[Blight!] [1.3] Refugees and a Refuge.

[magnificentmomo]

Spoiler

For Flower and her band, having a platoon of soldiers to clear the path sped up the process immensely. For Hammer and his soldiers, having a group of civies to babysit was holding them back, though having some actual direction, via the astrolabe, was a welcomed change of pace.


Traveling down the tram line, you come across similar bisections and precipices as the ones you met upon: Obviously this area had been hit by the quake, hard, and whatever was on the other end of this tram line hadn't been in contact with the outside world for some time. Then after climbing up one of the fractured cliffs, you see it, you all see it, in the distance the glowing glory of a polis. A massive tower, shining with the light of an anima, rests in the center of basin, surrounded by buildings, reflecting its glow. Kif falls to his knees and starts singing a song of praise to the Great Maker.





There was a lot going on in Bastion: The questionable circumstance of the disappearances of Chrome-Forged Star and Sodalite Tryr; The convoy salvage operation; and of course, the planning and execution of the Slums' salvation. All that could wait though, because even the Chosen of the Great Maker need to sleep, especially after the long day they had. But sleep didn't come easy, and it ended all too soon. Some time before the morning shift change, a low pulsing warning tone played where the Chosen were attempting shut eye, a moment later holographic displays flicker to life revealing the countenance of our beloved metropolis, Bastion.


"Chosen, we are being approached by a large group of individuals arriving from the abandoned tram line. They are armed, and two Exalts are with them. Please scramble and investigate."


When the Chosen arrive at the nearest Skiff platform they are greeted by Sebast, the surly captain, his ornate crossbow readied. He seems surprisingly up beat given the circumstances,


"No rest for the wicked, eh champions?"

 

[Sherwood]

Hammer of the Populat lets out a sigh of relief. Finally, a part of his burden can be lifted. He drops to one knee and says his own prayer to the Maker in quiet supplication. Once done, he calls over to his leading sergeant. "When we approach, do so openly, singing the praises of the Maker for our salvation. We don't want to be mistaken as a raiding force coming to attack the polis. We move in five." Hammer then moves over to stand nearby Kif, waiting quietly for the priest to finish his prayer. "I thank you, cleric, for your aid in finding this bastion of safety in the heart of the outlands. I owe you a debt for the lives of my men. I hope to be able to call you friend from here on out. Flower, I am also grateful to you. If it were not for you keeping these civilians alive in the face of great opposition, none of us would be here now." He grasps her hand in his armored fist and holds it for a moment. "Thank you. Once your people are ready, we can approach the polis. As I told my men, we will do so openly so we do not make the residents feel that we are a raiding party. It would be unfortunate to come this close to a sanctuary just to fall at the last step."

 

[Arynne]

Flowering nods vigorously. "I didn't bring these people all the way here to lose them now!" she says, before moving out with Kif among the Nuradians. A few minutes later, a voice is heard, rising in song:


"...You who craft beauty from iron, gold and steel.


"Silver and silicon obey your will,


and every thread woven by swift fingers


came from a loom your cunning hands designed.


Thus, round you clever gods no less in skill


lend their arts to patterners and spinners,


and every hand creatively inclined..."


More and more voices join, a great chorus swelling as they move toward the city--


"Regard our mortal crafts with kindly eye,


wise Autochthon, lord of the glowing forge:


for by your guidance have we learned to fly,


and your servants woke a powerful urge


to forge not only metal, but in thread


to craft and lay out nets of shade and light,


and measure time and space with flames in sand


that hold the words of living and of dead.


Help us now to use these skills aright,


as we finish crawling and learn to stand."

 

[Sherwood]

Hammer of the Populat joins in the singing with his deep baritone voice. He just hopes that the polis they are approaching will not be too trigger happy and take the time to examine the group approaching them before they launch an attack. Even a blind man should be able to tell that this is no raid on the city; we are walking slowly out in the open, no heavy weapons, and we're singing, for Maker's sake.

 

[MrSerious]

When the Chosen arrive at the nearest Skiff platform they are greeted by Sebast, the surly captain, his ornate crossbow readied. He seems surprisingly up beat given the circumstances,


"No rest for the wicked, eh champions?"

Aware of the large Blight Zone so perilously close to Bastion, Custodian of Unity takes no chances giving a small nod to Sebast. His mighty Maul stowed safely in the skiff, wearing his protection suit as he stands between the two rows. "Proceed towards the approaching party cautiously, be ready for anything. Scouts, give me your eyes and tell me what you see when we are in range. Rest easy men, the Void shall not claim us this day."

 

[happerry]

"Indeed." Diamond agrees Sebast before turning her gaze on Custodian "I will join the scout group."

