Fantasy WW | Flashbacks

[Jet]

For scenes that require continuation after a time jump. Posting in this thread isn't mandatory.

 

[BriiAngelic]

• Helena Lis || Human War Cleric || April 16th (6:00pm)

• 
  
  
  
  Tags:
  Ayana ( Jet ) Jace ( MythyDW ) Kuma ( Lost Echo )
  

  ~ Island ~
  Dispossession (Music Box) || Helena's CS File
  
  She hadn’t known the two women well but they were more than well versed in survival it seemed. She herself just barely got by on most occasions with Roland when they were between towns. It wasn’t uncommon for her to travel with several different caravans for safer travels, after all someone always needed a healer.
  
  With a small smile she watched as Kuma admired Ayana. She didn’t quite fit as well with this group she was too jaded to agree with the wide eyed optimism the two provided. She resonated better with Freya, Pozou, and perhaps Vaal. She watched as the others grew closer and became a proper carvaan, even her son had managed to do so, with a detached distance.
  
  Even so she had no wish to bring wolves into the hen house, so even as detached as she was she would do as she did best. Watch, imitate, play to what they want. She would do no less, and no more than to cut away the cancerous growths. She was stuck with them until the excommunication lifted, which was approximately zero percent likely, or the more expected outcome of death.
  
  As they freed Jace from the ice she stood she glanced over the ice as Jace did his spell to move the snow. How interesting, it seemed there were plenty of problem areas. She tapped one with the tip of her toes and it shattered under little pressure. So then he spoke true words. Now she just needed to find trees of ice.
  
  Because that was so easy in a frozen forest. She let out a sigh and turned back to the three as she heard Ayana speak. She wanted to laugh at the girl inviting people in as if they were beloved rather than besmirched. As they continued she stood quiet and observant. It wasn’t until they reached the grand ice tree that she spoke again.
  
  “It’s almost like the legend of the Dhilmyhr”
  
  

 

[Lost Echo]

Kuma

Winter Island
April 16th 6pm
Jet MythyDW BriiAngelic ​

Her magic told her this tree was warped. Her eyes told her this tree was unnatural. But still, still, she wanted to touch it. What would happen? Was it delicate? Would a needle come off into her hand? In this cold, even natural ice would not melt. Or would it set off something? Was this a place created by the divine, whose wrath would be brought upon them for disturbing it? Or merely a trap, laid by the creator of this?

The human woman spoke up once more. Turning her head to face her directly--it was polite, even if she could already see her--the Berkkag shook her head, “I not know your legends. Is there a lesson within that one?” Kuma noticed Helena ignored Ayana’s offer as well. The elf may not have promised him inclusion, but even the hope was surprising. Then again, at the lodge, Beano took any and all. What difference did this boy make? It wasn’t as if she trusted any of the group anyway. It wasn’t as if even Ayana would be stupid enough to ask the syphid.

She suddenly flinched. Badly. Her arm brushed against the needles with her sudden movement. She didn’t notice; the instinctive fear filling her mind. So much that Kuma had trouble distinguishing its source. She had to first narrow the bond, before sending calming waves to Nezumi. She knew how to cut through the fog; reasoning would keep her much safer.

 

[Arcanist]

Pozou Artith
Mentions: - | Interactions: Sarahspn (Jane)​

Pozou frowned. He supposed all pirates had enough of a hard time dealing with them. "Syphids are...rather troublesome creatures." He was thoughtful for a moment, realising that neither he or his sister had disclosed of thier...well, current occupations. He cleared his throat, adding, "Or so I heard. One can only wonder why it was all the way out here..." He murmured. A forest, even if it did provide a lake, was an odd place for a syphid to be. He could only wonder what the creature wanted...

Pozou, nonetheless, still felt guilt grip at his chest for such a gesture. Who knew his jittery nature would cause him to harm patients, albeit in a small way? "I'm sorry, again," he couldn't help but say, a sheepish smile crossing his lips. "I scare easily." A tribute to his great warrior ancestors, he was sure. He wondered how they looked upon him now in this moment. Having given Jane enough time to adjust to the upped pain threshold, he moved back to bandaging her wounds. When she asked about how he got into medicine, he smiled.

"I used to help a man in our village gather herbs and ingredients for his medicine," Pozou began to explain, his body relaxing, and his hands far less tense. "He grew too old to go and look for them on his own, and his sight ailed, so he needed someone to help him with gathering and making medicines. I suppose helping people has always been something I enjoyed. Quetzola communities are close. Usually they'll all help each other out with whatever's needed," he smiled, as he recounted a certain kindness from his quaint fishing village.

"I wanted to go to the Medical Academy in Stowfort, but our village was humble. Not poor, but we specialised in fishing. I believed I had a duty to stay home and help provide for my parents. Though, graciously, with my own money added in too, our neighbours and members of the community had built up enough money for me to go to the Academy. It had apparently taken them a long time to gather the money, but they said my talents shouldn't have been wasted." The entire time he recounted this, his smile was bright, and his eyes glistened with a nostalgia of a home he still sorely missed...

"But, ah, there's me yappering on again," Pozou chuckled, finishing off the last of his bandaging. He took a look over his handiwork. "Well, that's the most I can do for you, for now at least. I'm hoping that those who went foraging bring back something to help with the burns. They're quite fresh, and I don't want to apply anything to them until the skin heals a little."

