Th3King0fChaos

The Hourglass Order

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Lost But Not Forgotten

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In collaberation with @Suicharte as Tommy

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Lor began to descend below the sight of countless sails, the auburn sky played across the sea as the cool winds finally gave reprieve from the immense heat felt during the days of work within the forge. Lepdes was the last day the forge ran at full steam, and with the encroaching night, payment for a week's work was given. All that was left in Belleville’s Blackfield Arsenal was Tommy trying to make some extra money to cover his debts during the auction and subsequent spending habits, and Desmond doing end-of-week bookkeeping.

A sigh left Desmond’s mouth as he closed his work for the night, he turned his head towards Tommy who was doing the last bit of work on the wall of wooden boxes. Tommy had his fingers wrapped in slightly reddened bandages, as another dull thud was heard, a yelp, then a slight slam. Metal within began to clatter together for a moment as Tommy began to check the lid of the case, as he let the guns within be left in view. Desmond sighed at the countless boxes, countless hours of work, and countless more orders.

Desmond had made his way into the back office, using a little bit of magic to open a drawer, where he set his record books away. Desmond took a moment, lingering within his office for a moment before he nodded to himself as he began to open another drawer. He reached in and pulled out a bottle of clear caramel-colored liquid, as he walked out, and saw Tommy just finished closing up the last box. Desmond let out a whistle and said while holding up the bottle and lightly shaking it, ”Ayo, Tommy. Good work today”.

Something had changed within the young lad at the trials. He had come to this school as a true hedonist, living only by his pleasure and displeasure, and now, after the long ordeal of the trials, he had emerged a different man. The Soiree only exacerbated this. Even if he was in debt, he’d have never grafted like this to get out of it. He’d have stolen some merchant's horse or shanked someone in a back alley to resolve the debt. But here he was, working himself to the bone for a person he’d only recently considered a good friend.

He turned to Desmond, the man he’d battled alongside for several grueling rounds of temporally anchored combat and forced a grin, but the natural smile of the lad wasn’t there. The wheels in his brain hadn’t been greased since the party, forced to a stop by an emotion he hadn’t registered or felt in his eighteen years of living. Where he’d normally have jumped for a good bottle of booze, he sauntered towards the lad and gave him a crisp handshake, ignoring the sharp pain of the splinters and bandages.

“Cheers, lad. Surprised you keep that at ya work, but I guess ya need it on days like this.” he spoke, pulling away from the handshake and looking at his own palms. Rough as they were, he’d never noticed the deep imperfections more deeply than now. He shook his head and dragged a couple of the empty crates with a touch of kinetic magic, slouching on one while leaving one near Desmond if he fancied a crude, makeshift seat.

Desmond began to take a seat as he opened the bottle, the deep cut of the distilled spirit filled the air and cleared away the smell of dirt, sawdust, and oil. Desmond took the first drink and slightly winced, ”Shit”. Desmond took a second and he looked at the bottle as he passed it over to Tommy to take a drink.

While passing the bottle over, Desmond commented, ”It’s the first batch made from a new distillery opening up in Harrowend”.

Tommy clasped the bottle and immediately took a big swig. Normally it’d have stung. Normally, he’d have said ‘Damn, that’s some hard shit!’ or another witty one-liner. But he didn't. He swallowed, flinched a little as the burn went down his mouth and handed it back with nary a thought in his head. ”It’s not bad. I’d bust ya balls usually for havin’ somethin’ from the capital, but honestly, it’s good hooch. he spoke, stifling a yawn as he wiped a stray droplet that slid down the side of his mouth. He passed the bottle back, on the verge of saying something, but he knew that both of them weren’t trashed enough to get there yet.

Desmond chuckled as he took the bottle back and said, ”Good to hear, I’ll tell them that”. Desmond took another swing, the burning sensation left him quiet for a moment as he began to pass the bottle over to Tommy. Finally whipping the slight spit away from his mouth Desmond said, ”You did pretty good today. If you keep up the work like this you might be able to touch one of the machines when your fingers are sideways”. Desmond laughed as he looked out at the empty shop, the quietness that they found themselves in was peaceful, yet deafening.

”Bet some girls’d like that. he spoke plainly, chuckling a little to himself, and then cringing internally. He took another swig to hide it, and the burn didn’t hit as bad. Again, he passed it back and looked at Desmond with a curiosity he’d had since meeting the guy.. ”Y’know, I think we grew up similar. Ow’d you end up so smart? Knowin’ how all this shite works?” he paused, biting a hangnail off and spitting it to the side. ”Even the school doesn’t teach shit like this… you think some are just born smarter? Honestly, I don’t think I coulda managed to set this up with all the teachin’ in the world.” he smiled and laughed at his own comment, but it was painful to do so. When had he let himself grow so small, to compare himself to another? Why would he diminish his friend's accomplishments by saying that they were maybe a product of birth? As if his hard work wasn’t his own? Yet, he couldn’t take his own words back.

Desmond chuckled to himself, listening to Tommy as he took a long chug for a moment before breathing out a large sigh, the burning hit hard enough to take the breath from Desmond for a moment. After a burp, Desmond passed the bottle back before saying, ”I don’t think we grew up as much alike. I wouldn’t hope to have anyone to grow up quite like I did”. Desmond seemed to look off for a moment, quiet for just that moment as he thought about what to say. ”To not bum you out too much, I was more like a child soldier, without all the glamor. I needed to learn to be smart, I was taught by already-graduated mages, yeah, but…I was taught the basics of most things, but my work came first, I was taught to fight and kill, and then came the whims of my teachers. My learning might have been because I was born smart, maybe, but it was always in the pursuit of bettering my craft, either for killing, or being a mercenary”.

Desmond takes a moment then shrugs as he turns to Tommy, ”Besides, there are things you’ve done I couldn’t even see myself doing. It’s how life works, we’re set down our paths and we make it our own. You’ve done plenty yourself, just in different ways. Sure for smarts, I got you beat all day-”. Desmond laughs and snickers as he continues, ”-but I couldn’t think of anyone coming close to you in physical strength alone. And fighting? I’ve spent my entire life fighting men larger and bigger than me, nastier and stronger than me, willing to kill me for whatever reason, and all I could do is answer in kind”

Desmond laughed as he began to look off again, ”But you? You’re over there taking on monsters of even bigger proportions with nothing but what the gods gave you. Never leaving your hometown, being the biggest fish in the pond”. Desmond then lightly slaps Tommy on the arm, ”Most probably betted on someone like that losing every single time”, Desmond then gave out one last chuckle and a head shake, ”But not you. Ain’t nothing I could have ever done if I was saddled being put into your shoes. And even when I had a solo match, we had to team up just to pull out a win”.

Desmond smirked a little as he then looked back to Tommy, ”So smile a little more, and keep your head a little higher. The Gods know who you are, and the world has witnessed you”. Desmond then let out a silent sigh, he knew there was more, yet neither of them were even close to the end of the drinks.

Tommy sat and listened to him talk. The praise of others at the trials had ran hollow - half-hearted praise towards an underdog that never could have made it. But hearing it from this man, who’d come so far on his own feet, who’d suffered, genuinely did help. He clasped Desmond’s arm with his own, a firm pat this time. ”Sorry, bud. I shouldn’t have compared us. he spoke, shuffling and stretching, taking the bottle once more with a deep swig.

”We’re both fuckin’ brilliant, and we both won this whole thing. Against a buncha noble brats who’d turn their nose up at our craft. he giggled to himself, pacing around the room. ”Mighta been the first time someone told me to smile more. People usually complain about the shit eatin’ grin. as he finally bared it, a true smile for the first time in the night. He needed this pick me up, this drink, this chat. Times like this would ground a person, but they brought him back to where needed to be, the unshakable version of himself that he’d lost recently. He greedily swigged again before the bottle found itself in Desmond’s hands once more, as he clapped his face and shook his greasy, sweat-ridden hair.

”Truth be told brother, I’ve been feelin’ something I didn’t know existed. That girl at the party…Edyta… she’s still on my mind.” he spoke longingly, remembering the pale skin, the freckles, the hair, the dancing. Features that would have normally not been of note, but they were still as clear in his head as the time he was there. ”I thought love was some made-up shit that these rich kids wrote in their books. Like chivalry and all that garbage. But, I think it’s real. From one meetin’ at a party. Am I fuckin’ stupid? You ever felt like this?” he asked, shaking his head as he tried to comprehend it. Was it love? Obsession? And why was he pawning it off on his buddy like this. Loudmouthed and uncouth as he was, he’d have never shared a thought like this prior, even boozed up as he was.

Desmond listened quietly, thoughts were running in Desmond’s eyes as the moment Tommy finished his question, Desmond took a long chug, greedily taking down the spirit before hit tipped it back forward and breathed out a heavy heave of air. Desmond gave himself but a moment before he answered the question, ”Yeah, I’ve felt it”. Desmond looked to the bottle for a moment before passing it back. He was quiet and seemed almost lost for a moment.

Desmond then began to look up towards Tommy, wearing his smile again, ”So, what’s stopping you?”

Tommy sighed. ”I don’t know, to be honest mate. I’ve always lived in the comfort of my vices. This body o’ mine didn’t come free. My brain’s like a livewire, and I always sought comfort in pleasure. Gamblin, drinks, girls. But this shit’s different. And I don’t even know where - or who - she is.” He paused, twiddling his thumbs before meeting Desmond’s gaze once more, and the look he had upon his face was one he’d seen many times in his hometown. Sometimes in grieving mothers, oftentimes in gang brawls gone too far.

”You said you felt it. What was her name, Des?” he asked solemnly, taking another swig as he patted him on the arm. He knew this story didn’t have a happy ending, but that was why he wanted to hear it. He wanted to understand the risk to this feeling, and what it could cost him. He didn’t want to go in blind, as he had hundreds of times before to risk it all for a meager reward.

Desmond’s face changed, his smile began to fade as he took hold of the bottle for a moment and began to take a long gulp from it and passed it to Tommy, ”Yeah, I’ve felt love before”. Desmond nodded his head as he began to look down for a moment, a big sigh came from his mouth as he said, ”Her name was…Suki-”. Desmond let the moment rest as he looked to Tommy and saw it in his eyes, the look of wanting more.

Desmond then made a gesture for the bottle again, as once it was in his hand he took another drink, a long one before he handed it back, “I…I met her back when I was in my earlier years, around the time of the Hullendam-Kerremand war, I wasn’t the only kid picked up by my Mercenary Company. There were maybe about 10 of us, all misfit kids, orphaned, forgotten, abused, and used, from different lands but that did nothing to stop us. We were all…close, but there were 3 of us who were inseparable. Myself, a young kid named Louis, and…Suki. Suki, she…she was taken by pirates, sold off into slavery and then was rescued by my mercenary company, just like I was”.

Desmond wavered a moment, thinking what else to say, sitting there, in an empty forge with nothing but a bottle of whisky and a man he calls…friend, ”She…she, taught me things. I learned some of her native language, learned how to make instruments out of leaves and tree branches, and learned how to trust people…I…I…I-uhm-I learned a lot. Just…things happened, and I…I lost her”.

A little water came into Desmond’s eyes as he lightly wiped it away before he said, ”So yeah, uhm, it’s…hard, sometimes, those pains, just kinda come and…I guess if you’re looking for something from this…I guess, it’s something powerful, it can heal but it can also crush”. Desmond cleared his throat, something was forming from the emotions that was dredged up when he saw the emotions on Tommy,.

”If anything…”, Desmond begins to swallow the saliva filling his mouth, the dryness seemed to almost reach his throat as he seemed to become lightly raspy, ”I guess…just-”, Desmond seemed to be nearly choking on his own words, ”-Just…don’t leave anything unsaid. Don’t leave things to what-ifs”.

Tommy stood up abruptly from the crate, and pulled Desmond to his feet, giving him a firm hug and a pat on the back once he was finished spilling his heart out. They’d shared a lot here, quite frankly more than they’d shared with anyone in a long time, but wasn’t that the essence of friendship? ”You got it. That’s a creed I’ve always followed, thank ya for remindin’ me.” he said, pulling away and taking the whiskey from his friend and pouring a little on the ground.

