Vault Hunters (Finished~)

[Zer0]

- Beneath the Shattered Dome -​

An investigation around the ruins of the slanted chamber revealed one giant spider automaton half buried in rubble, its legs sticking out like an upturned stool. It didn't look so banged up, at least on the outside that could be seen. It had large chains coiled around its top and what looked like two more fallen giant cranes. On its top side was a closed hatch that didn't feel like it was locked, and behind it was a ragnite engine blanketed by a spaghetti tangle of rune lines. There were also seven smaller spider machines, the same type as the one that got shot up in the magic well chamber, that were part of the domino stack that looked relatively undamaged, save for a few with cracked glass and a little dent here and there where giant pieces of metal or stone were sitting on it.

Nava followed Charon as he searched, and he heard no more ragged breathing, though he did spot two more corpses of drows --- stone grey --- on the opposite side of the room, hugging each other, half in a puddle of the petrifying rain.

L and Lysanthir were talking as she worked, snatches of their conversation drifting over. " . . . okay, she's stable . . . keep her from sleeping. " And then louder. "Charon, I need to go back to the surface. The little girl's alright now, but she's lost a lot of blood and she's dehydrated."

Sisyphus Happy

Spoiler: Biggest spider Automaton

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Healthy
| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (6) + Spellslinger (4) [10/14]
Condition: 1 | Roleplay Points: 1

Χάρων ​

Charon's melancholy resumed once their work was done. His lethargic gaze rested on the scene; her crushed body made him shudder and he turned with a sweep of his tail and began his search of the room. Aside from their work, there was silence in the room. He was grateful for the silence, at first. It was faint, but he could feel heaviness in his limbs and steps, and a certain infirmity in the center of his chest, as though his breath was more fleeting than it once was, unsatisfying and difficult to hold on to. His search played on the ceiling and darted between piles of rubble but fell immediately on the giant machine -- impossible to miss -- turned over in the chaos. Eyes wide with curiosity, he didn't wince when he placed his foot down on an edge of rough stone which pushed on his soles painfully. Faintly, he traced his fingers across some of the machinery on the spider. Very clever -- he couldn't even guess off the top of his head how these metals were formed in such a smooth and precise way. Actually...

His mind wandered to vague possibilities, most of them taking the form of using manna to shape metal. Simultaneously, his eyes wondered, but they were caught by a couple of drow clinging to each other. His eyes lingered there and his mind went blank. Blurriness overtook his vision while his thoughts were shut out to him. When L talked, he wanted to look away but couldn't and it took a few moments for him to respond. Silence hung in the air after she made her request until he finally stirred himself and cleared his throat "A, aaahh," he responded, blinking and trotting back over the hill. The rock they were using as a vehicle was left far behind and he would have to cast levitate again. Reaching down and uncoiling the ensorcelled rope from his waist -- once they were making progress across ground, he unfastened everyone from each other -- he looked between it and Liliana.

"Woooulld yooou like tooo... khhh..." he looked up toward the hole in the ceiling, "goooo uup, thhherre?" he asked hesitantly, pointing at it and holding out the rope, "thissss wiiiill lliiiiffft yooou," he assured her.

 

[Zer0]

- Beneath the Shattered Dome -​

Liliana shook her head, looking up at the hole. "I don't know where that leads. I'll fly back the way we came." She rummaged in her messy hair and pulled out a bag --- Lysanthir looked curiously at her. She handed it to Charon. "Chalks, for marking the way. " She began to shapeshift, shadows lengthening, becoming a pattern of rainbow colors that drooped over her head like a cloak, encasing her body in that familiar lizard form, the hood flattening into the smiley axolotl head. "I'll come back as soon as possible, and I'll find you guys again!"

The large lizard-L carefully gathered the little Purrsian girl in her claws.

Sisyphus Happy

- Moss Adamaris -​

For a moment the boat turned and began turning in circles as Moss dropped the oar on his lap and began tickling Isa in earnest. But Isa had the high ground --- sort of, Moss was sitting, Isa was standing, and was soon the one curled up on his seat laughing, "Nooo! Noo!" as Isa overpowered him.

The Purrsian who took a break had to resume the rowing, chuckling and shaking his head.

When they came to the shadow of Barad Eithel, Leonid nodded at the two. "Right then, so where's darling Vidya's camp?"

And after a few minutes in the petrifying rain, passing by just a handful of rushing sand boats now, they sailed to the northern side of the ruin city and saw a tall narrow icy glacier covering a mound of sand where three tents stood precariously on the flat top against the downpour, and each had the arrow-head of a smoking chimney pipe sticking out of their sides. It was in a literal lake of petrifying water, and didn't have any magical protection unlike what Leonid was doing.

"O, thee mou, thank goodness the ice didn't crack." said Moss, relieved. And it was here at the base of the tall and gangly ice-sand island that Leonid dropped them off with whatever stuff they wanted from the pile, saying he and his friends will be rejoining their other companions in Barad Eithel and will look for a dry spot to camp.

"We'll send word once we've settled. Also, if you boys happen to meet someone looking for this boat, tell them it's at Leonid's Eccentricities!"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -​

Isa flinched back when Moss tickled his side, chuckling. Silently accepting the poke war, not realizing that the boat is starting to spin around in circles as they poked each other. Of course, because he was standing, the redhead did not hold back his prodding assault, his grin grew mischievous. He chuckled alluringly, enjoying the merman’s cries of ‘Nyooo~’ as he laughed from each poke. “I adore your laugh, mi Tesoro~”

He had stopped his onslaught when the purrsian took over the oar, quickly leaning down to peck on Moss’ horn. The sprout on his head bounced joyfully, he stood straight again, feeling calm once more. Perhaps it’s because these last two days and nights had been a roller coaster of emotions and dire situations, it’s just . . . Nice to not think about them right now. Not to remember the night before, not remember the screams, the fires burning bodies, Moss and Leonid bleeding-

Theosebia going crazy, screaming echos of her madness as she tore her underlying apart-

“Hm?” Isa snapped out of his thoughts, blinking owlishly as he looked at Leonid. “I don’t know.” He watched how fast some of the boats past them, sitting next to his beau, and leaning his head on the merman’s shoulder. Then he sat straight up, blinking owlishly. That’s an ice roof...over three tents on a precarious piece of safe ‘land’. Oh boy. As they ‘landed’ and got off the boat, the redhead turned around to look at the tiefling, grinning.

