Thea, Judal... They all told me, in their own ways, here and there...the things that the Childlike Empress, and then Atreyu and Gandalf tasked them with. The unicorn is...she's dead..."
Her eyes shift behind Thea...
"...but we have one piece of the Triforce! The Triforce of Courage! And I know someone has the alicorn. So what's left? Did anyone get the Shard of Division? And we know that we still have to get the Triforce of Wisdom, from beyond the Sphinx Gate of the Southern Oracle. I feel like we're running out of time. The AURYN's are crumbling. The world is in darkness. Even when I was in the Great Grass Sea with the Dothraki, they were afraid of the grass dying. Don't you feel it? Something worse is happening. It's not just the grass or the AURYNs. It's the life of Hyboria herself. It's ebbing. It's being sucked out by Ganon."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
"You are very astute, Princess. The Great Dragon has blessed you with great wisdom", Rum says as Zelda summarises their options. "The shard of Division has yet to be retrieved, and will require a return to Subternia. I am not certain what happened to the Triforce of Courage and the Alicorn, but they may well be in the possession of the Dawn Guard. If not, perhaps at Celestia".
"It is heartening to hear the location of the Triforce of Wisdom is known".
"I feel as you do, time is running out. I don't know how long it would take to get to Celestia with Luck Dragons and Star Lancers to carry us", he says and looks across to Atoh Khan who would likely know. "But the Remnants have a job to finish. We should rest and then return for the Shard, or at least some of us".
He looks across those present and then around at the rest of the ship, "Where were you planning on going? Eternia?".
Stasolya looks around at her friends, at the companions she has fought and struggled beside, and given all her strength to defend. At the AURYN crumbling in Rum's hand. She looks up to the horizon, first to the orange glow of the burning King's Landing, and then to the twinkle of lights that seems to be an approaching ship. Softly and musingly, she sings.
"You've run so long
You've run so hard
Does it seem you're going nowhere?
You've heard my song
You've come here scarred
Does the Childlike Empress still care?
AURYN crumbles into dust
Our leaders far away to trust
Does the dream still look as fair?
Reject the Nothing's siren song
The darkness cold will not last long
We stand and fight
As AURYN's blade
Our hearts for right and true are made..."
As the Princess speaks, the centaur waits to see if the vessel on the starboard side moves closer or becomes visible, but then she turns to the Princess Zelda, smiling at her, and looking around at the gathered group.
"If we know what we need to do," Stasolya says, thoughtfully, "then we do not need to travel to Atreyu... let us choose our path, Princess, by your guidance, and take the next step to reclaim what must be reclaimed." She bows to Princess Zelda. "I am, as always, at your service."
Lost in thought, The Jedi's emerald eye's cast out over the water. Watching the orange glow on the horizon dance upon the waves. Her mind was racked with the news of Vader's survival. Master Qui-Gonn, A Jedi had helped her discover a untraveled road when it comes to the force. Yet the battle before her meeting with the Jedi was certainly with Vaders presence in the force. How was he still alive if that was the case.....Could that mean the Qui-Gonn is also alive? And what was this about a Master? Yet another chess piece that had not revealed itself.
Not so lost in her own thoughts to be oblivious to the goings on with the others, The Princess did make an excellent point. What would be the goal going forward. There were plenty of paths the could choose to follow, While the concern that Vader is still lurking out there would be at the forefront of her mind. It was concerning as to the fate of the AURYN's, with no way to contact Atreyu or Gandalf. The best course of action may be to reunite with them and relay just what had occured. The journey would be long, perhaps too long.
It was comforting, Witnessing Stasoyla's loyalty toward the Princess. The Centaur seemingly would never change. Casting her vision to Judal and Thea, then to the new faces who had arrived moments before.
"Then I think our destination is set, To recover the Triforce of Wisdom. The loss of the AURYN's is concerning and does make me nervous as to the safety of both Atreyu and Gandalf. If the very life of Hyboria is being drained by Ganon then we have no choice. We have to press on and recover Golden Power of Wisdom." Crossing her arms over her chest, stepping up beside the Kocra known as Kazu to lean against the soft plummage.