”For her, n’ the others we’ve lost along the way.” he spoke respectfully, bowing his head before taking his own swig. He set the bottle on Desmond’s crate, and sat back down on his own.

Desmond took the abrupt hug and kept the little composure he had left. Taking hold of the bottle again, Desmond stops for a moment before he pours a bit more out and continues, ”And to those who we will find further along”. Desmond then takes a swig of the spirit and beaches before beginning to laugh.

How many years has it been since he had a heart-to-heart with someone like this? With a bottle of strong alcohol, in some dusty room, and about girls. What a strange life

Tldr;

Tommy and Desmond have a heart-to-heart about love as Tommy finds himself again as well as Desmond opening up about something that hasn't been unearth for years

Mechwarrior: Disposable Heroes

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Wings of Death

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The Phoenix Hawk shook and rumbled, this moment of speed was enough to take a hit off of the already weakened heavy hitters. Within the machine, the man within was shaken violently, yet when he rose up once more. The visor shaded over once more as his head turned and saw he had enough fuel for 1 more jump.

The Phoenix Hawk then turned, smoke billowing from the back of mech as it then faced the Crusader behind it. The Phoenix Hawk brought its weapon up and fired both it and its medium lasers onto the Crusader to distract the mech for just a moment as then, the Phoenix Hawk flew once more, this time with malicious intent.

As the Phoenix Hawk flew, black smoke followed behind it, as these black wings guided the mech and it's pilot to near-certain death.

Hider

The Hourglass Order

Th3King0fChaos': Mano e Mano

Desmond Catalus for The Raffscallions

docs.google.com/document/d/1pVAm0TadP…

Marz Mohfolk for Rock and Stone

docs.google.com/document/d/1U4pkJKOqK…

Mechwarrior: Disposable Heroes

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The Phoenix Hawk took the lowest amount of hits in these couple of moments, if anything, there was hoping for more on his side to take some away from his comrades, yet Tarak didn't mind any. This just meant that he had more armor and hell to give. The Phoenix Hawk Jumped up from the kick from the Hunchback and took a few short-range missiles from the Panther, yet was not shifted or moved. It was time to continue the move and force them into a choice, as from that Jump the Phoenix Hawk shot up and away as it fired off its jump jets. Flying up and over the enemy and landed down onto CC9.

The moment the Phoenix Hawk touched down, it slid and turned on the icy ground, as the Phoenix Hawk took up its weapons and fired all of them directly into the back of the Hunchback. Letting loose the withheld malice within his laser weapons. Multiple green lasers began to launch out as they ripped through the cold air with screeches and whistles as the intense heat melted the snow and heated the air in an instant.

The lasers were to try and force the Hunchback to decide, death by lasers from the back or turn and get torn apart by missiles and the Von Luckner's cannon. Within the Phoenix Hawk known as the Black Phoenix, the pilot sat with music blazing yet was still. The pilot was unmoving, like a statue that only moved every now and again to activate the mech's controls. There was no motions from fury, anxiety, worry, nothing, just a cold unmoving machine. Yet for every little emotion the machine within had, the mech that was exposed to the heat of the weapons and the cold of the air exploded with unmatched emotion.

Hider

Mechwarrior: Disposable Heroes

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After that one powerful shot, the Phoenix Hawk was set slightly off-balanced yet not stopped. Within the quiet pilot took hold of his controls, and leaned forward. The Phoenix Hawk began to move, one step forward was then a small tilt, then from that tilt another step as the mech took another step. Slowly but surely, the mech continued forward. Gaining speed quickly as the mech began to slam its feet faster and faster as it began to move quite a distance in a short time.

Once the Phoenix Hawk hit the start of the bridge, it aimed and fired Lasers at the Panther another time. More sickly green energy poured from the lasers, almost as if the witch had cursed them with such malice that it aimed to corrupt everything it touched. As even with a little bit of the energy hitting some of the stone beyond the enemy mechs were gashed deep. Almost like giant claws lashing and cutting anything in its way. The Large and medium lasers sought out the Panther for that one moment before the Phoenix Hawk contained the deep malice that was held within its guns. As there was no longer line of sight for the Phoenix Hawk to hit Panther.

Once the lasers are fired, the mech begins to full-on run across the bridge. Hanging precariously close to the edge as the Phoenix Hawk ran on the very edge of the bridge to save on time to get to the front as quickly as possible. Trying to take heat for his other mechs and possibly set up a great move as it's jump jets began to spark to life.

Hider

Mechwarrior: Disposable Heroes

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Calm and quiet, Tarak was silently waiting. Toasty and calm, he sat within, ready for the moment for action to begin. Snow began to cover the Phoenix Hawk in a thin layer of white, as within, Tarak slowly began to nod his head, slow and calm, quietly, he listened and watched, all in his own world. His eyes were completely peeled and ready, as even the slight movement of the snow did not escape his eyes.

Then the first of their targets came forth, an unknown mech, yet one that would quickly be dealt with if the need came down, next was the emch they waited for, the Firestarter himself. Yet Tarak waited, quietly as his head continued to nod as he slowly waited for the shooting to start. It was to be a giant orchestra started by one movement.

Everyone was preparing to fire, and everyone began to pick targets quietly, for Tarak he could not keep a full target on the Firestart quite sad, truthfully he would wish to put both his large laser and both small lasers on it, however, he did find another target. The uninvited Panther who seemed to carry a pretty nasty weapon, yet it would mean nothing if it was dead.

It was a cacophony of destruction as the Green Knights all at once opened fire, the Phoenix Hawk took aim and fired its' Large laser rifle to bear down onto the Panther, hopefully in center mass (this is the free hit), as the Phoenix Hawk's small lasers followed suit.

It was then, the once red lasers fired a pure bluish hue that seemed almost unstable. The laser almost seemed to have weight, as the laser fired the beam seemed to rip the air apart, any snow flying by wasn't melted but turned into puffs of white souls that seemed to cry out.

Tarak was quiet, the drumming of the song pounded through his chest as the Phoenix Hawk let out the deep and strong drumming from its' mounted stereo system. The curse of hatred, the black magic casted upon his weapons, was much casted upon the user.

Avalia

Time: Morning
Location: Port Vanarosa
Interactions/Mentions: Arlen @SilverPaw
Equipment: A set of sturdy clothing, the wonky ring of disguise that enlarges the ears of the user, and his dog tags.

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Ismael took off his cloak and tunic that had a large slash and took a shirt from one of the men who was taken out in a less than gruesome way and put his shirt on. "Yeah, it'd be nice to see something other than the dark alley. I think getting something to eat would be nice".

Once Ismael had put on the new shirt and his cloak once more, he collected whatever of value he could get and then put it into a bag before he slapped Arlen on the back. "Come on, we don't wanna get caught up here". Ismael laughed before he continued, "I think I saw a place a ways away where Tanathil had taken me to shop, that puts some distance between us and here".

Ismael then began to do a light jog before he hit the street and then began to walk, trying to look normal while also keeping a solid and slightly quick pace. Because no matter what, something was gonna be happening soon and he did not want to be caught up in the aftermath of them fighting in the alley.

Tldr

Ismael finishes checking the bodies, changes his shirt with another cleaner one, disposed of the bodies, and starts having them move to another part of the city to find something to eat

The Hourglass Order

Into the Void

While the city had been meet with such destruction, the Dowager Queen and Wesca are in full flight, nearing the edge of the city, glancing back at the destruction wrought by their avarice, cruelty, and selfishness.

Ayla will need to be plucked from the space between reality and the VOID, but who will do it? Who will risk a trip they may never return from?

The city is about to suffer a great calamity, such as it has never witnessed before. Who will save it?

Then, from the ruins, emerges a hero. His name is Cozesteo and, mere days ago, he was like any other man.

Aftermath

He has always been larger than the average man in body, but now, he swells in spirit as well.

Father of the Revolution, Saviour of his People

“People of An Zenui!” His voice boomed across the city. “Rise up!” He stalked forward, gathering all of his magic. “Calamity has been brought to us!” Clouds began to form in the star-filled sky. “Rise up!" They stirred and swirled and thickened, swelling with rain.

“But we are cazenax!” The rain began to fall. Thunder rumbled. “Rise up!” They emerged, then, from the places they hid in fear. “This is our home. This is our struggle!” He thrust his fist into the air. “Rise up!” The air itself seemed to shake. “On our own, we are but small, but together, we are mighty, so I say to you once more:" The rain began to put out the fires. they took to the streets. The magic of thousands swirled about the great canyon. “Rise up!”

“Lend me your strength. Lend each other your strength and...” His nostrils flared and his teeth gritted. “Rise up!”

“Rise up!”

“Rise up!”

The land that had been thundering quelled its rage. Stones settled back to the ground. The rains came and put out the hundreds of fires that had threatened their homes, their livelihoods, and their loved ones. Thus, An Zenui was saved.

But the Omenaxan still stirred. Ayla still floated between worlds, unclaimed.

A Kind Traveler

Tennaxi remained outside of her body. She regarded the others. "I can enter the place where she is." Her voice reverberated strangely and, surprisingly, they could understand her. "However, I'm not sure that I know the way back..."

Beside the Omenaxan appeared a figure in a long and simple brown traveling cloak. She was taller than a cazenax and she stared up at it, unmoving, face concerned.

Plague

The group who had just saved An Zenui now had to save themselves from the fate that was slowly consuming them. 6 of their members began to feel the last gift the foul grand demon left them, a plague that would calcify the body of those touched by such a terrible thing.

Many of those who had began to feel their body almost turn to stone

Desmond began to feel the throbbing and stabbing pain in his mind fade away. He saw the horrid event and would have been taken aback, yet, if he was to falter, then he would be no better than a simple man and people will die.

Desmond rose as his invisibility faded away as he stood and saw everything begin to unfold, and now another great Demon began to move.

He jumped off and landed near the others, as he began to call out, "If you are going to do anything do it! Some of us need to head to that damn prison before it goes wild, we can't handle something like that again!"

Desmond saw Tku and kneeled down as he said, "Sorry Kid, you need to wake up".

As Desmond began to fill Tku with chemical magic and magnetic magic to begin to try and awaken him.

Tku had then risen once more, body aching, His body bruised from over expending his mana. He wanted to rest but he couldn't. he needed to keep going, it was his oath. He stumbled over to Egosto, "Do not worry my friend".

Desmond after trying what he could he began to cast his eyes to the beast and began to sigh. He began to take out a new set of bullets.

Loading another round into his gun as he turned, "Do what you can I guess, it's time to try and deal with that beast. I'll try and calm the beast a little to buy us time".

Desmond began to move to try and meet the beast before things turned bad.

Tku's masterful magic once more worked as he began to strip the stone away from those who had reached such a state that many would believe them to be truly stone. Yet with the hands of the man who had attempted what many believe to be the work of the gods, nothing

Egosto staggered, in the way that sirrahi might, breathing heavily, gratefully. "There is one job left," he growled as Tku continued his work.

Tku had barely enough strength to stand but as he rested his hand on the stony Egosto his mana gave it his last amount. Tku's nose bled from the strain at the end but the stone sluffed off and Tku fell to the ground, still awake this time, "Always so much work."

Actions

Meanwhile, a long ways away, Wesca and the Dowager boarded a small wagon that the latter had hired to wait for them here in the off chance that things went awry.

The hooded driver nodded in her direction. “Where to, milady?”

Wesca glanced back at the city: dirty, ungrateful place that it was. Everything was ruined, but she had relatives elsewhere. “An Tescai,” she answered quietly, on her friend's behalf.

He nodded and set the mules to moving. It was such an undignified means of travel, but it would serve well as a cover. They went on for some ways as the people of the city they had abandoned struggled on to save it from destruction.

The driver seemed a rough-looking man beneath his cloak, though they could not see much. His clothes were tattered in the way of people from outlying villages. He gestured to the back, however. “There's sweetwater in the back,” he grunted. “It's a long trip. You may want to help yourselves.”

This was a mean and simple thing for people who were so used to being served, but such was their level of paranoia that they waited for him to drink some first. The wagon traveled onwards and, after a time, he did enjoy a drink.



