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Post by Jester of the Setting Sun on Dec 6, 2015 20:35:29 GMT
The slow creaking of the wheels was the only sound that could be heard. The chirping of the birds, the breath of the wind. They all seemed to be oddly silent. Or perhaps he simply wasn't paying attention to the world around him. The recently exalted Lawgiver's ears only picking up the sound of the creaking wagon that he walked alongside.
It had been only a few days since it happened. Not even a week ago he was nothing but an ordinary mortal. Scraping at the bottom of the barrel, making do with scraps and the odd shiny bauble. But now? Now he felt like he could do anything. Unrestrained divine might now flowed through his veins. Strength to easily lift a man with a single hand, speed that matched that of the wind itself. And power to challenge even those blessed by the Dragons.
For a moment, his eyes flicked upwards to the young man at the head of the wagon he was walking alongside. For the briefest of moments, their eyes met. Only for the other man to flinch and look away. With a sigh, the young Exalt moved his own gaze away, instead deciding to focus on the path in front of them. While he couldn't blame Chen for his reaction, it still hurt to see someone you grew up with see you as some kind of monster.
He knew the stories after all. To Chen, his old friend was Anathema, a demon wearing the skin of the person he viewed as a brother. How was someone supposed to react to something like that? While Ragara had yet to show anything resembling hostility to the freed slaves. But one could not shrug off years of indoctrination after a few days.
There were times when the Solar himself could scarcely believe it. The only way he knew that he was not some kind of demon was because his thoughts were still his own. He still felt like a human (for the most part), he still cared for his friends. He had no desire to consume the hearts and souls of the innocent.
Now if only the rest of the caravan would believe that. He could hear them, hushed whispers and aside glances. None of them willing to let their guard down around him out of fear that he was simply waiting for the right moment to strike.
Kicking a stray rock on the road, Chosen of the Sun let out another sigh. If only there was someone he could talk to about this. A god, a spirit. Hell, he'd take another one of the dreaded "Anathema". If only it would give him some of the answers he so desperately needed.
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Post by Kirasath Dravere on Dec 7, 2015 6:15:00 GMT
The dead woman in her dreams screamed that she was denying her birthright, but Kirasath Dravere had seen reason in Akara's words. More allies and greater power was needed for them to have any chance at taking Rathess. It pained her to force Dian Yi Albrecht to endure the torment of his existence any longer, but the cold truth was that she could not reliably meet her blade against a full army. At least not yet. In the back of her mind was all of the information she'd ever need to become a truly invincible warrior. Kira simply needed time to unlock it...and travelling with Akara while she did so was hardly an unpleasant arrangement.
One of Akara's many assets was her connection to a group that Kira had heard of, but never contacted personally. This "Cult of the Illuminated" was started by her own friend Lies and many of her allies, intending to help newly awakened Lawgivers get their bearings. As Kira had been educated in a similar environment, only without any others of her kind nearby, she assumed she had been put through the same program. Lies likely wanted to "keep her free from outside influences" or something similarly ludicrous. Whatever her plan for keeping the young Dawn queen separated had been, it had likely failed by now, as Kira was well on her way to helping the Cult out in whatever measure she could muster.
A few hundred miles north of Chaing-Dav, the whirlwind that Akara had whipped up for the two of them finally stopped. Kira stood atop a small hill overlooking what seemed to be a large road leading from a distant city. She and Shi-Oda had skipped Nexus entirely on their way south, since the Guild's influence in the city was notoriously oppressive, and she was rather...visible. Blue hair wasn't exactly common this far east. Now, it seemed, she was going back on that caution. Now, though, it was only her own hide in danger, rather than Shi-Oda's as well. She could deal with that.
There was a cart coming down the road. Kira's keen eyes could easily make it out, though it was too far away to count bodies or examine faces. She turned back to Akara and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "That certainly was a bracing journey. Are we in the right place?"
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Post by Akara on Dec 7, 2015 6:33:50 GMT
"Close enough to the right place, though a bit behind schedule." Akara admitted reluctantly, re-tying his sash about his waist. Although Infallible Messengers made communication... Well, infallible, finding newly exalted Solars by the destiny-story of the stars was far from a precise science, even for the Illuminated. Ideally, an envoy would arrive in time to see the Exaltation happen and act for the security of the new Lawbringer - the Lunars had that process down to an art when it came to their own - but Solars were a bit less predictable. Especially Night Castes, which Akara's associates had guessed this particular person was.
Perhaps they'd get lucky and the Sun-Child would naturally approach a woman as much of the West as a woman could be, and her mocha-skinned associate with the vibrant yellow sash and vivid clothing? Akara had located fresh Exalted on less than that, before. More realistically, Kira and Akara would be better served by keeping an eye out for trouble and commotion, as such things were magnets for a rising Sun.
A part of Akara wondered if they might've been better served by flying the Stormwind Rider to a less subtle landing spot, if only to create a commotion themselves, but the Wyld Hunt was hardly unknown to Nexus. Better to keep a low profile. Besides, they were in no hurry; preparing for a dangerous undertaking was the whole logic that had kept Kira from charging off to Rathess directly. "It is worth noting now that we may have arrived too late to find our newly-exalted friend." Akara explained quietly, slipping his hands behind his back as they walked. "My sources indicate that he or she is disposed towards work in the shadows, and subtlety - a Night Caste."