 

[Jet]

​

A low rumble reverberated from the frozen mound and through the adventurers' bones, shaking snow from their cold shoulders. It was an earthen crunching sound, like stone cogs in a massive machine that desperately needed repairs. After a protracted moment of rumbling passed, the loud noise crescendoed and the tree slowly turned counter-clockwise, stopping after rotating ten degrees. Icey chunks broke from the changing structure, descending in large shards the hunter melted with her small sun. "Is this part of the legend too?" She laughed, becoming overconfident when her Quenyanor destroyed another frozen swathe.

"Do any of you know more about this unnatural abomination?" she added as the loud rumbling stopped, continuing her thought after a moment. "On the islands, our shamans speak of grand trees that brought life to the world, but those are actual trees — not an ugly spindly metal thing."

During her explanation she dodged shrapnel her Quenyanor missed, tensing when it stabbed the ground beside her. Her blood pressure rose and face darkened, envisioning an outcome where the shard stuck from her chest instead. I need to be more careful she thought after the image passed, looking up with determination at another dangerous wave. This time she would do better — and she needed to. Death by debris was an embarrassing way to punch the ticket. Her tombstone needed a more awesome ending scrawled across it... or natural causes after a long ass-kicking life.

Lost Echo BriiAngelic MythyDW

 

[Taigakitt]

Yo and Freya
Whaleshale Port Gate || April 12th

"Ah, good idea the perfect disguise I can see how you got out okay as well very smart Yo." ( Lorrin | Pik )​

Yo looked over at Lorrin, her thumb pointing in Leone’s direction, “Ah, the disguise was Leone's idea. I can’t say I would have been that smart to think about it. It was terrifying.”

A gasping Ro running to her mother as she fell.​

Yo startled, she had looked in the direction before rushing over, the tall, dark-skinned elf not far behind Ro. The elf was already offering what she could do to help. Yo didn’t get too close, not wanting to crowd the injured. The elf was also already going to pick up Helena.

Her eyes went to the injured Vaaltari laying on the ground. There were a few people that needed moved. She moved over to Vaaltari, her face showing her worry for everyone. It was apparent that not everybody had luck when it came to fighting the Inquisition.

“Can someone help me with him? We should get everyone who is injured on the wagons.” It wouldn’t bode well to stay at the gates long. Who knew how long it would take for the Inquisition to catch up?

Freya had finished tending to her horse when she heard the commotion and rushed over, “We can move him together.” She spoke up, “Obsidian, let’s move her carefully.” She figured Obsidian knew what she was doing, but Freya couldn't necessarily help herself. Leadership positions were something she was used to being in.

Mentions: The Regal Rper BriiAngelic Lost Echo Jet ​

 

[BriiAngelic]

• Roland Marek || Savanna Elven Street Kid || April 12th

• 
  
  
  
  Tags For Nearby:
  Freya, Yo ( Taigakitt ) Lorrin ( Pik ) Obsidian ( Lost Echo ) Pozou ( Arcanist )
  Mentions:
  Vaaltori ( The Regal Rper )
  

  ~ Gates ~
  Widespread Illness || Roland's CS File
  
  Helena was collapsed and now he really needed to figure out what she took. He dragged her into a sitting position as he rummaged through her cloak. He heard Obsidian offer assistance and motioned for her to hold Helena as he searched for what she was carrying. He wouldn’t find any empty syringes. Everything was merely her usual poisons but it seemed as though she was missing quite a few. He whined in frustration as he tried to look her over.
  
  “Concussion maybe? She hit her head. But before that, extra strength, sweats…”
  
  He went to push open her eyelid slightly. Dilated pupils. Elevated heart rate. Marks on her from an injection. He ran through the poisons he was taught by her. Even a poison could be a medicine in the right dose but he wasn’t sure what it was. He was drawing blanks. Not a poison? Was it a compound? She was already having her heartbeat slow the tiniest bit. Adrenaline? Adrenaline! He let out a sigh.
  
  “It’s okay. There’s nothing we can do but try to wake Mom up. It's something she needs to burn off. You can’t let her rest though she needs to be awake. Though Vaaltori probably isn’t under the same influence right?”
  

 

[Lost Echo]

Obsidian
April 12th
Eastern Gates
BriiAngelic (Helena and Roland) Taigakitt (Yo and Freya) Pik (Lorrin) Arcanist (Pozou) The Regal Rper (Vaaltari)
​

Nodding at Freya’s command, Obsidian sat, taking Helena against her body. The limpness of the woman frightened the golem. Her skin was clammy. She desperately hoped that little Ro would not lose his mother, but all she could do was hope. The boy knew what he was doing, working as quickly as any healer the golem had met. Relief flooded her at the sound of his sigh.

“How should we wake her? If she hasn’t yet…” she trailed off, worried of scaring the child. “You did a good job Ro. She is lucky to have you.”

She raised her hand to the woman’s cheek, patting it gently. If not even someone messing with her eyes would wake her, would this? Perhaps pain could wake her, but Obsidian was loath to try it. Water? Noise?

“Madam, please wake. You’re safe now. You have done well to bring Mr. Vaaltari and yourself to safety, but you cannot sleep. Come now, your Ro is here. He’s been very brave today and likely wants to tell you all about our adventures. You would be impressed with his skill just now. As fast as any healer he came to your aid, and where the rest of us floundered, he knew exactly what to do.”

She continued, trying to keep up a stream of words. She raised her gaze to Freya then back down to the other unconscious body before returning to the woman with an eyebrow lifted.

