Post by redcoat on Mar 27, 2022 13:12:16 GMT -5
Username: Ancelas
In which Valor's Company journeys into the Dragonfang Mountains to secure the aid of a wayward sage.
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Username: Opiii
Date: Aday, Lirin 08
From the journal of Alistair Fields…
It’s been a week. A long, trying week. After I left my letter with Emon, Alain showed up, flustered, and had Sae and I round up the others. Everyone woke up easily, save for one small incident.
Alain informed us that the white tower’s teleportation circles were no longer functioning. I could only speculate what would cause that. After some debate, we left for Thoradin, leaving Kenta behind. He wouldn’t have a good time in a floating dwarven city, I imagine.
In all honesty, I would have preferred to leave sooner. I’m still uneasy around Alain. Too many mysteries. He left me a parcel, and to everyone he gave out magically linked earrings. I believe it’s a modified Sending spell, though I’d need more time to properly observe them to determine that. He had some other items to give out, but I was a bit distracted.
We hit the road on foot and made our way to Thorodin, a six day trip more or less.
Along our travel we did some light foraging, gathering to offset our rations. Sae mastered the basics of magic in less than a week. I’d like to claim it’s my tutelage at work, but that would be a gross overstatement. She’s an elf, and elves take to that like fish take to water. She summoned her first familiar. I’m happy for her. Opening up to the weave of magic must feel like returning to her ancestral home.
One evening later, we were ambushed by bugbears. Hermes, trying to warn me and the others, wound up smashed to pieces by one of the monsters. Gods, I was a wreck. I hadn’t realized just how deep our spiritual link had become over these few weeks, or how potent the somatic and sensory feedback would be if she fell. I never fathomed how empty I’d feel after being forcibly cut from that link. It was horrible. Had it not been for Taliesin, II don’t think I would have come out of my hysteria, save for a blow to the head. He found Hermes, scooped her up after the fight, and pointed out that her light hadn’t completely faded. I don’t know if he understood it or not, but the fact that her Heartstone was intact was nothing short of miraculous. If He hadn’t been there, found her the way he did, I don’t know if I would have been able to preserve her Heartstone in time.
I wonder if this was Silvanus’ work. Maybe the gods do work in mysterious ways.
I spent the next three days putting her back together. Jaeger and Taliesin and Konane had some inspiring, hopeful things to say. Not just about Hermes, but about heroism, the vague definition of what makes a person heroic. It helped. Sae was a wonderful help with the rebuilding process too, we managed to pool together the resources needed to get her chassis rebuilt. Though she’s in need of some real polish and shine. This afternoon, when we broke for lunch, I finished repairs on her. After establishing the link, I could feel her again. It was weirdly normal, like nothing had happened. No memories of the attack, no lingering pain. Perhaps constructs don’t recall the final moments before their…end. Or perhaps, like the Warforged I’ve seen, she began to degrade in that small span of time. It’s hard to say, with a simple mind like hers. Perhaps it’s better, though. I wouldn’t want her to remember. It was hard enough feeling it first hand myself.
We’ve got less than half a day’s travel to Thorodin. I ought to stop writing and sulking. The worst of it is over now. And come to think of it, once we get there, I can figure out what’s in that box Alain left me. I wonder if he was lying about that self destructing magic in the parcel. It would be just like him to do that.
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Username: The Red Coat
From the Journal of Sae Cairel
We arrived in Thorodin. I will never understand why Dwarves prefer to be buried alive than to be under the open sky…. But I guess their oddness isn't for me to understand. I felt antsy the entire time that we were in the city, and the longer we spent underground, the more I got that itch to do… something. Anything. Just to distract myself from the feeling of being held too tightly, of being squeezed to death.
I hate being trapped.
After some waffling, and some convincing, we chartered an airship to take us to Skyhammer. I feel bad for Konane- if we had the blessing of time, I wouldn't have pushed so hard or so harshly, but we don't have the days or hours to spare. I'm not sure why we are going to this expert, but I assume Alistair will have some good questions for him.
I plan on spending most of time on deck. Damn the cold, that's what prestidigitation is for anyway.