The mules brayed, the wheels clattered, and the stars shone. The two women began planning their first moves in their new temporary home. The Dowager reached back for the bottle and a pair of flasks and brought them to the front. Wesca took one and waited. She did not trust easily and they were vulnerable, now. They knew it and how it bothered them, to be cut down to size: to be small like everyone else!

It was cold, and Wesca wrapped her traveling cloak around herself. Elsewhere, another traveler, in a similar cloak, walked through the city, so very pleased with what she now saw.

The Dowager drank first, unconcerned. “How much?” she asked of the driver, voice cool and settled.

“Pardon, milady,” he inquired. “How much what?”

She had seen his gloves. She knew them.



“How much are they paying you?”

He let out a sniffing chuckle. “I've not been paid anything,” he assured her. “I have been called many things in the past, but I'm an honest man.”

Wesca caught on. She knew those gloves as well, and their nine fingers. The driver lit a pipe and took a pull from it. “Don't worry,” Wesca assured her, “he's a friend.”



Cuimits nodded. “I never forget my friends,” he affirmed.

There was an extended pause.

“You fool girl!” the Dowager cursed, “Did you not see the label on the bottle!?”

“Or my enemies,” the man with nine fingers concluded.

It was... Shimmering Sails Sweetwater Stead.

“I'll triple it!” cried the Queen Mother.

Cuimits pulled back his hood. “Suppose there's no point in this anymore,” he chuckled.

Wesca began gathering her magic. So did the Dowager.



This, they tried to cast in his direction, but then there was something in the covered back of the wagon that drew their attention. A pair of milky white eyes slid open. Three others opened alongside it.

“You see, someone spared my life once, when I was low and hopeless," he continued, conversationally, “when I refused to believe that there was any fighting people like you.” He shrugged. “Now, me and the folks back there - they're good people, but we don't agree on much.”

Then, there was another voice, old and raspy. “There's one thing we do agree on, however,” it chimed in, “and that's that the world needs a helluva a lot less people like you, your ladyship.”

The four full moons hung high in the sky overhead, beneath a blanket of stars. The desert lay empty and open before them, peaceful in the night.

Peaceful, it was, until a scream pierced the silence, and then another.

Consequences

The Omenaxan was still awakened, however. If they city had been saved from one calamity, it stood on the precipice at another and, in the center of it all, was Ayla Arslan: neither here nor there.

Finally, the traveler in the brown cloak arrived. She pulled back her hood.

"If you can make it in there, I can guide you back," she said enigmatically.

The cat looked to the traveler and headbutt her ankle before rubbing its body against it.

She reached down and scratched behind his ears. She looked back up, her brief smiled fading to a look of concern. "But your window is fast closing, I warn."

The wildblood rose from the embrace and looked to the interloper. “How?”

Benedetto went still. "I..." He trailed off and swallowed, eyes wide. "What she said." He jerked a finger at Zarina.

The shadow Tennaxi looked up at the Traveler. "We will be without any visible or energetic direction," she advised.

The woman smiled beatifically. "My voice will guide you, as might Ayla's were she on the other side. Follow it and you will be found."

Zarina's breathing was loud and constant. Her big, burning chest expanding in side with every massive breath, and exhaled what almost looked to be steam from its mouth and nostrils. “Let's do it.” she looked antsy as her fingers slowly balled into massive, black-scaled fists.

Tennaxi's shadow did not give away much in terms of emotion, but it would not have been a stretch were she to be nervous. She stretched out her arms, the tall, wiry figure that she was. "I can take three of you."

Samaxi reached out and placed a hand on her once-doppelganger's leg. “I'm ready.”

Desmond looked around, Desmond sighed, he remembered what he was told. He felt a thrumming in his chest as he decided incase anything happens within, he would prefer to be in to help.

"You know what, I'll come. You might need someone to watch over you guys for a bit longer".

Samaxi mock-glared up at him.

Desmond shot a small smirk to Samaxi as he gave her a wink.

With that, Tennaxi began to walk forward, and they were a lumbering, awkward, composite thing for a moment. The air began to grey and turn hazy, as if they were fading through something, or perhaps it was a mist: a mist closing in.

Tku felt a deep desire to go. To fix what he had done to Ayla. But Reality wasn't that. He had done too much and his body was starting to fail and his mana getting close to cannibalizing itself. "I cannot go, I can feel that my body will fail me if I try to travel," Tku lowered his head apologetically. "I wish you the best in there," gave a weak smile, guilt of what he might have done to Ayla weighing on him.

Before entering the mist, Desmond threw just a small gesture to Tku, "Don't worry, we'll be back".

Zarina marched forward, following Tennaxi's lead as rigorously as a dog follows its owner. No complaints. No chatter. Just the same, loud breathing and the big foot stomps.

It thickened as they moved, Samaxi, in particular, struggling. "Once we're inside, do not lose contact with each other, no matter what. Time and space work differently outside of reality."

“Oh-Kay.”

"Sounds like a normal day".

Samaxi looked up at Zarina. “I should... probably be on your back.”

Tennaxi let out a sniff of laughter. "Sounds like an exciting life," she remarked with a hint of envy. "Desmond at one hand and Zarina at the other, maybe. Hold onto each other."

Desmond chuckled, "It's never dull if you make it so". Desmond then went over to begin hold onto Tennaxi

The half-human stopped to allow the legless one to straddle her back before continuing.

Then, a large hand attached to an unusually long arm reached for Tennaxi's left. “Yes.” she shot a sharp-toothed smile at her friend. “G-good legs.”

Inbetween

Then, suddenly, they lost their sense - their sense of... everything. There was no floor, no ceiling, no sense of anything but themselves. Up was the direction they happened to be standing in. Now was the present, but it was also then and later.

There was utterly nothing to see, hear, or sense.

Zarina defaulted to floating once she felt the absence of flooring.

All directions fast became things defined only by the others she was there with.

The only direction that mattered was the one taken by Tennaxi, the one Zarina chose to follow.

Desmond had never felt something like this. It was...impossible to describe. Nothing.

Not a single thing. Silence would have been deafening in comparison to this. The mechanical understanding to move was ingrained from youth. One losing all forms of sensing loses the sense and understanding on how to walk or move. And in a place with nothing, one might even forget to think.

No form of physical feed back, no physical feeling of motion, nothing. Yet Desmond almost willed in his mind, 'move'. Enacting his understanding of motion to create an image of himself moving forward. Walking on nothing like it was something. An act every being ever does, but few ever understand what it is.

Samaxi lifted off from Zarina's back, careful to keep an arm on her wing. So often, she had moved with the assistance of others, even though she was more capable of getting by on her own than they tended to think. She thought of the space above her as a floor and herself doing a handstand on it, but then she thought better and remained in contact with her friend.

Tennaxi forged ahead, and how she navigated this place was a mystery to the others and even, possibly, to herself.

Suddenly, there were three doors.

The group of four stopped in front of them. The decision that needed to be made was clear.

The doors began to become clearer as they came to a halt in front of them, thinking already on what they might've been. The one on the left resolved itself as darker. It emanated heat and smelled faintly of sulphur. The one in the centre was grey and featureless. Its peer on the right was white and smooth. A sweet aroma and the faint sound of music wafted from it.

Desmond looked at the 3 doors. One seemed to have something of heat, the smell of sulphur, and seemed darkened. Another seemed almost cool, with sweet music, smells, and air.

Neither was the one they looked for, as they were told, "We need to go through the grey door. Ayla was said to be trapped in the middle, she must be there".

Samaxi scrunched her nose up. She thought she'd seen something different at first. The left door had seemed old and battered, the right fresh and new and... somehow of an advanced type. The middle one was mundane.

The sound of music caught the wildblood's attention. “Sounds- Music.” she let out a low hum. “Songs from Ayla.” her eyes were locked onto the smoother door.

Now that she looked again, however, having taken Desmond's words to heart, she *did* notice what he had, and apparently Zarina as well.

Now, Samaxi heard them as well: the songs! She hadn't heard them before.

"Where do we go?" asked Tennaxi, looking to the others. She continued to hold their hands, seeing and sensing what they were.

Zarina looked to each one. Her only desire was to find Ayla. And soon she could swear she could hear singing in all of them. “Don't know.” she answered, progressively more frustrated as she heard the taunting melodies.

Desmond began to sigh, he casted his eyes down, much of which it did not matter where they truly went. Desmond then began to listen, he sought out a certain song, a certain tone. Ayla's music was specific, high highs, and mild lows, her voice would not allow for much else so she would not be able to reach the deepest sets with her own voice.

The sound was a strange thing in comparison to where it came from, but he needed to remember another thing, she could also be guided to her through her own voice, like what was told to them.

Desmond then realized, "We aren't looking for the sound of an instrument but a voice", Desmond once more listened to the music, trying to listen for a voice, Ayla's voice.

While Samaxi and Zarina were convinced that they could hear it coming from the second door, in the middle, Desmond was fairly certain that it was coming from the third, on the right.

“Cats.” Zarina remarked, pointing at door one. “Hair.”

Samaxi began to think of other clues. She pressed her large cazenax ear to each door, listening for the faint mewing of a cat.

Desmond winced as he sighed, he wasn't a man who knew music, he rarely talked to Ayla, and honestly, it was something hard for him.

Desmond sighed once more, as he said he couldn't hear the same as them.

He looked around as he thought once more, "Yeah she likes cats a lot, I guess we should try from that, either mewing or her calling for a cat".

All of them heard it, this time: clear as day. There was a cat behind the first door. Tennaxi nodded and pushed it open.

Desmond couldn't hear mewing, he couldn't hear the calling of a cat, it was the slight scratching, the light clawing at wood, he could hear it, and then finally a loud call for food, and much like the others they could hear cats behind the first door.

The massive girl reached her giant, clawed hand to pet the kitty. Still unsure if there was one.

Limbo

The door opened and, beyond it was... a small island in the middle of a pond. There was an old wooden bridge leading there, though what the first few steps of it looked like varied between all of them before it solidified. What did not differ, however, was the person sitting there, under a tree. It was Ayla, dining with a man they did not really recognize. Presently, he stood up in some haste and made to leave. A handful of cats napped, frolicked, and chased insects. In the distance rose the beautiful, if somewhat arid, landscape of southeast Torragon.

Zarina, briefly disappointed by the absence of a kitty, perked up when she saw her close friend, safe and talking with someone on an island connected by a bridge. The wildblood performed the smallest of hops and manipulated gravity to essentially space jump her way to the other end of the bridge. “Ayla.” she called out, happy, almost excited.

Samaxi looked about, eyes wide. This was a place where she had never been. In fact, she had never been very much outside of her farmstead or An Zenui, unlike her father. For a moment, she felt a pang of jealousy, but then she was too busy taking it all in.

Zarina launched herself forward and then the man was gone - simply gone. The tree, however, hung ripe and full with avocados. She floated towards it. In the water were vines, and things bobbing up and down on the ends of them.

The moment the door was opened Desmond sighed as he began to see what seemed to be a more familiar land. Not his home, but one that he has been to before, Desmond sighed once more when he saw Ayla was there. Desmond continued to move as the moment Zarina attempted to do her large jump, Desmond followed, as he did not wish to be left stranded in this place.

Ayla turned. "Hola soy Ayla!" she chirped. She turned on the spot, hair whipping about behind her. "We've been waiting for you, but met such an interesting person!" She glanced about, seeming a little bit disappointed that he was gone. It was about then that they all noticed the plants around them and... was it what they thought it could be?

The cats were all about, rubbing up against people's legs, mewing, scampering around. A few seemed to be congregating at the tree and some more at the water's edge, pawing at something that bobbed up and down in it.

The big, black dragon took exactly two large steps before she could kneel down and be the bigger Arslan today. A customary Ayla-tier hug. Maybe a tad tight and uncomfortable given the scales, but Zarina was very evidently considerate of her strength. “Safe.”

Samaxi settled onto the ground, for she was more their height, and ruffled the fur of a couple. She smiled in Ayla's direction. Then, however, she made her way to the water. She had never really been able to reach things in trees.

Desmond casted his eyes around there were plants, and what seemed to be fruits? Desmond wasn't sure, yet he had a thought for a moment, what if this place was similar to that grove of trees that many of the students been to before.