 

[BriiAngelic]

• Helena Lis || Human War Cleric || April 16th (6:00pm)

• 
  
  
  
  Tags:
  Ayana ( Jet ) Kuma ( Lost Echo ) Jace ( MythyDW )
  

  ~ The Island ~
  Arsonist's Lullabye || Helena's CS File
  
  “The legend of the Dhilmyhr wasn’t one that was in Centosian history. At least not to my knowledge, none of the traders seemed to know it when the children went to ask if they’d seen it. The legend states that there was a great tree made of magic on an island that reflected the seasons from one back. If it was winter on the mainland it would be fall there. Summer in Autumn. Spring in Summer. And of course, Winter in Spring.”
  
  She looked around. While the legend might have reflected this specific verse Jace mentioned it was a winter island. It’s not likely this island ever changed. Even if it did… She doubted the rest were true. It was too fanatical. Magic could do many things but the legend was mere legend for a reason, there was no way such an island would be so easy to reach.
  
  “The legend said that so long as that tree held the island would be a haven where one could catch glimpses of the past. People thought that if you found that Island you’d find your dearly departed loved ones. Though the less romantic ones thought it to mean that you’d find the answer to the origins of magic. Some even thought that it just meant that it could give you the power of a seer. I never quite believed any of their legends. Always thought it was some fool with no -.”
  
  As the tree moved she was silenced by shock. What. She pulled the trident off her back as she brandished the weapon more in a shielding manner than making use of it as a weapon. Ayana spoke to her as she destroyed attack after attack. She herself jumped back planning to avoid being close enough to fall to a tree of all things.
  
  “There’s no mention of this in it’s legends. Though it certainly is an effective method to protect itself!”
  
  Shielding would only last so long and she couldn’t afford to be that far from Ayana who was their saving grace in this cold. She took the trident and swung it like a lumberjack swings it’s ax. Ow! She didn’t aim that correctly. She sucked her teeth in pain as she got closer. She couldn’t do much but she could do even less at a distance.
  
  “You know I am far more used to fighting living things rather than a tree. I’d really like to know if you have any ideas here.”
  
  She was dancing a dangerous tango as she tried to dodge effectively while being slowed down by the freshly fallen snow. If they were going to have to start watching out for inanimate objects attacking then she really was quite upset at being excommunicated for such stupidity as going to a bar and picking up the wrong odd job.
  

 

[Taigakitt]

Yo and Freya​

With the help of whoever could and wanted to do so, Yo and Freya managed to get Vaaltari up onto a wagon before returning to Ro’s side. Well, Freya returned. Yo didn’t want to crowd around them and opted to stay by the wagon and either chat with who was nearby or look over Vaaltari. Not that she would really be helpful in regards to figuring out what happened. She wasn’t medically trained.

Freya approached Ro and Obsidian, having heard that they needed to keep Helena awake. “Is there anything we should bring over?” She wouldn’t mind finding and gathering what was needed. There was only so much a person could assist with when Helena was already being tended to by Ro and Obsidian.

Mentioned: BriiAngelic Lost Echo
Can hop in?: Pik ​

 

[BriiAngelic]

• Roland Marek || Savanna Elven Street Kid || April 12th

• 
  
  
  
  Tags:
  Obsidian ( Lost Echo ) Freya ( Taigakitt )
  

  ~ Whaleshale Gates ~
  Survive || Roland's CS File
  
  He looked her over. She hadn’t woken up yet but it was only a matter of time until she did. This rejection response… she must have given herself more than she needed. It didn’t surprise him in the least Helena was not typically physically strong. Sure she could carry people a short distance, she was stronger than the average human woman. Though recently it was far more common for him to do the heavy lifting for the two. After all he was the one with the natural strength to back them up.
  
  Obsidian's approach to speak to Helena was something that told him that he had not been specific enough. Still he couldn’t help but be embarrassed by the compliments as his face flushed. He looked down as if to hide his face some more.
  
  “She just needs to be laid down flat. She’s going to start twitching soon, it's how the body wakes itself up from an adrenaline crash. But if she’s being held it’s going to get worse instead of end.”
  
  As if on que Helena’s body began to twitch. It was only the muscles. Good she was in the clear, definitely not a seizure then. He looked to Obsidian nodding to let the woman lie flat. If she was already coming to then it wouldn’t be long at all.
  
  “That’s good. She’ll be up soon. But she won’t be able to do much strenuous work for a few hours as the chemicals even out. I’ll do her share, what else is needed? Also who else needs treatment? I can’t do much outside of what Mom taught me but once she’s up I can be her hands and legs.”
  

 

[Jet]

Liam EldridSmith vs Whipmouth Jet
(Whaleshell Arc, from July)
​

Upon seeing the rising creature rise from the murky depths to Lunge towards him Liam looked around for a quick escape, but as he found none his body moved from flight, to fight. Time seemed to slow as the creature moved towards him. His body moved swiftly at his eyes locked onto the skinny chest section of the creature. He ducked under it's lunge to try and wrap around the creature to begin the slow, painful, and silent process of construction

Whipmouth had never met someone who matched his strength, so when Liam approached he snarled with animalistic rage, brimming with arrogance. He embraced the contact and celebrated a strength contest, grinning when the snakeman wrapped around him. Then he slammed his forearms against Liam's dense scales, dropping inhumanly strong hammer blows over and over again.

Liam grimaced at the painful blows which repeatedly struck against him like a hammer striking a soft piece of metal on an anvil. However he continued to wrap around the creature, so extending to try and pin the creature's arms against its sides as he coils around it, the base of his tail tightening against its body making each breath more laborious and exhausting than the last. Liams mind soon began to fade and soon was barely present as he did this, instead a more animalistic side prevailed, it reveled in this combat and laughed at the pain. His eyes sharpened and his pupils dilated into serpentine slits and his tongue quickly darted in and out, the small forked prongs began unfolding from underneath.