"You're name is.....Rum....Right?" Unsure as to if she was remebering the individuals name right. "Whatever your mission, I think that the higher powers that have guided us thusfar has worked to bring us all together. To split now would do nothing but pull those plans asunder. So I will join you, If the Princess will allow it. I am sworn to be her Blade afterall."
Malenia - [Monk - Way of the Jedi] - Auryn: Princess of Destiny
Judal ponders and wanders. Listening to all who speak up and just kind of pacing the deck where they all stand.
In fact Judal makes it a point to walk within 30' of everyone and take a good look at them with his Blindsight. It is not Truesight and he doesn't expect to really gain any information but he's feeling a bit paranoid and even knowing none of them are changing their shape via illusion would help put his mind at ease...
As Judal passes this Greko, he stumbles a bit and places a hand upon them to regain his balance. "Sorry. Don't quite have my sea legs yet," he says in apology.
"The Princess did ask if we have time to return to Atreyu," he softly points out to Malenia as he passes her. "We should at least inquire with the captain?" With that said, Judal too is growing interested in the lights to starboard. "You want I should go check out what kind of ship that is?"
Greko losing his footing a bit when Judal bumps him. "Oh, no worries youngling. Greko remembers when Greko was your age riding a boat this size for the first time. That's a story for another time" Greko becomes sleepy and sits down resting his eyes
Rum smiles at Melania and nods as she speaks to her, "Yes, I am Rumble of Hunger, Rum for short".
He considers her point regarding them being drawn together by higher powers, "It is possible that our coming together is the will of the Great Dragon, especially seeing as it was the Luck Dragons who found us all. This Golden Power of Wisdom, the Triforce of Wisdom, is it possible it will give us clarity of purpose? Perhaps you are right that we should retrieve that first, and at the least deny it to our enemies".
As Judal suggests checking out the other ship whose lights can be seen in the distance, he shifts his focus there as well.
Atoh Khan looks a bit downcast as Rum asks her how long it would take to fly back to Celestia, like she's hesitant to answer.
"Weeks, I think. Maybe a little less, maybe a little more. I'm not entirely sure. But it's a real trip, even by air. Uhm...Captain Saewulf, was it? How far are we from the Stygian Wastes?"
"Far..." He says meekly. "Two months by sea. We can't sail around the southern tip o' Hylia no more. There is a great Nothing storm there, from my understandin'. Absolutely huge. The most direct path I'm afraid would be around the southern coast of Eternia and then across to Fantasia."
The wind picked up for a moment, and the cool smell of seawater filled the air, more pungent than before as if kicked up from a spray.
"Do you remember what the Childlike Empress told us?" Atoh Khan said as she looked at Rum, Greko, and Jek. "On that first day so many months ago? We need all three pieces of the Triforce and the Shard of Division to heal the Crystal of Truth. What else was there? Do you remember?"
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Rum returns his gaze from the other ship and looks across to Judal, "It looks to be just another ship of survivors". He then concentrates on the conversation with Captain Seawulf and Atoh Kahn.
"It seems no matter what course we choose to take, we can get nowhere quickly. We only know of two entrances to Subternia, Spook City is almost as far as Celestia, and the other is through a Maelstrom that leads only to a flooded cavern. I assume you mentioned the Stygian Wastes as it is the location of the Southern Oracle".
"Perhaps we could go to Eternia on the way to the Southern Oracle and see if they still have means of contact with the Atreyu, Gandalf and the Dawn Guard? ".
When Atoh Kahn asks what the Childlike Empress told them all those months ago, his eyes narrow as he thinks back.
"We never saw the Childlike Empress, only her Herald and Atreyu", he says as former betrayals bubble up in his mind. Lelith, Ro and then Slade. He reaches into the power of his dragonhide belt and restores some of his Ki as he studies Atoh kahn.