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Username: Opiii
From the Journal of Alastair Fields
Skyships are the singular coolest, and most terrifying thing I have ever had the opportunity to ride. Fortunately, with each passing day, a newer and more horrifying experience reminds me that things can always get worse, which in turn puts my previous fears into perspective one by one. So by next week, this should be a net-positive experience, I reckon.
One day into our travel we came under attack by Harpies. The day was going so nicely, too…
Nasty buggers, they sing this melody that draws you in. Jaeger darn nearly leapt off the edge. They didn't stick around long, as a Roc- Gods, a Roc!- landed atop the ship and began wreaking havoc. They're nothing like the stories at the Lyceum. They're bigger. Meaner! And fortunately for us, smart enough to be repelled. Jaeger nearly went with it as it flew off. Fortunately the others managed to secure him. Things settled down after that. The dwarves naturally threw a feast. I considered seeking out Taliesin and Sae to discuss matters- About Alain, the glasses, the letter. But they were celebrating a little hard, and I didn't think it a good time. We turned in for a night's rest.
We woke up next morning, things seemed to be going well. Gathering in the galley, we had some pleasant conversation, and I started to get up the nerve to speak with Taliesin and Sae. However, things turned a little.. sour. Konane misspoke, Sae misunderstood, and me, Jaeger, and Taliesin tried to keep the peace best we could. Things stayed… tense, even when Ko left for her quarters. The topic changed, we devolved into small talk, but the air of… chafed feelings remained for a while.
Poor thing. I mean, Sae's pride was a little rustled, and I can tell she's unhappy. But Konane, that girl has been in the bottle since we got here. Didn't even get the nerve up to repel the Roc. We need to get her back on solid ground, as soon as possible.
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Username: Taliesin
A hastily scrawled and water logged page from the Memoir of Taliesin Korvalis
Things would work better for us if word of Valor Company spread faster. I saw the black clouds form and the red lightning flash. I felt the oncoming hand of Hectapol.
I tried to convince the Captain that grounding the ship was the ideal situation. Sadly he was a bit of a stubborn dwarf and who was I to suggest that he destroy his livelihood?
We were beset by two fierce elemental beasts and a consistent other group or force harrowing the ship with lightning. I don't pretend to know what happened. I had attacked one particular and was doing great damage, but its focus turned from attacking us to doing what the other had done - attack the wing helping us stay aloft.
With the protective bubble gone I was unable to land any further targeted strikes from a distance. I remember leaping over the edge of the rails and landing deftly to face down the elemental in hand to hand combat. No sooner had I landed had the beast hit me so hard that I lost consciousness. I woke to the sound of the timid wizard in my ear saying "I got him!"
I don't know how he would have even seen me in the crumpled wing, no less how he actually get to me. He mentioned something about having never tried feather fall before. Being unsure of what that was I pulled my cord to get pulled free of the crashing ship.
The ship crashed loudly not too far ahead. We'll need to get what we can from the detritus. But one thing is certain, Ruin knows we are coming. Who knows if we will be walking into a siege on Skyhammer or if we will be fighting for every mile.
As much as I want to believe that the Wizard we seek is aligned with Ruin, I think it's more complicated. Once the ship was crashing with just myself and Alastair aboard there was no sign of the forces attempting to crash the ship. The elementals and whatever else did not stick around to kill us all which is strange, unless Ruin was only looking to slow our arrival to allow her forces time to find and end the life of the one person whom knows her best.
Hopefully our compatriots, wherever they are, head to the crash site as well. If enough of the crew yet lives perhaps the sky life boats could be fashioned together and use the aether drive from the crashed ship to get them up and running again.
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Username: CautionCat
A mixture of thoughts from Konane…
Anata wa fuundesu…
For the past two days I have been keeping to myself. The others reached out, tried their best to comfort, or scold me. I was rude to Sae… caught up in my own fear of being so high in the sky. She was right to feel that way. I am foolish.
Foolish and a coward. Not once, but twice I have neglected to help those I consider friends, and I feel they consider the same of me. It is not fair, and it is not right to let my fear take the best of me… to die at the hands of a large bird, to swirling cloud spirits that cast red lighting onto us. I should be better than that… Klinkle seems fearless and determined, screaming at the Roc the day before, and dragging me out into the storm earlier.