“Sure, I’ll let the owner know.” Isa hinted, knowing that Charon would appreciate the heads’ up of his boat being in safe hands. Waving at the the pair as they shipped off, the redhead reached for Moss’ hand and squeezed gently.

“I’ll start collecting the books together.“ he said his love with a smile.

Zer0

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Healthy
| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (6) + Spellslinger (4) [10/14]
Condition: 1 | Roleplay Points: 1

Χάρων ​

Charon opened his mouth to reply "it leads up" but quickly realized she has a point and nodded. The bated words set his vocal chords in a tight position and he could not properly intone his farewell and well wishes and so he merely raised a hand and uttered a mildly strangled "aaahh," while the grafted muscle and skin untwisted itself from its unnatural arrangement. Stillness took him while he watched her go. Worry which knit his eyebrows together and tightened his body's grip on his larynx squeezed him but he took his eyes away a few moments after she disappeared from sight. An awkward silence settled over him and uncertainty prevented him from addressing Lysanthir. For some reason, he could not bring himself to look at his compatriot for nearly ten seconds.

Walking lithely toward the crest of a hill of rubble between them and the drow couple, he rasped hesitantly, "sssheee isss liiike aaaa guuaarrridan ssspirit," he commented. The side of his face, streaked with scales in disorganized swathes, meeting the skin with minor faults, it reminded one of the desert from above. Once he crested the hill, the faintest smile which furtively settled on his mouth, and which was not obvious until it disappeared, turned into a doleful frown while he stared at the couple. Pained titans and souls tugged him toward his objective still, but he found himself unable to take his eyes away for at least a few more moments.

 

[Zer0]

- Beneath the Shattered Dome -​

Lysanthir, whose face was polite as ever, showed no disconcerting sentiment when Charon found himself unable to look at him. Though when he followed his gaze to the drows in the pool his eyes widened for a moment, before he looked away pained. He went over to the couple, and murmured something. A glowing purple arcane mark swirling with embers appeared on the ground.

He stood up. "Marking for the rescuers." he explained. "We won't leave a single one of our people behind if it's in our power to bring them back to their dens. Is this your first time seeing so much carnage, master Charon? You had this same look earlier before we came down."

Sisyphus Happy

- Moss Adamaris -

Spoiler: Rain

Moss smiled charmingly, dreamily looking up at an alluring Isa above him. "I am yours to tickle, Isa~" he purred invitingly.

The ears of Both Purrsians at the oars went red and they coughed, one looking away, muttering something about manners, while the lady Purrsian was staring. She caught herself, and then looked away too like she did not see anything, trying to hide a smile.

Moss told Leonid where to go, then put a warm arm over Isa, as he leaned on his shoulder, rubbing his side, and playing with their entwined fingers, as they watched the passing scenery under a curtain of rain. He gazed at the side of the ruins, at the scars of battle, and then at a bristling lichen mound half made of statues and wrecked giant spider machines. Moss squeezed Isa. "I'm really glad you're strong, Isa, and hard to put down." Once more he was happy that the people important to him were okay, and settled to chatting with him about if people get turned into stone, does that mean their souls get trapped too?

Now at the island with glowing Atlantean runes swirling up Moss' arms, he held Isa's hand and nodded, smiling. "I'll heat up breakfast." And they climbed up the slippery steps under a floating arching umbrella of water.

"Mrs. Kay, I'm back and I have Isa, my fiancé, with me!" Moss hollered after they ducked under the canopy of the middle tent's shut entrance flap. They were surrounded by the drumming of water on canvas.

Woof! Woof! Woof!

Zip

A familiar dark elf lady with short silver grey hair braided in dreadlocks, and saggy wrinkly cheeks appeared out of the tent flap, as the sound of a crowd washed over them. "Oh thank goodness you boys are safe! I thought we were going to have another Magni. Come in, quick, quick."

Moss waited after Isa went in, before his arms stopped glowing and he quickly hopped in. The two found themselves inside a barn-sized tent interior complete with wooden rafters where hammocks stacked on top of each other were hanging from. There was a crowd of refugees, injured folks, some half-way between flesh and stone, a few fire salamanders, and in the middle was a stove on a thick plank of wood, hard at work boiling a pot of soup too big for it that its legs were squatting under its weight. It was like the mess tent back in the Carver's camp in Sanctuary, only with fewer people and smelling of strong desert spices.

There were colorful embroidered curtains draping around the sides of families, staking their claim of the area. And up a ladder on the rafters where there were thick wooden mats beneath many layers of fur was a sleeping familiar emaciated looking messy haired mage with a ghostly white owl perched on a bag, and next to him, a dozing bandaged Vashur.

Woof! Woof!

And a very excitable Okami who looked ready to leap down and tackle Isa and Moss.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -​

His grin softened to an enamored smile, a corner of his lips bashfully raised higher than the other from Moss’ words. A twinkle shone in his indigo eyes like a star when he gazed at Moss. “That’s a promise then, my love.” Isa muttered sweetly before he peeked at the purrsians. Oops, ah well. He never was one who followed social norms, was he?

“I hope once this is over . . . We can start building our travel home together.” He whispered close to the merman’s ear, hot breathe warmed the sensitive skin. Then he leaned his head on his shoulder, seemingly lost in his thoughts for a while. His grin flattened to a tense frown. That is, until Moss wrapped his arm around him, snapping him out of his thoughts. The little sprout stood alert before waving. Indigo eyes looked grateful as he payed attention to Moss’ words and chuckled; smiling once more. The tips of his pointy ears tinted red as he felt the comforting touches, bringing him further away from his horrible memory. He looked at their intertwined fingers, watching Moss playing with his fingers, and he tenderly squeezed. “Then I’m grateful for my anger because it protected ya.” He mumbled back.

He felt vengeful against Theosebia . . . But she’s gone now. No need to hate the dead.

