You Have to Save her

Log Info

• Title: You Have to Save Her
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Cryosanthia, Jinks, Halani, Aya, Merek
• Place: A16: Castellum Alexandrae
• Time: Saturday, June 11, 2022, 11:01 PM
• Summary: Before they leave the Castellum to investigate Akoniril's safehouse, Cryosanthia takes advantage of the Mage's Private Sanctum and corners Jinks. The phrase, 'You Have to Save Her', has been haunting her for over a year and she wants to know the circumstances in which he heard it. She also spills the tea on several secrets she's been keeping, regarding Akoniril, the Griever, and explains her motivations. While she doubts their group are the chosen of the gods, they are definitely their pieces on the chessboard and she has a permanent mark of gratitude on her tail to remind her. Jinks explains he heard the phrase while in the vast, helping Farland attempt a commune spell. It was delivered by someone young, yet old, strange, yet familiar. They were chased out by Vrocks. Jinks has also recently been to Charn, a port town, Hextus, where they were using domination magic to secure the loyalty of mercenaries. From what he observed, the Humans and the Sith'Makar seem to be doing without. Aya explains that the noble houses in Charn often tilt towards whomever is most powerful, and the subordinate species may be doing the same. Cryo explains that the Ravenlords told her and Halani, that Animus has always been dying backwards and forwards in time. Jinks corrects to say that he was once living, and once he was killed, he was always dead. This only reminds Cryo of her own, time travelling headaches. Merek has some perspectives but he does not share them at this time. The whitescale concludes by informing the others that regardless how she, they, feel about this, this is a call to adventure and they have to answer it. Ceinara would be most upset if she did not, and the bard surely understands narrative requirements in a good tail. Tale.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A16: Castellum Alexandrae *>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The reconstructed and restored Castellum Alexandrae looks precious little like it once did. Previously little more then a fairy-tale castle in tone, the current castle grows out of the mountains itself with carved towering walls hundreds of feet in height and adorned with towering sculptures of mythological figures from Alexandria's ancient history and towers manned by cannons and domed in reds and golds and the symbols of Alexandros' Rising Phoenix. Great bridges lead towards enormous doors of mithril, adamant and iron, forged of khazadi craftmanship and large enough to welcome the wingspan of the great dragons while sturdy enough to withstand their impact as well.

Multi-tiered like the end-all, be-alls of wedding cakes, the castle sports at least three visible walls but is likely dozens of storeys in height with it's pinnacle tower level no less then a half a mile above the ground. Emblazoned upon the second tier itself is an enormous red and gold plate depicting the fiery Phoenix of Alexandria in stylized glory. Cannons line the southern walls of the castle which merge seamlessly with the outer southern walls of the city.

All roads converge before the great bridge spans of granite that lead to the castle. A great square where stands carved likenesses of the former kings and queens of the Old Alexandria Kingdom and from this square the main road diverges north along other enormous bridge spans that eventually touch down upon streets known as The Mountain Roads.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Jinks        3'4"     39 Lb      Gnome             Male      A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry.
Aya          4'7"     105 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
Merek        5'10"    215 Lb     Human             Male      A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Halani       5'4"     120 Lb     Human/Xian        Female    Shortish, dusky skinned woman with almond shaped eyes.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

It is decided, the adventurers will start at the safehouse. Eldbe gives directions and some last minute details.

While this is going on, the whitescale rounds on the gnome. She, and he, will miss the instructions because of this, but it isn't as if this is unusual. She's somewhat resigned to being left out of critical, need to know, information loops. This won't prevent her attempting to rectify it.

Looming, as she can and does, the tall sith'makar corners the gnome against a wall and then crouches down to be more on his level. She can't fold herself down to his 3'4" height, at the very least she's still a foot taller than him, and wider.

It isn't meant to be intimidating at all, though it kind of is when her first question comes more like a demand.

"Where did you hear that? 'You must save her?' I don't remember telling you that. Did I tell you that?" Her nostrils flare, the air around her is cold.

"No," Jinks answers simply. He's still smiling at whatever private joke he and the Xian had been tossing back and forth during the debriefing-briefing, only half-present for the proceedings. He starts to unbutton his coat and tosses a chin up at their host. "Apparently, it's not an uncommon refrain," observes the black-eyed gnome.