Whipmouth sensed danger when Liam compressed his midsection, blood pressure rising and head spinning when blood struggled to reach his head, not to mention his trapped arm. Whipmouth had serious problems — and another serious problem was his small brain. He barely understood what was happening, but his nerves were screaming so he used his razor sharp tail. With it he swiped at Liam’s back with reckless abandon, looking to cut through the young man.

Liam hissed as the tail emerged and while the creature was distracted and focused on using it's tail he coiled around it's other arm, cinching it tight against it's chest, his human part flipping upside down as the coils wound their way up towards the head, soon the creature would be bound and blind, however as the tail flailed at him he threw his weight against the creature trying to slam it into the wall, further expelling some breath from it's lungs to speed up the constriction process. Despite the attempts of the creature to resist it was soon bound from the waist up, his noose like coils slowly beginning the execution.

Whipmouth screeched, slashing Liam's scales with his sharp tail, but the results were lukewarm. He imparted shallow cuts but nothing more, barely slowing the young man. This was bad. Whipmouth needed to stop Liam before he lost consciousness, and so he pressed his foul maw against snake scales. From his lips came wormy tendrils tipped with razor sharp beaks, burrowing into the young man's armored skin. After piercing the surface they released savage neurotoxins, ones strong enough to incapacitate humans within twenty seconds — but Liam was much larger than a normal man, and dropping him would take time.

Liam, rather the side of him that was in charge seemed to laugh at the futility of the creatures resistance. The small scratches coming from the tail weren't anywhere near the pain threshold of it to even register. However the creature in charge of Liam did recognize the painful toxins entering it's body and as the coils tightened and his body sharply shifted the tendrils were sharply ripped from the creatures mouth before the coils, rippling and bulging with sheer muscular power turned to embedded tendrils into a paste before blood flushed through the wound pushing out whatever was left after the tentacle like appendages. The bestial mind of Liam cackled madly watching the mighty sewer stalker being reduced to a fly in his web. The monsters eyes flashed with a sadistic grin as he began tightening his coils in the reverse direction as his scales began digging into it's skin and leaving bloody holes before it reversed directions once more. Upon smelling the scent of blood it's body began moving ever so slightly faster as it's eyes glowed in the darkness.

Whipmouth stumbled around aimlessly, losing balance as his consciousness faded away, and with a desperate groan he dropped down and pulled Liam under the waves, attempting to drown the boy.

The feral mind of Liam watched with sadistic pleasure as the creature struggled within it's coils, it's flailing and twisting was oh so pleasant to see. As the creature bell back he tightened his coils on the impact to expediate the process, as his control over the body was slowly beginning to slip back into Liam's hands. He kept the creature above water as well as himself, just in case the creature had gills or some way of gaining back breath under the murky waves.

Without any more weapons to work with, there was nothing the monster could do, and death embraced him as his monstrous body was crushed. It was almost sad. For twenty years he'd devoured unfortunate souls who wandered underground. A dominant era indeed, punctuated when he convulsed once, twice and three times as his heart stopped pumping, sending a final spasm through his cold limbs.

Whipmouth was dead.

A rumbling groan escaped his hanging mouth, and gemstones glimmered from his huge canines. The source was a grime-covered amulet, wedged between the monster’s teeth. It’s enchantments were a mystery, assuming one existed of course, but perhaps Lucien could inspect the amulet for Liam?

The feral Liam quickly popped the head off of the body before reaching through the throat to grab the amulet. Wrenching it free from the creature he quickly donned it and swam for the sea, his control over the body rapidly returning to Liam as the bloodlust dimmed and receded. The feral creature, while longing to seek the murky depths for lost treasure of other past victims, he lacked the time. Within the end of the minute Liam had left the scene behind without any recollection of the brutal battle, something subconsciously working inside him working to justify how he acquired the amulet.

 

[Lost Echo]

Kuma

Winter Island
April 16th, evening
BriiAngelic (Helena, Ro) Jet (Ayana) MythyDW (Jace)
Natural form; small tremors still shudder through her​

Each shard passed through Kuma harmlessly, the hole left behind filling quickly with the extra boost of cold. It was only after her companions’ pain that she realized it could be an attack. “Both of you, back up!” It was senseless for them to be harmed. After they nearly froze to death, you would think they’d be more careful. She neared the tree. To her, it seemed to just be turning. Like most of nature, it merely did not care about the effect on its surroundings. Kukumita’s blizzards were merciless because they were beyond mortals. This tree felt the same. She herself knew if one sat still too long beneath the falling snow, you grew a coat of ice, an armor that bound you. Moving would break it, causing a shower of crystals to fall around you.

She raised her hands, pulling the ice from the conifer. For all that her magic seemed to be at its highest, it took concentration to only summon the tree’s armor. She felt as if she could pull everything to her and it would come. It wanted to come. With gentle waves of her hand, she pulled the shards together, creating a cloud to circle the top. In a sharp movement, she snapped her hands closed into tight fists, crushing the ice to tiny shards. Then she released her control, letting the harmless powder be caught up by the winds, joining the falling snow.