Isa replied to Moss’ questions, saying perhaps there’s a way to cure their stoning process. “Any spell is possible to make, then it’s possible to break. We just need to find out how and with the little bit I collected, we can research it—or let L research it since she knows healing.” Though it wouldn’t be a bad idea to learn on making potions . . .

On the small island, the redhead looked up. Slightly anxious as he could hear the rain pelting on the ice like a tent in a rainy day. Then he focused on Moss’ words again, reaching for his hand midway and squeezed. Smiling. “That sounds wonderful~” Moss might not believe Isa, but he believes the merman is a genius. Always doing the mundane like cooking as an art he enjoys. Sure, hunting demons is dangerous, but having the sheer tenacity to do something he loves the most and being creative at it when everyone else tries to do the same and not successful — now that’s something to be impressed about. He can’t wait for the day when Moss’ name reaches far and wide in Leor for his cooking.

They walked up the stairs and Isa brightened up at the sound of Okami barking. Ohhh, he missed the doggo’s barking~ His face turned red when Moss announced their arrival, suddenly shy and happy. He chuckled quietly before looking up to see Vidya’s mother. Now more animated than when they first met. The redhead came inside first, picking up what Moss was doing and held up the tent’s flap as Moss hopped in. He held his hand again, grinning at Vidya’s mother.

”Nice to see ya walkin‘ around, Missus~” Isa greeted, giving her a respectful nod. “I’m Isa Bianchi, Moss’ fiancé and friend of Vidya.” His eyes roamed around curiously, hearing a familiar heavy thumping of a certain polar-dog—-

A large grin stretched wide as he raised his arms up; bringing Moss’ arm up too. All too willing to have that tackle. “OOOOKAMIIIIIIII~ I MISSSSSSH YAAAAAAA- oof!” Isa is squished underneath the large fluffer, laughing as he petted and rubbed Okami’s side and ears—when he could reach them.

”Who’sh a good pupper? Ya are~ Yesh, ya arrrrre~” Isa cooed.

Zer0

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Healthy
| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (6) + Spellslinger (4) [10/14]
Condition: 1 | Roleplay Points: 1

Χάρων ​

Charon turned to look him in the eye for a moment but then away again. In place of a reply, he inhaled through his teeth and reached up to scratch his head. Hesitation revealed itself in the tightness of his face and minute movements. Guilt arranged itself on his features, of course. Screams rang in his ears and the sensation of seeing someone's body thrown and sanguine destruction, if sensation is the right word, took his attention. Distracted momentarily, he let out a breathy "aah," and turned his head to the side, cupping his hand over one of his ears and closing his eyes. A sick feeling in his stomach compelled him finally to speak. While speaking, he rubbed his hands together and hunched his shoulders over. Shame like the cold rain outside fell across him. His words came forth as though squeezed out by pressure.

"Sss... ssseen?" he asked Lysanthir, his eyebrows furrowed as though trying to listen to him in a loud environment. His hands kneaded each other, "I aaaamm... uuunnnnweell," he confirmed, glancing at his travel companion for an instant.

"I... hhhaaave neeewwly sseeen... aaaannd dooonne aaaa hhhooorrrible thiiinnn-nng, khhh" he admitted, glancing longingly at the Drow couple cemented in their forms. After a few moments' study, he turned his head to Lysanthir. His expression contorted and became a farrago. The longing vanished and sorrow and many other unclear things flashed across his face. Fear made an appearance before it was replaced with an expression more forgiving of himself, then it intensified again into some anguished frustration. The episode's ambit was sad; sad and regretful, and everything in between. He turned and began walking slowly and carefully toward an opening in the room opposite to the one they entered through. His gaze lingered behind on Lysanthir's face for a few moments before following the rest of the body. Before proceeding too far, he turned his head to the side and trained the periphery of his vision on Lysanthir, waiting to see if he would follow with a more steady expression. Tired and limp like a deflated balloon, it seemed that his admission of guilt was somehow irenic. The hand fell away and though he could not banish the screams from his mind, he seemed to listen carefully to Lysanthir's response.

 

[Zer0]

- Camp Tova Kay -​

There was a collective gasp from the crowd as the polar-bear dog leaped from the rafters and thudded down, bowling Isa and a gleeful Moss over.

Bark, bark, bark!

Isa and a laughing Moss were snuggled all over by heavy white fur, a sniffing wet black nose, and a licking tongue all over their faces, as Okami flopped on top of them, enjoying their scratches.

"It is wonderful to finally talk to you, Isa. I'm sorry we couldn't save your caravan. Also . . . " Mrs. Kay lightly slapped Okami's haunch. "That nearly gave me a heart attack!"

Okami licked her too, and Vidya's mom immediately melted. "Kepatmasto, kepatmasto." she patted his snout .

"Tova, re wux kruth?" another desert elf popped her head out over the rafters. It was that artist elf Liliana had chatted with back in Ebony Oasis! There was a heavy dragging sound and then a kweh and Pluplu peered down at them as well, and kweh again excitedly. The chocobo was looking greyish, with the bottom of its feet stone, as though Pluplu was, like a couple of folks in the enchanted tent, slowly turning back to normal.

Katsuya

- Beneath the Shattered Dome -​

Lysanthir was confused. "To . . . my people? . . ." He frowned at the statue couple. "Do you mean . . . That explosion earlier, then the worsened rain . . . That was your fault?" He pointed upwards.

Sisyphus Happy

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Healthy
| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (6) + Spellslinger (4) [10/14]
Condition: 1 | Roleplay Points: 1

Χάρων ​

At the mention of the explosions, it could be seen even from the side that Charon rolled his eyes -- but quickly stayed his steadfast annoyance. He stood and itched his chin aggressively, an action which drew a wince from him. Sharp claws and tender skin made that motion somewhat painful. Drawing his hand away, the somatic stalling eventually came to a stop and he replied in a hurried manner. Similarly to the chin-scratching, it was made difficult by his mangled anatomy. What came out was a string of false starts and rasped, agitated syllables: "A-aah.. I... d-diurrring dooommme, th-- hhh" he sighed. Around the larynx, his neck's muscles were tensing and squeezing. Where a streak of reptilian skin was growing across his neck, the muscles which would usually contract beside the "voice box" instead seemed to lay across his throat and squeeze merely for speaking without great care. After a few moments of trying, he placed the tips of his fingers to his lips, a sign of resignation, and closed his eyes, turning his head away.