Desmond began to look around as he asked Tennaxi, "You think it's safe here for us to move freely?", he seemed quite interesting in the things that the cats were playing with and congragating to.

Tennaxi nodded. She stepped forward herself as well, gazing up at the tree and its fruit-laden branches.

Desmond sighed as he began to move towards the water seeing what the cats seemed to be bobbing up and down.

In the water was a vine with three floatmelons on it, each one rich and ripe. They would be quite easy to reach were he so inclined.

Tennaxi leapt upon the tree, climbing it as she had climbed the great cactus near her home as a child. "These look delicious," she exclaimed. "Think we can take some?"

Then, the weredragon released her friend. Now was time to sniff around. A tree, with avocados. They reminded her of fancy dinners. But floatmelons - the delights of her youth, a child of a coastal city. Memories. Both pleasant and painful. They tugged hard at her instincts. The choice was difficult.

She approached the avocado tree, and just leered at fruits. She was, after all, very tall, so she didn't really have to move much.

“Nobody here to stop u-us.”

Ayla smiled and shrugged.

Samaxi gazed up at that tree. She had never been able to reach them, and it bugged her.

Zarina raised a metaphorical brow, as she didn't really have that anymore, and just extended her wing down to Samaxi.

Tennaxi was up there among the branches now. "Anyone want one?"

Then, she noticed that she was not alone here. A small serpentine dragon nestled among the branches, presently awakening from a satisfied slumber, and it regarded her with an interested disinterest.

Desmond, poking around by the water, noticed some of the cats leaping away from one particular area. From the water rose a sea serpent, it's head poking out as the height of an older child. It appeared ancient and rugged and... oddly wise. It tilted its head momentarily, noticing him, and sunk back down so that only its eyes were visible.

But how the water - such a beautiful and valuable thing - the lifeblood of her family and her people, something she had been connected to for her entire existence: how it called to her! On some level, she came upon the realization that this was a choice that would matter.

Ayla sat on the grass, smiling and happy to be among friends. She was petting two cats at once.

Zarina stared right at the dragon. She didn't move and just gawked at it. “Small dragon.” she observed.

It looked at her and blinked. Its whiskers trailed out to either side of it. They were mighty despite its small size and it was covered in feathers.

She reached out with her long arm, keen on petting it with her pointer finger. “Beautiful feathers. So nice.”

The dragon only winked, however. Then, it fluttered up and away.

“Mmm.” she followed the dragon's ascent before it went away.

As consolation, she reached for one of the avocados, looked to Tennaxi, and smiled. “Yum yum.” she cut the soft shell open with only her claw and split the fruit in two before she began to scoop up portions to eat.

Desmond kneeled down and looked to the melons. They seemed strange, within the water they seemed so calm, and mysterious as he began to look at them and see the others seemed interested in the tree fruits, Desmond thought they might also like to try the water ones.

Then a strange serpent seemed to rise from the water and took notice of him. Before long it sunk within the water again and now it stayed under with only it's eyes visible like a shluckodile. Desmond smiled towards the serpent, as he then reached for a melon in the water. He would hope to grab some for the others, but he wished not to take all the food of the serpent.

Desmond grabbed it and sat down next to the water as he opened up the melon for him to eat some while in his other hand he holds out some for the serpent to eat.

Samaxi came up beside Desmond. “Any good?” She regarded his piece curiously as the dragon slipped below the waves and was gone.

"I heard the smaller ones are better than the bigger ones, it tastes okay".

“Spare some for your girl here?” Samaxi prodded, smiling sweetly.

Desmond chuckled as he leaned over and handed her some, "Yeah".

Home

Ayla chose a fruit too and ate of it. That was when they noticed that all of the other fruits had disappeared. For a moment, Tennaxi pondered. "This is where I'm less sure," she admitted, casting about for ideas, but then it was Samaxi who had one. “Well, we more or less imagined our way here...” she began, trailing off. She shrugged. “Why not do the same back?”

“There is-” began Zarina as she joined her friends, still enjoying her treat. “no place like home.” and she imagined, for a moment, Gandakar.

They looked at each other. "That's.... not a half-bad idea. Maybe we just imagine that wizard lady calling us out?"

Zarina, meanwhile, appeared to be somewhere else entirely, at least in her head.

Then, she shook her head, snapping out of her daydreaming.

"What are you guys talking about? The door is right here".

As Desmond gestures behind him, using his magics to try and make everyone think the same.

Samaxi had caught on, however. She had managed to put herself back at the 4S... again, for just a moment.

Tennaxi blinked. "It is?" Then, she shook her shadowy head. It was right there. "Oh yeah, let's go through!"

Zarina canted her head until she felt the side of her horn prod her shoulder. “Yes. That is th-the door.”

Desmond turned and went to open the door, almost as if he truly knew it was there, since forever.

With that, they made their way through. What else was there to do? They were in the endless whiteness. Then, it began to darken and became foggy. Suddenly, those who were floating felt themselves stop. The ground was solid beneath them and they were... leaving this place. As reality re-materialized, they had no idea if they would ever return. That was up to the Gods or fate or... well, maybe their own agency to decide.

An Ending and a Beginning

They returned to dawn breaking over a city that had been shaken, battered, and burnt. Yet, its people had stood strong. They had vanquished the evil, the corruption, and the rot from within their society and, though the cost had been great, they would be stronger for it in the long run. Ayla showed up and she played her music and the great beast that slept at the centre of their world quieted and returned to its slumber, pulling the pieces of its tower back together as if it had never stirred in the first place.

Yet, the cazenax of An Zenui, wondrous and terrible place that it was, remained a society divided. The Dowager's final poison would not fade so easily. While some had learned to see friends and neighbours in the sirrahi and other beings of the VOID, others' suspicion of anything to do with that place had only deepened as a result of the horrors they had witness on the day of Bloody Golden Skies.

The Traveler who had visited their city walked the streets and lived among them, for this was what she had wished for, in truth: a revolution of the people, imperfect though it was. She had not used her great power to interfere. This had happened all on its own... more or less. It had been led by a once-unremarkable man who had been inspired to lead, to right the injustices he had lived among for his entire life. She went her own way, satisfied.

So, too did Nyax-Acan - a man once known as Benedetto Corvi. Those years spent apart from his one-time peers at Ersand'Enise had forever changed him. Gone was the brash, petulant, puerile thug of his youth. The qualities that had always existed within him but never been nurtured now rose to the fore and shone through, tearing down the veneer that had long protected him from the judgement of others.

When a small group of stuzéts led by Egosto-Alguo came to him, now calling themselves the Sirui Hé, he knew what needed to be done. They asked to travel to some place where they might be able to build a free society of their own, from scratch, without any outside interference. He granted them their wish and... while some waited for Benedetto to return, most understood that he would not. This was how things were supposed to happen. How they were always meant to be.

And finally came Karan Harrachora himself, with a portal and magic, and an interest in a particular eeaiko girl and two cazenax they had met along the way. Many were the questions about what they had seen, and Tku's, among them, had not gone unnoticed and would not go unanswered in the coming days.

But there were matters to be wrapped up first. It was time to say goodbye. They stood there: a group of people who had been, varyingly, friends, acquaintances, and strangers a week and a half ago. They stood upon the grounds of the Shimmering Sails Sweetwater Stead as a blustery wind blew across the desert, carrying with it the scent of rare and welcome rain. “Looks like a real good one,” remarked Samaxi, “eh, dad?” Jascuan nodded. He smiled in his understated way. “It does,” he agreed. “It really does.”

So much anger, death and destruction had been unleashed in just the span of a few hours. It was enough to gorge the transformed Zarina with the stuff until she vomited it all into a sick of fury and violence. When Hetraxa fell to her coup de grace, most of the excess energy and the killer instinct in her had numbed away, leaving way for lore of her repressed humanity to come forth, albeit kept limited to simple expressions and brief words.

Soon, she'd save Ayla with the help of friends and a mysterious traveller, and the city would be safe from the stirring Omenaxan. Finally, this endless battle had reached its conclusion.

When came the time to say goodbye, the still transformed wildblood turned to the young centaur she had grown a strong bond with. On one knee, she embraced the young child, now wise beyond her years. “I will see you again soon.” she beamed at Classa. “Promise.” she spoke with a constant, guttural purr akin to a motor with heaving breathing to come with it.

Then, she snapped her fingers as an idea crossed her mind. Her long arm-wing reached for her back to her shoulder blade, and tugged out a loosened obsidian scale that had been disturbed by Hetraxa's cleave. The scale, no bigger than the young girl's palm, was a gift to her. “For you. To remember, and maybe one day to help.”

After everything was done Fiske couldn't help but still hold himself close to his heart after all of this. He hid amongst the crowd. Whilst not invisible, he did not make himself too known to everyone. The feeling of being controlled, to be used like a doll whilst there was nothing he could do to stop himself scared him. I need to be better, to be stronger... I want to save... not be saved..

He turned towards Benedetto and bowed his head. "I'm sorry for causing you all that trouble." Then soon after he approached the blind man. "Guess I wasn't able to trick you with my own illusions, however I would like a rematch." A content smile covered his face.

Ayla returned and Tku finally gave in to his exhaustion, knowing she had been harmed by his attempt to save her. He awoke a few hours having been moved and there was much to be done.

The beautiful city that Tku had been treated to was brought to such disaster from such wicked people. Colorful stalls now burnt to smoldering reds and black ash. Overwhelming floral smells were replaced with wood and smoke, other time the sickening smell of cooked flesh. Buildings once meant to capture and inspire their citizens now laid in disrepair, a permanent marker on their home of the tragedy that happened on that fiery sky. Oh how Tku's heart wept for them.

But beneath all the tragedy, all the loss, all the senseless destruction Tku bore witness to something oh so human, love. Divided classes worked together to hold the city afloat. Generous hands of ones that survived held out a line for others. Those that had little offered their bodies and hearts for the city. All being spurred by the new leader, Cozesteo. It was slow. But it was still changing. A society of oppression doesn't change overnight but Tku at least gifted to see the world changing again.

He would have liked to relax but he had promises and wants. Armor for the brave girl. She wore her intellect like armor, so something light was all that was needed, layered chain with fabric to not inpeed her gallops. He made a nice colorful sash for her, made of fine silk. Lastly, was her weapon. Tku first thought of a weapon that she could use with her mind driving it before remembering who Classa was. He crafted her a spear made of Eshiran's gold. It was strong and poinant. It held intricaies and engravings of their time together. Much more of a decorative piece for her but with the material it would serve her well. "I know this is not the most magnificent armor but I hope it serves you well Classa. You have proven yourself at every opportunity and have changed many lifes. Live long won't you?"

Lastly there was Egosto and the other 2 we saved from the Omenoxen. His plans seemed infathomable to Tku. Not impossible but so grand in scope to the artist from Obenja. He thought about what he could do to help, snapping his fingers as he made up his mind. From his bag he produced an old map and started to swiftly recreate it.

"This map is a little special. I have traveled far and I have never heard of this continent," Tku pointed down to the place in the upper left of the map. "I wouldn't be trusting of this but the one who sent us here, Harrachora, Arch-Zeno of Ersand-Ernise, also held this on his own table map." Tku finsihed up the drawings, "I don't know if humans can ever be truly kind to each other. Nor do I think you will find what you crave near them. At least at the start."

He turned towards the city, "A great deal of recorded history is the tragedy of other people. They carry there suffering somewhere in them, pass it down from one generation to the next. You think the world would never change." He turned back to Egosto, "But I can see change happening. I believe one day people will be able to reunite and have another dinner together. It might not be in my life time, but I believe it will happen one day. Safe journeys friends." With that Tku said goodby to everyone safe for Zox.

With him there was something sneakily stored away in the large shed they made for the dragon.

Ayla recalled how many people spoke about an experience being like hell, and given their recent ordeal of being dragged halfway there and ending up in purgatory, she felt entitled to her unique perspective on that saying.

There was much to think about, including her encounter with Hetraxa herself. It felt like there was something missing; the demon, the cruel and calculating mistress of her nightmares, appeared as a raging, mindless beast—an oversized demonic bug that had to be squished like the pest it was. She was strong, unbelievably so, but the fight left her feeling hollow afterward. Perhaps sometimes reality is not as frightening as your nightmares, she mused on the consequences of this.