 

[magnificentmomo]

Spoiler

Tension mounts as the skiff draws nearer and nearer to the band emerging from the tunnels. Everyone anxiously checks their gear, after what came out of the Reaches last time no one is really sure what to expect. As the throng comes into view, everyone is shocked to see a mass of people, marching in a pose of supplication with two Champions at the lead. Sebast, leery of trap, orders everyone to stay on their guard,


"Stay frosty troops, there's no telling what-"


and then you could hear it. A song of praise. A song of eternal gratitude for being delivered from the Reaches. A prayer of thanks to the Great Maker Autochthon.




After so long in the dark, a moment as bright as this seems almost like a fantasy. It is scenes like this when faith in the great maker is unshakable. Then the sight of a black skiff flying towards them puts the moment in jeopardy. Surely they can see, and hear, that they are no threat? Hope still exists, and one must hold out that this polis and its peoples' good will endured such trying times, and that they did not sink into depravity.

 

[Sherwood]

Hammer of the Populat steps forward at the sight of the skiff flying towards them. It was his hope that if the occupants of the skiff decided to open fire on them, that they would target him first instead of aiming at the refugees. He could defend himself against the attack, and be in a position to do something about it in return. Still, it doesn't hurt to have hope that things would work out well.

 

[MrSerious]

Custodian of Unity rests his PDBM over his shoulder approaching the singing, carousing, group carefully in his armor. If the Void chose to ambush their scout party, he was prepared to stand his ground long enough to give Sebast and the other mortals time enough to retreat to the safety of Bastion and sound the alarm. If not... well happy days...


As he approaches he catches the tempo and second stanza of one of their prayers and provides the next in a loud, booming voice walking forwards slowly. He spies the silhouette of at least one Exalt in the group and his spirits rise a bit further. No signs of heretical grafting, no obvious Voidtech on display.


"We welcome you to mighty Bastion, brothers and sisters. Lay down your weapons , stand quietly and be prepared to be taken into custody for debriefing and interrogation. Offer us no resistance and it will be a painless process, do otherwise and it will raise unwelcome questions about your loyalties."


Though it grieved him that he could not welcome them with open arms, Clarity and logic each dictated that caution was applicable here.

 

[Sherwood]

Hammer of the Populat lets out a small sigh. It was to be expected that they would want to take precautions against a possible trap. It was the same thing he would have done in their position. In a commanding voice that brooks no argument, he calls out to his men, "Do as they say. We will offer no resistance. The lives of the refugees, not to mention our own, depend upon it." With that being said, he pulls out his crossbow and removes the power core from it and lies it on the ground. Then, he draws his daiklave and plants it point first into the ground, then takes a few steps back away from his weapons with his hands raised. Hammer glances over his shoulder to make sure that his team is following their orders, and nods in satisfaction when he sees them disarming themselves as he commanded. He then turns to face the Chosen in front of him. "I am Hammer of the Populat, and we are from the nation of Gulak. While out hunting heretics, we were trapped in the outer reaches when the disaster struck. It was our good fortune that we came across this band of refugees that happen to have a autolabe, pointing out the direction to this polis. My fellow Exalt is Unexpected Flowering of Heroic Attitude, and it was under her direction that these refugees were able to make it this far."

 

[Arynne]

"Fortitude. It's Fortitude," mutters Flowering out of the corner of her mouth, as she carefully removes her bracer.

 

[Sherwood]

"My mistake. Apologies." He does his best to hide his smile.

 

[Arynne]

"I mean, seriously, how would you like it if I called you Shovel of the Populat?"

 

[MrSerious]

Having first hand knowledge of such an arduous and dangerous trek to safety, Custodian of Unity can't help already feel a sense of kinship with these two Exalts and refugees. Ignoring the whisper of Clarity to treat these newcomers with sets down his Maul on the ground and strides forward to meet Hammer of the Populat and Unexpected Flowering of Heroic Attitude engaging each with a firm grip of his forearm "I am Custodian of Unity, formerly of Sova and I too faced circumstances similar to yours. Though your tale and personage will need to be verified by our Regulators - congratulations on making such a dangerous journey saving so many."


"Men, take the humans into custody and have the Regulators begin their debiref, I will guard and escort these two back to Bastion."

 

[Arynne]

Flowering cannot help but cast a worried, protective glance at the mortals, but she accepts Custodian's authority in his own city.


"Be good to my people," she says simply. "I think we're all that's left of Nurad now."

 

[MrSerious]

Speaking in a soft, kind tone CoU replies "If your people's hearts are true to the Maker then there is nothing to fear. You have my word."

 

[happerry]

Thousand Diamond Echoes nods. "And if nothing else, I don't think we could afford to turn you two and yours away anyway. The names Thousand Diamond Echoes, and I'm glad your trip has ended. Welcome to Bastion."