That moment of rest seemed to give him the control needed to speak by the time that he cleared his throat. Gently walking forward, his long and slender reptilian tail twitching with irresolution, he reached up and itched his upper arm. He got roughly five or six feet away from Lysanthir, and then he said carefully, this time much quieter and more careful so that errant strip of muscle did not interfere with his speech, "y-yyyessss," he inhaled deeply before continuing, "I hh-haaave dooone... teerrrible thhinnng." Compared to his current state, it became clear that his expressions and movements were lethargic before, with the ill feelings. It seems agita motivated him, reignited by the conversation, "Nnn.. nnot thhhe eexploossionn. Ifff yoouu caaare tooo-o knnnooow, I sshaall sshhhow yooou laaaterr. I mmust beee puunisshed innnn annyyy caaase;" he admitted worriedly. shoulders drooped and his tail hovered low to the ground. His lips pressed together and he turned, "h-hhhooweee-eever, nnooww iss nnooot thhe tiime."

He seemed to be admonishing himself. Walking vigorously toward the aforementioned opening in the wall, toward the direction they've been traveling during this trip. His voice came strongly this time, echoing through the chamber loudly enough for Lysanthir to hear him in spite of him being turned around, his proclamation sounded almost sardonic. It was certainly some form of resignation, to his moral fate, to his personal fate, or to Lysanthir's judgement.

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -​

Hair sticking in odd angles from the wet licks, Isa chuckled happily as he tried to peek from under leh fluffer. “I-it’s okay, Missus Kay. I’m more relieved that yur family escaped— Oh!” He blinked owlishly at the sight of the familiar elf, waving at her.

”Hello, miss— Pluplu!” The redhead shuffled out from Okami’s weight to climb up the ladders and hug the chocobo, wrapping his arms around the neck. Plopping his face into warm feathers as a hand searched in the bird’s saddle pouch. Taking out a . . . a marker? “I miss ya too, happy to see ya feeling better~” He cooed, realizing that he felt affection towards the chocobo. As he leaned back to scratch and rub comfortably of the large bird, Isa spotted the familiar guardian of Bird village and the Anubis brother, sleeping peacefully. A soft smile appeared on his face.

It’s nice to see them okay—-well, not okay. Considering James looks starved and Vashur is wounded, but they are free now. Isa quietly walked up to the sleeping duo and gently—-barely touching— petted Sasha’s head. Being careful to not alarm her or the pair. “Nice to see ya again, Sasha~”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- South Bhrumstone Engine -​

Lysanthir's curious confusion remained, though his expression softened at Charon's shoulder droop. He looked at him intently as though trying to recall something, but there was nothing and his expression schooled back to politeness.

"Very well, let us put this behind us. But for what it's worth . . . the way you rushed down to help that child . . . if you have done something to my people, I feel that whatever the reason . . . you are not an evil man. No evil man would look that way at a child in need, nor care for a mere beast of burden as you have." he gestured at Nava, who was now getting used to Charon's petting and was automatically bowing her head down next to his hand whenever she followed him.

They continued on their delving underground, and after much crawling and climbing through narrow spaces and turning back from dead ends blocked by rubble too precarious to move, they came upon a terrible blockade.

It was a wall of stone bodies protruding next to a black cooled flood of molten metal. Only this wall was neatly stacked, instead of the haphazard heaps from the battle fallen. "We're here." said Lysanthir grimly, and gestured at Charon under the dim light of his blue flames to follow him under a collapsed archway.

They stepped on something soft sometimes. Bodies. Not covered in lichen nor plants. Fallen drow trapped in the rubble, all facing towards the tunnel the two came from, until they beheld a great chamber where at the far wall was some circular machine. In between the metal plates Charon could see the faint dim glow of something golden.

There had been a battle here. The metal works and forges were littered with the bodies of drow, and all along the wall were pipes leaking water. Lysanthir pointed over a pillar of twisted metal that had burst from the ground, to a black dais, the same design as the one in the well chamber, right in front of the massive circular engine. There were fallen bodies of katulus there.

"That is the bhrumstone engine. A half-Purrsian woman had appeared out of nowhere, tried to help us, but . . . she didn't know how to use the dais. The runes are all in the ancient language. And she shut the engine down. That is why the entire dome fell from the sky. Can you read it?"

Sisyphus Happy

Spoiler: Leh roll

DC18 Knowledge roll to understand leh dais. You get +1 to your roll for every 1 hour you spend researching

- Camp Tova Kay -​

Sasha hooted at Isa, eyes widening. She bobbed up and down, before settling and allowing herself to be petted. Behind him, Mrs. Kay followed, holding on her knee with some effort after she climbed the last ladder step.

"My daughter had some difficulties moving him because of that one. . . It kept pecking her until it realized she was trying to help this man. Lorenzo brought him into that prison he kept me in weeks after he and that monster started taking over our home. He tortured him frequently. Yelling. Asking him questions in the other room. Until Moss told me his name, he never told me anything about himself . . . Just called him Kairo . . ." she looked over his wounds. "He kept telling me it was going to be okay every night, even though he was worse off than me."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -​

Isa huffed a breathy chuckle, amused that Sasha defended James from Vidya. “Yeah, Sasha has that tendency to protect him.“ He muttered before going quiet, stopping his pets to gingerly pull the blanket up and closer to James’ shoulder. Taking in the man’s gaunt face and frayed hair, trailing down to his wounds. His hand paused, Mrs. Kay heard the redhead take a deep breathe. As if he was trying to calm down, moving his hand again to tuck James in before looking over his shoulder.

Sickly yellow veins branched into indigo blue eyes, livid to hear of what happened to a friend—-he considers James a friend if he liked it or not. His grin completely disappeared, twisted into a vicious silent snarl. Then he face relaxed to a frown.

