Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

"Onyx, and... uh... she's a cat, I guess? Opened a portal up for me, and had help from a third Anubis to carry sis in with us."

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He darts off ahead, Rineth gliding overhead.

Linoa tries the four things in question, and the nullmagic seems to work.
"Alright, looks like you're good!" She says happily.

 

I sprint off after him.

"Cool!"
Crystal says happily, shifting back.

 

"Guards, make an inquiry about Ali's sister, see if Onyx knows where she is," I order, "If she is found, she is to be held close to death for an extended period of time, then killed and immediately revived. She is then to be checked for signs of mind control or linking to an external being, and if so the process is to be repeated until this is no longer the case. If not, however, she is to be brought to Ali."

A group of guards salute, before leaving the throne room.

"I think that's all the information we need. Now we can continue with the requests." I say.

"Hold on," Shadow Stephanie says, "Ali, would you like Katie to apologise to you for what she has done?"

 

After a while, the raptor skids to a stop.
"Hey, bud. Keep a low profile. Gotta pass through Mantis and Akli'il territory. If a patrol catches you, you got problems." He utters, moving slower but completely silently through the brush.

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"No, I don't. Not forcefully. I just worry he'll copy the crystal if he managed to copy draconians you had to fight multiple times."

 

"Stephanie, are you able to locate and disable the crystal you gave Ali?" I ask.

"I should be able to." Shadow Stephanie says, starting to meditate. Shadow Stephanie searches for the store of her magic within the stolen crystal through another plane of reality.

The doors open to the throne room, a guard stepping through.

"Your highness, we have brought Katie out of her session to apologise to the cafe owner. Shall we bring her in?" The guard asks.

"It is up to Ali." I ask, looking to Ali.

 

"No." Ali repeats.

The crystal's impossible for her to locate. It was modified, and Shadow Stephanie finds that part of her power cut off from her control.

 

"Very well." The guard says.

The faint sound of pained sobbing can be heard as the guard leaves.


"We'll need to send the armies to retrieve that crystal." Shadow Stephanie says, serious.

"Very well. I shall pray to Tenebrae in the meantime, and if possible, lock down the realm," I say, "Do you know where we should look, Ali?"

 

"The armies should be able to trace the path back, if you shadows are as strong as the stories say, you'd probably be able to knock out anything they try to slow you down with en route to the crystal. Sorry I couldn't be more of a help."

 

"Okay."
I say, following as silent as I can.

 

Rineth cloaks.

After a few minutes, the raptor ends up touching you, to stop you.
He runs his claw along his throat, then gestures ahead.

Mantis-like creatures seem to be scouting ahead, one with plant matter "armor" of sorts. Their appendages have scythe-like blades that fold out, and they seem to be on high alert.

One speaks up, but it's in a language you don't understand at all.


Minutes later, they end up passing and the raptor signals it safe to continue. He opts to get through the clearing in one bound and let the cover do the dirty work.
You can see why he wants the armor; the brush is even scratching you up a bit.

 

I dash quickly after the raptor, ignoring the pain.

 

"That patrol means I may be cut off trying to get back to my territory after you get to the kingdom. I may have to call the deal off for a bit..." The raptor whispers. "It wasn't their normal patrol. One of their Matriarch's personal guards was there, so she's getting ready to travel. Believe me; it doesn't matter how much you throw at them - every damn one of those mantis are willing to die for her. You'd think a draconic fireraid would've gotten her; that bitch has some serious battle scars, but she's more decorated than any soldier." He explains, though not happy about it at all.

 

"I would be able to get you a flight back to your territory, but I don't think you trust me that much."
I offer.

 

"If the armor's good, I might ignore my better judgement and take you up on that anyways. No sense starving out in the middle of nowhere." They groan. "Besides, looks like you've tread through kinder brush before. Imagine how that feels on flesh."
He continues forward.

 

"If there's one thing to trust me on, it's the fact that the armor's good. You don't need to fret about that aspect."
I confirm.

 

"Then you might find an ally in me. Maybe." He whispers, picking up the pace slightly.

 

"Well, your territory's in a very convenient place for me, so that'd be nice."
I whisper, matching his pace.

 

"Care to tell me why, or is that gonna cost me even more?" He mutters.

 

"I might tell you someday. Maybe."
I respond, smirking.

 

He doesn't look back to see your smirk.
"You know, wherever the hell you came from, you sure know how to fit in here in this wasteland." He comments, pace starting to slow.