As the others went their separate ways, Ayla used the opportunity to secure what she had discussed at the beginning of this adventure: arranging a trade deal with 4S Sweetwater to supply their product in Ersand’Enise. As she discussed the proposal, the Tuskers returned with their entourage of Sirrahi children, the civilians they rescued, and the beasts were able to find new homes. It was somewhat of a down payment for the supplies. Obviously, carrying sweetwater back would be a little difficult for a girl of her size, so it was only natural that Athos came with her, carrying the supplies and joining his new home in the city of magic.

Unfortunately, their tailor shop was destroyed, and it was highly unlikely for Nyan-Acan to find himself a set of boots, a hat, and a little cape. However, this is something she could arrange back home for the cat.

There was one last matter to resolve, one that she had held onto for a long time. She had always wanted an opportunity to really speak to Benny since that ordeal, but they were two different people. Even now, that was most likely the case, but he had shown them loyalty when none was actually expected. Perhaps she may never truly understand him, and this was maybe the last time they would meet in her lifetime at least.

She made her way toward Benny, as she looked up at him. She couldn’t think of the words she wanted to say as she gazed at him, only doing what she could do best. She moved to give him a hug and squeeze him. “Thank you, Benny, for your help, here and for what you'll do in the future.” She leaned up to peck him on the cheek before breaking the embrace. She would leave him to ponder the intricacies of temporal magic paradoxes in his own time.

Desmond was not one for goodbyes, often they almost felt like they were the final words they would ever speak. Desmond did give some though, to those who he helped and left a few gifts to each. To the group who'd make their pilgrimage. an encyclopedia he was once given by Sileen, to the kids a bunch of random trinkets to entertain them. Then to the adaults, items that would serve them well.

Desmond parted with a few items, ones he would miss, yet knew, time must go forward. Desmond gave to Sazan-Betai, his shotgun he had received from the Sirrahi, "Keep your own safe out there, I know you got the heart and strength for it".

Next to Stela-Zomé, a woman who not only was a strong figure but also a good thinker, Desmond took out a box and handed it to her, within held a burrito, "Keep that with you, cut and eat about half of it and give it some time, it'll come back. Giving you and your own all the food you'll ever need".

Then Desmond turned to Cazelui, a smile came on his face as he chuckled, "Hey fire starter, guess this is a goodbye, hu? Well, I'm never good with them, so take this instead". Desmond took off his coat and set it on her shoulders, with it came his handgun that the Sileen gave him, "Now take care of that would ya? I wanna see them again alright? Show me you can grow into it"

Finally, the leader of their whole little rebellion. Desmond shook his head as he walked by him, a light smile on his face. Desmond took his hat off as he began to walk by Egosto and said, "You're the captain now". Desmond then set the hat on the man's head as he continued to walk by, "Keep'em safe"

Desmond then finally came beside Benedetto and patted him on the shoulder, "I'll see you around, don't be a stranger now". Desmond left them with a wave, he wished leave after all the farewells, he couldn't stand it otherwise.

The Hourglass Order

Cozesteo's Revelation

Reeducation

The shed held seven remaining prisoners that had survived the raid and Cuimits' assassination attempt. They had food and water provided by Zox, as well as their wounds tended to. There was nothing to block off their magics, but the golem and dragon standing outside were enough of a deterrent from trying anything, especially after their boss had been taken away.

Cozesteo was having a snooze in his corner over an old mattress. The others that were awake scrambled when they heard footsteps coming. Steps they didn't recognize as Zox's seismic phenomenons or Zarina's metallic clangs.

Desmond made it to the entrance of the shed, he took a breath in and then prepared as he grounded himself and charged his nervous system to tell him if any of them try anything.

Desmond, with Zox and Fiske behind him, opened up the shed and peered in. Seeing the seven individuals within. Multiple seemed scrambling and possibly worried, 'no good' came to Desmond's mind. He knew that these people may actually be too skittish to either be able to work well or would require quite a bit of work just for them to be usable.

It was then Desmond noticed a man who seemed to still be sleeping, Desmond nodded to himself slightly. Desmond looked towards Zox and ask, "Can you please ask them to wake the sleeping one up? I wish to speak with him out here".

Fiske only had the teachings going through his mind. He tried to apply them to different situations in his mind, even that one

He stretched as they entered the shed. "Guess some stuff happened here too, huh?" Desmond's frame obscured much of his as he took the front stage.

The state of things, overall, was fine if one didn't considered the healing injuries and a couple of limbs gone. Cozesteo was actually quite fine compared to the rest. Now, with their Jailer, Zox, making a simple request, Torrix-Basté, a relatively young female of the lot, scurried over to the bulkier cazenax to wake him up.

He grumbled and eventually perked up once he came to. “Is he back?!” he asked in a panic, looking for Cuimits in his surroundings before acknowledging a new set of humans. “What do you humans want? Cuimits knows all of it!” he straightened himself and leaned back against the wooden wall. “Tell me the truth, did you kill him?” he asked as Zox translated when needed.

Desmond shook his head as he said to Zox to translate, "No, we did not. He was forced on the run, after us helping him".

Desmond lightly extended his hand out towards them, "Now that he's hiding, away from the eyes of those who seek to tear down your home. We *need* you"

He closed his hand and said with some some conviction, "You are the only people who even know the face of the person who set you up to this".

Desmond then finally extends his hand out one more time, "We are trying to find the person who set you all to this. Please, help me find them. We need you. You may be the only one to help save Cuimits and the rest of us from impending danger".

During this entire time, Desmond began to skew the minds of the Cazenax. Subtly, as he and Zox spoke, Desmond's gestures hid his intentions. Desmond began to invoke his magics and attempted to skewer their minds. Silently every word was made to worm its way into their thoughts. Most specifically into the mind of Cozesteo, the one who seemed the most dull and possibly the one who had the most loyalty to their leader.

Fiske looked at Desmond with a face filled with shock. How did he even manage to put up such a convincing facade? This would be almost as weird as Benny becoming a mature and well behaved individual. Just the thought of it was stupid enough to make him snort.

He stood on his toes to whisper into Desmond's ear "Are you sure this will work?"

Cozesteo studied the new humans, especially the one with the flapping lips - the male. The golem translated, as always, and emphasis was put on how they needed the ever average but quite bulky cazenax. His hands were tied, and he wasn't too enthused over touching people he didn't know, leading to an awkward stare toward Desmond's hand.

“What can I even do?! I don't know the woman we spoke with!” he answered with growing panic. “If they're getting him, they'll get us too. You MUST let us go! I swear, I don't know anything else! They just wanted Stazen gone!”

The other cazenax prisoners were growing concerned too. Desmond's words had made it into their heads, but the reaction was fear. Whoever paid them was keen on tying up all loose ends.

Cozesteo and the others seemed to be filled with fear, Desmond held an internal smile as he knew that with Cozesteo grabbing onto his hand, it meant he was still listening.

"Stazen gone? There was an attempt for his life but it failed, but who would do this?". Desmond's face saddened as he thought, seeming to almost give way to how much he is at a loss in this entire scheme. He turned to Cozesteo as he then, "This woman. Would you be able to point her out if you saw her?".

Desmond then seemed to get super excited as he brought out multiple letters all written in Avincian, "Actually! We found some letters, we are unsure of who they belong to though. There was one from a man named Sozo-Calupé-Cenzan of the Sweatwater guild, the letter says he funded the raid you all pulled, with something about the Dowager's approving of salt. Then we also had a few other letters about the King being a dangerous idealist, and one about the Dowager queen being excited to garden someone called Wesca".

Desmond seemed to look confused as he continued, "I just don't understand, why would both the funding of the raid and Dowager approving of salt be in the same letter? And all these letters seem to be pointing somewhere but I just can't understand. But it just feels so large".

Desmond turned to Cozesteo with some hopeful look in his eyes, "Maybe you understand?"

Desmond continued his game, the letters in his hands were just ones he created in the house to look like the ones he saw with a bit of magic trickery included. Desmond shifted the words around, he wanted to make Cozesteo think. Desmond used more of his magic to manipulate the feelings Cozesteo is having, all to allow the man to think he found something. Make Cozesteo think he had stumbled upon the pieces of a mass conspiracy, and that it may be his duty to save his leader, his home, and maybe his whole people.

Cozesteo was not expecting this. A considerable load of schemes, conspiracies and mixed information had his untrained noggin running with questionable free will. He was their only hope, after all, and he just had to help at this point. For his own sake, at the very least, if they had gotten to Cuimits already, they'd definitely go after the grunt that had seen a face and heard a voice.

“I-I think so.” answered Cuimits' right hand, forehead sweaty and ears stiffened into wide sails. “I can remember a face, definitely the voice. But they'll kill me if I croak, do you understand?” he shook his head. “I should remain as discreet as a big rock. It's the only way I'll-”

The mention of the Dowager, however, had him freak out a little. He looked to the others for reassurance, but he would only find fear and confusion. “No! That cannot be. Why would the Dowager hurt her own son?! That's ...” he shook his head rapidly. Then, an epiphany. “It must be those sweetwater fat cats. Yeah.” his index finger wagged in the general direction of his capters with his head now nodded in a similar pace. “Collaborating with the demon-haters. The political people supply us to remove competition, and then they get support from the guild. Of course.” he concluded, looking a tad deranged in his on theorizing.

The bulky man went on to read the letters. Slowly. He was a slow reader. But all they did was galvanize his beliefs. “This must be stopped.” Cozesteo, now turned Detective Rock, said with great conviction. “I - We must put a stop to this and protect the royal family from further harm. Clearly we were all played by the elites.” he struggled to stand, and then presented his hands to his captors to be freed. “For my comrades, I will also bring justice.”

Fiske looked at what transpired here. To think Desmond would have been such a convincing actor. Then upon seeing Cozesteo look so convinced to go along with the plan made him rather suspicious. Was he just that easy to convince or was this man smarter than was believed. He poked Desmond with a disapproving look on his face.

"Can we trust you?" Doubt of the Cazenax's character was not utterly one of rational thinking yet he could not help but be distrusting.

Cozesteo blinked, doubt beginning to creep back into his countenance. “Uh... erm... yeah?” His eyes darted in the direction of Desmond with a hint of uncertainty and, if Zox hadn't translated the verbal stumbles, they'd been plainly heard.

Desmond listened and allows Cozesteo to make his conclusions. They weren't hard, yet it did allow for the man to believe he figured it out. Something simple, when a man sees injustice one of 2 things happen. Either rises, or he allows injustice to happen.

In this case, Desmond knew that through the use of allowing the man to find out for himself, and allowing for Cozesteo to think he was the smartest man in the room, Cozesteo would be more willing to rise.

Desmond nodded as he began to give nods and affirmations to Cozesteo as he found out more. Desmond constantly made sure Cozesteo knew through his own action and awes, Cozesteo was the one finding these out, and Desmond continued, "Yes! That must be it! It must be the elites!"

Desmond was about to free Cozesteo as then he heard Fiske speak out. Desmond almost let his countenance return to normal. Yet he stayed cool and looked to Cozesteo and Fiske, "Of course we can trust him. He was the one to figure this all out. Without our genius detective we would have been running around in the dark without knowing what's going on". Desmond then gave the man a reassuring nod and once more went to free Cozesteo from his bindings.

During this Desmond continued to use magic, trying to make Cozesteo feel to be assured and even feel happy when he heard the words of his genius, Desmond needed to reassure Cozesteo's confidence once more. With the waning feelings he may slightly shift and sway when the time comes and that would be no good for the plan.

Cozesteo nodded at Desmond's flattery. “I'm doing it for my people. Like I did with this job, I did it for my family. These elites ... They starve us into desperation!” he clenched his fists, resolve now filling his veins. Or maybe that was just Desmond's peculiar magic.

“What must I do? We probably don't have much time before they strike again.”

Desmond nodded as he said, "With this knowledge I think we have a plan now. There will be a big gathering soon. One where many people shall be there. Many of the elites will be there, allowing us to find the culprit".

Desmond then attempted to assist Cozesteo up and continued, "There we will make our claims. With the information from those letters we sent others to get Sozo thrown into jail from the blatant evidence. And now with you bringing to light new information and acting as witness, we will show everyone that those elites are truly vile".