”. . .” Did James know somehow that they were nearby? Well the man knew of Manuel, considering Isa did show him his face before for the wanted posters back in Bird Village. He must have known that, at least, Isa was nearby to stop his uncle. “ . . . He is right. Ya gonna be okay now. So will he.”

He took another breathe. “That monster and Lorenzo . . . They’re dead. I killed the monster last night.” The redhead looked at Sasha for a moment. “Sasha, I have a note I need ya to hold on for James to see. It’s what he is looking for.” He can guess what James wants: the cure for the madness illness.

Isa pulled out a decorated grimore with empty slots on each corner of the cover and a piece of paper, opening it’s morbid filled pages. He wrote the cure, signed it, rolled the paper up, and tied it around Sasha’s leg with a strand of his hair. Being gentle as he settled his anger. “Make sure he sees this.”

” . . . “ Then he drew a simple flower with a smily face on James’ hand. This way, he would know it’s really him by his trolling method. Isa took another deep breathe, tucking the grimore back in it’s place again. Then he slightly hunched his shoulders.

“. . . I’m seriously glad that all three of yas are alive.” He sounded relieved.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Camp Tova Kay -​

Mrs. Kay quickly tried to sush Isa, but the elven artist who was listening in looked surprised.

"Wux?" said the artist in wonder and alarm at the sight of the veins in Isa's eyes, but she quieted immediately when Vidya's mom placed a finger on her own lips.

Mrs. Kay anxiously looked down the rafters where the colorful embroidered curtains draped down over the families. "Axun, Feyrith, shar tir ti visp tikilvi. Coi ui vi irthos ekess troth asta waphic de wer Templars svaust geou thric guulac qe torir visidarkic." she whispered to the elf, who immediately made a silent Ah. "Isa, my son, do not say that out loud, you do not want the wrong people to know that." she whispered.

Sasha hooted at Isa importantly.

The moment he took out Manuel's grimoire, Mrs. Kay immediately recoiled, afraid, as though Isa suddenly pulled out a spitting snake. Before the elven artist held her speaking in concerned Purrsian. Vidya's mom shook her head, putting a hand on her heart. "No . . . sorry . . . bad memories with . . . that thing . . ." For a moment she had a far away look, as though seeing something in the past that made her gulp and look away.

Unbeknownst Isa, Moss, who had climbed up after giving Okami last pats and coo's to stay downstairs while he makes a late breakfast, paused when he saw the tenderness and sadness Isa showed James. He had never seen Isa act that way with another man before. Moss knows it doesn't mean anything, but he couldn't help an unreasonable twinge of jealousy and an immediate flood of: Jamesthatbookkeeper? IthoughtIsawasannoyedathim, doeshelikehim? They'rethatclose? Doeshelikehim? And immediately looked to a couple of jars at the side of the rafters next to a mat with the books from the tent earlier, then busied himself with patting Pluplu who booped his hip when he accidentally poked the chocobo's eye.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -​

He could care less of who listens in, but still. He heeded Mrs. Kay’s words and stopped talking about it. Isa did see that reaction and understood the trauma she must have from the sight of this book. He wouldn’t explain, instead he wrote and quickly put it away. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Kay.” He apologized as he gingerly petted Sasha‘s head after her confirmation. Happy that she understood it was an important note as she sat down and hiding the tiny note —— he’ll admit it, it’s very annoying to write in small letters. Yet he knew James would prefer to see tiny letters for the sake of secrecy. It was necessary to take the book out, however he still felt a pang of guilt for causing the motherly woman pain. He won’t speak of it, if it helps move the topic away, Isa won’t mention Theosebia and Manuel around her. Nor would he show the book around her either.

After taking another deep breathe, he stood up. Being careful to not make so much noise on the raft to let the pair sleep. Vashur must’ve suffered too, the poor guy. The redhead remembered Theosebia’s screams about her looking into a doggy’s memory; she must’ve talked about Vashur. He is grateful that
Theosebia thought of them valuable enough to keep them alive—- He visibly winced as the dream flashed in his mind, the one where he saw the drows being eaten and torn apart-

He wanted to look for Moss right now.

Another deep breathe, Isa turned around, ready to go downstairs. Only to blink owlishly when he saw that Moss was next to Pluplu, petting him by the stairs. Relief spreads through his body as he walked closer to the merman and quietly hugged him from the side. The redhead sighed, nuzzling his cheek on the merman’s shoulder like a sleepy puppy. “ . . . Need help making breakfast?” He muttered into Moss’ shoulder.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Moss Adamaris -
"Camp Tova Kay"​

"No worries, dear, you didn't know." smiled Mrs. Kay, still looking distantly. A voice called from downstairs in Purrsian and she came out of her thoughts. "Oh, I need to check on a petrified patient. I'll be back. You boys just call if you need anything." And off she went down the ladder, leaving Moss and Isa alone with the elven artist who continued to look at Isa and the grimoire with curious interest.

Meanwhile, Moss straightened when Isa turned, face unusually straight, which then gave way to surprise, and then genuine concern. He hugged him tight.

"No, but, do you need a distraction?" He looked over to James and Vashur and felt a pang of guilt. Here was Isa very sad for his friends and Moss was being petty with jealousy. He huffed, letting his feelings drop.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -​

Isa moved a bit, hugging Moss from the front now, and shakily sighed as he felt Moss hug him tight. Pulling him closer to his comforting warmth. The wilting sprout straightened, it’s chubby leaves waved under the merman’s chin, caressing for a few seconds. Then the saddened redhead looked up at him, giving him an appreciated smile. “Yeah . . . “

Taking another deep breathe, Isa leaned back in to nuzzle Moss sweetly. “Anything. We could even go if ya want, pack up breakfast and leave . . . I’ve . . . I’ve done what I can for them.” He killed Theosebia like how Vashur would’ve wanted and given James the cure he needed. He couldn’t help but feel slightly jealous of Liliana. Unlike him who can only comfort the dead, she can comfort the living, help them heal—-he wished he can do that as well. Beyond the basics-

Seeing people hurt like this, seeing love ones and friends hurt like this . . . Perhaps he should study on serious healing magic.

He’ll ask Liliana if she could teach him on how to use healing magic.