"We were with the Resurrectionists-- Farland specifically-- in the Vast. Poking at Time." Beringed fingers toss back the coat and dive into his pockets. The gnome really is looking thin, his silk shirt blousing over his belt. "One of those familiar-but-not, lost-to-the-ages prophets. 'You have to save her,' he's spouting one minute and then the next, the Void is spilling out of his eyes and one of its agents is trying to crawl out through the space between threads of the Weave."

His mithral tinkles quietly out of sight as he shrugs his tiny shoulders.

The whitescale nods, exhales. She sets a hand on the floor and lowers herself so she's sitting, it robs her of a few more inches in height. Her eyes roam, lingering. She notes his thinness, the tiredness in his eyes, the grey of his hair.

Another long, slow breath, "It is uncommon. I've heard it twice. Once from an Animus shard, and once from a version of myself from another time and place."

Her lips wriggle, "A version of myself where we lost, where I was consumed by darkness and despair. It's a significant phrase. I've been wondering who 'she' is for over a year now. I thought it might mean I was personally chosen to save Her."

She glances about the room, "it seems more that we all are, and who 'she' is, has been revealed."

Some have a tendency to arrive unannounced. While this does not currently equate to a literal appearance from nowhere, it does not preclude arriving via mundane means. In this instance, it means Aya arriving at the proper location, but exceptionally tardy. By the time she does so, it seems the core of matters, or at least its presenters, have since departed. What she does note, however, is a rather looming Cryosanthia over a cornered Jinks. This is a surprise, though as the whitescale sits lower, much of the looming is subdued. "For a moment, I began to wonder," Aya comments. "Was the world saved in my absence?"

The gnome frowns and shakes his head, "I don't think it's her." He cranes his head to look past the wall of sith-makar for a moment, then settles back down on flat-feet. "Akoniril, I mean--" he pauses at Aya's arrival.

"Still doomed, one and all," offers the maestro apologetically.

Back to Cryosanthia: "Especially if you've been hearing about this for so long?" One nostril wrinkles in thought. One hand sneaks out of his pocket and conjures a coin from thin air that he begins to roll over, between, and beneath his jeweled fingers.

"What if it's Mulria?" He ventures, quirking his eyebrows up as he explores the notion. "That's a far more interesting story. You said it yourself: Taara's power is in decline. This Griever is in ascent. 'Better the devil you know.'" He sucks his teeth and smiles at the absurdity. "How wild would that be? Having to save Mulria Herself?"

"How important could this Akoniril-whoever be, anyway?" He adds with another shrug.

"Oh." Cryo turns, her head snapping so her snout is pointed at Aya. Her posture adjusts, it's subtle, but she's shielding Jinks. An unconscious action. The temperature is definitely dropping in her presence, her breath is visible once more. "Peace on your nest, Aya."

She blinks, "This one doesn't think so. This one would not be here if the world was saved."

The whitescale turns back to Jinks, "Well, it's either her or Taara. Yes. Or Zaya, I don't know." Her head shakes, "Akoniril's full name and title is Madah'Chern Akorinil ferch Belvade yun Lithrinil dem Kenduis, meaning she's an Aristocrat of the Family Belvade of House Kendui. She's a diplomat. She's also a high priestess of Taara. She's been in Alexandria for that year, trying to negotiate and improve Charn's situation."

There's a noise in her throat, an annoyed growl, "This one has not, overall, had many positive experiences with Mul'niessa or Charn. There was some talk of Taara's 'chosen', Akoniril might be. There's a lot of pieces, I don't know."

"I'm sorry, this one hasn't had many opportunities to discuss this. Lily knows everything, and also to never speak of it, so while I put up the Sanctum around the other mothers I don't want to make them suspicious by then sneaking off into a Rope Trick or something. Akoniril and Griva are on the same task, finding the shards of Animus."

Cryo glances at Aya once more, then around, "When we met with the Ravenlords, they told us Animus has -always- been dying. That he dies backwards and forwards in time. So he'd know. He'd have known about Taara killing him, the Grievor situation, all of it."