"Such people don't make themselves easy to find, in my experience." Akara added quietly. "And appropriately, they tend to be individualists even among our kind. I fear our best trail may be a string of mysterious murders or thefts."
What? Prejudice was not always inaccurate. Akara had less success with Night Castes than any other kind of Solar.
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Post by Kirasath Dravere on Dec 7, 2015 6:58:50 GMT
Shaking her head, Kira's eyes remained trained on the approaching cart and its passengers. "I haven't heard raucous applause regarding Nexus, Mister Akara. I can't imagine one of our kind voluntarily staying there." She also hadn't heard stories of the 'hero of Nexus,' who shattered streets and boasted about the Unconquered Sun's ideas on economic stratification. Thank the gods that particular headache had yet to return from the north.
Fate was a curious thing. What most people thought might have been just a hunch was generally a thread on the Loom twisting towards another. Kira knew as much about Fate as the average Nexus citizen, but she knew hunches, and she had a doozy of one right now. "I feel that, if our new friend is to leave the city, they would come by cart. Perhaps undermanned, due to the new confidence they feel with the blessing of the Unconquered Sun empowering their body."
Such a cart was almost upon them now. Kira smiled quietly to herself, one hand resting on her hip as her cloak caught a wayward breeze. "Maybe we were just on time, Mister Akara, and you were far more accurate than you expected. We'll know soon enough."
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Post by Jester of the Setting Sun on Dec 7, 2015 10:42:24 GMT
"Uhh, L-Lark?" Chen hesitantly spoke, drawing the young Exalt from his musing. Part of him was happy that his surrogate brother had actually addressed him by name for the first time since he Exalted. But the other, more cynical and pragmatic part of him knew that he would not have been addressed in such a way if there was not trouble.
They had indeed encountered a few bandits along the way back home. None of them a match for the newly Exalted thief. But what mortals were?
Facing his friend, Lark's eye followed where Chen was mentioning to. Not too far along the road, he could make out two shapes. Two female shapes if his enhanced eye told him right. An unusual sight to say the least. The scavenger lands were fraught with danger. Only a fool would travel alone.
So why were two people just standing out there in the middle of nowhere?
"Might be a bandit ambush." Lark finally spoke up. His single exposed eye narrowing in suspicion. "Two lost travelers distracting while their friends sneak up on us." Quickening his pace, Lark moved so that he was now on front of the caravan, taking a brisk pace leading them forward. "Keep an eye out. I'll handle this."
It wouldn't take long for the caravan to approach the pair of Exalted. With Lark himself leading it, a cheery smile on his face. If these pair were indeed part of a bandit trap. He was going to play the part of the helpful and gullible traveler. "Hi there, bit of a strange place to be out on your lonesome isn't it? Are you two lost or something?"
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Post by Kirasath Dravere on Dec 7, 2015 12:20:51 GMT
Kira had long since taken a kneel, and she was resolute to maintain that position for as long as she could keep it. She'd seen bright red hair from quite a ways away, and anyone who walked when their companions rode was either a leader or a fool. Giving a courteous nod of greeting, Kirasath spoke up first. As stable as Akara was, his expertise lay with spirits and crimes, while hers was with people. "Nothing so drastic, sir. We were told a friend of ours might be here. Hopefully we aren't too late. It would have been awful to have missed this meeting."
Prod for information? No, too suspicious. The Scavenger Lands were quite dangerous as of late, and two lovely women in the middle of nowhere might come off as an easy ambush. She could probably make conversation, though. That wasn't difficult, most of the time. Offering a bright smile, Kira turned her attention fully towards the young man who'd approached them. "Actually, you may know something that might help us. Has anything strange happened in this city recently? Perhaps a small catastrophe or a rash of thefts? Or a flash of sunlight in the middle of the night?"
Her clothes and sword were burnished in gold. Hopefully that would cut short any suspicion that she might be Dragon-Blooded, but there was no safe way to approach the topic of Solar Exaltation with a complete stranger. This man might be a Fire Aspect, himself, and where would that leave them? Hostilities and misunderstandings. Kira held onto hope that her demeanor was approachable enough to set the man at ease.
Had she Essence sight, she might have taken a different approach.
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Post by Akara on Dec 7, 2015 14:58:41 GMT
Akara, meanwhile, was more than happy to yield the floor to his friend. She did have a way with people that outstripped his own, at least in terms of being pleasant and accommodating. That didn't stop him from drawing upon just enough essence to tell if lies were being told in his presence. No flashy effect, no real change at all, just a little mental trick to help him suss out the truth from the lies. One couldn't be too careful, after all. Especially when one was on an important and largely time-sensitive mission. Such quiet care had been nothing but a boon in his career.