But, here I am, huddled up under all these layers to think it'll keep me safe. As we part from the main ship, and land who knows where in the side of the mountains.
If I keep letting fear get the best of me, I will not survive. I will not be able to find my father, and perhaps make my way back home. I will not be able to face the enemy, and bring down this evil known as Hectapol.
If we survive this, I must make it up to them. I cannot be a useless weight anymore… I do not want to be that bad luck charm.
But, I feel so small… so helpless… and yet… oddly comfortable…?
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Username: Opiii
Tuay, uhm… I think. Lirrin, the uh, Ninth. Gods.
I'm running now. Hobbling. It's cold- I am freezing. I know if I don't find the hummingbird, what's left of it, I'm as good as done for in this weather. Gods- they took- They took everything. My coat, my bag. I don't know if this was a good idea- I'm… Sincerely questioning the logic in running like this. Was this the right choice? Is this what…
Gods, is this what Talli intended…? Talli… I heard him go down. That… That brash, stupid, reckless… We were supposed to get out together, why did he stay back? Why did he keep fighting? I don't- Gah. Get it… Get it together Alli.
We landed in trees, climbed our way down, landed rough and needed healing but we lived. Finding our way to the hummingbird, we climbed up inside.. Couldn't find rusty, the place was wrecked. We went below deck searching for supplies, I went to he engine room to see what could be done to repair the damage caused by Hectapol's storm. Talli heard sounds from above, closed me up in the engine room as I searched. I heard muffled voices, feared for looters. I took the Aetherstone, tucked it into my bag to keep it safe- Worst case scenario, I would run and secure it while finding shelter elsewhere.
Fighting broke out, Talli tried to defend me while I ran. He told me to run no matter what… I didn't. I mean, I tried- I ran, but one of them, one of those goliaths, they said if I ran, they'd kill him. So… I… submitted.
We were carried away through the woods to a log cabin. Brought to a giant- a stone giant, Stone Bones was his name. I struggled to barter with them, but his people, their culture- they're unreasonable, ruling by force. They took everything we had- My bag, hermes, Talli's things, even our earrings.
I thought by morning I'd formulate a plan, I could… devise something while working for them. Talli had different plans. His magic somehow works without a focus- Something I wish I knew much, much earlier. He ended up busting the door of our cell off the hinges, and bolted out the door as guards scrambled to get backup. I was not going to be left alone there- Knowing what these people were capable of, I didn't want his transgression to wind up getting my hands removed- or worse yet, become the leverage they use to slow him down. I chased after him, and we made our way toward the exit. I ended up nabbing a lantern from a slain goliath on my way and… Ran. I ran and ran to the door, and found it locked.
I didn't think, I didn't have time. Talli was stabbed, he went down, one of the bigger goliaths was now after me, and as I pounded on the door I tried to mimic the language they used. I used the glasses Alain gave me and took their form- gray skinned, bald, muscular- but small. The confusion on the doorman's face was evident- I had to force my way through, dipping, ducking, dodging. I bolted, I ran.
I ran.
I ran and left him behind… Oh gods, I left him behind…
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Username: The Red Coat
From the Journal of Sae Cairel
My heart is heavy and my spirit is low. We survived the crash of the Hummingbird- my poor choice in transportation- and found ourselves flung to the far reaches of a mountain. I crashed with Jaeger and Monty- a hearty dwarf. Jaeger was unconscious after the battle, and Monty and I managed to get him down to the ground safely, but then Monty smacked his head on the way down from the canopy and I was left with two knocked out allies.
I used my single health potion on Jaeger. Monty is a good dwarf, but Jaeger is my friend.
We fashioned a sling for Monty and hiked back to the crash, meeting the rest of the group on the way. I was… am… barely keeping it together. I fell back into my training- Mareki, Order- both are pretty good for tamping down the panic and seeing to what needs to be done.
Finding the wreck, we also found evidence that Tali and Alistair at least landed safely…. before being dragged away by something large. They left under their own power, so they were at least still alive at that point. No clue if that remains the case, but I had to do what was best for everyone. Jaeger is a couple good hits from going down again, and…. logically I know I need him, I need all of them at full strength and power if we are to take on whatever took our friends. I made the command decision to rest for the night and set out at first light.
