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ximilialog2023-01-29 02:10 pm
- ! event log,
- ace attorney: ryunosuke naruhodo,
- adventure time: finn mertens,
- fear street: ziggy berman,
- grishaverse: the darkling,
- gundam seed/destiny: yzak jule,
- pacific rim: newton geiszler,
- red vs blue: felix,
- star wars: cassian andor,
- the old guard: andromache,
- wheel of time: rand al'thor,
- yakuza: zhao tianyou
MISSION: THE DIE IS CAST, PART 2
● ● ● M I S S I O N 1 1 . 2
Dawn breaks over the court in grey skies, clouds drooping sadly over the horizon, as Finn (and whoever he has managed to get to train with him that day) arrives at the Knights’ Guild… and meets the beaming face of Jun Shortaxe. It is clear that the depressing weather is not dampening his spirits.
His voice booms brightly over the Guild’s courtyard, but he seems to think better of the volume as his next words are quieter, only for the Orbers to hear.
And indeed, when the next day comes with the sun finally peeking out behind the veil of clouds, it is not only Jun waiting for the Orbers but also Alena Ironspear, decked in full armour, and the Great Mulgrowe, hooded and deep in conversation with a bird.
When it seems that all Orbers are present, Jun urges his horse forward and raises his hand in greeting.
Next to him, Alena nods.
The Great Mulgrowe nods below his hood, eyes slowly opening. He pulls back the fabric to reveal the scaled countenance of a dragonborn druid.
MULGROWE
When next Jun speaks, it is with a gravitas that he seemed to lack before.
Hopefully you were ready to leave at once, as the former members of the Songbird Brigade don’t wait for long — it is within the next few moments that the group is split up into three, with each party heading off to their separate directions.
After some quick decisions on who to go with, and some even quicker good-byes, the groups are all ready to go — and so, with Jun, Alena, and the Great Mulgrowe wishing each other good luck, they each take their newly-formed party and get ready to travel: Jun by the roads, the Great Mulgrowe out in the wilderness, and Alena with the aid of Rahiel’s temples and teleportation.
1.0 Those following Jun Shortaxe will find that the roads that lead from Alydhion to South Naelor are well maintained, so whether you are on horseback or have chosen to put your feet to good use by walking, there won’t be too many rocks in your shoe by the end of the day. As you travel, you may hear Jun humming to himself, in a tone that’s actually not bad:
Follow the road
Rich or poor,
Your troubles unload
The path will take you
Stronger it will make you
The adventure that awaits!
So close the door,
Follow the road
Rich or poor,
Sing with me this ode
To whatever the fates
have in store for you!
The tone of the travelling song is catchy, and perhaps you'll want to join in (and learn another song that the illustrious commander of the Ximilia has composed).
As the road is long and darkness falls quickly in the evening, you are required to make camp — so find a good spot on the side of the road, set up your campfire, and spread your bedding around… or, if you’re not a fan of staying under the open sky and watching the stars, you can always try and find a thicket of trees to stay under, or a cave where you’ll be safe from any sudden downpours.
2.0 The journey through the Forests of Gha’har throws you into the middle of wilderness, away from the comfort of roads: instead, the Great Mulgrowe will lead his group through thick bushes, over fallen tree trunks, and under the canopies of the tall, old trees of the forest whose presence seems almost oppressive. There are moments when you may look around and feel as if everyone around you has disappeared; moments when the trees rustle above you with a quiet, menacing sound… only for it to be broken by the trill of a bird, or perhaps a druid friend among your party, settling the trees once more.
Eventually, you will hear it: the unmistakable sound of water. From behind the trees, you see the river gleaming in the sunlight like a silver snake, twisting this way and that as it flows towards Naelori Lake. This means that you have finally made it out of the Forests, and traveling by the riverside is a nice change in scenery… at least until you’re required to cross the river in order to make it to South Naelor. Well — better be ready to get your feet wet, or figure out an alternate way of crossing the river with dry shoes!
3.0 Whereas Jun and the Great Mulgrowe lead their respective groups immediately towards South Naelor, Alena takes hers back to Harsby; the reason for that becomes apparent when right outside the borough, a beautiful temple surrounded by flowering vines comes into view. It is the temple of Rahiel, and Alena explains to the group that she is only able to teleport so many people from one temple to another — and the one closest to the ruins of South Naelor lies at the mouth the Gulf of Ifyln.