"Peace on your nest, Cryosanthia," Aya offers in return, hands lifting only slightly, and slowly, in a placating gesture. "I met Akorinil, when she first arrived," her tone suggests it was no more pleasant for her than one might expect from anyone. "Charn is-" she halts at mention of Lily and knowledge and a pause follows before she considers continuing, though, in the end, remains quiet to take in the sith's information.

"Charn is a shithole getting worse by the minute," Jinks agrees with a lopsided smile at Aya. "Toss whatever thin veneer of peace and cooperation on the populace and it's still festering from within." The gnome's laugh isn't a kind one.

"But I think you're a little off there, Cryosanthia." Jinks suggests, palming the coin so that he might point with one finger as he goes on. "Animus wasn't always-always dying. Animus was verymuch alive and in power." Black-eyes narrow as he forces the nonsense out; "But now that He's been killed, He's always been dead--" the finger draws a line in the air-- "no matter where you seek Him out in Time." He pokes at a few points along the line.

"That's why Farland wanted to attempt his scrying in the Vast; to reach for an older verse in the Hymn."

"Yes." Cryo nods when Aya's speech interrupts. "Losing her was more than a personal tragedy. It's fortunate it seems the demon didn't consider a kobold knowing anything of worth. And he's dead now, so you may have discretely saved the world one more time than your tally."

She looks back at Jinks, "Griva and Akoniril were not working together, to my knowledge, but they were racing towards the same finish line. It makes sense then, that they would cross paths, and a task for Griva might be relevant to Akoniril's efforts."

"Urg." She knuckles her forhead, "Right. That may be more accurate. The Ravenlords are a piece of work too, they would be world masters given the chance, their theology is weird. My time travel has been largely linear."

She pauses contemplatively, "Although Akoniril, and Griva, did ask for my perspective. Anyhow, as Seldon asked, I tried to deliver the favour and find out things regarding Charn. Since the Grievor has his incredible insight, I couldn't solicit help directly."

"I made a wargame, 'Giggles the Gnoll goes Arthrocite Surveying', with some obvious stand-ins for Charn, Rune, the Witchwood, Llyranost, Veyshan. I ran it a few times at the Guild, 'playtesting', to see if anyone caught a hint that maybe more was going on. Aryia seemed to, Pelka."

A wane smile crosses her snouth, "I wish I hadn't lost touch with Pelka, he's been very helpful. I never got the chance to explain, in confidence, and it seemed you all had heavy issues and were struggling, then I had eggs. So, balls were dropped."

Another encompassing look, "so I'm trying to rectify that, anything you know, anything you've done for Griva or Akoniril might be relevant. A place, a phrase. I know the Guild sent adventurers on missions but I don't know what they found out. I'm sure there is other information floating around that would be of use to us."

"He is dead," Aya agrees simply, though her look expresses more: she not attempting to save the world, just one. She shifts away from that with a glance to Jinks, "and Charn is dying... or being reborn, and quickly. The Taarans are either racing for prizes, fleeing in droves, or perishing. "None of what I know is recent." She was rather indisposed, as all here are aware.

"I don't know how far it's spread but there's something in the Dominion; in Hextus, at least." Jinks offers, brushing down the front of his shirt with the hand that should be holding a coin. "Their mercenary guilds are enthralling their membership." He frowns mildly at this.

"This was..." the gnome pauses, touching fingertips to thumb-tip as he counts backwards. "Quintoos."

"Charn was about what you'd expect with the added bonus of everyone being tense and on-edge." He glances around. "Imagine a heatwave, some religious fasting, and all the brothels are closed." So it was bad.

"But the weirdest thing was all the humans paying no mind to the others." He cants his chin at Cryosanthia. "Even your ilk seemed to be getting on fine. Then we were being interrogated at the guildhall and they were plying some variety of dominations magics..."

"You saved mine, Aya, more than you know, and I will be eternally grateful." Cryo says, and there's an increase in warmth in her presence. The air conditioning is no longer set to arctic mode. "You also lied to me, so there are things we need to hammer out, but it can wait."

Warmer, but still chilly.