Their blood will be on my hands.
I couldn't keep it together after that. I left the Company to their own devices so I could fall apart in private. This was suspicious, of course, so Konane followed me. She is a damn good tracker- I am glad she is in our company. We mended fences and she revealed… herself to me. I guess she is a shape shifter? Some sort of fox? Of course, she revealed this and then a unicorn appeared out of fucking nowhere and I was crying and it's just… all a mess. She seemed to think I would mind- I don't think I know enough to mind, and even if I did, I wouldn't. Nothing has changed- she's still the same person she was yesterday. I told her about Elta. I think she is giving me far more credit than I deserve, but I appreciate she didn't call me a murderer and spit in my face.
And that's where we sit. I am going to try and trance at least a little- if we are to walk into an enemy camp tomorrow, I want a sharp blade and a sharp mind.
Talos bless us. May the storm rain on our enemies and may we strike as fast as the lightening itself.
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Username: Taliesin
The Last Moments and Thoughts of Taliesin Korvalis
Stay calm, breathe, evaluate.
It's night, there's a single Goliath on patrol. There he goes and … the door latched.
What do we have here? Several cages between us and the other dwarves. Hm. At least they put Alastair and I in the same cell. Much better odds that one of us can get out. But the dwarves, we can't leave them. We'll have to return.
Still no sounds aside from snores and mouth-breathing. Let's see what this cell is made of. Stone ceiling, bars floor to ceiling, and hinged metal doors. And I lock I can't pick.
Sylvanus, give me the strength to buy my companion time. ::Swing and clank :: Shit! Just play it cool and act stunned aannnddd … oh yeah- I can do this :: snuff ::
Perfect he's gone again. Another attack! ::swing and clank:: Calm down, Alastair. They wanted to see my worth and I'll make them regret it. ::snuff::
And gone again! ::swing and clank and light:: SHIT, CAUGHT! Focus! Wait … he's running … crap-Improvise! Knock this door off its hinges and through this door. A kitchen? Well, there's light, hopefully Alastair follows. Please let him follow …
Okay turn here, look for windows. Nope. Comfort Alastair … FUCK! Well, come too far now- All in. Cut a swath, get the innocent out. Sylvanus, just give me enough strength … please. ::shiiiinngg:: Well, that was one way. Oh no, one of those fuckers. ::snuff:
Shit, shit, shit, shit. Alastair - run - RUN. Go farther! Yes, I trust there is an exit there! JUST GO!
Hold the line. Buy Alastair time. Buy Alastair time. I just need to buy hi-
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Username: CautionCat
Oh this is a mess…
We fell, nearly down a valley, and I had been so scared I turned into my small fox form. The dwarf didn't care, Chip seems like the type who just wants to get on with his travels. Klinkle seemed happy to see me like that, but… She is more comfortable with the idea of what I am.
We managed to get out of our vessel before it plummeted far below. I was only able to recover my cloak, feeling a deep sense of deja vu. After getting our bearings, we started to walk, and I was able to figure out what direction we needed to take. I casted my fox fire, illuminated our path, as we walked in the rain. A moment of rest under the trees to heal up, and within an hour or so time, we made it back to the air ship, the Hummingbird.
Weary of my form in front of my party, I changed back to my human state. Naked, freezing, with only my cloak. Embarrassing because I had yet to manage to lose my clothes, again. No one seemed to notice, and Jaeger fashioned me some foot covering with his cloth.
After finding foot prints, and no sign of Taliesin or Alastair in the ship, it seemed like something may had gone wrong… Sae and I contemplated going after them, but we agreed that we were too tired. We apologized to one another…
But when I turned to talk to her before going inside the ship, she was gone. I assumed she ran off, and with the last of my strength, I shifted into a hybrid form, and went after her. My senses are keener, and the fur keeps me warm, but the rush was short lived, as I found her at the base of a tree, weeping.
Right then, my embarrassment rose to its peak. I was too tired to change to a human. I was also tired of not being myself… Hiding.
When I went to explain to her, a… Unicorn of all things appeared. I was spooked. Was it a good omen? I don't even know…
But now I must face Jaeger. Jennar knows but I never told them the details. Alain did say this party was… Trustworthy? Something like that…
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In which Valor's Company journeys into the Dragonfang Mountains to secure the aid of a wayward sage.