”Is there something ya wanna do, mi Tesoro?” Isa asked the merman earnestly. He can think about that later. When everything is straightened out and at peace.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Moss Adamaris -
"Camp Tova Kay"​

Moss was surprised. "Leave Barad Eithel? I thought you wanted to ---", his voice dropped to a whisper, as he glanced at the artist elf, " --- save Titan's soul."

The artist seemed to realize they want privacy, because she sat up straight in realization, nodded, bowing, and making gestures with her arms while smiling understandingly at Moss, then shuffled off down the ladder. Moss didn't mean to make her leave and made silent, guilty, unable-to-speak-Purrsian sounds of half-common. "O --- ah, Feyrith, wait."

But Feyrith waved her hand, smiling, and she disappeared down the rafters.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -​

Isa looked at Moss, raising a brow. He took his beau’s reaction towards Feyrith for a moment before shaking his head. Waiting until she leaves, though he did feel a little bad. She didn’t have to leave yet he supposed she wanted to give them space. Realizing that they were gonna talk about stuff that not everyone should hear. He appreciated that.

”I do? I meant leave the the camp. To the dome.” He whispered that last part.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Moss Adamaris -
"Camp Tova Kay"​

"O!" Moss clapped a hand to his forehead, chuckling. "Alright, let's quickly pick food." And he ushered Isa to the jars where there were smaller clay pots and tin boxes.

"I didn't cook these, these were made by Mrs. Kay and a couple of mothers downstairs. Isa, they have a fancy stove, they are using a fire elemental to cook! It lives in the stove!" he said excitedly.

It turned out that all Moss managed to save from their caravan were a jar of water chestnuts, a bottle of raspberry vinegar, some garlic, yams, half a desert quail, and the food Isa recovered. But Mrs. Kay had a pot of curry, couscous, pita bread, dried cactus fruits and berries, strips of salted fire salamander jerky, and a lot of salted fire salamander eggs.

"Take your pick. We can heat them up and just go." Moss set up his small portable clay stove.

After they heat up the food, and comforted a sad Okami whom Moss still wasn't bringing along because of the rain, they said their good-byes to Mrs. Kay, who understood why they were leaving so soon, and then once more headed for the dome, with Moss' fingers entwined in Isa's.

Katsuya

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Healthy
| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (6) + Spellslinger (4) [9/14]
Condition: 1 | Roleplay Points: 1

Χάρων ​

At Lysanthir's complement, Charon seemed to shake his head faintly. Though no words sallied forth to rebut his point, the mutant did not seem satisfied. It was not the look of someone who disagrees, but the look of one who wishes to say more. Stepping over a large stone in his path, Charon set his sights ahead, toward their path of travel, and remained alert to danger. His body language was far less distracted than before. Redivivus concentration and motivation sped him up significantly; at some point in the journey he, either by chance or by the power of his stimulated mind, walked right up to a suspiciously steaming pipe and slapped it out of their path without ceremony.

Once they reached the chamber, Charon stopped upon seeing the wall. His expression was difficult to read. Not sad or angry, or even happy or intrigued, it seemed as though his mind had divested his face. Frankly, he wasn't sure what to think, poring over the ghastly construction. He could not see what their expressions or comportments could suggest; it was nothing but limbs and bodies. It could have been a matter of orderly convenience; they might have been stacked to be retrieved later and rescued. But, it was just wrong to look at. Just as easily, it might have been the deranged fun of a perverse madman. Or maybe it was a horrid, horrid accident. A disgusting, abominable accident; apparently well within this world's ambit. Something like fear stirred in him, but he did not feel afraid. It was a sensation he could not process, exactly, but it grew. A restlessness which he had to ignore for the time being paced impatiently in his chest. Carefully probing, his gaze floating around the room, squish. He looked down and found his foot pressing into the check of a dead drow, their misty eyes staring over toward the wall, black patches of skin where death colonized flesh standing out against the lovely skin color. Charon removed his foot from the person's face and stepped into a spot where there were not bodies, only rubble or floor and sank down to his knees. Gently, he rasped, "Naavaa... coomme... hhhere," and when she did he put his arms around her shoulders and squeezed them, pressing his face into her neck and trying his best to breathe. Her gross musty dog smell made it difficult, but he felt as though his soul was trying to leave his body. Weakness and restlessness overtook him from head to toe, he could feel it searching for a away out, his body tingled where his soul reeled against the borders of his body; everywhere in series.

Lysanthir's words seeped into his tired mind and when he posed his question, Charon's eyes and nose peeked away from Nava's fur, "I aaaaam faaamiliaaar wiith theese aaancient laanguagesss; I ssshaall haaave tooo... refresssh mmy mmmemory," he said, looking up toward the great machine, "aaand... aasssk forrr heeelp." Already, he was picking out familiar parts and pathways. However, so much of it was unfamiliar at first glance. Not to mention, he felt like sleeping. With a sigh, he closed his eyes and made some vague motions with his hands. The vague sound of flowing water echoed through the room. A leyline message was sent in Isa's direction. However, the voice would be quite unfamiliar to him. It was light and precise, on the higher end in pitch, and with an attentive academic lilt to it. The vaguest accent in the timbre of the syllables and pacing of the message was present, even if each syllable was correctly spoken, and it was a soft sound overall, "Isa, might I bother you to travel to the dome? There is a chamber deep below it which contains a dais bearing ancient script. I may fail to decipher them."

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -​

Despite the horrible memories plaguing him, Isa chuckled with Moss. Smiling gently at his beau as he listened to his lovely laugh. “O-Okay!” As he listened to Moss talk about the fire elemental in the stove while picking what to eat on the go, the redhead’s eyes sparkled. Moss is right: It’s the first time Isa ever met a fire elemental, ever curious and wanting to satisfy his curiosity.

Isa picked yams that he sliced into chips, butter and garlic to flavor it, and poured the raspberry jam on top, all fancy-like. The merman would notice that his fiancé is doing familiar flashy movements like when he worked at Hera’s stall months ago, just without the Atlantean runes. Asking questions to the fire elemental as he cooked their meal, Isa seemed to relax some more. Grinning as if he missed being near fire and enjoying the heat, though sometimes indigo eyes would peek at him. Like he wanted to ask for something yet he returned to asking the fire elemental questions like “Why live in a stove? Is it comfy? Can ya talk different languages?”