It is almost as soon as everyone has stepped inside the temple, its walls decorated with paintings of the Seven Sisters, that Alena claps her hands together and a golden light envelopes you… and the next moment, you smell the sea air, and feel the cool breeze blowing your hair. When you open your eyes, feeling a little disoriented, you see the steep cliffs that line the coast from the open temple.
The cliffs don’t persist for long, though, and Alena quickly leads the group to the shore, where a small ship awaits them: just large enough to fit all of them below deck, you best hope you’ve got those among you who know how to raise the sails and steer the ship through the tides… and lower the anchor when it’s time to stop for the night. At least you’ll have a cosy rest in the ship’s cabins, or on the deck watching the stars.
However, don’t get too attached to your little ship: soon enough the river becomes too shallow, requiring you to make the rest of the way on foot.
However, the journey to S. Naelor isn’t without its challenges. The skies above might seem to darken one day, the heavy clouds splitting at their seams to let out a torrential downpour. You and your group might also stumble into the wrong place at the wrong time, not uncommon for many parties that travel through (and across) the boroughs. Whether by foot or on horseback, it would be wise to keep your senses alert and your weapon close. A battle of some nature is never too far away.
4.0 Past the crest of gently rolling hills you might hear the sudden rapid stomping of hooves against dirt as a party of bandit orcs on horseback appear, their shrill cries meant to scare and alarm you. Seek a place for cover or meet them with full force, weapons at the ready — if you’re traveling with Jun Shortaxe, he won’t be far behind, expression steeled into one of strength and determination. Within the thick, lush foliage of the Forests of Gha’har, if you’re traveling with the Great Mulgrowe, you may encounter winged bat-like creatures in the trees that squawk and cry as they fly out to attack you. Mind their sharp claws and sharper teeth — and anyone with the ability to communicate with creatures might want to utilize their skills to placate the flurry. Finally, steering the small ship on the river past Rahiel’s temple may seem quiet at first, but past the temple’s walls and emerging from the Gulf of Ifyln, winged kelpies appear to have caught wind of your group’s presence. Alena Ironspear will fearlessly lead the charge but she’ll need your help to keep the winged kelpies at bay and continue your journey northwards to Fort Gorlouch.
5.0 Along the way, whether through grassy plains and grey skies, the darkness of trees and thick foliage, or the sandy coast and the salty ocean waters, some of your party will experience some obstacles and immunities specific to their chosen race and form. Unnatural phenomena and sudden spots of darkness and flame appear to pop up like a presence following close behind.
If you suddenly become shrouded in a strange, thick fog, you’ll hear haunting voices and see visions of malevolent creatures all around you. You might try and swing your weapon forward as the voices command you to defeat every last creature trying to crowd in on you — but only your human party members will see what you can’t and will need to snap you out of the presence currently trying to control your mind, persuading you to attack your own friends and fellow crew.
While there is no shortage of dangers to be found no matter what path you travel, it might seem that there is something intentionally challenging your journey through South Naelor. While it is easy enough to take up your weapon against a stray bandit or wild creature (to some degree, anyway), it is much harder to cast off an avalanche of boulders from the nearby cliff edges, or to catch a fallen tree trunk that aims to block you and your path. Call on the orc-kind in your party to help, as their superior strength will allow them to swat boulders away like flies, or catch heavy tree trunks in mid-fall.
Some of you might find when you try to start a campfire, either during the day or the evening, for warmth or for cooking, that the flames might appear to grow hotter and larger than usual. Keep the fire going for too long and you’ll be (un)pleasantly surprised by the sudden voracious appetite the flame has for the measly kindle you have collected. It spreads and seems to grow into a predatory form that can only be challenged by those with an immunity to fire. Your tiefling companions will be able to tame and put out the fire before it does any more damage than singe your bedroll and turn your dinner to charcoal.
In the evening when the last of the daylight has disappeared past the horizon, the darkness may feel thicker, even blacker. For most of you it will seem difficult, almost impossible to see; you won’t even be able to see your hands before you. Only the dwarves in your group, possessing dark vision, will be able to decipher your surroundings and guide you to a safe place to wait out the darkness before it passes. (And thankfully, like a passing shadow, it won’t last for too long.)
Even your Brigade leaders appear to be having difficulty at moments. It will be more important than ever to chip in when you can and keep your fellow team members afloat as you trek through this perilous part of the journey towards the fortress. But one thing is clear at least: you’re getting closer.