 

[Lost Echo]

Kuma

East Gates
April 12th, afternoon

Taigakitt (Yo) The Regal Rper (Vaaltari: unconscious)
Imitating Catherine Earnshaw from Wuthering Heights; sans hair, with her natural legs​

Though her focus was on the horses to ensure their health and comfort, she certainly couldn’t ignore the ruckus of the stragglers arriving. Their tardiness was obvious--and worrying. Their sadist--for this made it clear each group was attacked, not just those with the “Beans”--was more successful than her own. Seeing the human, carrying the Matugna she’d seen before was, frankly, terrifying. When fighting the blonde fanatic, Kuma had feared for her life, but at the same time, the Others were sure to die first. To see a human carrying him...for all that it collapsed immediately, was...not right. She held back as the child ran to his mother’s side, immediately checking her over.

The horned girl--was she a dragon?--went to his side. Kuma agreed, even with the strength of her heritage the Matu would be difficult to move. Slipping around one of the horses, she approached. Any aloofness was overridden by her curiosity. She missed real people, and she couldn’t understand why this one would be here? Obviously, if he died her questions wouldn’t be answered satisfactorily. She doubted his belongings carried a letter or such explaining his purpose--for all that she certainly would check upon his death.

“The two of us should manage him.” As all Matu, he was lithe, his body belying his true strength. She shortened to nearly Yo’s height, her body growing stouter to better support his weight. The eyes on her back watched carefully for any negative response to her subtle shift. She’d had to deal with Centosian’s reactions of fear, thus lashing out, far too often. The uncivilized creatures.

 

[BriiAngelic]

A Funeral

The beast fell thanks to the efforts of their group and the surprising turn around from those who were missing. Helena scanned through the newly refound party seeing that most had managed to start splitting up and reform as they made their way down to the docks. It seemed they had secured a way away. She heard the mutters from the others about having secured a way out as she noticed there didn’t seem to be anyone around that she could immediately tend to. Pozou’s injury was far beyond her capability and the mages seemed to quickly be upon him. She caught sight of the Rosenbloom Woman looking relieved for some strange reason.

“... Madam Rosenbloom? Are you uninjured?”


Daisy blinked in surprise as Helena came up to her. Daisy supposed she had been distracted by her relief. She’d found Somber and her now dry, blood soaked masked.

“Oh? More or less. I’m alright, yes.” She didn’t know Helena well, merely by name and face. She appreciated her coming to check on her, if that was her purpose, though the look Daisy saw on her face made her think she had another motive.

“Good, good to hear. Then I don’t need to feel bad about requesting your services. I don’t know how much you’ve been told but Freya is now dead. I sent off Roland with Aedzel, Amalia, Gwen and Kuma for their protection. They’re right outside the town probably… they took Freya’s remains with them.”

A long, hiss of a breath escaped Daisy’s lips. She had hoped, foolishly, that their group would not have sustained any casualties. Her relief transformed into stoicism. Even more so than combat, this was what she was most used to doing. She wouldn’t say she was happy, her work as a funerary expert rarely allowed for that emotion during the job itself, but it was almost comfortable. She hadn’t performed a funeral since the Rosenbloom manor had been sacked. It was a sense of normalcy, for her. She didn’t let Helena know, of course, and kept her face neutral, aided by her mask.

“I understand. Allow me a moment to get changed.”

She stepped back inside the door she had come out of and removed her formal attire. Dark purple and black robes. It might not be perfectly appropriate for Freya’s funeral rights, but it was better than leather armor and bloody clothes. After a moment of hesitation, she removed her blood stained mask, and replaced it with the tusked mask the strange woodsman had given her after slaying the great boar.

She stepped back outside, and gave Helena a small bow.

“Show me, if you please.”

Helena nodded and led the way to the path from which they split.

━━☆━━

As the rocking of the wagon calmed, Kuma turned her focus to Freya, or at least her remains. With a shudder, she shifted to her side. For a long moment, she just stared, remembering the care the woman had provided to Nezumi. Then she spoke, her voice solemn, “Born from chaos, you now return from whence you came. But each atom that made you has forever changed by being you. You’ve survived the challenges Kul set before you and passed those lessons onto your pack. It took a Umbuagwe going beyond its limits to conquer you.” Pulling Freya’s braid into her palm, Kuma cut it’s end off. Holding the small patch of hair, she spoke. “You protected my soul, and I shall always remember that. With this, I shall always carry a piece of you with me.” She absorbed most of the hair, feeling it travel from her hand up to her horkwin. There it wrapped around, joining the strands of a teacher long past and their Bonded.

Roland took a quick calming breath as he listened to the voices of Aedzel, Amalia, and Kuma. He looked up as he heard what sounded like a sort of eulogy coming from Kuma. He muttered under his breath a quiet prayer from his culture. He didn’t quite understand what Kuma was doing with her hair but it wasn’t like he could say much about their practices when he was forced to leave his own incomplete.

“We… we should give her a proper funeral….”

Aedzel was merely silent as she watched Kuma from behind the wagon. Much like Roland, she also didn't understand what the other was doing to Freya's hair, nor did she understand the words such as atom and Umbuagwe but she kept her mouth shut. It didn't feel appropriate to talk. She understood that what Kuma was saying- was something meant for the souls of those who passed or so she'd like to think.

Her eyes moved to Ro, how was she coping with all of this? With furrowed brows and her sight on the ground, she wondered if Freya had any family. How devastating it would be to learn the news of her passing. In a rather forlorn tone, she said "If… She doesn't have any known relatives, I think we should." She hated funerals.


Kuma’s face remained solemn though she added, “She has her pack--clan, but I do not know--”

At that moment, Lucien had popped in to inform them of the group's survival and the new plans. As the man left Helena and Daisy could be seen in the distance approaching. Helena’s strides quickened as the carts came into sight.

