Neianna86

Jewel of the Skies

Tyrhallan wanted to ease the girls fussing over him, but despite two brave attempts at brushing them aside, he allowed Alexa to continue.
Eilis however had gotten the hint and had moved over to Tobi, leaving the blond female knight to fuss over her superior.
She had knelt down at the young Mage’s side and placed a pair of warm hands on his temples, cupping his head and checking him for a moment, sensing how severe the depletion was for the young man.
She smiled warmly when she realized that he would just need a little pick me up.
“Don’t be afraid, it won’t hurt. Still I have to commend you for your little lightshow, that was an impressive stunt.” She said as she again seeped some of her energy into the young mage, just so the body would be able to recover on its own more quickly.
Her binds flickered for a second as she was trying to keep her own magic to a minimal level so she wouldn’t experience the binds flaring up again, but as her healing continued she wouldn’t be able to take much more of this without recovery.
Tobi waved aside her concern and misgivings and Tyrhallan’s speech regarding duty and a warrior’s dance with death. “IF you are important for Arn you are important for me.” He said with a shrug as if that explained everything. Turning to see if the master mage was still asleep he added. “Besides, I don’t think I could deal with a mopping master mage after his lady is killed.” A smirk appeared on his face.
Eilis couldn’t hide the instantenous blush that had flared up, was it that obvious? Not that she minded, but being called out like this in front of others was a first. She quickly cast her eyes down missing the follow up between Master and Pupil.
After she calmed down a bit she was able to finish healing the young mage up and returned to Arn, checking again and making sure he wasn’t going to slip back into an unconscious state again, considering all the stunts he pulled.
They all were spend and needed to rest, but doing so was taking a large gamble.
A worried frown formed on her face, thinking about how they could overcome all these odds.

Tyrhallan simply waited for Alexa to finish before trying to touch the bandaged side of his face.
He had been surprised at how little pain he had experienced. Somehow he had expected it to be far more painful...well...he had been caught off guard and blasted with whatever magic that sorceress wielded. Still, his sight was greatly reduced, he would have to be even more careful from now on, having a serious blindspot.
He turned to Alexa and gently placed a hand upon her shoulder.
“You have my thanks and my gratitude Brightwind.” He said before he offered her some praise.
“You did well out there, had circumstances been different you would have been given proper reward, alas today things turned sour and our hard won victories were not enough to hold them off.” He eyed Alexa seriously.
“You are not obliged to follow my command anymore, you know. I am no longer leading the Vanguard. If you believe you need to follow me because you still see me as one of your battle commanders I have to inform you, you no longer need to.” He sighed heavily as he released her shoulder.
“We’ll be chasing myths at this point trying to make some sense of it all, but I for one welcome you should you decide to join us, but I know you’re concerned for your family as well. There would be no shame in leaving so you can safeguard them. I already owe you for helping me out earlier so you know I am not keeping score.” He said with a teasing smirk.
He turned to the others and said.
“If we go we should wait for the stars to come out, with a little luck we can navigate our way and we’ll be less visible crossing the Rift. Plus we get a few more hours of rest in, which I believe we all could use right about now.”
Tyrhallan’s frown returned darknening his expression even more with the bandages covering half his face.
“We’ll need to be careful however, I’ve read quite a few reports on the Rift and the many dangers that lie in wait hunting in the Sea of Sky. Riftracers for a start and let’s hope we’ll not run into a Gargantuan. There’s a reason Vaim only dared to cross in those large frigates. There are things out there that eat our Wyrms for breakfast.”

Scorched Earth

Dear if you don't mind I'll jump in too...

