Kani's feet landed on the shiny golden grass with barely a sound. The sky was held at unchanging dusk, the deep violet color lit with brightly shining silver stars. Huge trees rose up on all sides, their chocolate colored bark blending beautifully with small emerald leaves that seemed to give off their own faint light. Breathtaking voices rose seemingly from the flora themselves, but Kani knew what the source really was; they were the Lamensch, the souls taken by Occus upon the deal maker's deaths. If she focused her power, she could even see them; motes of light floating between the branches of the trees and shimmering in time to their collective song.
It was an abrupt change from the chaos of the scene she had just fled from, and she could feel her anger and humiliation ebbing away in the peaceful realm. It had not always been such a wondrous place, Kani had been here during the invasion of this realm, she could remember the burn marks and blood stains now faded to nonexistence. She gathered her energy, momentarily exhausted by the endeavor of reaching this place from the mortal world, and began striding forward. The forest was nice, but she needed Hexstirn, City of Witch-Stars, located beneath the earth. The former signs of civilization in this realm had been almost entirely wiped away, but Occus created a home beneath the Rhipaion Mountains to replace the former state.
"Come, my kin, the city is not far." Kani had with her a handful of the Fae. Nine including herself, it was all that survived of the Johannesburg population, some two-hundred in all. They had been reduced to the single digits! Her anger and guilt surged once more, if only she had been quicker to retreat! Damn her pride!
They moved in silence until they came to the base of the steep mountain side, following the edge past a mostly reclaimed ruin of a temple. They came upon a great archway carved into the cliff, decorated by swirls of unfocused magic and flowing carvings. Kani had never studied the walls before, nor did she have an interest to do so now, so she did not know what they were of or about. Neither did she become aware the lack of interest was magical in nature, a ward protecting the knowledge hidden in the carvings of the entrance to Hexstirn.
It did not become dark as they descended into the mountains, it was as if the light shone through the stone above like it was water. The tunnel ended in a grand hall covered in stylized art depicting the history of Occus and his ancestors, large portions of the walls were covered in events yet to happen, but they all seemed disjointed and while some idea could be gleaned, the next panel would prove the idea impossible. It was clear these were visions of possible futures, though the further along she looked, the less Kani was able to guess at what she was seeing.
She disregarded the colorful room and took a seemingly random set of turns. The group found itself in a room filled by a large central table carved of dark wood. Bowls and platters of a variety of meals were almost overflowing off the table top, and Kali could sense the enchantment on the table that would replenish the food and keep it preserved.
"Stay here," she commanded them.
"I will appeal to the Warlock on my own." Her words were hard with self-recrimination, though by the way the others drifted towards the table without comment no one had noticed, or were so mellowed by the atmosphere of this place they didn't care.
She approached the large wooden doors on one side of the hall with a steady gait. It was time to have a war of words.
@LugubriousAs it appeared, a zombie could dream. They were mad things, nonsensical memories and thoughts from life blended with a crazed, frantic frenzy of need. The need to act, not knowing what that act was until there was a meal within sight. It wanted that. It was a simple thought, almost innocent, but drenched in sadness, jealousy, and hunger. A zombie dreamed of the living.
@OtomostheCrazyNew people had joined the survivors, a young blonde girl from the coast was one of them. It was immediately apparent she wasn't normal, or it would be if anyone knew how to look. A taint of darkness touched her, and the flakes of divine energy still clung to her years after her meeting with an immortal. Her despair and fear matched the others, but hers was somehow more. Desperation and the faintest embers of hope clung to her, and the barest inklings of relief were nestled within the cloud of emotions.
She simmered with a quiet power and she smelled of a sea breeze. Every so often, when she was surprised, her skin would almost shudder. No, the girl was not normal.
She approached Claire nervously, wringing her hands.
"You- oh sorry, I'm Hannah," she had a British accent,
"you said your sister was looking for water? Any idea when she'll be back?" Hannah was very,
very concerned about water.
"I- the people here gave me some, but I already drank all my ration. I- I might be dehydrated."