"Griva's group did try to scry on some things in the past and set themselves on fire, so it makes sense Feren would want to try in the Vast." She tilts her head, observing Jinks, "I guess, no meaningful results? What was that child of prophesy you mentioned? Was his name Zak?"

After which she ponders his revelations about Charn. "More domination magic. Brae has been having a lot of trouble with that; I've had my own experiences. I can't answer for why the sith'makar there are acting the way they are. We're not all united under the Silver Empress, we're slaves in Charn and any change would mean an opportunity. They might just be laying low, infiltrated by the Teacher's followers." Willing to subjugate themselves to a higher power in the hopes it will protect them against what they fear, not that the whitescale knows anything about that she's willing to share.

"That does align with the purge that Eldbe mentioned. Akoniril was fairly candid that once Grauthis consolidates his power, he'll advance on other areas. This is why it was important to get allies in Rune, Llyranost, get the Ravenlords on our side, they're likely the first step. Cut off trade with Veyshan, so they don't have the gold to get the mercenaries."

She shakes her head slightly, "Grauthis, his name is from an obscure tribe in Charn's northern territory. I don't know how it's relevant, other than he seems indigenous and that might be why he's rising up."

"Akoniril has been playing her cards close. As a Taaranite of significance, she might have a degree of untouchable. She may have voluntarily returned as an attempt to portray loyalty." The whitescale huffs, "but, the Greivor's guantlet lets him see through things like that, so she won't pass inspection for long, and he's going to look at her."

"Or she's playing a really long game and playing us."

Aya nods, either in agreement of what knowledge she already holds that is mentioned or in acknowledgement. "Many are purged, but there are those whose loyalties lie beyond whomever is strongest, or has the advantage." Her lips purse. "Some Houses seek to ever be on the side of the victor, and one seems destined to be that."

Merek is dressed up in his dark attire, and he takes the time to meet in the secured room in the Castellum. While there, he will nod along to Cryosanthia and listen to everyone a while. He doesn't seem that keen to talk at the moment, "I don't like to mess with Time generally," the man admits, then he considers, looks like he does not really have a lot to go on, so he is a little quiet while waiting.

The gnome sucks at his teeth again, half-nodding along with Cryosanthia and and Aya. "We'd gone to Hextus looking for information and the handler ended up pulling some out of Aryia before we made our excuses and escaped." He shrugs, "Not her fault; we all felt the magics. Seyardu and I were just lucky enough to hold out a little longer.

"Again, I don't know if the situation is unique to Hextus but it makes sense for a port town; get the unaffiliated mercs coming in, find out what they know of the outside world, and force them into service." Black eyes settle on Cryosanthia. "Some of the makari mercenaries might be faking but I think it more likely that they were under whatever sway. Like the rest." A pause. "Could it be another shard?"

The little man sucks in a deep breath and sighs, shrugging again at a question he hadn't addressed yet. "The prophet was a familiar-stranger." He rolls his eyes. "It was a trip to the Vast; the whole thing was absurd and borderline pointless." He waves a hand in a general, all-encompassing, and half-hearted sweep. "Gargantuan terrors filling the sky swarmed by vrock. Dragons fighting demons. We were affording very little time for our ill-advised Time-spying and Void-provoking."

Cryo pulls her tail into her lap, holding it with both hands and rolling it over to show the underside and a spot near the tip. There's a marking, seemingly part of her scales, they grown that way not. Three interlocked circles, a silvery-blue one, a pale, greenish-teal, and a white so bright it seems starker and more pure than her other white scales. Almost black, in the way light is completely reflected.

"This is the gratitude of the gods, for what we did to oppose Assumit, when we re-enacted the sealing of the void." She gestures, at Aya, "She was Maugrim's weapon and I was Maugrim. Also Ceinara, standing in for Animus." She indicates Seldan, "He was Eluna's, standing in for Daeus."

Big inhale, exhale, "I'm not saying we're chosen. Ceinara would probably prefer some sulky mul'niessa, but it's clear we're their significant actors on the stage."

"You're a bard Jinks, you know the call to adventure. This is it, the final act. You can join me making catty remarks and being confused, that and cheerleading seems to be my contribution most of the time. Even if Akoniril is not the one that needs saving, I've been asked, we've been asked by the gods to save someone. I'd rather ensure my family's safety, I've had to fight with people I barely know or would rather not. There's a choice here, but not really. I've got to follow it."