“It’s safe now. The others have all come up from the woodwork in which they were hiding.”

She shot a glance back to Daisy clear that she’d wish to ask her about it later on.

Aedzel perked up to see Lucien with Helena and Daisy behind him. He was quick to set off to find the others but not before telling them where everyone else was. "Helena!" She said, the octave of her voice slightly higher than before. "I'm glad you're okay… You too, Daisy." She said to the Gravedigger. She doesn't think that Daisy thinks well of her, she felt the same way- after all the funeral expert so readily stabbed Yo the first night they met.

"How are the others? Is Pozou safe?" She worried, he was the only person she knew. She saw him as a kind brother at some point when they were younger, it was hard not to think of him in this situation.

“Pozou was safe, last I saw of him. He was fine after the monster fell, so I assume he’s still that way.” She said. Daisy was in full Funeral Director mode. Her face, behind her tusked mask, was impassive, her robes were clean and unwrinkled as they were designed to withstand the wear of travel, and her hands were behind her back. “I’m sorry for your loss. I didn’t know her well, but Freya will be missed. May I see the body? Does anyone know where she was from or if she had any last wishes? I know the burial customs of every known culture on the continent, and perhaps beyond. My resources are limited here, but she seemed that she was from a warrior culture, and warrior cultures often have provisions for battlefield burials. I wish to give her every respect possible, so if you could give me any information about her that you have it would be appreciated.

Roland looked up at the questions recognizing the voices. He pushed himself up and out of the cart before going to hug Helena and hiding his face in her shoulder. He stood there for a moment before lifting his head again and looking towards Daisy.


“Miss Freya… she was from a northern tribe. She talked about her kids and grandchildren before but they’re so far north… I don’t think burying her would be the best idea…. For them to have to come this far out to visit their mother’s grave. It wouldn’t be great.”

Helena nodded as Aedzel showed concern as she stroked Roland’s back trying to ease the worry of the younger.

“I’ve never been well versed in the northern tribes, all I know is that Freya loved her children and grandchildren. She spoke with such love for them, it’s something I understand well. Aedzel I don’t want you to panic but they are reattaching Pozou’s hand as we speak… It seems we were not the only ones to have run-ins with beasts. Considering what we faced when we returned it’s quite miraculous that he doesn’t have to face anything that can’t be undone. Kuma… Thank you very much for protecting both myself and Ro. I don’t think I had a proper chance to say so.” The Matunga simply nodded in response, more could be added after the ritual.

"The northern tribes typically send off their honored dead on a ship, along with their valuables, and then set fire to said ship by having loved ones or comrades fire arrows dipped in pitch onto the ship that's been stacked with flammable materials." Daisy said, her eyes shut. She could picture the old, dusty tome she had read it from. Locked away in her mental library. She could almost feel it's pages. The book itself was still in the Rosenbloom manor, likely. But she didn't need it. Everything Daisy read was kept in neat little shelves inside her head. "Occasionally they would add slaves to the funeral pyre as a sacrifice, and different tribes have different specific customs…" Daisy trailed off. "But I feel like a burning ship will suffice. Unless you, who were closer to her than I, think otherwise? The ship and flammable materials will be easy to come by. We have to go to the docks anyway. I'm sure we could find a boat of some sort." ”

“Should we not save her hair for her pack?” Burning her sounded wasteful, the fire eating the nutrients that could feed Dou and Kukumita’s intent, but if that was the ritual she most likely would have preferred, Kuma would not question it. But to leave nothing for her pack? They might not know where they were but it was possible they could get to have a token.

"I've no problems with deviating from the traditional practice of the Northern tribes, I'm just telling you what the traditions are. They do not involve keeping locks of hair, but you would know what she would want better than I. I am more than willing to Perform personally chosen methods of interment. "

For all that Freya had held her soul, Kuma did not know. She had been selfish, keeping apart from the group. The herd had been a comfort for her, ones she could trust, but she had failed her potential pack with her reticence. With a glance at the others, she shook her head murmuring, “She is not Matunga; I will honor her customs.”

The Quetzola simply listened in on the conversation. There was nothing she could add nor anything she could retain from what was said. If she was being honest, it simply made her head hurt just thinking about it, bringing back memories she had tried to forget.

Her sky-colored gaze wandered to Helena and her daughter, how long had they been with the group? Is this what they faced everyday? Maybe she should run and perhaps convince Pozou to join her. His parents must be missing him too. "Whatever you all think would be best." She said to them, there wasn't really much she could say now can she?

Roland looked up at the discussions. Burning her? And some tribes would burn other people with them? How frightening. He understood well the idea of cremation, Savanna elves either chose to become one with the earth or the sky and sea as their parting, but he’d never known a culture to sacrifice others. Was it not just the slavers of the south to be feared?

Part of him wished to follow the matunaga culture, if only to give some much needed closure to her family, but he couldn’t deny that it was more appropriate to follow at least some form of northern culture. Even if they couldn’t be certain it was hers. Before he could speak up Helena was interjecting.

“I think we should do as Kuma states. Burning her body would be an appropriate send off for her but there’s closure to be had in having something left behind.”

Helena rose her arms under her chest as she had a rather stonewalled expression of distance on her face.

“It may be impolite to hear but in all my work I find there are relatives that will live a life of denial without some form of permanent reminder of the remains. Bringing back her head is both improper and impractical but bringing back hair and effects would serve the same purpose.”