6.0 It isn’t difficult to guess that the path to South Naelor is one less traveled — the dirt road is crude and beaten down by wagon wheels, hoof-prints, and feet but there isn’t much else around for miles. Aside from the random attacks from bandits and hungry creatures, and the strange happenings, there are also the natural elements to contend with.
Windstorms, rainstorms, and the changes in temperature (generally warmer in the day, cooler during evenings) are common in this part of the land being situated between the ocean waters and too far away from the shelter of Ffuren and the Jolnora Peaks. The plains experience heavy monsoons of rain at times, and with trees so far and few between it can get cold in the nights. The tides can rise, taking in a large part of the beach by the coastline, making it too easy to be swept into the water if one is not careful enough. Rain isn’t uncommon in the Forests of Gha’har either, and may require brief moments of shelter under the large leaves of the trees to escape getting soaked. The best thing to do during these moments is to find a cave or shelter of some sort and wait it out, catch up on some sleep, or once again go over your plans for when you arrive at Fort Gorlouch.
They say that it’s more about the journey than the destination, but sometimes it really is a relief to arrive where you want to be. The gates to South Naelor appear on the horizon in the form of long stone ramparts and large towers. Only ... these gates appear to be in serious need of repair, the walls partially broken, chunks of stone missing, and wooden posts hacked in half, leaving crude sharpened points directed at the sky. S. Naelor appears to be a court that had once seen better and brighter days, and it isn't hard to think that the court of Alydhion itself might one day see a future like this one. It is unclear whether this once majestic court had always been in decline or if this is a more recent event. Whatever the case may be, there’s only one way to find out … it’s time to ride forward.
7.0 The travels might begin to feel like they’re taking a toll on you but you and your party finally arrive — and in mostly good spirits, too. South Naelor as it stands feels nothing like the court of Alydhion, which seems so vibrant and alive by comparison. If anything, it is a court now mostly in ruin, an artifact in the history of this world. Over the centuries, nature has reclaimed some of the built structures, and rivers have carved wide canals through the land, connecting to the Gulf of Ifyln. Without needing to be told by your former Songbird Brigade leader, you might already begin to feel the prickle of goosebumps along your skin, or the hair rise at the back of your neck. It’s that sensation of expecting something dangerous that will keep you alert as the three groups converge just before Fort Gorlouch. The Great Mulgrowe bows his head in Alena and Jun’s direction, and Jun nods, opening his mouth as though to address the crew at large.
But just before he can speak, deep and guttural growls fill the quiet air from somewhere within the old fortress walls followed by the sudden blinking of bright light as though there are doors opening and closing to let these unwanted guests through. Claws frantically click and scratch against stone as the lanky greyish-white furred creatures, long-limbed and snarling with venomous teeth, rush out to meet the teams.
Alena’s eyes widen as she swears under her breath.
One of the patchy-furred beasts rises on its hind legs atop one of the half-battered ramparts and howls into the sky, commanding all of its brethren. One does not need to be a druid to understand their message: they mean to attack, and they mean to kill you.
MULGROWE
Next to the Great Mulgrowe, Jun squares his shoulders, a determined look in his eyes.
As if in response to these words, without hesitation, Alena seems to compose herself as though falling back into the old habits of their former party. She turns towards the Orbers, gripping her sword tightly in her hand.
The moment Jun hangs back to stand his ground, the Dremnin start to crowd forward, followed by all other manner of beast: some recognizable, and others that are unfamiliar, like a new kind of beast this world hasn’t seen. You’ll have to fight your way through some of these beasts to keep moving forward in search of the heirloom as Jun takes care of the brunt of it from behind.
F Y I
• If you have questions about any of the prompts or the mission in general, please direct them HERE.
• A voting post regarding the conclusion will go up on February 10.
• And finally, your soundtrack for this log: ♪ ♪ ♪
no subject
His grip on the sword tightens, taking a backwards step, exhaling. The past few weeks may have shot Finn’s confidence, but Felix’s order to watch his back was not about to be taken lightly. He needed to buy time. People we counting on them, and Felix was counting on him.
Don’t choke, don’t choke, you’ve got this, Finn.
“-get the hell inside!”
The sharp words snap Finn out of his focus on the lizard, glancing over his shoulder to see that Felix had already gotten the door open. The monster was lifting it’s head, mouth crackling with electricity. You could practically smell the ozone. He doesn’t need to be told twice, turning on his heel and dashing through the open door.
Finn laughs, pressing his back against the heavy door as they slam it closed. Hopefully it would hold.