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Username: Opiii
Date: Aday, Lirin 08
From the journal of Alistair Fields…
It’s been a week. A long, trying week. After I left my letter with Emon, Alain showed up, flustered, and had Sae and I round up the others. Everyone woke up easily, save for one small incident.
Alain informed us that the white tower’s teleportation circles were no longer functioning. I could only speculate what would cause that. After some debate, we left for Thoradin, leaving Kenta behind. He wouldn’t have a good time in a floating dwarven city, I imagine.
In all honesty, I would have preferred to leave sooner. I’m still uneasy around Alain. Too many mysteries. He left me a parcel, and to everyone he gave out magically linked earrings. I believe it’s a modified Sending spell, though I’d need more time to properly observe them to determine that. He had some other items to give out, but I was a bit distracted.
We hit the road on foot and made our way to Thorodin, a six day trip more or less.
Along our travel we did some light foraging, gathering to offset our rations. Sae mastered the basics of magic in less than a week. I’d like to claim it’s my tutelage at work, but that would be a gross overstatement. She’s an elf, and elves take to that like fish take to water. She summoned her first familiar. I’m happy for her. Opening up to the weave of magic must feel like returning to her ancestral home.
One evening later, we were ambushed by bugbears. Hermes, trying to warn me and the others, wound up smashed to pieces by one of the monsters. Gods, I was a wreck. I hadn’t realized just how deep our spiritual link had become over these few weeks, or how potent the somatic and sensory feedback would be if she fell. I never fathomed how empty I’d feel after being forcibly cut from that link. It was horrible. Had it not been for Taliesin, II don’t think I would have come out of my hysteria, save for a blow to the head. He found Hermes, scooped her up after the fight, and pointed out that her light hadn’t completely faded. I don’t know if he understood it or not, but the fact that her Heartstone was intact was nothing short of miraculous. If He hadn’t been there, found her the way he did, I don’t know if I would have been able to preserve her Heartstone in time.
I wonder if this was Silvanus’ work. Maybe the gods do work in mysterious ways.
I spent the next three days putting her back together. Jaeger and Taliesin and Konane had some inspiring, hopeful things to say. Not just about Hermes, but about heroism, the vague definition of what makes a person heroic. It helped. Sae was a wonderful help with the rebuilding process too, we managed to pool together the resources needed to get her chassis rebuilt. Though she’s in need of some real polish and shine. This afternoon, when we broke for lunch, I finished repairs on her. After establishing the link, I could feel her again. It was weirdly normal, like nothing had happened. No memories of the attack, no lingering pain. Perhaps constructs don’t recall the final moments before their…end. Or perhaps, like the Warforged I’ve seen, she began to degrade in that small span of time. It’s hard to say, with a simple mind like hers. Perhaps it’s better, though. I wouldn’t want her to remember. It was hard enough feeling it first hand myself.
We’ve got less than half a day’s travel to Thorodin. I ought to stop writing and sulking. The worst of it is over now. And come to think of it, once we get there, I can figure out what’s in that box Alain left me. I wonder if he was lying about that self destructing magic in the parcel. It would be just like him to do that.
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Username: The Red Coat
From the Journal of Sae Cairel
We arrived in Thorodin. I will never understand why Dwarves prefer to be buried alive than to be under the open sky…. But I guess their oddness isn't for me to understand. I felt antsy the entire time that we were in the city, and the longer we spent underground, the more I got that itch to do… something. Anything. Just to distract myself from the feeling of being held too tightly, of being squeezed to death.
I hate being trapped.
After some waffling, and some convincing, we chartered an airship to take us to Skyhammer. I feel bad for Konane- if we had the blessing of time, I wouldn't have pushed so hard or so harshly, but we don't have the days or hours to spare. I'm not sure why we are going to this expert, but I assume Alistair will have some good questions for him.
I plan on spending most of time on deck. Damn the cold, that's what prestidigitation is for anyway.