"Then if that is your wish, let it be so. I can do it in the traditional Matunga style, unless someone from the actual Matunga culture wishes to do the cutting."

This grisly one knew of their rituals? Was she also an acolyte of Kul? Looking at her garb with a more careful eye, she pondered, though the robes did not remind her of those the Sacoro at the shrines wore, but the formal demeanor was the same. Perhaps she could join her in their sacrifices then. “I am willing, but species is not specified in the ritual,” she knew this as many Bonded had performed it.

Anyone could do it? Roland didn’t know what it entailed but he was willing to try. He slunked over to where they had carefully laid Freya’s body and slipped a knife from his cloak just the slightest bit out. He was quick to cut a few locks of hair, one for himself, one for his mother, and one for her children. Still he didn’t move back until he grabbed a bit of his own and hastily cut with his knife.

“What are you-”

“I don’t get it but… if we send her off with our own tokens… would that suffice?”

"I find whatever brings comfort to those closest to the deceased always suffices." Daisy said, hands still behind her back. "Not to be forward, but I do require formal permission to prepare and inter the body before I can touch it when the deceased's loved ones are still present. The Rosenblooms only inter bodies on their own initiative when there is no one present and the bodies would simply rot otherwise. Cremation, specifically the Northern version of putting the pyre out to sea, is actually quite a simple process. I could have it ready with speed, should you ask me to do so."

With a sigh Helena made her way over to fix the ends that Roland had frayed of his own hair with his hasty cut. Her own knife was more suited to slashing skin but hair was just as easy. She looked up as Daisy requested formal permission. She was already in a tattered dress… if it would bring Roland comfort to send Freya off with gifts then she would follow. With a few slashes she evened out her dress and tied the now extra ends around the woman’s wrist like a cute lace bracelet as she put the locks of hair from Roland in the woman’s pocket.

“I think we’re all ready to send her off. Unless you two would like to leave her a token as well?”

Helena calling out to her had brought her back from her momentary stupor. "Oh! Uh…" She must have been blocking everything unintentionally and only noticed the stray cut of hair from Roland and Helena's torn dress. I don't want to cut my hair. She thought to herself.

"Freya is more of an acquaintance to me, if I'm being honest. It hasn't been that long since I met you all so…" She mumbled embarrassingly, not knowing what to do. "The best thing I can offer is a short song as the pyre sails away."

Pups were also so pure and creative. Kuma did not understand what leaving something to be burned as well would actually do, but each act was a ripple in Kul’s discord. It was strange to see a knife used, instead of one’s own body, but Ro balanced that with a token of her own. As the girl stepped back beside her mother, she nodded in approval. Her empathy would support Freya as her life was judged.

“A song would bond us in the moment,” she nodded to the bird’s suggestion. If she were more honest, Kuma likely was closer to her situation than not. It would change. The loss of her pack was a gaping wound in her, but Pack was a transitive property¹. It was not finite and closed. As with all things, a lack of change caused stagnation. Was she not a sign of Kul? She would learn her new pack members.

Stepping forward once more, Kuma sliced an entire braid off, idly appreciating its ability to hold together. “You may not have known Freya, but she was well known throughout the group. There may be others who would like their own tokens.” She already carried Nezumi’s, so she could carry this. “Now, Sacoro Rosenbloom, I believe we are prepared for the ritual.”

"Understood. Allow me to attend to the body."

Daisy approached Freya's reclining form, and lit a pair of incense sticks from her bag, proofing them up in the little incense holder she carried. She then took rags, and soaked them in fluid and began methodically wiping down Frayas body. The parts that were revealed, anyway. She would do all of it under normal circumstances, but she did not have much privacy here and would not strip the body in front of others.

When she was finished, she nodded to the others.
"I will make the preparations. Follow me at your leisure to the docks, but allow me to go ahead. I will find the necessary supplies amongst what remains of the town. You may keep the incense burning if you like." And with that said, she hurried off to find a boat and something to set it alight with.

The incense continued to burn as they waited for Daisy’s return. She didn’t know where the woman would find such things but she knew better than to question a Rosenbloom. She glanced at the others, Aedzel may have been the newest but despite that it wasn’t like the others had been around that long either. She and Roland had spent far longer with complete strangers in the past. Yet the shared terror and struggle of running from the reach of the church had let her mourn the loss. If not for the purely utilitarian view of one of their stronger soldiers no longer being around to look out for them then for the kindred spirit she found in the woman. Her musings were interrupted by the sound of footsteps returning. She stepped back from the body and gave Daisy the room to work ready to hop in if needed but for the time being she wandered closer to Aedzel.

“You know… you don’t need to stay with us. Your name hasn’t reached the church yet. I can’t imagine it will get any easier. It’s been far less time than you’d imagine that we knew her. But if you’re on the run together you need to damn well trust the people beside you will pull you forwards… If you can’t do that you need to find who you do trust. I don’t trust them all but… Freya I might have in time.”

Surprise was a word for it. When Helena came close to her to warn her of the dangers of being a part of the group, she never expected it. Of course, Aedzel had noticed the danger. If anything she wants to go and get away, but she's still playing a part wasn't she? How she leaves, it has to make sense. Valentine's troupe was the perfect excuse.

"It has but as of now I have nowhere else to go, I can't think of anywhere else to go." She said to Helena, that fact frustrates her to no end. No matter what troupe she joined, they would end up discarding her after getting a huge amount of money from her performances and taking the credit at that. "Besides, Pozou is with you all. I trust him, he'd done nothing but be kind to me when we were younger and I don't have the heart to leave him again." If anything, I'm the one who shouldn't be trusted.