“Dude that was close! Nice work popping that lock so fast!” He grins, holding out his hand to Felix for a little celebratory fist bump.
no subject
He glanced over his shoulder, still knelt in front of the door, and saw the approaching beast for the first time. It was big, had entirely too many legs, and was full of teeth and crackling electricity. Nope. It was time to get out of here.
The mercenary shouted a command at Finn even as he swung the door open and slipped inside. He turned back to the entrance and growled as he saw Finn still standing there gripping his sword too tightly. He gave one final shout to his unfortunate companion, "The door is open, now get the hell inside!" Before he placed his hand on said door, ready to slam it shut the moment he felt too threatened. Fortunately for Finn the kid heard him and darted quickly inside.
As one, Finn and Felix slammed the door shut. The mercenary went an extra step as Finn leaned against the door making certain to lock it back up, bolting anything he could find to make it last as long as possible. Because now that they were inside it was time to explore and preferably without interference from their unwanted guest.
There was about a second where it looked as though Felix might return Finn's gesture with mild triumphant exuberance--and then the mercenary froze and his expression hardened as he left Finn hanging. A pang of emotion had hit Felix and his chest tightened. This wasn't how this scene usually went. He couldn't feel happy when the person in front of him wasn't who it was supposed to be. He quickly turned around.
He took a steadying breath as he now faced the room and then began to search it with his eyes. He grabbed hold of Finn before the boy could try to move off and get into some sort of trouble without him. A useful distraction was only good if he could use it when he most needed it, not when it decided to attract attention before he was ready. While he kept an ear to the door for any sings of the monster trying to come in behind them, Felix searched keenly with his eyes for any traps in the room or hallway and anything of any interest that would be a clue where to go next. Only after he was fairly certain it was safe would he begin to move forward and search more thoroughly with a closer look--mindful of Finn's presence at all times, making sure to keep the kid out of trouble.
"Stay behind me," he told Finn. "We're going to do this the right way."
no subject
Should Finn and Felix decide to see where the stairs lead, they will eventually come to the top of the tower — one of the fortress' watchtowers. At the top, there is only one room; the small windows that line the walls let in light to illuminate the footprints in the dust, leading to the middle of the room and then back to the door...
And where the footprints lead to is a small, half-open chest, with an elaborately-made sceptre sticking out of it... and an unassuming, round, faintly greenish blue jewel in the middle of it.
no subject
Falling in line behind him, they advance slowly through the upcoming room. History is splashed across the walls and floor in broad strokes; signs of fighting, of despair, of eventual abandonment. It's impossible for Finn to not quietly preoccupy himself with what happened to these people as Felix performs his sweep of the room, running his fingers along the split table and benches. These small gestures were part of Finn's own test, carrying it out in silence as he and Felix moved through the fortress. Finn tested raised pavers below their feet with a quick press while they walked, applied pressure to prominent stones along the walls. Triggering traps wasn't ideal -- and Finn certainly wasn't about to let Felix know he was doing it -- but at least it would give them information. Some indication that the were going in a direction someone felt was worth protecting.
Their ascent was mostly silent; Finn's suggestions and questions earning little more than a grunt, if they were acknowledged at all. Felix was focused on the task at hand, and Finn could respect that -- footprints weren't always easy to track, especially ones made with such shallow impressions. Finn stays behind him, one arm hovering over the hilt of his sheathed sword, doing his best to echo Felix's quiet intensity. This wasn't some training session out on the Roads, this was it. The big show. Finn wasn't about to stand in the way of success by being a dumb kid about it... even if those weren't really his own words.
Still, Finn can't quite help the broad grin that splits across his face when they first lay eyes on the chest. More specifically, the chest's contents.
"Dude, look!" He jumps, moving to step past Felix towards the scepter. Finn had enough sense not to touch it, not right away, but. Crouching down, nose scarcely an inch away from from the small jewel, wasn't technically touching! "Are you kidding me? This is almost, like, too easy."
Finn blinks, regarding the jewel for a second longer before turning to Felix.
"...Is this too easy?"
no subject
The words that Finn said echoed in Felix's mind as he stared at the bejeweled scepter. It was too easy. Despite the danger outside and all the trouble to get this far, this was suddenly all too very easy to grab. But Felix wasn't thinking about traps this time. Instead, he glanced at the footprints on the ground that led up to the chest...and back out again.
They were fresh. Much too fresh for someone to have made them years ago when leaving this troublesome item here to keep out of the hands of those that wanted to use it. It looked like someone had been here much more recently. Felix's hands turned into fists at his side as he recalled the Temple of the Key on Chorus and how he had been too late to get there. Someone else had beat him to it and grabbed the Key before he could. This was all too similar a set up.