Jewel of the Skies

Scylla smiled contently as she lifted Eilis up, glad this all went smoothly. Her sister however seemed to sense something, as her posture changed and her voice hissed softly attempting to capture her sister's attention.
Eilis could feel it too, before she saw Arn's intent. Worry though overflooded her as she realized that Arn was crossing dangerous boundaries.
Tobi was quick to oblige and Scylla was too late to shut her eyes as Vilca screamed in horror at the blinding light. Scylla's shadows instantly disappeared, smoked by the brilliance of the light and burning her hands and hair, whilst Vilca's veil cinged up, revealing something that could be best described as living death. She threw her hands and arms protectively over it as she tried to obscure herself from vision again, screaming in agony.
Eilis instantly was dropped back in the saddle and didn't need Arn's encouragement to grab the reins of Umbra and ordering the Wyrm to bolt it out of there.
Tyrhallan realized what happened just in time and put himself in front of Alexa, so his form would offer her some coverage as he turned himself away, barely believing the brightness off the Light the young mage created.
Mages and their gifts...they didn't cease to appal and amaze him.
As soon as the flare lessened he yelled at the younger Knight.
"Go! We need to go Bightwind!" He ordered as he waited for her to steer after Eilis and Tobi, before making up the rear himself.
It was then that he heard Vilca's voice, it had stopped screaming, frankly it sounded far too calm for this situation as her long thin arm stretched out pointing a single finger at him.
"An eye for an eye!"
Before he was even sure what was happening a bolt errupted from her finger and blasted him with an omnious dark purple light. It happened so quickly and took him by surprise that the pain at first didn't register, nor the blood and loss of sight.
He grabbed one of his smoke grenades and tossed it at her, hitting her squarely in the face before it started to choke them in smoke.
Too concerned with getting away Tyrhallan fled and sped after the others leaving the sisters coughing and screaming in anger and frustration.

They fled westward, towards the Rift. The Rift was the great chasm between the continents and the Sea of Sky.
If Ith had still had its seas, this would be where they would have filled that void. The Islands grouped at the edge of Belisio were the final bits of land before one had to cross and endless gap before reaching the other continent somewhere on the otherside of the horizon.
The Rift had kept the peace because few dared to cross it and of those few that dared even fewer people knew how to do so without losing themselves to the Great Sky Sea and plummet to death into the Deep Sky.
It was just before leaving the final Island that Eilis guided the Wyrm down to the ground to rest up and have a look at Arn.
The way he had slumped against her as they had fled didn't bode well and Eilis was determined to give her Master Mage enough of her own energy that she would be able to have him smile at her again.
But she also knew that crossing the Rift unprepared messed with your mind. It was why smugglers made a fortune and why she had chosen to travel that route in the first place.
They needed a rest and a clear plan on what they were going to do now and settle a few things between them. Not to mention the fact that their newest 'companions' after all might have a problem with all of this.
As Eilis was busy giving some of her energy to Arn so the Master Mage would be able to talk and be concious to help explain things, the others touched down.
Eilis sighed relieved as she watched them come down one by one seemingly unhurt, only to gasp horrified at Tyrhallan as he descended and leapt from his saddle.
"Tyrhallan!"
The left side of his face was covered in blood as his silvery hair helped to obscure the destroyed eye.
"It seems I didn't escape unscathed."
It simply was no longer there an empty socket was all that remained and had been colouring the Knight Captain's face as red as the armour he wore.
As Eilis moved to him her hand reached out in worry, before she realised she nor any other could heal this up.
"I...I can't restore your eye...but I'll stop the bleeding." She offered her eyes wide with worry and concern.
Tyrhallan smiled wistfully.
"Well I'll be following into my Uncle's footsteps after all, only was his a limp and my deficiency will be reduced sight." He jested attempting to keep the mood light, but failing at the brave attempt.
They all had lost their home to invaders, had friends die and wonder why Fate had allowed them to live.
Tyrhallan's single eye focussed on Eilis.
"We need to figure out why you are so damned important to them. We were told more than once the answers lie in Rhevendahl and I for one wish for all of this to hold some sort higher meaning and purpose. So you know where I stand. I believe that if we can free you from your binds we will be able to get our country back." The Knight Captain spoke seriously.
Eilis nodded as she worked her healing spells.
"I wish though you all wouldn't have to get hurt because of me...Scylla and her sister will return, we might have escaped for now, but I doubt they'll try to sniff out our trail again before too long." She turned to Tobi and Alexa.
"You only joined us because of a fortunate run in...whilst I would feel more comfortable with two extra people I cannot ask you both to risk your lives for something that might get you killed."
Tyrhallan stopped her however.
"They both have fought and were willing to die for Belisio, they're no strangers to the dangerous waltz of death all warriors dance. Allow them to make their own minds up. They deserve that honour at the least." Tyrhallan said nodding to Tobi and Alexa.
"Our road will be a dangerous one, we don't even know if it will lead to anything specifically, but it will be dangerous. We'd welcome you with open arms, but the decision has to be yours. Also know there is no shame in turning back and attempting to look for your family. Nevertheless we cannot linger and await for you to return, we must keep to our own road. So young ones what will it be?"