Desmond then nodded as he began to prepare to leave, "Come, we must leave, we need to prepare ourselves. We will leave the safety of the Stead and head to a hideout in the city. We'll prepare there and when the gathering is to begin, we will blend into the crowd to get close to confirm and then we will make our claims".

Desmond then turned to smile at Cozesteo, "And bring those elites all to justice".

Unfortunate Events

With that, they gathered Samaxi, catching her up as they went, and set off for the city, making their way there through the tunnels. It was a long journey but, despite her odd and arduous method of moving, her stamina seemed almost supernatural. In the sections where the others had to crouch, she even scooted ahead.

Then, they reached the place where the tunnel dipped, to sneak beneath the city wall where it had been sunk deep into the ground, and they knew that they were close. “Twenty more minutes!” chirped Samaxi, only now starting to fall behind. Cozesteo, meanwhile, had found new energy. They came up to a bend and both Fiske and Desmond did a sweep of energies out of both habit and training.

There was someone else in the tunnel. They could sense it: too large to be a cazenax and, by the faintness of their presence, trying hard to hide their energy signature.

Fiske slowed his advance and made a small sound bubble. "I think there's someone in the tunnels with us."

He looked back towards Desmond with a concerned look on his face. "What should we do? I don't think if they turn aggressive I would be of much use... Perhaps I could put up an illusion in front of us to make it look like we're further than we are"

Fiske slowed his advance and made a small sound bubble. "I think there's someone in the tunnels with us."

He looked back towards Desmond with a concerned look on his face. "What should we do? I don't think if they turn aggressive I would be of much use... Perhaps I could put up an illusion in front of us to make it look like we're further than we are"

Then, however, their hand was forced. “Sa...” came a voice from the direction of the interloper. “Samaxi?” It was a sirrahi, Fiske was able to determine, by its size and shape: a female sirrahi. The voice sounded familiar as well.

Fiske ears did not fail him, the voice was recognized as the one that they met first when coming to the city. "Cazelui?.. Cazelui, right?" He tried his hardest to remember everyone that he met and the voices he's heard.

There was a pause. Then... “Fiske?” Her voice was tentative. “Is there... anyone with you?” Before he could answer, however, she spoke again. “Don't come any closer! It's dangerous up there!”

Desmond's head lightly tilted, nothing much could be noticed in the dark, "What is going on? Are you alright?" Desmond could hear Cazelui's voice was off, there is something off about it, either she was recovering from intense activity, or she may be injured.

Then, they could sense her moving their way. “The exit's blocked,” she called. “They *raided* the place. They fuckin' raided it!” Her voice was high and panicked. “Is there any other way out? Any safe way?”

"The place has been raided?" Fiske looked towards Desmond. "If the exit is blocked, is there another way we can go there?"

Desmond winced in frustration, of course. Desmond shook his head as he said, "Damn it, there may be".

Desmond turned to Fiske as his face showed frustration, they needed this, but with it how it is, they could not be in the city with Samaxi and Fiske. Desmond turned to Samaxi and said, "I think I saw another connection to this tunnel, we may need to gamble on it because if they are raiding the place they may be also looking for Fiske. And Maxi, you are still a liability because of the whole being pinned for assassination".

Desmond then called out to them all, "We'll try that tunnel, see where it leads us, and if it leads us outside the wall you guys will head to the farm and I'll try heading into the city to see what's going on with the raid".

"They might be looking for me?!" He looked at Desmond with a look of disbelief. "For when we ran from the king, or?..."

Desmond shook his head, "No, Benedetto figured it out. He saw right through the entire thing and knew you were the one to start the altercation with the police. It's why I got to walk free. He most likely had another eye witness or a demon watching for him".

"Another eye witness? You mean the snake people I saved?... Would they rat me out for their own hide?..." He looked saddened by the news. "Who would do such a thing?... I screwed things up but I just tried to do good..."

"Not the snakes, they were stalwart in resolve-", Desmond lightly bobbed his head back and forth, "Even if one was pissing themselves in fear".

Desmond shook his head as he continued, "No, I meant someone being farther and out of sight for us to notice, but someone who might have been working for or with Benedetto to see what this place was like. And sadly you did something he noticed".

"To think I wouldn't have noticed." He let out a sigh of relief yet there was also a slight disappointment with his own capabilities.

"Then I guess I am a fugitive now as well, huh?"

"Yep and based upon Cazé's breathing, she may be one too, which reminds me, Fiske, give her the bandages. She's obviously injured and we won't be able to be healed until we meet Tku or Marceline again".

Desmond began to lightly scoot people towards the connection tunnel for them to head through and see where it lead them.

"Fine fine, I doubt I'll need it more than her." Fiske looked at the bandages for a while.

"I do wonder how the others are doing. I do hope she's okay."

Within two minutes, Fiske and Desmond had met up again with Cazelui, though she had not made it all that far herself and Samaxi was still struggling to catch up, even with Cozestéo pacing her. The sirrahi was pale and sweaty, dried blood staining her shirt and tail-sleeve and the occasional fresh trickle leaking through. “Why are you heading back toward the hideout?” She shook her head weakly, leaning against a wall. “It's crawling with their thugs.”

She tried to take a few deep breaths, but she stiffened in pain. “Sozo-Calupé's men.” She shook her head again and it lolled to the side before she wrenched it back, gritting her teeth. She was clearly struggling to breathe and there were tear stains on her cheeks. “They knew where the place was, but how!?” She coughed. “They broke in with their control rods and their magic and...” she trailed off, coughing some more, and blood spittle stained the corners of her mouth.

Desmond shook his head, "We were heading there to prepare for something, to make those who were conspiring to put this city to heel be brought to justice. But it seems they really did beat us to the punch".

Desmond reached out to take the bandages as he fully kneeled down and said, "I'll be patching you up, so I will be pulling up your shirt". Desmond the proceeded to pull up Cazelui's shirt and began to wrap the bandages around Cazelui's body.

Desmond began to apply pressure to the wound with kinetic magic, binding magic to slightly assist the closing of the wound, and through the use of chemical magic to numb the pain of Cazelui's wound. Once the bandages were fully wrapped around, he used chemical and binding magic to form a thick salve to keep the bandage covering the wound and tight while keeping the wound covered in medicine.

Once finished Desmond shifted back, "Okay there you go, that should tide you over," he then stood up and began to gesture for Cazelui to lean on him while saying, "Here, lean on me, we have some ways to go".

"They knew? How would they have known where it was?" His mind was still on the topic on his own status as a fugitive. "Perhaps someone ratted you out. Would you know who could do something like that?"

He looked towards Desmond. "That's my first good deed of the day! You see, I had foreseen something serious happening which is why I took these bandages." He stood confidently, a smug aura radiating from his smug smirk. "Didn't know you were much of a healer though."

Samaxi soon caught up, and an unusual amount of heat seemed to be rolling off of her: more than the usual body heat would explain. She blinked and looked at the others, spending a moment poring over Cazelui's wounds. “Only way to the other path takes us right up to the hideout, you know.” She turned on the spot, executing the little spin on her hands with surprising grace. “We either have to be stealth itself, or get ready for a fight...”

Cozésteo set his jaw with grim determination. “I am ready to do my part,” he affirmed, “For the future of my people.” With that, he set words to action, and began moving.

Desmond shook his head to Fiske, "Yeah yeah, good job with the bandages, I'm good enough to patch up wounds with a little help, but not as good as some of the binders with us".

Desmond nodded to Samaxi, "We will need to move through, I believe we need to try and stealth, with Cazelui's wound she will need to keep low, and we can't risk Cozésteo as he is one of the most important members here for the plan".

Desmond turned to Fiske, "Looks like this may be a job where your illusions may be the thing we need". Desmond turned then to Samaxi, "What's the matter? Why you burning up Maxi? You should be drawing more from your own energy so you aren't so easily noticed".

"My illusions? What do you have have in mind?" He eyes travelled from Desmond to Cazelui and then Samaxi. "You okay there? You're unusually hot."

A look of concern tried to meet with Desmond. "If you want me to try and cloak everyone it will take me a lot of concentration." He pointed towards Samaxi. "Though if they're energy is not in check there is not much my enigma could do to any somewhat competent mage."

Samaxi smiled uncomfortably. “I may... not have been completely forthright about my true nature,” she admitted, and her energy swelled some more. There was more to it than arcane, now, though the heat still boiled off of her. There was the reek of dark magic and it was inescapable.

“I think that stealth will work for you four,” she said enigmatically, “but you should leave me behind.” She swallowed. “I will be alright... after a fashion.” Another wave of energy rippled off of her. “Now you should go, and I wish you godspeed.”

Fiske waved his hand around. "You don't seem like you'll be alright, whatever the fashion." He wished to close in on her yet the energy was somewhat uncomfortable to be too close to. "I could help to cool you off if that helps, although I don't know how much it would help with the energy issue..."

Samaxi shot him a warning look at this extra push. “I said I would be alright,” she replied shortly. “Now, you have bigger things to worry about, right?”

"Fine, fine. I won't push it any further." He shrugged as he tried to look as relaxed as he could. "The thing I worry about is being on mister Ben'Nyax's 'to explode' list. If he truly cares so much about this place that I'd be in his sight... I do not know."

They traveled for some time longer together. “They will come for me when they sense this energy,” Samaxi explained, “and then handle them will I. Let me go a bit ahead of you.” They continued on their way until she could sense people-shaped energies ahead with her slightly longer range. She twisted to face Desmond for a moment - “Stay safe, you three. Illusions up now.” - and then to Cozésteo. “And you. I need about a two minute lead. Thanks for everything.” She disappeared into the darkness ahead.

Desmond just lightly nodded his head to Samaxi, "Good luck and give'em hell". Desmond began to draw in his own internal energies. Using the energies within him to make him less easily seen.

Desmond then turned and nodded to Fiske as he said, "We should try and huddle up and combine our magics together. You are a better illusionist so you can try to bend the light around us to make it easier to move Caze while I'll use my own magic to mess with their senses".

"That doesn't sound too difficult." He squinted his eyes towards the two others. "Just don't make any too sudden movements. If you suddenly start running a direction it will be harder for me to concentrate on you both."

He began to draw to perform a spell of great deception. "Understand?"

The set up

They waited for two minutes and then they went. Up ahead, as they approached, they could feel boiling energies. Desmond could swear that he heard a scream. Then, it all died off. Fiske focused and sweated, and steadied himself to maintain the illusion, and it tested him to his limits. They emerged into one of the anterooms and, from there, it was only two more and they would be able to slip into the other tunnel. Cozesteo crouched low, but then his eyes widened and he pointed, arrowlike, to a small door. It burst open, and a pair of hired thugs came running through, eyes wide!

Desmond saw both of the thugs come running out and through, he knew with a split second decision they are most likely running from whatever Samaxi was doing, so they were no threat.

However, that was no reason to let them know they were here. Desmond began to use magic to make the thugs stumble over their own feet with light chemical and kinetic magic before he made the two split away just enough to let his group pass through them. Trying to make sure they did not break Fiske's concentration.

Desmond's trick came off flawlessly. The pair of mercenaries stumbled right out of his path and that of his group, charging towards the end of the room and cowering behind some barrels. He, Fiske, and Cozesteo progressed, coming up to the small door and slipping carefully through. Beyond them lay devastation. Tables, chairs, and other furniture smashed and burned, supply crates torched, support beams cracked, and earthen roofs caving in. There were bloodstains on the walls and floors, most of which were fire-blackened and twisted. A handful of cazenax lay strewn about the place, but no sirrahi, and they were fresh, too: not dead but unconscious - badly wounded in some cases. Desmond did a sweep, as did Fiske. Nobody seemed to be watching them but, ahead, in the next room - where they'd be heading - lay a great unholy energy. Sounds emerged to go with it: unholy sounds.

The sounds from the other room would be horrifying to a normal person but for Fiske it was significantly worse. To him it almost sounded like a symphony, one of death and terror. What kind of monster?... Screams, things crashing into each other, bestial sounds... and what sounded similar to someone begging for their dear life. The distraught boy put his hands over his ears and deafened himself for he could not bear to hear a second more of this nightmare fuel.