Were they too late?
There was only one real way to find out. Felix remembered his moment in the North Wing on the Ximilia. The orb had been powerful enough to feel along his skin despite his suit of armor. Though this was only a part of the whole, Felix could feel no power coming from the orb on the scepter, and he was not wearing his suit of armor right now. Either it was dormant or this wasn't really what they were looking for.
Felix reached out and ("Wait, are you sure you should--" he heard Finn begin to say) picked up the scepter without answering Finn. He ignored the boy's reaction as he held the scepter in front of him and carefully touched the orb with his opposite hand, one finger tap-tapping upon the glassy surface.
He waited a full five seconds for a reaction.
If nothing came, no voice or sense of power, if it remained dormant then Felix's next action was to the raise the scepter high above his head--and smash the head of the scepter into the ground in an effort to break the orb. By the mercenary's reckoning, if it were truly the orb of power they were seeking it either wouldn't break no matter what he did to it or breaking the jewel would reveal the true orb of power held within the physical constraint.
Either way, he figured he would have his answer. And if it wasn't the real orb they were seeking... oh, was he going to be so furious with this whole repeating situation. He had gotten his Key in the end back on Chorus. He would get this orb, too, but this time he wouldn't be so lenient to the person who was trying to keep him from his goal.
no subject
Nothing.
The orb does not react; there is no tug at the pits of their stomachs to indicate a transfer back to the station. The moment is as anticlimactic as anything... something that then prompts Felix to take more drastic action.
The sceptre is raised above his head one second, and smashed against the stone floor the next. The fragile metal gives way immediately, breaking into pieces... but the round jewel stays whole, rolling on the floor towards the door before coming to a stop.
Dimly, the orb seems to pulse with a glow, before it's gone —
except then it does it, again. And again. Steady pulses of light, dim at first, but growing brighter, brighter. As if pulsing to a rhythm, like a heartbeat... or footsteps.
no subject
“What, is it a fake?” He walks over to to the orb, crouching down next to it and watching the pulse of light. There was a steady rhythm to it, but Finn wasn’t sure exactly what it meant. He picks up the orb, holding it closer to his face, expression serious.
“Maybe we gotta touch it at the same time, and like, think about making a wish? Like a……I don’t know. Sometimes it works like that.”
no subject
Felix glanced at Finn with a scowl and then back to the orb. "If it was a fake, I figured it would break and leave us knowing if this was just some wild goose chase after all."
But it hadn't broken and now Felix was staring at the orb in fascination as it pulsed with a light of its own. He thought of the mission files he'd studied and the conversations he'd had with veteran Orbers about what happened while retrieving the previous orbs. He remembered someone--Sabriel he thought--mention the orbs glowing whenever they already had a bargain in play. That got him thinking...
His thoughts were interrupted as he watched Finn kneel down next to the orb. He outstretched an arm as he opened his mouth to say something in warning but was too late. Finn picked up the orb and held it close to his face. Felix rolled his eyes, realizing the gesture was similar to what he had just done moments earlier with the scepter. Touching it wasn't going to do anything. Neither would what Finn suggested.
"No, that thing's already got a wish going," Felix told Finn finally. He moved closer to Finn and the orb. His fingers itched to snatch it from the boy's hands but he kept his cool. "It tracks. Dean mentioned some papers that accused the king of talking to the scepter... he probably made a deal with it. We need to get it out of here and figure out how to break the deal it's in so we can finish this mission."
A thought occurred to him as he continued to watch the orb pulsate. It appeared to be getting brighter by the second. Felix cocked his head to one side.
"Is it just me or is that light getting stronger?"
no subject
They stop right outside the room — and as Felix asks his question, there's the unmistakable sound of someone clapping their hands.
"An astute observation, my friend! But you're wrong about the deal. The king's deal was done the moment the heirloom was taken away from the palace... it told me that itself."
It is a voice that is all too familiar to one occupant of the room — as he steps into the room, an unreadable look on his face, the first thing Jun Shortaxe does is nod to Finn.
"Hi, Finn. Made it here like a real hero, I'm proud of you."
1/2
Finn fixes his gaze on the orb, briefly transfixed by the subtle changes growing within it. It was getting stronger. He's about to open his mouth to say as much, confirming Felix's thoughts yet again, when clapping breaks through his focus. Followed by a very familiar voice.