Scorched Earth (Fantasy, Sci Fi, Magic, Technology, War)

@TheMerlin well now that does look familiar. Round two?;)

Jewel of the Skies

I am sorry for the long absence I didn't mean to remain silent for so long but real life came up and demanded all the time and energy. I am back though, I will post later today.

Jewel of the Skies

Well it depends your choice really...

But regardless of your choice we will not be rid of the sister so easily if we do escape.
Maybe Tyrhallan or one of the others has something up their sleeves, but I'd rather you would not kill Arn since Eilis 'mental strength' relies heavily on him. If she loses him all bets are off and hell will break loose.

Jewel of the Skies

As Eilis climbed back onto Umbra and settled herself in front of Arn again she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Feeling the comfort and safety of the master mage behind her soothed her and she allowed herself to lean backwards for a moment, against him as she whispered.
"I am sorry, I know I probably made you worry, but I saw no other way..." She kept her voice low and too soft to be heard by the others.
Those others were quite busy themselves, Tyrhallan helped Alexa get back on her own dragon, before he whistled for Viscera to join them again.
A shrill cry followed from far above, obscured by the smoke and the grey clouds that had filled the Upper Sky.
Suddenly a shadow flickered in between before it dove down and showed off its speed and agility as it plummeted rapidly to their level only breaking at the final and crucial moment.
Tyrhallan shook his head and sighed.
"Show off," It scolded it with a half smile while he powered his boosters down, before shutting them off completely climbing back into the saddle as well.
In front of them the last defiant ships either tucked their tail and ran attempting to escape the onslaught of the larger frigates that gave chase whilst others were blown to bits and send ablaze down into the certain death of the depths of the Deep Sky.
Tyrhallan observed it with tightened fists as he grabbed and held the reins of Viscera. The expression he held was one devoid of colour, a grim and empty expression and very off from his usual warm gaze and colourful eyes.
He watched on allowing his eyes to fall on their failure. Belisio's defeat and the current conquering of Olysium as Imperial troops had started pouring into the city.
The once mighty walls were breached in more than one place as some of the frigates had forcefully rammed them causing even more chaos and destruction.
The flames of several fires lit up sections of the city and where once the mighty castle had been only a smoking ruin remained. The high towers had collapsed completely and the main hall had been blown into the sky.
The cries and screams that howled through the air tore at the heartstrings and were partially smothered by the sounds of the last remaining struggles.
Tyrhallan forced himself away turning to the others.
"We need to leave...we don't have...we don't have much time, they'll be too occupied with the spoils of war to focus on us, but I'd rather not test Fate's hand or patience in this."
He eyed Toby for a second and said. "You'd better get onto Brightwind's mount, for we don't know how long the vehicle you've commandeered will last. I however owe you thanks, for without your aid I am certain I would not be standing here."
He was well aware of his own insignifigance in the whole ordeal...
His blood boiled and his heart bled and cried out for those lost and forsaken, those who they were forced to leave at the mercy of the Empire.
Their stronghold against the Empire was lost.
Olysium once symbol of the stubborn defiance against the might of the Empire now lay shattered and beaten at the Empire's feet.
The grounds beneath them were torn to sunder, carved and hacked up. Bodies lay strewn about, some wole, some not, the horror and anguish still etched as a final expression on their faces. Others were buried underneath broken beams or had fallen upon their shields.
And at the least those were fortunate enough to have fallen upon the land. Their families would be able to give them some sort of send off. Bury them with dignity and honour.
How many could not be found back because they had been cast into the depths of the Deep Sky. Lost to the abyss from where no body was ever retrieved, Ravros and his Uncle would be included to the many that could only be mourned for by keeping their memories alive.
His Uncle...
For his Uncle, the Great General to share such a fate.
Tyrhallan's jaw tightened as his face hardened.
"We need to move. For your sakes Brightwind and Young Master Taylor I suggest you both come with us. We'll explain our own destination to you later. Right now...we need to get out of here, before we do draw unwanted attention to ourselves." He turned his attention to Eilis nodding once as he gave a meaningful look.
"After all we have a promise to keep."
Eilis eyed him with no small amount of guilt.
She instinctively looked down, knowing what Tyrhallan meant with those words.
They had promised Uilles they would figure out why they were after her, that she took priority and she couldn't help but feel that it was because of her that they had felt torn between helping her and defending the city.
It was a silly notion of course, but not one she could easily dismiss.
She gave a soft nod back, forcing herself to speak a little louder and clearer.
"We'd best go...we promised Uilles after all."
A cackle sounded from above them, startling them all from their reverie.
Two figures descended, both on brooms it almost looked comical if the persons themselves were not deadly serious and their cackle was not a laugh that sprang forth from joy.
A familiar face and one rather omnious one.
"Well..well..well...what do we have here? Hmm?" The familiar voice of Scylla spoke as she descended to their level with her sister in tow.
Her shadows danced about her, like translucent shrouds and bits of cloth, swaying in the breeze, whilst her sister's veiled face barely moved.