However once their meal was cooked and ready to take on the go, with the remaining books secured to his Shadowy claw floating beside him, Isa thanked the fire elemental and the ladies for letting him do so. After hugging Pluplu tight and praying for his recovery, Isa left with Moss. Sharing the sweet and salty meal with the merman as they walk hand-in-hand. Suddenly, in the middle of his excited chat, Isa paused. Eyes widened as he continued their walk. He didn’t recognize this voice, but the voice knew him and told him to come to the dome . . .

The only one he could think of that has this voice in mind would be . . . Charon? Maybe? L is hyper sounding, Lysanthir has more authority in his voice, Vidya would’ve sounded excited or nervous, and Magni wouldn’t ask . . . She would be too shy to ask. The voice mentioned about the chamber on the dome—-it has to be Charon. Let’s see if it is by talking back.

”We’re on our way right now. I have books to help us for research— I couldn’t find the mages nor Lysanthir’s servants. Thank ya for letting me know, Charon.” Isa replied, guessing on the name. Then he looked up at Moss, the sprout on his head bounced like a happy spring from his head moving around as he leaned up to kiss his cheek.

”A kiss for good luck~” Isa muttered, smiling.

Zer0 Sisyphus Happy

 

[Zer0]

- Moss Adamaris -

Spoiler: Rain

Moss smiled in surprise when he saw Isa cook. He was following him, and Moss kind of found that adorable. He stole a piece of garlic yam chip and it crunched nicely in his mouth. Then stole another one when Isa wasn't looking because it was delicious.

It made him happy, recalling those times they cooked together, that Isa's cooking has grown. It put Moss at ease just to know that Isa can cook more kinds of dishes for himself now. He looked at his back, as he heat up some curry and Isa cooked, smiling contentedly. It was a small thing, but food is one of the greatest joys in life, and he's happy Isa now knows more choices to make his days nicer.

The fire elemental was a formless nebulous thing, swimming hot blue inside the stove and trailing small scorching white wisps. It couldn't talk back at all to Isa, save for glowing dimly to orange, and then back to bright blue, and making crackling pops, though it did understand him if ever he asked it to lower or increase the flames. Mrs. Kay said this is her friend Jasra whom she summons from time to time, and told Isa what certain crackling pops meant. Apparently Jasra found Isa just as interesting as he found it and was happy he was talking to it.

Moss really wanted his own will o' wisp summon for cooking too, and Mrs. Kay said that he can, if he goes to the Scorched Wastes and makes friends with one. She told him and Isa about how she met Jasra, who for some reason decided to follow her after she accidentally dumped curry and bay leaves into the lava pool where she dwelled.

After they said their good-byes and left, without the boat, it was a long careful walk on a desert lake back to the west from around the north side of Barad Eithel for the lone pair of tall gangly foreigners under a water umbrella. They were the only ones moving about now at noon, but Moss liked the change of pace, the absence of the dry desert heat, replaced instead by this coolness underneath their feet. He was surrounded by the sound of rain, with water underneath his feet like being at the beach, as he ate curry wrapped in pita and chatted with Isa~ it was very nice, and made him think of home back in Cascata dell’ Oceano.

He paused midway talking about how having his own will o' wisp will mean not needing to stock on much wood and have more space for food. "Charon sent you a mess---?"

He smiled when Isa kissed his cheek. "Good luck?" he sounded surprised, for it was Isa who was going to be doing the dangerous stuff once they're back in the dome. "Thanks~ I should be giving you one as well." He leaned down and kissed his forehead, booping the sprout with his nose. He's gotta' tell Isa about this sprout. It could be just his imagination, but he swore this sprout was emotive. "What did Charon say?" His thumb brushed over the corner of Isa's lip where he spotted a piece of garlic.

Katsuya

- South Bhrumstone Engine -​

Meanwhile, beneath layers upon layers of rubble, Lysanthir left his floating flames around Charon, while he stepped forward to examine the massive engine. "I'm afraid most of the cooling pipes have burst." his voice echoed loudly in the chamber. "I don't know how long we need to have the engine running, but if we want it on for long, I'd have to get someone here to fix the pipes as well." he sighed, looking up at the machine.

"I know that you wish to turn this on to fix the well, Master Charon, but I was wondering if . . . if perhaps my people's need could come first? That is of course, if the well cannot be fixed immediately. You see, our home is in Windshear and there is a portal my people have begun fixing to get back home. In the days to come Templars will be crawling all over this place, I heard them speak of an army from Menagerie coming that was supposed to be heading for Sanctuary in The Fridge. Another war has started over in that side of the world, and . . . for my people . . . it will be a long dangerous exodus on foot if we try to cross that land."

Sisyphus Happy

Spoiler: Loot

• x4 Unidentified katulu staffs
• 90 Alchemical, 90 Metal
• x1 Unidentified black velvet mask stitched with silver thread
• x1 Carved bone statuette
• x1 Gold locket with a painted portrait of female drow inside
• x2 unidentified potions
• x1 unidentified circlet
• x12 toolbox
• x6 carts full of scattered construction materials

 

[Sisyphus Happy]

Health: Healthy
| Toughness: Background Ability (10) + Armor (1) [11] | Spell Power: Background Ability (14) + Knowledge (4) + Equipment (1) [19] |Manna: Background Ability (4) + Knowledge (6) + Spellslinger (4) [6/14]
Condition: 1 | Roleplay Points: 1

Χάρων ​

Charon listened to Lysanthir with a deadened gaze. Gradually, he became accustomed to looking everywhere and seeing the horror in the room. Wrongness nestled into his chest like a bolus fighting to stay out of the pit; he blinked slowly with his arms around Nava. After he made his request, Charon peered into his eyes steadily with all of the features of resignation. Letting silence clear the air, the raspy response came, "I hhaaave... sssseeen ssssomethinng oof the woorrrld, iin the aaaailmennnnt ooof thhe raain," he said distantly, "teeeennn... minutesss," he requested. The movements of his hands and eyes were sluggish while he lifted a scaly mitt to his view. He twisted his wrist, turning his palm away and back to him, and the sensation of the movement of manna filled the area to those familiar with it, and it had an odd feeling. Like an unfamiliar note in a foreign musical piece, protracted while his hand oscillated, fading to silence when he stopped and stared at his palm some more.