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Username: Opiii
From the Journal of Alastair Fields
Skyships are the singular coolest, and most terrifying thing I have ever had the opportunity to ride. Fortunately, with each passing day, a newer and more horrifying experience reminds me that things can always get worse, which in turn puts my previous fears into perspective one by one. So by next week, this should be a net-positive experience, I reckon.
One day into our travel we came under attack by Harpies. The day was going so nicely, too…
Nasty buggers, they sing this melody that draws you in. Jaeger darn nearly leapt off the edge. They didn't stick around long, as a Roc- Gods, a Roc!- landed atop the ship and began wreaking havoc. They're nothing like the stories at the Lyceum. They're bigger. Meaner! And fortunately for us, smart enough to be repelled. Jaeger nearly went with it as it flew off. Fortunately the others managed to secure him. Things settled down after that. The dwarves naturally threw a feast. I considered seeking out Taliesin and Sae to discuss matters- About Alain, the glasses, the letter. But they were celebrating a little hard, and I didn't think it a good time. We turned in for a night's rest.
We woke up next morning, things seemed to be going well. Gathering in the galley, we had some pleasant conversation, and I started to get up the nerve to speak with Taliesin and Sae. However, things turned a little.. sour. Konane misspoke, Sae misunderstood, and me, Jaeger, and Taliesin tried to keep the peace best we could. Things stayed… tense, even when Ko left for her quarters. The topic changed, we devolved into small talk, but the air of… chafed feelings remained for a while.
Poor thing. I mean, Sae's pride was a little rustled, and I can tell she's unhappy. But Konane, that girl has been in the bottle since we got here. Didn't even get the nerve up to repel the Roc. We need to get her back on solid ground, as soon as possible.
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Username: Taliesin
A hastily scrawled and water logged page from the Memoir of Taliesin Korvalis
Things would work better for us if word of Valor Company spread faster. I saw the black clouds form and the red lightning flash. I felt the oncoming hand of Hectapol.
I tried to convince the Captain that grounding the ship was the ideal situation. Sadly he was a bit of a stubborn dwarf and who was I to suggest that he destroy his livelihood?
We were beset by two fierce elemental beasts and a consistent other group or force harrowing the ship with lightning. I don't pretend to know what happened. I had attacked one particular and was doing great damage, but its focus turned from attacking us to doing what the other had done - attack the wing helping us stay aloft.
With the protective bubble gone I was unable to land any further targeted strikes from a distance. I remember leaping over the edge of the rails and landing deftly to face down the elemental in hand to hand combat. No sooner had I landed had the beast hit me so hard that I lost consciousness. I woke to the sound of the timid wizard in my ear saying "I got him!"
I don't know how he would have even seen me in the crumpled wing, no less how he actually get to me. He mentioned something about having never tried feather fall before. Being unsure of what that was I pulled my cord to get pulled free of the crashing ship.
The ship crashed loudly not too far ahead. We'll need to get what we can from the detritus. But one thing is certain, Ruin knows we are coming. Who knows if we will be walking into a siege on Skyhammer or if we will be fighting for every mile.
As much as I want to believe that the Wizard we seek is aligned with Ruin, I think it's more complicated. Once the ship was crashing with just myself and Alastair aboard there was no sign of the forces attempting to crash the ship. The elementals and whatever else did not stick around to kill us all which is strange, unless Ruin was only looking to slow our arrival to allow her forces time to find and end the life of the one person whom knows her best.
Hopefully our compatriots, wherever they are, head to the crash site as well. If enough of the crew yet lives perhaps the sky life boats could be fashioned together and use the aether drive from the crashed ship to get them up and running again.
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Username: CautionCat
A mixture of thoughts from Konane…
Anata wa fuundesu…
For the past two days I have been keeping to myself. The others reached out, tried their best to comfort, or scold me. I was rude to Sae… caught up in my own fear of being so high in the sky. She was right to feel that way. I am foolish.
Foolish and a coward. Not once, but twice I have neglected to help those I consider friends, and I feel they consider the same of me. It is not fair, and it is not right to let my fear take the best of me… to die at the hands of a large bird, to swirling cloud spirits that cast red lighting onto us. I should be better than that… Klinkle seems fearless and determined, screaming at the Roc the day before, and dragging me out into the storm earlier.