"I spy with my pretty eye quite some people that were going to die."
Tyrhallan's expression darkened as he positioned himself in front of the others.
"And I see a couple of vultures circling about, finally showing their presence when the dead no longer have the strength to fight off their coldhearted corpsepecking."
Scylla snorted whilst her sister remained quiet.
"As eloquent as ever and still pretending to be a moral little busybody I see. Tell me princeling, what good has your honour brought? How many have you dragged down to their deaths with you as for the sake of defending a lost cause...just like you're doing now."
"The fight isn't over Scylla, you haven't won yet!"
"I see a sacked city and a couple of dogs running with their tails tucked between their legs seeking a safe place to hide...give it up princeling, this time there is no happy ending, not for those that have died nor for you. This. This is the end of the road little prince, time to stop dreaming and face the facts." Scylla reasoned whilst she pointed at herself and her sister.
"We both are still at our full power, you on the other hand sport several wounds."
"Don't think I'll go down that easily Scylla, I still am strong enough to skewer you both." He said with a low growl in his voice.
Scylla scoffed at that notion.
"Oh my dear you're bluff is precious but we both know that your ki is still recovering from the previous fight..." She pointed at the rest of them. "As for your 'companions' you have a wiped out mage who's closer to passing out than actually casting a spell.
What remains are an inexperienced young pup and a spoiled little princess that probably never experienced real hardship before...if you're counting on those to aid you then you must be more desperate than I thought." Scylla replied as she watched Tyrhallan's hand lightly rest upon the hilt of his sword.
"You're forgetting me..." Eilis spoke defiantly, before Scylla rolled her eyes at that.
"My dear I am not forgetting you, I am simply trying to avoid more bloodshed by telling your watchdog to go back into his kennel. I was going to get to you in a minute, but since you're so eager to speed the inevitable let me oblige you."
Eilis kept her eyes on Scylla, staring at her and her sister, who up until now had made no sound and made no action.
It caused great nervousness in her, the woman seemed almost indifferent to the tense situation in front of her and yet the was no sign she even was aware of it at all.
"You...my dear little pumpkin, you know that you're outmatched. You can feel it, go ahead...take a look in the Aether. You'll see that I am right." Scylla said as she brought her hand up, inspecting her nails with a quasi bored expression, clearly deciding that all this talk was merely a formality. A road one had to take before they could return home.
Eilis allowed herself to follow up on Scylla's suggestion, as her spirit even dipped into the Aether field the overwhelming pressure of power blasted back at her.
Her face drained as she looked up at Scylla and the other woman again, which Scylla noticed and offered her a wicked grin in return.
"There you go...now you know darling. Now. I suggest you heed my following words and consider them very carefully."
Scylla made a simple flourish with her hand as she spoke.
"I'll leave your friends alone, they'll be allowed to make their escape to whatever place has their fancy and we will not stop them provided that you willingly give yourself up now. We will take you back to our master, who has requested your presence."
Eilis's eyes widened realising she was offered a devil's bargain.
Her hands trembled, both in anger and fear, knowing full well that going with them would probably be tantamount to a death sentence or worse.
"You swear my friends won't be harmed?" She demanded to know.
Scylla rolled her eyes.
"Of course pumpkin, I swear. I may be working for the empire but I still attain some sense of honour eventhough most would consider it a whore's honour. But only the sun rises for nothing, their lives for yours that is the deal, pumpkin."
Eilis sighed looking at Tobhias and Alexa for a moment, seeing Tyrhallan shake his head and feeling her mage behind her.
"Will I be taken to Wailweald?"
"The Tower? Honestly, I don't know..." Scylla answered shrugging her shoulders. "It isn't for us to say. Our master will decide your fate most likely...though I won't deny that the Tahjai has shown clear interest in retrieving you."
"How are we to travel? Cause I doubt I will be able to fly on a broom like you." Eilis asked nodding to the objects they were resting on, causing Scylla to chuckle.
"Oh don't you worry pumpkin, we'll not travel by broom. We'll travel by portal...as our Master gave us a Sky crystal for such a special mission."
Tyrhallan's expression went from anger to astonishment and horror realizing the implications.
Sky crystals were rare and left no trace to follow, once Eilis would step through that portal she would be gone and they would have no leads to follow, no path to chase save for some obscure locations.
"Eilis! Don't! We're not letting them walk off with you without a fight. We swore to protect you and keep you safe. Scylla is just trying to manipulate you into going. Don't sell yourself short!" He objected heavily.
But Eilis shook her head.
"Tyrhallan, enough people have died today...You all need to go on and try to save Belisio from the Empire. You can't be running after a silly little refugee that attempted to gain her own freedom, I already have cost you all quite enough. It is time I faced the truth of the matter, which is that freedom just isn't in the cards for me..." She whispered.
"Good, glad we're all being sensible today." Scylla said as some of her shadows cut themselves free from her form and flew at Eilis, circling around her waist and upper arms attempting to raise her up from the saddle as Eilis didn't struggle back, despite her first initial fright.