Her electric-blue eyes merely watched the skies as the wind blew gently. She turned her gaze to Helena, a wonder running in her mind. "Why are you telling me this?" It's because they are mere acquaintances that she is questioning the other woman's sudden suggestion. "Even if the Church knows your name, wouldn't it be better for you and your child to run away?"

Helena let out a soft frown at Aedzel’s words. Run? There was no outrunning the church. Certainly not for her. She grabbed a fistful of her dress’s sleeve as she tensed up even at the thought. With a slow exhale she let go of her fist and straightened out her hand.

“Run? There would be no place on earth I could run far enough to. There’s no escaping the church when you once were the church. I was raised into it. Before I had Ro, that was the closest thing to a family I had. Lis, it means ‘God is my oath’. Just one of the few names the children leftover could take. Almas is ravaged with broken families. I don’t know if I was just lucky and my parents are dead, or if they purposely left. But the church had use for me so I survived. Now it seems that my use is outweighed enough to put a mark on us.”

She watched as Roland’s full focus was on the funeral. What life could they have had if only she had brought him anywhere else other than Whaleshale? In a matter of a short few weeks she already had more regrets than she had in years.

“Well, I’ve warned you.”

She stepped forwards with the intention of getting this funeral started. The mention of the Church had once again put her at unease. Who knew what the master mage would do with what took place here. Who knew if they wouldn’t have an increasing bounty and more blame upon their shoulders. This time she spoke to them all as a whole in a much louder tone.

“We may not have that much time left before we become targets again”

Kuma listened silently to the two, filing the information away. Her curiosity on the bird’s memory returning (or perhaps it was a slip up--Kuma did not care, if the lie did not harm her, it was fine.) The medic’s history distracted her thoughts. Helena was betraying this church? Though she had no love of the organization, the ability to betray your oath, to break loyalty twinged her. Would she betray her pack? With an eye moving to Ro, she knew the answer was never. Their pack was just reduced to two. Perhaps they could become Pack.

Daisy returned amidst the others’ conversation.

“I have things prepared.” She said, “If you’ll follow me.”

Should the others follow her, she will take them to the beach, where she managed to find a small sailing vessel. Inside it, the body of Freya was arranged in traditional Northern Tribe Fashion, lying on a raised wooden platform, in this case simply a panel of wood Daisy had found, beneath which lay kindling of all sorts. At her sides were her weapons. Everything had been doused in oil.

“Someone pushes the ship out to sea, and wishes Freya a safe journey beyond, and then another fires a flaming arrow at the ship to set it alight. I can take over either duty, or one of you can.”


Was the arrow necessary? With that much oil, surely a small spell would be enough? Her mind flicked back to Ayana, whose elemental arrows were beyond any flame Kuma could produce. The sacoro could likely do the same. Still pushing Freya’s weight would be difficult for the Others. “I can guide her to the water.”

What life did Helena live to have come to this? The question continues to boggle Aedzel's mind even when the woman had already left her side. There was a shiver that made her hair stand straight. The words of warning staying at the back of her mind. I can handle whatever comes my way. She hadn't survived until now if she couldn't, despite her lack of the needed survival skills such as combat.

Aedzel had brought her instrument to the front, her fingers gently holding the neck while her tips felt the cold metal strings of her favorite wooden tool.

Before the funeral began, the Quetzola had started plucking the strings. The music was slow and deep, like the gravity of the occasion, the solemnity of the atmosphere and once the boat is set on fire she will start to hum a tune for the fallen. Like a lullaby.

Daisy began to recite a prayer from memory. She didn’t know the north lander language, but she had read the prayer and so it had been recorded unfailingly in her memory. If translated it came to;

“Ukko, thou O God above me,
Thou Creator of the heavens,
Put my snow-shoes well in order,
And endow them both with swiftness
That I rapidly may journey
Over marshes, over snow-fields,
Over lowlands, over highlands,
Through the realms of wicked Hisi,
Through the distant plains of Lapland,
Through the paths of Lempo's wild-moose,
To the forest hills of Juutas.
To the snow-fields shall I journey,
Leave the heroes to the woodlands,
On the way to Tapiola,
Into Tapio's wild dwellings. 2.

But unless someone spoke the language of Freya’s people, they would not know it. Daisy nodded to Kuma, to push the boat into the water.

As the acolyte prayed, Kuma felt Freya’s gods fill her, guiding her forward. Nezumi watched through her eyes, all 5 focused on her task. When her hands laid against the hardwood of the boat, a layer of frost spiraled along its surface. The designs were simple, petitions of her worth to Ronnag, to judge her favorably. Freya always spoke of her homeland as a winter paradise. Even now, the Matu wanted to find it. The water welcomed her into its grasp, and Kuma guided the vessel forward out into the lake.

“I will fire the arrow.”

Roland stepped forwards with the prepared bow and arrow. Even if his mother wished to, her aim was always atrocious at further ranges. It had been long since the young boy had carried a bow with his tribe, but stolen moments questioning lorrin had been bringing it all back. He took a breath trying to steady himself as he felt Helena’s hand on his back steadying him in the moment. With an exhale out and a quick loosening of his stance he let the arrow fly.

Within a few minutes the pyre grew engulfing the makeship boat.

“Good Night Miss Freya. Until we meet again.”


1. concept from: The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valente
((You don’t have to include this--I just added it because “Family is a transitive property” came from it.))

2. Viking Prayer from The Kalavala, a record of ancient Finnish Poems.

( Taigakitt )

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