Desmond took hold of Fiske's shoulder to try and reaffirm him that things are alright. Desmond then gave a nod as he got close to the others and said, "We'll wait here for a bit and once the energy moves on we will move as well. I'll begin to look around to see what is happening to see if we can find something either useful or just know who we are dealing with".

Desmond searched about the room, finding that the guns that had been here before were all gone, along with their ammunition. When he reached the barrels of pickled fruit, however, he sensed something a bit too solid inside two of them.

Fiske, meanwhile, found a notebook. It was written in rather poor Avincian and he did not read it all on the spot, but a heading caught his attention: "Assassination Plan 1"

Cazelui, meanwhile, found a map of the entirety of the great plaza in front of the Royal Palace and Hall of Justice, with a number of points circled in red ink and a couple of X's.

With both Fiske and Desmond deciding to stay put and wait, Cozesteo decided that this was his moment to be a hero. He crept up tot he next door and gulped nervously. He reached out to push it quietly open.

With everything that had gone around him Fiske's guess was something he was confident in. He looked at the book whilst rubbing his chin. "I think the people here have a connection to the scene with the king and 'Potes-Palix'. It might be a great intel source" He did not notice Cozesteo's stunt for a while as he had himself deafened until he made his statement.

Desmond looked at the two barrels and decided to open them up. He took out his knife, set it in the seem where the lid and barrel met and jammed it in. Right when he was about to hit his hand and open up the barrel he heard Fiske call out. Desmond turned to see Cozesteo moving towards the door and his eyes widened.

Desmond quickly spun around and called out to try and stop the man while he pulled upon the energy that would be exerted upon the door to hopfully stop Cozesteo from opening it and trying to stop the sound from escaping through the door, "Don't! We can't get wrapped up into something. Not with you and Cazelui being here".

Cozesteo whirled and scrunched his brows together. He spoke rapidly in cazenax and a confused-looking Cazelui translated. “He says that there is nothing to be afraid of. He is the saviour of his people and Nyax-Acan is with him.” She regarded them both dubiously and nervously, her eyes more or less begging them to do something.

Desmond took one last sense, he realized that maybe some of his talking was pretty damn convincing, maybe just a little too convincing. Desmond realized that if he struggles too much then it could actually turn the man against them.

Desmond gestured towards the barrels and said, "That is very true. However, we need to know what is within those barrels, there might be another clue to the plots within them, could we wait for us to check them and secure the evidence we found?"

Desmond began to try and use his magic once more on Cozesteo to hopfully buy a bit more time before they leave. Hopefully it will be enough time to make their next move not a deadly one.

Cozesteo stopped and seemed to consider. His brows pulled themselves together and he spoke thoughtfully in cazenax. Cazelui translated once more. “He says he's amenable to that.” She breathed a sigh of relief.

With that momentary crisis behind him, Desmond went for the casks once again. In the first, he found... the dismembered head of a cazenax. When he held it up, Fiske, much to his displeasure, recognized it almost immediately: that of one of the guards he'd fought and killed the other night!

Meanwhile, in the next room over, the carnage seemed to be dying down. The horrid sound had quieted and there was only the scampering of feet and the occasional burst of magic. Closer to the group of four, however, Desmond had yet to open the second cask, but did her dare, at this point?

Desmond sighed as he put the head back into the casket. He shook his head as he turned to the others, "I'll open the other one, but I think I know what is in it". Desmond then went to open the other one.

Then he began to feel the energies dull in the other room, Desmond turned to Fiske and said, "Fiske, we need to set up the illusion again the energy is coming for us and we need to get ready".

Desmond began to near Fiske and the others as they attempt to then enter the next room.

The second cask, however, contained a small chest wrapped in watertight skins. Inside was... ammunition. The bullets appeared normal enough, but they emanated the strange sort of energy he had learned to recognize as Dark.

Meanwhile, Fiske prepared his illusions. This was practice. It was also taxing. he focused on the light: warping it to his needs, spreading its spectrum, paying attention to angle and saturation. There was a thump near the door and the four drew close to each other. Then, it opened, and Samaxi, now no longer emanating terrifying magics, scooted through on her bottom: just a harmless cazenax girl with no legs and nothing more.

“I uh... roughed 'em up a little for ya,” she addressed her companions. “Pretty sure we can make it to the other safehouse without being followed now.” She brought her eyebrows together in consideration. “Might wanna bring the tunnel down behind us, just in case...”

Desmond chuckled as he put away his new found bullets, "Yeah, thank you. Yeah, we'll bring the tunnel down to make sure".

Desmond then gave a nod to everyone as he said, "We'll be doing some basic drawing from the stone to cause the stone to weaken before using an explosion to cause the tunnel to collapse".

Desmond gave them a nod and took some of the materials left around, drawing towards him some of the burnt and nearly charcoal like wood, and the barrel that once hel the bullets. Desmond filled the barrel halfway up with the wood then closed it off with it's lid, after which he used kinetic magic to violently pulverize the already weakened wood within to form a fine powder as he opened the lid on last time and dumped in most of his powder horn while throwing in a single musket ball covered in copper that he puts a magnetic charge on.

Once the barrel was done Desmond closed the lid and sealed it with Chemical magic before taking it down the hall with the others. Where eventually he finds a nice place to settle it and begins assisting with the drawing from the stone.

Once they finished they were to run off. Desmond didn't explode the barrel until it became fuzzy for him to sense the magnetic energy from the bullet within. Which was when it happened.

Desmond used arcane and chemical energy upon the contents of the bullet to rile up a powerful Touch of Fury.

Causing the bullet to explode within the barrel filled with a fine charcoal like powder causing a phenomenon known as a dust explosion, which is often known to happen within coal mines.

Hopefully with this it would cause the tunnel to come caving in.

Before they left, Cazelui had a lucid moment and reached out to snatch as many of the planted articles as she could. Then, the five of them made haste, Samaxi huffing and puffing to keep up. The explosion was stupendous and the hidden rooms and much of the tunnel came down in sheets, dust billowing out of either end. The shed that had served as entrance nearly blew apart from the rush of air, and the officers forming a perimeter around it whirled. Almost a half-dozen houses and businesses on the way shook and shifted, items falling from shelves, floors cracking, sinkholes forming. It was fortunate that the only casualty was about Ƿ200 worth of random belongings. The five revolutionaries were already well on their way to the secret room and trapdoor near the gate.

It was about eight minutes in when Fiske felt something behind his ear: a pinch, and then a series of them: some behind one and some the other; some quick and some held.

An Opprotunity

He could not, however, decipher the message. He wasn't well enough versed in what had to be tethered pinch language and had to be coming from Marci. The pattern seemed to change. It seemed to simplify itself. It repeated: double short pinch, pause, and then short-long-long on only the right side. Double short pinch, pause, short-long-long on the right.

Then, it changed: Double long pinch.

Fiske looked perplexed. He was not all that used to feeling them. "Danger?... East?.." His gaze turned to Desmond, a questioning expression covering it. "No, get of there?... But why east then?..." It almost seemed like steam was coming out of his ears and nose. "Ready?.. Hey, do you understand it any better?"

Desmond felt the message next: insistently, persistently.

Desmond looked to Fiske with a quizzical face. Until he felt it himself, "Danger, get out of there. East. Either danger is coming from the east or we must head east".

Desmond turned to Samaxi and asked, "Can you sense up ahead? See if we have anything coming at us from our right".

Then Demsond was corrected feeling another message come through, he nodded to himself as he said, "There's something happening that we may want to opt in on. Possibly our little jail birds need some help or something more juicy".

Desmond shifted his bag on him and checked himself while saying, "Let's get out of here when we can and see what Marci wants next".

The message repeated again: Danger. East. Opportunity. Then, something new was added: Make a scene.

Samaxi did not receive it, of course, but she heard Desmond and took a moment to focus. She furrowed her brow. “I um... nothing.” She shook her head. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

"You were able to understand all of them from a couple of Marci's pinches?..." He tried his hardest to sound profesional. "Ahem, could you teach me when we get out of this?... I think it might be useful..."

Desmond nodded to Fiske as he said, "It's useful".

Desmond nodded to Samaxi as he said, "Fantastic, we'll need to change that. Seems a friend of ours needs a scene," Desmond then turned to Fiske with a smile, "and I can't think of a better situation than this".

Desmond turned to everyone once more and said, "Alright everybody, when we get a chance a few of us will need to leave and cause a distraction, make a scene".

Desmond looked to everyone, "I think this may be a great time for our hero to give a big speech before the main event. Wet the appetite of An Zenui and her people".

Desmond then casted his hand towards Cozesteo, "Allow her hero to give hope to her people".

Cozesteo nodded. “I am ready.” He nodded. “I will do my duty.”

With that, they made haste for the other exit, and Marci sent them further pinches, mostly repeating the message from earlier until they had arrived in the room beneath the trap door. There had to be some way to communicate in return with her...

Once they had made it to the trap door, Desmond realized there may be more to the message, or possibly something to learn when they agree.

Desmond placed his hands near his ears, he knew tethered had such fine sensing that this should be enough.

He then began to pull on them and push them down to touch his head. Recreating what would be a pinch. With it he recreated the same language to send a message to her.

I'm ready. East. Very Soon. Opprotunity. I'm ready. Make a scene.

He repeated this several times to make sure she knew this was not just him messing with his ears.

"Why're you pulling on your ears like that?" He tilted his head as he saw Desmond's rather silly performance. "Looks like you're trying to entertain a kid with that." Fiske snorted at the sight.

Desmond chuckled, "I'm relaying a message back to Marci. If you know a Tethered is sending you a message then you know they are looking at you. You can then relay a message by doing the same thing to yourself and their sensing is strong enough for them to differentiate from the motions and know you are sending a message".

Fiske, weirdly enough smiled warmly at such an answer. "So in a sense... I could talk to her from far away?" He coughed before looked to the side. "Send messages to a tethered back is what I meant. That could be pretty useful."

Desmond turned to Fiske with a large smug smile like he just saw something that will be used later, "Yeah~ You could~". Desmond then shook his head and continued until he felt Marci had received his message and then turned to the group, "Alright we should head on up now. We'll be getting more info while we continue, but time will be of the essence".

Desmond then went to the trap door and threw his hat onto Fiske, "I'll need you with me, you'll do the illusions and some other stuff to assist me and Cozesteo out there". Desmond then winked to the girls as he said, "We'll be back ladies, we need to go and save the world".

“Try not to get caught doing it at least,” joked Samaxi, well aware that she was a wanted woman out there. Cazelui, however, was having none of it. “Like hell I'm just waiting!” she replied. “I wanna piece of these fuckers.”

Desmond turned to Fiske, a small smile on his face and a chuckle, "Seems the lady has spoken, and who am I to say no to one with conviction".

Desmond casted his eyes back to Cazelui now with a stern gaze, "Be warned, you will follow my lead and do as I say. We aren't going to make detours nor will we go out of our way for a vendetta. If you can do that, you may come and I'll make sure you get your licks. Understand?"

Desmond once more checked his bag, now reaching to the back where a belt was and strapping it to his leg, tightening it to make it will not jostle or move.

Fiske poked the hat that was placed onto his head. "How do you use it?"

He put his hand over his forehead and sighed dramatically. "To think we have to save the world once more. Alas, thus is our fate." He leaned backwards.

Desmond tapped his head as he said, "Think about the image of the person you want to look like. The height, the size, the complexion, the many different ideas that make up the look of a person, and the hat will make it so".

"If the others are seen in danger, do we help them or will we keep our heads towards the directions given?"

The sirrahi narrowed her eyes, ready to let loose with some quick retort. She was nearly a woman grown and quite capable of making decisions for herself. She was about to speak when she thought better of it, however. “I... yeah. Alright. You lead the way, chief.” He was an expert and she was not. She took a deep breath and nodded.

Desmond then lightly made a gesture as if he tilts a hat to Cazelui as he said, "Very good, we will most likely heading to resolve some of the danger that the others may be in, so be ready for a fight".

Finally Desmond gives one last confirmation for everyone, "One quick go, Fiske will give us illusions while we leave so we don't give away our hiding spot. From there we will head east and see what is going on, most likely we will be heading to the prison, so be prepared for some opposition, when we near, Fiske will illusions once more to get us close while we make a plan to assist with whatever they need".