Jewel of the Skies

“There is nothing to forgive. Indeed, I should be asking you to forgive me. I promised you would not need to fear your pursuers and yet under my very nose you were assailed.” It was his turn to avert his eyes but he steeled himself and continued.
“I will say, your secret did surprise me. Perhaps it should be you who should be protecting me.” This time he offered her a smile.

The smile comforted her as she looked down at the blankets with clear contemplation.
"I doubt I could really protect anyone and I don't mean to keep secrets, I just..." Her voice trailed off allowing a silence to fall between them once more.

“There is nothing to forgive.” He said again as if he wanted to drive the point forward. “I must say that you are full of mystery.” His tone changed to one of awe and longing. He quickly reined it back to a calm and reassuring one. “Nothing has changed. You are still under my protection and we both are under Knight Captain Tyrhallan’s.”
Trying to cut off any dismay she had he put a finger gently on her soft lips. “Before you say anything, no one blames you for last night. But there are many questions. I will honor my promise to you but I do feel that we all could be better prepared if you could and desire to share the full story with us.” He again looked assertively into her yes. “Only if you wish.” He straightened up and his voice because a bit more business like.
“Now, are you hurt? I cleaned your cut and bruises but I dared not invade your privacy searching further.”

Eilis pulled at the blankets in unease and couldn't help but feel that despite Arn promising her that her actions were not held against her, she hardly could forgive herself for what exactly had occurred.
"I am not sure what I can tell you, it is not like I exactly know what they precisely did or why I feel like I at times get pushed aside. As if I am not in control of my own body anymore. Watching from a backseat, not capable of reacting or changing anything." She gazed at Arn for a moment clear remorse and horror lay in her eyes as she confessed to Arn how she had felt at that moment.
"When my body reacted in that moment to assault you I was terrified, I screamed internally unable to stop the very destruction of those who had shown me kindness and whom I cared for." She bit her lip in a moment of embarrasment to stop it from trembling.
"I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I had hurt you..." She uttered in pain her eyes looking up at him again as tears brimmed at the corners, clearly she tried to hold them back, but it was clear she cared a great deal for him.
"I will tell you all I can, but at this point I don't know whether I am able to remain in control of my own self anymore..." She said in fear, before she answered his other question.
"No, not really, I wasn't hurt too terribly and you took great care in doing as little damage as possible." She sought out his warmth again, crawling as much against him as she could, downplaying her pain.
"I will do anything you ask of me. Because at this point I am not sure if I even trust myself anymore." She leaned her head against him. "But I know I can trust you. You are my Sun. My reliable consistant Sun. I would follow you into the Deep Sky itself." She whispered barely daring to voice her feelings out loud anymore after her own failure in loyalty, eventhough it wasn't truly 'her' doing Eilis felt guilty nevertheless.

The RP of 1000 possibilities

"Please use your abilities then, since I am not to sure of myself to guide us around. I fear we would be stumbling around continiously." She said taking his arm and holding onto him as he guided them off the plane.
"So where are we going exactly? What will it look like, could you describe it to me?"

The RP of 1000 possibilities

"So that was what flying felt like, too bad I couldn't see it..." Sophia remarked as she reached out in front of her, trying to get out of her chair by guiding herself through her hands. The two that were supposed to take care of her were quite unusual to say the least. Though the count had seemed quite at ease, she sensed nervousness around Mister Bane, apparently flying didn't suit the guy.