Finn jerks up, a flurrying sequence of emotions passing through his mind when he lays his eyes on Jun Shortaxe. First comes relief -- he didn't die out there, he made it here like he said he would, they were going to solve this together. Finn even finds it in him to look excited, if briefly, opening his mouth to shout an elated word at seeing him there.
Logic sets in before he gets those words out, Finn's face falling with it. There was no urgency in Jun's body language, languidly moving into the room and regarding them both as if they were guests in his own home. The words barely seemed important, bouncing off Finn as if he was speaking through cotton.
"Hi, Finn. Made it here like a real hero, I'm proud of you."
Except those words. Those words hit home. Finn's shoulders tighten, realization hitting like a freight train. His grip tightens on the orb defensively.
"What's going on, Jun?" Even knowing, knowing, what was happening in front of him, Finn couldn't help himself -- he wanted to give him a chance to explain it. Some special secret backup plan, something to ensure the orb's retrieval if the rest of them failed. "The dremnin were all over you. I thought--"
2/2
"Why are you here?"
no subject
It took one to know one, as it went.
"Why am I not surprised?" Felix said to both Shortaxe and Finn and neither of them in particular. Then very much directly to Shortaxe, "Your little act was always a bit too much, just so you know."
Said the least trustworthy man in the room to the second least trustworthy man in the room. Felix didn't need to look in order to catch the orb as it was tossed to him by Finn. He raised it and dangled it in the air before him, taunting Shortaxe, before stuffing it into an inescapable inner pocket beneath his studded leather armor. He patted his chest where the orb now lie safely tucked away and smiled a dastardly smile at Shortaxe.
"See ya."
Before vanishing into thin air.
Keep him distracted, came the silent order via network text communication from Felix to Finn. The space marine turned rogue tiefling had a plan, but before he implemented it in its entirety, he needed Finn to play his part. To that effect, Felix began to record the sight in front of him via the network device. He simply hoped he didn't need to spell it out for the kid.
no subject
"Do it."
And inside Felix's pocket, the orb flares to life with an intensity it's been lacking all this time. The room fills with blue-green light like the inside of a thunderstorm, as lightning explodes from the orb, coursing through Felix, paralysing every limb as they go — before bursting out of him, leaving behind countless wounds and Felix bleeding out on the floor, unable to move.
Steadily, Jun walks to the tiefling, turning him around with one kick of his boot, before crouching down and picking the orb from inside his armor.
"He has about an hour," Jun says, glancing at Finn. "Being hit by that spell is not a joke... I should know. It was worth it, though." He leaves Felix on the floor, turning to face Finn fully.
"I'm sorry, I really did want to help Degar." For the first time, there's something truly genuine in his tone — a regret that the one thing his best friend needs from him now is the one thing he can't give.
"But the heirloom isn't something I can give him. He'd understand. All I'm doing is fulfilling the promise we made as kids."
no subject
The next thing he knew he was hitting the ground. His whole body had gone stiff, frozen and locked in place as the lightning rushed through him and only when it had escaped, leaving him worn and bloody, did his body finally keel over and collapse upon the dusty floor of the tower room. It must have been mere seconds that only felt like hours before his brain restarted after the pain subsided--that was a lie, it didn't cease so much as his mind couldn't comprehend it anymore and it became a dull ache that spread across his body in undulating waves of torturous heartbeats. He still couldn't move and he wasn't certain whether it was from the lingering pain or some extra part of the spell that prevented his muscles from cooperating but either way he was stuck. Only a few uncontrollable twitches coursed through his body spasmodically till even those receded into complete stillness.
But Felix's mind was still his own even as he struggled to stay conscious. The darkness behind his closed eyelids tempted him to give into the void of unconsciousness but he could make out the mental HUD from his communication device telling him that he was still recording and sending out to the network. His breathing was shallow. His everything hurt. And for the second time in his life he thought 'this is what it must be like to die'. And, once again, he had one thing on his mind as he cut the video recording and opened a link to Finn once again: revenge.
Finn. Don't let him get away. Follow him. Don't...fail...
no subject
But Felix, armored and invisible--he must have some kind of plan. He always had some sort of plan. Always.
As the black spots faded from his vision, whatever desperate hopes Finn had about Felix's armor protecting him evaporated. He lay crumpled on the ground, all-too visible now. Blood oozed from what seemed to be everywhere, lacerations and burns zigzagging across every part of him not covered with armor. Was he dead? Finn's heart felt like it was lodged in his throat, hand tightening on his sword hilt painfully. He was dead.