Releasing Nava, he sat down cross-legged, his tail resting in a bent curve behind his left side. A coolness threatening cold entered the room. Faintly, the illusion of red water, present in such a strange way in the mind, rose a few inches from the floor. Strange in the sense that it was clearly not present visually, but at some stage in the journey of an image through the mind, the water appeared. It seemed that in the mind's remembrance of the moments just passed, the water makes its appearance. Charon closed his eyes and breathed deeply, placing his hands over his throat. Faint whispering filled the room. His mouth did not seem to move but his eyebrows arched in frustration. The sensation of manna vibrating in an unfamiliar way permeated the room strongly. To the sixth sense, it was like a spinning strobelight, or an ebbing and flowing keening noise. There in the water, as memory tracked, rippling patterns could be seen, in various directions, in various patterns, interfering with each other, like a symphony played on the surface of a pond. Looking at Charon now, he seemed to float on the surface of the water, bobbing ever so gently with its vague rise and fall, guided by nothing known. The whispers faded into the sound of wind; again, not present in the room as a sound, but inserted into the memory of moments before, and the sensation of air blowing was not present.

Over the course of ten minutes, a bright strand of light embedded itself into Charon's skin, at the base of his wrist and neck, and moved quite slowly toward the tips of his fingers on one front and toward his chin on the other. As the light made its progress, its shape bent to the silhouette of his craggy skin, rising and falling with the deep wrinkles and scales. His facial expressions ranged between blind wonder and utter confusion. The scaly flesh which made contact with the bright strand of light pressed into his flesh seemed to unmake itself in precisely the same way that the well was trying to unmake some of its surroundings. Like dust, the scaly flesh peeled away and dissolved, replaced with exceedingly pale, human skin unmarked by scars or blemishes, and creepily smooth. However, halfway through the ritual, he seemed to wince, lose focus. A bit of sweat beaded on his forehead while vague annoyance appeared on his face. His right eyebrow rose up and up, in a comically high arch over the left one, in vague annoyance. The strand of light seemed to halt for a minute or two and the previously stready stream of the odd sensation faltered and wheeled out of focus, like a spotlight with a broken hinge swinging free. However, with some quiet grunting, the wild careening of the magic lessened and stabilized, and continued, and flesh continued to peel away and leave pale skin in its wake. Near the end of the ritual, the water slowly sank back into the ground, the sound of wind deadened, and at the end of a little over ten minutes, the bright strand of light rising from his wrists trekked over the length of his hands and its glowing ring rose to the tips his fingers, releasing the long pointy claws tipping each finger before. They all floated into the air chaotically as though carried by an updraft, and took with them the light, which quickly ate them. Not more than a few moments, the ring of light rose to just under his jaw and stalled. It stayed still for a few moments, Charon winced, hissing a little bit -- but this time, it was not a deep sound from his vocal chords but originated in his mouth, a somewhat normal noise. He began to breathe heavily, some more sweat appeared on his brow, he had to release it. The strand lifted from his skin and detached somewhere along its loop, undulating violently as though battered by a strong breeze before popping in a burst of fading silver particles.

Free of the spell, Charon's mouth fell open and he coughed lightly, a horrid noise replaced by a softer, lighter "ahah!" Some attempts at speaking were made but rough squeaks were all that escaped. He seemed to be vibrating with energy, in spite of having sapped himself, his tail twitched back and forth in an agitated manner. Rising quickly, he looked down at his hands with skepticism, turning them back and forth. The skepticism was warranted. Present in the skin, some lighter patches of scales in a faded green color remained, on the backs of the hand and fingers. However, the fingers were not distended with loose flesh, they seemed light and nimble in the way he moved each finger separately and "twiddled" them smoothly. He stood there and stared for a while. Now standing, his neck was also quite different looking. On either side of his neck, there were still two large-ish patches of scales in a faint emerald green, shining now as opposed to their original, dry and invasive appearance. Where once scales tore through the flesh on the surface of his throat, swathes of pale flesh standing out against the darkened brown finally joined the errant pieces of his anatomy. After a few minutes of gawking at his hands, he reached up gently to rub his throat, annoyance reappearing on his face when he felt the patches on the side, but hope replacing it when he ran his palm along the front and did not find the swollen ridges of reptile skin choking his speech. Steadily, his tail seemed to be fanning back and forth, while his wide green eyes glittered, staring blankly toward the ground while he probed his throat.

 

[Katsuya]

- Isa Bianchi -​

Isa is happy that Moss stole from him, giving him an idea that he thought his food is good. He also enjoyed his conversation with Jasra, extremely giddy that the fire elemental enjoyed speaking with him too. When Moss mentioned about wanting a fire elemental, the redhead became excited. They should probably build a comfy stove for their fire elemental—- should Moss manage to befriend one . . . If he can within the fiery lands.

As the couple walked together, Isa leaned his head on Moss’ bicep as he listened to his words. Closing his eyes for a moment, noticing how his feet were slightly cold. It reminded him the summers in Cascata dell’ Oceano. When it wasn’t as cold like in the other nine months. It was comfortable for the redhead. Then he listened to Charon talk in his head.

”Yes, good luck~” Isa replied, smiling. His cheeks flushed pink as he felt Moss kiss his forehead, heart a flutter as he answered Moss’ question. The sprout waved happily on Moss’ nose, it’s leaves slightly curled around the tip. “Thank you~ Charon wanted us to come back to the dome. Seems like he found ancient writing and needed help reading it—- hmm~” He swooned from Moss’ action, leaning into his warm hand. He looked like a grinning cat with puffy cheeks as he nuzzled affectionately.

They continued to walk towards the dome and Isa tenderly showed care. Giving Moss kisses on his cheek and squeezing his hand along the way as they talked about their new travel home ideas. Though he tried to not kiss his mouth—-his breathe is garlicky!!

Zer0