But, here I am, huddled up under all these layers to think it'll keep me safe. As we part from the main ship, and land who knows where in the side of the mountains.
If I keep letting fear get the best of me, I will not survive. I will not be able to find my father, and perhaps make my way back home. I will not be able to face the enemy, and bring down this evil known as Hectapol.
If we survive this, I must make it up to them. I cannot be a useless weight anymore… I do not want to be that bad luck charm.
But, I feel so small… so helpless… and yet… oddly comfortable…?
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Username: Opiii
Tuay, uhm… I think. Lirrin, the uh, Ninth. Gods.
I'm running now. Hobbling. It's cold- I am freezing. I know if I don't find the hummingbird, what's left of it, I'm as good as done for in this weather. Gods- they took- They took everything. My coat, my bag. I don't know if this was a good idea- I'm… Sincerely questioning the logic in running like this. Was this the right choice? Is this what…
Gods, is this what Talli intended…? Talli… I heard him go down. That… That brash, stupid, reckless… We were supposed to get out together, why did he stay back? Why did he keep fighting? I don't- Gah. Get it… Get it together Alli.
We landed in trees, climbed our way down, landed rough and needed healing but we lived. Finding our way to the hummingbird, we climbed up inside.. Couldn't find rusty, the place was wrecked. We went below deck searching for supplies, I went to he engine room to see what could be done to repair the damage caused by Hectapol's storm. Talli heard sounds from above, closed me up in the engine room as I searched. I heard muffled voices, feared for looters. I took the Aetherstone, tucked it into my bag to keep it safe- Worst case scenario, I would run and secure it while finding shelter elsewhere.
Fighting broke out, Talli tried to defend me while I ran. He told me to run no matter what… I didn't. I mean, I tried- I ran, but one of them, one of those goliaths, they said if I ran, they'd kill him. So… I… submitted.
We were carried away through the woods to a log cabin. Brought to a giant- a stone giant, Stone Bones was his name. I struggled to barter with them, but his people, their culture- they're unreasonable, ruling by force. They took everything we had- My bag, hermes, Talli's things, even our earrings.
I thought by morning I'd formulate a plan, I could… devise something while working for them. Talli had different plans. His magic somehow works without a focus- Something I wish I knew much, much earlier. He ended up busting the door of our cell off the hinges, and bolted out the door as guards scrambled to get backup. I was not going to be left alone there- Knowing what these people were capable of, I didn't want his transgression to wind up getting my hands removed- or worse yet, become the leverage they use to slow him down. I chased after him, and we made our way toward the exit. I ended up nabbing a lantern from a slain goliath on my way and… Ran. I ran and ran to the door, and found it locked.
I didn't think, I didn't have time. Talli was stabbed, he went down, one of the bigger goliaths was now after me, and as I pounded on the door I tried to mimic the language they used. I used the glasses Alain gave me and took their form- gray skinned, bald, muscular- but small. The confusion on the doorman's face was evident- I had to force my way through, dipping, ducking, dodging. I bolted, I ran.
I ran.
I ran and left him behind… Oh gods, I left him behind…
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Username: The Red Coat
From the Journal of Sae Cairel
My heart is heavy and my spirit is low. We survived the crash of the Hummingbird- my poor choice in transportation- and found ourselves flung to the far reaches of a mountain. I crashed with Jaeger and Monty- a hearty dwarf. Jaeger was unconscious after the battle, and Monty and I managed to get him down to the ground safely, but then Monty smacked his head on the way down from the canopy and I was left with two knocked out allies.
I used my single health potion on Jaeger. Monty is a good dwarf, but Jaeger is my friend.
We fashioned a sling for Monty and hiked back to the crash, meeting the rest of the group on the way. I was… am… barely keeping it together. I fell back into my training- Mareki, Order- both are pretty good for tamping down the panic and seeing to what needs to be done.
Finding the wreck, we also found evidence that Tali and Alistair at least landed safely…. before being dragged away by something large. They left under their own power, so they were at least still alive at that point. No clue if that remains the case, but I had to do what was best for everyone. Jaeger is a couple good hits from going down again, and…. logically I know I need him, I need all of them at full strength and power if we are to take on whatever took our friends. I made the command decision to rest for the night and set out at first light.