She rubs her fingers over her interlocked marking, her mind drifting in contemplation. She returns, "I have to. We have to. You have to, if you heard that."

She bobs her head again, "It could be another shard. We don't know the properties of them and haven't experimented much. I only know where a few are, others are likely hidden. Hmmm... I ran into a lot of Vrocks too. Asumit was trying to manifest a void demon. The abdjuration on Alexandria, some people know more than we do, the demon ban could be more than something for Big E. Merek stuck his head between realities, he probably understands this more than all of us." If only he would share and the explanations make sense.

"Living to share what you saw is useful Jinks. It might have seemed pointless then, it may be relevant going forward. Those Hextus details, that Charn is using mind control. I had no idea, that is critical information."

"Had I known the repercussions at the time," Aya admits following Cryo's recounting of Void... wrangling and gesture to herself, "I might have reconsidered." One corner of her mouth has lifted, and her tone carries wry as well. "I also have doubts about your prophet. You just described an average Ceriday in Alexandros." Perhaps, in lieu of no further factual information to add, she is attempting something wholly different?

"Mm, I will explain what I can, but don't expect a lot from me, I've been dealing with demons away from Alexandria for a while, and also relaxing at home and handling books. You know," Merek admits, with a nod to people, then he's taking a drink from the canteen he keeps with him.

"The information is useful once we find a way to turn it to our advantage," Jinks counters Cryosanthia with a shake of his head. "It's just a boogeyman story for now."

The gnome sighs and smooths at his goatee again. "The Hymn is being obtuse and I'm tired of watching you tallmen die. Regardless of how well the temples manage to put you back together again."

A bark of laughter escapes him in the wake of Aya's comment and he smiles in spite of himself. "Yes, well... would-have, could-have..." he manages a good-natured wink.

"I think the answer is to start drinking properly again. Maybe then all this half-connected, cosmic-scale buffoonery will make some sense." He pats his chest and gives a wistful look when the soft sounds of fabric aren't joined by the quiet clink of his flask.

Halani says, "it's all over my head, drinks won't make sense of it. I'm here to punch things. Point me at the punching, I'll be fine."

"Well no backsies," the whitescale grins at the mul'niessa. So many teeth! "You're a big damn hero now, gotta do the hero things."

Cryo glances at merek, sipping from his canteen, then back to Jinks, "Well, that does seem one solution. I suppose I could now, but I'd still rather be sober on my nest or off it."

"I've been wanting the Phalanx Falcis, I think that would be useful, but I haven't been able to get back to it and it's probably looted and gone by now."

She nods to Halani, "Okay!"

"Oh!" Her neck straightens, "Did Griva have the Renew the Pact ceremony, re-establish the Compact with Animus? Did that happen while I was occupied?"

Aya's half-smirk deepens at Cryo's comment, though she shows only glints of teeth, and far fewer at that. "I may have one or two more left within me. After that, sitting comfortably on a nest sounds rather peaceful." She then looks to Jinks and Merek at Cryosanthia's question, as she seems to have not the slightest idea, herself.

"Just Griva's meeting this past Vhast when she explained what the Pact meant," Jinks tells Cryosanthia. "You were there for that." They left together, in fact. He palms his coin back into existence and and shakes it in the air between thumb and forefinger. "If we're doing this I need Supplies."

The gnome gives Eldbe's back one last look and then searches out the clearest path to the door. "I'll be right back," he promises. With booze, no doubt.

The maestro clears Cryosanthia's sat self with an effortless, gnimble flip and scampers off out of sight.

Cryosanthia watches Jinks flip and move away, then stands, slow and gracefully, "I can do that too, you know." And it's a lot more impressive with three hundred pounds of lizard. She brushes herself off.

"Okay, so, maybe that is still happening. Or they did it without us. Well, let's go check that safehouse, and remember. Don't discuss these topics unshielded."

"Best we can hope is to move without drawing Giggle's attention for as long as possible." With that said, the pieces move out.

White Dragon to Black King five.