"He has about an hour."
Finn watches numbly as Jun strides over to retrieve the orb as Felix's final message comes in loud and clear. He was alive, but for how long? You should do something, a voice was screaming inside his own head, he's right there, do something, DO something.
Being passed over so easily by the man he'd championed for over a month calcifies the hurt inside Finn into something darker. He raises his sword higher when Jun steps forward, wordlessly warning him not to take another step. It was almost a comical sight, some sixteen year old kid pointing a dull blade at the fabulously decked out paladin in front of him, but the humor was lost on Finn. His hands tremble, in anger rather than fear. For the first time since arriving to Aldyhion, Finn felt perfect clarity over what he needed to do.
"It doesn't have to be like this, Jun. Whatever your promise was, we can help. We can find another way." His tone was flat but edged with a barely controlled anger. Even after what had happened, he couldn't hate Jun so easily. His eyes shift from Jun to the orb, and down to Felix behind him. Running out of time. "Would this make Degar happy to see? Dweyre?"
no subject
"I'll never know, will I? Dweyre is dead and buried, and Degar... well, he seems to have decided to just leave us all behind like we don't even matter. So why should I care?"
He looks at the orb in his hand with a grin.
"I have a far better partner, now. Since the first time it spoke to me, we've been on the same wavelength. And you want me to just throw it away?"
Jun sighs, closing his hand over the orb. "Finn, listen. Every single good thing I've done — every family I've helped, every person I've saved, every problem I've solved, every monster I've slayed... none of that has been a lie. The heirloom isn't hurting anyone, I'm keeping it away from the king, I'm spending all my time helping the people of Alydhion — what in all of that do you find fault in?"
Throughout, his sword remains at his side in its scabbard; but with the orb still pulsing brightly in his hand, he hardly needs a weapon.
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Or, almost everyone. Felix's crumpled body on the floor and the bodies from stories the other Songbirds told over the past month didn't hold much esteem for the man.
"What about Ellia, huh? She was your friend and you completely hung her out to dry." Finn counters, frustration still coloring his voice as his knuckles go white over Vending Machine Sword's hilt. "Or any of the other people you had to hurt to hold onto your new 'partner'? They had families too, man! How many more times is that orb going to make you pay for the price of using it? It's like... it's like you can't even..."
Rather than building to a crescendo, Finn's anger seems to recede from his expression. Hurt and exhaustion takes its place as his sword sags in his grip. Felix's final request (order) was still ringing in Finn's ears; a tinny resonance skating underneath his every thought. He still had a job to do. Don't let Jun get away. Finn had a pretty good idea what that meant to Felix, even if he was equally sure the orb would toast his bread before he could do much of anything to attack.
Besides... orb or no orb, Finn knew he wouldn't be able to bring himself to do this Felix's way. He takes a step closer, all threat gone from his posture. Maybe Jun had played him for an idiot this whole time, maybe he was an idiot, but he was also the idiot that never missed a chance to be in the man's presence. And there's one thing you pick up fast hanging out with Jun Shortaxe; he loved to talk about himself.
"If everything you say you did this for is real, then it was in you before whatever pact you made with that thing." Finn takes another step, testing the moment. It felt as if his heart might beat out of his chest. "The orb wasn't what made me look up to you, okay? You're kind, and you care about people, and you want to do the right thing. I know you do."
Sword now sheathed, Finn takes one more step towards him.
"You didn't need some orb to make you that way. You've wanted to do this since you were a kid." He holds out his hand in silent request, willing it to not shake and not quite succeeding. "You can be a hero without it. Save the world from that thing, before it eats you up too."
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Except one word that struck true: partner. If he had been conscious enough, if it didn't hurt so much to even consider, he would have laughed at the concept. Maybe his dream-self did laugh in the far away place one enters when drifting in and out of wakeful reality. What an idiot.
Partners were only good for one thing and that was betrayal. This effing knight was as stupid and pointless as his efforts to help people. The orbs were nothing but chaos by all accounts and while Felix had no qualms using that to his advantage he wasn't dumb enough to expect anything gained wouldn't come with a price. He just didn't care what it was so long as he could direct it at people other than himself. Because he wasn't so altruistic to try and help other people. The only person that mattered was himself. He was the only person he could trust, after all.