Their blood will be on my hands.
I couldn't keep it together after that. I left the Company to their own devices so I could fall apart in private. This was suspicious, of course, so Konane followed me. She is a damn good tracker- I am glad she is in our company. We mended fences and she revealed… herself to me. I guess she is a shape shifter? Some sort of fox? Of course, she revealed this and then a unicorn appeared out of fucking nowhere and I was crying and it's just… all a mess. She seemed to think I would mind- I don't think I know enough to mind, and even if I did, I wouldn't. Nothing has changed- she's still the same person she was yesterday. I told her about Elta. I think she is giving me far more credit than I deserve, but I appreciate she didn't call me a murderer and spit in my face.
And that's where we sit. I am going to try and trance at least a little- if we are to walk into an enemy camp tomorrow, I want a sharp blade and a sharp mind.
Talos bless us. May the storm rain on our enemies and may we strike as fast as the lightening itself.
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Username: Taliesin
The Last Moments and Thoughts of Taliesin Korvalis
Stay calm, breathe, evaluate.
It's night, there's a single Goliath on patrol. There he goes and … the door latched.
What do we have here? Several cages between us and the other dwarves. Hm. At least they put Alastair and I in the same cell. Much better odds that one of us can get out. But the dwarves, we can't leave them. We'll have to return.
Still no sounds aside from snores and mouth-breathing. Let's see what this cell is made of. Stone ceiling, bars floor to ceiling, and hinged metal doors. And I lock I can't pick.
Sylvanus, give me the strength to buy my companion time. ::Swing and clank :: Shit! Just play it cool and act stunned aannnddd … oh yeah- I can do this :: snuff ::
Perfect he's gone again. Another attack! ::swing and clank:: Calm down, Alastair. They wanted to see my worth and I'll make them regret it. ::snuff::
And gone again! ::swing and clank and light:: SHIT, CAUGHT! Focus! Wait … he's running … crap-Improvise! Knock this door off its hinges and through this door. A kitchen? Well, there's light, hopefully Alastair follows. Please let him follow …
Okay turn here, look for windows. Nope. Comfort Alastair … FUCK! Well, come too far now- All in. Cut a swath, get the innocent out. Sylvanus, just give me enough strength … please. ::shiiiinngg:: Well, that was one way. Oh no, one of those fuckers. ::snuff:
Shit, shit, shit, shit. Alastair - run - RUN. Go farther! Yes, I trust there is an exit there! JUST GO!
Hold the line. Buy Alastair time. Buy Alastair time. I just need to buy hi-
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Username: CautionCat
Oh this is a mess…
We fell, nearly down a valley, and I had been so scared I turned into my small fox form. The dwarf didn't care, Chip seems like the type who just wants to get on with his travels. Klinkle seemed happy to see me like that, but… She is more comfortable with the idea of what I am.
We managed to get out of our vessel before it plummeted far below. I was only able to recover my cloak, feeling a deep sense of deja vu. After getting our bearings, we started to walk, and I was able to figure out what direction we needed to take. I casted my fox fire, illuminated our path, as we walked in the rain. A moment of rest under the trees to heal up, and within an hour or so time, we made it back to the air ship, the Hummingbird.
Weary of my form in front of my party, I changed back to my human state. Naked, freezing, with only my cloak. Embarrassing because I had yet to manage to lose my clothes, again. No one seemed to notice, and Jaeger fashioned me some foot covering with his cloth.
After finding foot prints, and no sign of Taliesin or Alastair in the ship, it seemed like something may had gone wrong… Sae and I contemplated going after them, but we agreed that we were too tired. We apologized to one another…
But when I turned to talk to her before going inside the ship, she was gone. I assumed she ran off, and with the last of my strength, I shifted into a hybrid form, and went after her. My senses are keener, and the fur keeps me warm, but the rush was short lived, as I found her at the base of a tree, weeping.
Right then, my embarrassment rose to its peak. I was too tired to change to a human. I was also tired of not being myself… Hiding.
When I went to explain to her, a… Unicorn of all things appeared. I was spooked. Was it a good omen? I don't even know…
But now I must face Jaeger. Jennar knows but I never told them the details. Alain did say this party was… Trustworthy? Something like that…
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