"Think about the person I want to look like?" The boy thought for a moment and after his eyes went wide with an answer the hat did it's trick.

He still had some semblences of what one would describe as 'Fiske' yet he was much taller and older in appearance. A smug smirk appeared on the now tall narcissist's face. "So, how do I look? Think they'll find out it's me?" He got rather excited from using the hat. "This thing is neat, I want to use it more and more!"

Desmond chuckled to Fiske, "You may find more chances".

Cazelui sunk her fist into her open palm. “Raring to go.” Then, with that, they emerged. On the ground, before them, they could see an arrow. They traveled a little bit further and there was a second.

Desmond then saw the arrow and smiled as he tilted his head and gestured for them to follow. With once they passed the arrow, Desmond made sure that the arrow was gone, either Marceline did it or Desmond did, then they found another and hopfully more.

Desmond nodded as he said to the others, "Seems I may be right".

They continued to follow, until it was time for Cozesteo to split off and give his speech to the people. Desmond patted him on the back and said, "I hope they will listen to the truth", giving one last reaffirmation to Cozesteo before letting him go off and make his speech.

Hopefully it will provide a good enough distraction.

A Hero's Name

With that, they split, a disguised Fiske chaperoning the stalwart Cozesteo to the Gateway Square while Desmond and Cazelui made haste for the distant spire of the Omenaxan. Fiske pointed towards the market dealing in slaves. "What if we have our speech there? The great king Stazen wished to reform, no? What better way then set an example of the king's desires?"

He did have his personal agenda in mind with this yet he did have faith in their hero.

Standing upon the slave auction platform was Cozesteo. Future of the Cazenax people. Visionary with big plans and rock hard ambitions.

“Friends, Zenuans, countrymen, lend me your ears!”

A few men and women spared glances at his direction. Was this a madman? Yet, he spoke with resolve and conviction.

“I come to you all today with a confession. I, Cozesteo, like many of us, have had doubts over the changes that were ushering into our civilization. It had led me to following a path laid out by those of the Bantarsca. A path that I’ve come to discover is nothing but TREACHERY!”

By the blessings of the gift, he allowed his voice to boom. Interrupting the daily activities of the Cazenax late morning.

“Potés-Palix is NOT the murderer you were all made to believe.” his arm stretched up high and his index finger wagged. “Far from it. I was even hired to attack his home to add to the credibility of the LIE!” that same arm then withdrew only to do a swift, horizontal slashing motion to emphasise the grave nature of the mentioned lie.

“The culprits, those that take advantage of the good PEOPLE of An Zenui, are none other than Sozo-Calupé-Cenzan and Zast-Wesca-fa-Bantarsca!” his finger pointed in an accusatory manner to the direction of the Bantarsca itself. “And at this very moment, the greedy Sozo of the sweetwater guilds is being arrested by Nyax-Acan’s authority!” his arms shot up in rejoice.

“But the wicked Wesca remains. The one that sent FOREIGN MERCENARIES to kill my good friend Cuimits! A man tricked into believing Stazen was his enemy, when the only threat to his family was none other than Wesca and her friends!” he nodded at his own words, pacing around as he continued to have his voice boom.

“I was shown correspondences - irrefutable proof, letters between them, conspiring and planning the king’s death!” he waved the letters in the hand he loved to gesture with. “But, the most damning thing, my fellow compatriots, was that I SAW and HEARD the witch!” in a bout of theatrics, he seized a sack of coins and slammed it onto the flooring he stood on. “In fact, I’ll do away with all that blood money I had been given as a stipend, and will officially stand as a witness to their long overdue trials!”

At first, most did not listen. There were those who were impassioned on the issue of slavery and, every once in a while, they would seize the stage and rant on about its evils. They drew mixed support and were usually merely suffered through by most, jeered by a few, and received scattered applause from the remainder.

Cozesteo spoke on, though, bravely and convincingly, and some of his friends, Zenuans, and countrymen *did* lend him their ears. “What proof do you have?” called one. “Yeah! Let us see it!” another chimed in.

“Down with the Bantarsca!”

“Long live the king!”

“Fuck them greenlanders!”

They were moving now: people in the crowd. More streamed in. Some trickled out. Others moved about the swirling crowds. It was heading towards noon and activity would soon die down somewhat until the evening. Cozesteo knew what some of the hooded ones were, though. He knew who they would talk to. he knew they were coming for him. He would not be cowed, however.

“Fuck Sozo! My sweetwater costs twice as much now!”

“Where is your PROOF?”

Then, he produced it.

Then, out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed the men in the uniforms: the royal guard - Queen Mother's Unit, but they were not the main threat. Up on the roof of a nearby building, a sniper settled into place and took his rifle out of a nondescript case. He began to set up for his shot.

Fiske stood straight as if he served as Cozesteo's guard. He did not understand what was being said yet what he did know was the fact that it caught the people's attention. Maybe this guy actually will become a hero like Desmond was trying to convince him. A content smile covered his features, however soon that smile faded as men in uniform showed up, they weren't like the people that tried to stop the poor, sirrahi slaves. These looked more important than them.

His eyes began to scan the area frantically, finding amongst the people hooded figures before looking further beyond and finding someone on one of the roofs? This was no ordinary bystander, but a damned killer like a hunter waiting for a perfect shot on a Schluck... He could not stand by and let the soon to be hero die here and casted a blinding light in front of the shooter's face. It would, without doubt... catch people's attention yet he did not care much about how pretty or subtle it was, as long as Cozesteo would be safe.

If the effort saved Cozesteo's life, it also gave the royal guard the opportunity to move in and 'secure the area'. The would-be assassin was unceremoniously hauled off and Cozesteo, in front of the great crowd he had drawn, clapped in irons as they watched by the authorities. “Thus comes the reward," he announced, as they led him peaceably away, “For speaking truth to power. Do not forget me, my brothers and sisters. Do not forget my words. Do not forget this lesson."

One of the officers kicked him in the back of the knees and grumbled and he was led away without further incident. It was time for Fiske, as well, to make his getaway, and he was soon back at the hidden room below the trapdoor with Samaxi. They did not stick around for long.

Revelations

With that, they split, a disguised Fiske chaperoning the stalwart Cozesteo to the Gateway Square while Desmond and Cazelui made haste for the distant spire of the Omenaxan. The sirrahi lowered herself near-perpendicular to the ground, as her people did when sprinting. “You know we're rushing towards death,” she teased, glancing back with a fond smirk. “At least try to keep up, huh?”

They darted and dodged through backstreets and byways, avoiding most of the crowds and, if Desmond was an expert in military matters, this was Cazelui's city, where she'd hatched, where she'd grown up, and where she worked daily at menial jobs. She knew it like the back of her hand. It took them five minutes. Then, they were at the grand plaza beside the river. Government buildings rose before them and, looming above them all, the towering black spire of the Omenaxan, as if it were piercing the great golden sun above. From here, they would be in the open and painfully exposed.

Desmond chuckled a smile was found on Desmond's face as he said back, "Keep up? I'm the fastest man alive".

Desmond moved with Cazelui, any moment he could he charged the bottom of his feet with magnetic energy and moved at high speed while using kinetic and magnetic energy to glide along the ground. Desmond continued to draw from the energy he would leave behind to continue to propel himself forward at a high enough speed to keep pace with Cazelui.

The moment they reached the Grand plaza Desmond saw the many things happening. The many grand buildings, the river, and then the large spire, Desmond took it in and began to look around as a sniper would.

His eyes began to scan the area, trying to find a place to work from. He thought for a moment as he pinched his ear down for a bit of time, then did so in repetition to try and have Marceline come to them. She was here the longest and would most likely know of what they needed and what they could help with.

Desmond looked to Cazelui as he grabbed his coat from his bag and threw it on her, "You'll be a bit warm with this coat on but it is better than looking like you were in a fight". Desmond helped her a bit more with her looks, providing the things needed to clean herself before they were to meet with Marceline as if they were to move through the streets she needed to make sure she would not be easily outed.

"Good, while we move around here we may not look completely like we are wanted". Desmond gave a nod and continued to scan the area waiting for Marceline.

Desmond felt a tap on his shoulder and then a click on the ground in front of him. A small sappy stick scratched something into it: "I'm not here, genius." It was Marci's writing. There was no mistaking the distinctive way that she wrote her 'G'.

Another one followed. "I'm at range. That tower is your objective, but it's sealed up tight. They've been in there for twelve minutes and the guards come back in three."

Desmond took stock of the surrounding area: its sightlines, composition, and defenses, meanwhile. This would not be an easy task.

Desmond nodded to the message, it seemed that his thoughts of what was to come was right. The tower did seem to be their great target.

3 minutes.

They had 3 minutes to move people in and out. 3 minutes to close the distance and get them out. 3 minutes to escape before the guards come back. 3 minutes were enough.

There was only 1 set of stairs that they looked at to enter. The only one was a large set of stairs ascending up 30 feet directly to the only doorway. A small and thin doorway only able to be entered from enough sight lines to be able to be seen by everyone and their mother.

The stone that made the spire, the staircase, and even the floor seemed to be made of a near polished smooth stone that Desmond could tell to be quite strange and tough. From his sensing and deduction he could tell the stone makes it difficult to sense into with magic and very dense to the point he couldn't think of a cannon or attack that could crack it.

Desmond had heard of rumors of a certain stone that was known to be the bane of mages, but never thought it to be real. "Boromite", Desmond said quietly as he nodded to himself as he continued his scanning.

The wall had multiple different indents in the wall were put into it where one could think to try and climb up with but all it did was make it easier to be fired upon by riflemen.

The situation was quite a predicament, there was no good way in, there was no good way around, no walking through the front with a simple illusion.

People are most likely now watching because there is no guards and 3 minutes is a hard ask for someone to figure out a plan and make it up.

Yet, even in this terrible situation, there may still be a way.

Desmond knew there was something he could do.

He may not have the illusions to do it, he may not have the RAS, but he has something.

Desmond has been using it all this time. Now consciously ever since he faced off against that fly demon.

He never knew it, but he felt different, like he had more power than what he could even know. More power than even magic could do.

His magic altered the world.

If he wills it, it shall be.

Desmond looked at the large pile of sand and thought, if he could cause a dust devil to appear, having it bring up enough to create cover for them to bolt up the stairs, they could make it without being noticed or shot.

And so he tried, calling out to Cazelui, "We'll be getting a little closer, make sure you pay attention to where the stairs are. Because when I give you the signal we bolt for the stairs".

As if he had willed it into being, the winds outside of the Omenaxan began to swirl, as they sometimes did in the open plaza. They swirled and blustered and formed themselves into something like a funnel. Within thirty seconds, there was a great howling tower of shifting sand, obscuring the vision of all in the area. Even the dragons perched atop were grounded. The two circling quickly retreated to the cliffs a couple hundred yards distant, and hunkered down. Desmond and Cazelui made a run for it.

The moment Desmond touched the first stair he put every ounce of energy he could into his ascent. Leaping and bounding the stairs until he hit the door where he hoped that for any reason at all the door is unlocked.

It was, indeed, unlocked. Cazelui barreled in after him.

Avalia

Time: Morning
Location: Port Vanarosa
Interactions/Mentions: Tanithil @Lava Alckon, Amisra @Tae, & Arlen @SilverPaw
Equipment: A set of sturdy clothing, the wonky ring of disguise that enlarges the ears of the user, and his dog tags.

---

Ismael let out a sigh one the thugs began to run, Ismael rose from his once kneeling position and began to look to the others. Once to Amisra noticing that she had taken it bad then to Tanithil as he began to carry her, Ismael gave a nod to the Tanithil and said, "Yeah, make sure she will be alright".

Ismael then began to head to the people who now laid on the floor and began to see what they had on them as he called out, "So what next? We ain't got anything to do and we are in port for a while". Ismael did a light shrug as he said, "I'd say we should take what we can here, clean up, and head off somewhere else and do something to not be so easily tied to this".

tldr;

Ismael told Tanithil to be safe as he began to loot the bodies and ask what Arlen was thinking of doing while giving his own thoughts