His mix-matched thoughts spiraled from there as he thought about his own reason for being on this mission and the person responsible for it all. His piece of shit partner that he wanted nothing more than to throttle and make him pay for what had happened. The same partner that he would keep if only he could finalize the reconstitution of his regret and make it all right. The partner that he would never be able to trust again...and yet make certain that he could, somehow, control, manipulate, use to his advantage. As it had always been, and always should be. A twisted, horrible relationship that Felix couldn't let go of. He needed it to survive.
Back again to the room just in time to hear Finn's plea for heroism. Another funny concept that Felix wanted to laugh at and give a harsh rebuke. There were no heroes in the universe, just idiots and romantics of an era that never existed in the first place and never could. People just didn't work that way. Felix would applaud the kid for trying to plea to the knight's better nature but he knew the kid was saying what he wanted to believe in and not what was real. The kid wasn't a manipulator, just a simpleton whose childhood dreams hadn't been shattered to pieces yet. How much longer would that last.
He wanted to tell the kid to do something, anything. To attack the target and win the mission. To hurry up and get him medical assistance. To let Shortaxe go and follow him in secret. To not abandon him when he needed him more than ever he thought he might.
Felix's eyes twitched, fluttered open just a pinch and his foggy vision caught sight of the two forms standing over him in his peripherals. It hurt too much to bother with more than that, and his eyelids slowly closed again as he lay there motionless. He missed his armor. Biofoam would have been nice right about now. He drifted back into unconscious and dreamt of gray and green armor walking away while he stood rooted in place like a forgotten statue of the past.
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With an unreadable look in his eyes, Jun watches as Finn takes a step closer; the orb in his grasp pulses erratically, the more Finn talks.
For a moment, Jun is quiet. A frown settles on his features.
"Hm... you're right. I was already a hero, even before I got my hands on the heirloom. I did want to be one, ever since..."
He trails off, but in the strange light that the orb casts, it is almost as if there is an image that overlays him: a younger Jun, laughing as he waves a sword made of wood.
"I'm going to be the best knight of them all! I'm going to be the most famous, the hero of the people, the one people turn to when they need help! Just you wait and see!"
Perhaps it is only Finn's imagination, overactive in the stressful situation, that makes him think he can almost see right into the past... or perhaps it is something else. The orb's glow casts its shadows in the space between Jun and Finn, and in it, the shapes of two other boys manifest: one smaller, one taller, both with dark brown hair.
"Yeah, and I'm going to sing about all your great deeds and become the best bard there's ever been! And then everyone will remember us and know our names across the lands!"
A phantom laugh hangs in the air, suspended for a long moment.
"Right, you two, that's a grand plan and all, but Jun, you've gotta learn to hold that sword properly before you stab yourself... and Degar, how about getting your lute out to practice with?"
With shouts from the battlefield, the sheepish laugh of two boys is washed away (if it was ever there at all), leaving the scene as it was: Jun, the orb in his hand, and Finn, his hand outstretched.
For a moment, it almost seems as if Jun might lift his hand, to place the orb in Finn's... but then, suddenly, the orb flashes brightly, and Jun tilts his head. Listening — though all Finn can hear are the sounds of the fight outside the tower.
"Yes, you're right," Jun says, finally, closing his eyes briefly. "I'm sorry I almost lost sight of that."
But just as Finn may think Jun is speaking to him, that he finally got through to the man... Jun raises his hand, the orb glowing with a growing intensity.
"Nice try, Finn," he says. And then, looking at the orb, "You're right. We need some more firepower here."
In seconds, the orb's glow burns so brightly Finn has to avert his eyes; the glow obscures Jun entirely, along with half of the room.
"Wait —" comes Jun's voice from inside the glow, but it is cut off — and suddenly, Finn can hear sounds: bone cracking, a clatter of armor hitting stone floor. If he bears to look, he'll see that from the glow, he can see movement, something growing larger and larger.
There is no warning: the side of the tower bursts to give way to limbs and wings, stones falling down to the battlefield, flying off to all directions, even inside the room itself. When Finn chances a look, the first thing he sees are red scales. Among them, only one is a bright teal: the orb, merged to be a part of a very different kind of armor.
Crouched over the half-fallen tower and the battlements, the stones groaning under the weight, where there just a few moments ago was a man, there is now a red dragon.
For a moment, Finn and the dragon look at each other, the dragon's blue eyes staring at Finn... before it slaps its wings and takes off towards the battlefield.
( OOC: This is the end of the thread! The conclusion will deal with how to get the orb from Jun-dragon, and the voting post will go up on February 10. Please note that the conclusion will take place immediately following this thread. )