Other than that, Akara was more than happy to clasp his hands behind his back and let Kira talk. He smiled pleasantly and played the part of the cute travelling girl who was just a little out of her depth, a role he'd adopted many, many times as he was almost always travelling and often out of his depth - and unless somebody knew what a Dereth was, apparently a girl as well. Typically he was cute as well, but next to a beauty like Kirasath, just about anyone would appear mundane.
Hopefully, the sword on Kira's hip and his overtly martial artist-ish appearance would dispel any worries as to their safety while travelling alone.
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Post by Jester of the Setting Sun on Dec 7, 2015 18:39:26 GMT
Well. It seems they might be looking for him in particular. Considering how much fate seemed interested in giving him the short end of the stick lately, it would only make sense. Of course some people just have to be looking for him. The universe couldn't make it too easy for him now could it?
"Sunlight in the middle of the night?" Lark parroted, his hilt tilting to the side in mock confusion. While he had indeed by experiencing similar "symptoms" to what they were describing. Of course, they believed that such events were happening inside the city itself. When in fact, the group were on their way home. If he played this right, he could get everyone out of this mess safely. Whoever these two were. They were hardly people Lark wanted to deal with right now.
"Well, we've been out of the city for a while. So I don't really know much about anything like that going on there." Technically true. The group had only freed themselves recently. It had been quite some time since Lark had been home. So answers relating to the Nexus himself were unknown to him. Let it be known that even though he could not tell an outright lie to save his life. Lark was quite skilled at dodging and avoiding unsavory answers. "If you're heading into the city looking for more answers. You can come with us. Roads aren't safe these days."
But while Lark seemed to be handling himself with calm efficiency, the same could not be said for Chen. The younger, dark haired teen was practically petrified at the Solar's question. He had come to the same conclusion that Lark had. These people were looking for his friend.
Where they agents of the Realm? Immaculate Monks investigating his friend? Other Dragonblooded looking for vengeance? Or even other dreaded Anathema? Breathing quickly, a faint crown of sweat visible on his brow. Chen's eyes flicked from the group, to the bow and quiver at his side at the front of the caravan. While he had not been needed to raise so much as a hand in defense of the wagon so far. Who knew what these two were capable of.
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Post by Kirasath Dravere on Dec 7, 2015 19:29:19 GMT
Had she the interest, Kira could have made one very impressive effort to ferret out any truths or deceptions in what she was told. She needn't even spend Essence to do it - creative lying was part and parcel for Coral girls who wanted to keep the favor of their husbands, and Kira was exceptionally well trained in it - but she also didn't see the need to go nosing about in other people's business. This was especially true when Kirasath's sharp eyes picked up that the young man's friend was so obviously on-edge. Chances were there was more than met the eye to this group of travelers. Kira looked to Akara for a moment, then made a snap decision. "I believe that would be for the best. We can handle ourselves, but if you're going our way, there's no reason to turn down companionship." Easy smile, warm tone...it was rather hard to dislike Kira at times. Distrusting her might have been a different story. She took a quick curtsy with her tunic, since she lacked a skirt. "My name is Kirasath Dravere. My companion is Mister Akara of Chirioskro," Kira mispronounced; that word was still somewhat difficult for her to pronounce. It was rude to ask for someone's name, even moreso to expect them to identify themselves on their own without a proper introduction. As she stood again, Kira fluffed her immaculate hair out and clasped her hands in front of her thighs. "And we thank you for the escort." She wondered idly whether or no this very group was the danger of which they spoke. It might take her a few seconds to disable all of them, provided they were simply mortals far, far in over their heads. It wouldn't be the first time, unfortunately...
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Post by Akara on Dec 8, 2015 0:48:14 GMT
"Chiaroscuro." Akara corrected his companion gently, more as a matter of reflex than anything else. She still seemed to struggle with that specific word for some reason, and were he more inclined towards skepticism, Akara might guess that he was being messed with. But Kira hardly seemed the sort to mess with him in that specific way.
Truth be told - as it should always be - Judge's Ear Technique picked up on a couple half-truths, or something of the sort. Evasion, perhaps? Nothing solid enough that Akara could begin forming a solid case, but enough to keep the detective on watch for more suspicion. Had he been alone or operating with someone less an equal, Akara would have been more inclined to continue a line of questioning; Kira was an equal, and he'd yielded the floor to her expertise. That respect meant nothing if he was prepared to revoke it the moment something suspicious happened. In this case, it was best to remain quiet.
And to be perfectly honest, while Kirasath was a good friend, she was also a relatively new friend as well. Akara would be lying to himself if he didn't admit he was curious to see how she - a Dawn - handled a manhunt with as little incident as possible.
The martial artist followed his swordswoman companion's lead with a small bow at the waist, showing deference and respect. "The more the merrier, as they say." Akara added for good measure, giving their red-headed associate a polite smile. "If nothing else, Kirasath has a lovely enough singing voice to make our company pleasant." He promised, clasping his hands behind his back - once a junior lawman, now an Exalted Lawgiver, Akara had ever strived to present a crisp, professional demeanor in public. Especially when he was on the clock. "Thank you for your gracious invitation, sir. We would be happy for such an escort."
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