Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

It doesn't appear to be near any mountains, unfortunately; and a human town nearby sticks out.


"Who are you?" Katie asks, suspicious. She keeps her trident pointed at the human as she goes to shake Abigail, trying to wake up.

Abigail moans as she sleepily opens her eyes.


Eve heads straight for the partially-fixed respite pylon, only looking around to check for threats.


"Oh. Hello!" Stephanie greets, smiling.

 

Ihra looks for another redwood forest, still trying to find Ardell.


“You should know me as Eric. If that doesn’t jog your memory, this should.” I say, handing Katie the same note I showed Abigail.


The guard seems suspicious of her, but Maralune appears to be explaining why (or at least trying to) Eve is there.


“Emerald told me she pointed you in my direction, so I thought I may as well take the liberty of cleaning house in preparation for your arrival... so to speak.” She says, glancing behind a rock annoyed as something lets out a brief scream of pain.
“Most of the time, we steer clear of this place for those reasons, though.”

 

It takes a few tries, but eventually Ihra finds a close-enough match.


Katie takes the note and reads it, before lowering her trident.

"Oh yeah! I remember you!" Katie says happily.

"You do?" Abigail asks as she gets up.

"Kind of! It's like a dream that I remember!" Katie says cheerily.


Eve flies up to the pylon, immediately getting to work on replacing and fixing the broken parts; improving some parts, even.


Stephanie seems to realise something, before deploying her suit of armour and holding her sword at the ready.

"What's lurking around here?" Stephanie asks through her helmet, more out of curiosity than fear.

 

I follow him through.

 

She checks for proximity to mountains and any nearby human towns before approaching.


“You should’ve let her sleep.” I sigh.


A raptor watches her cautiously from a corner of the roof, alternating focus on Eve and looking for a way down.


“Just Atavul’s weaker goons. They’re hoping for any signs you show up, so be mindful of them. They’ll relay your location when they die, so try not to off too many with anything other than life magic. That way, they might think it’s me culling them again.”

There are a few raptors that seem a bit suspicious about Scurn, but aside from that there’s not much around the portal in.

You can see Eve in the distance, seeming to work on the respite pylon.

 

There are certainly mountains, and no human settlements or even towns are nearby.


"Eric was the guy who wanted to see you." Abigail explains to Katie.

"Oh, what for?" Katie asks, turning to the human.


"Do you need a way down, primal one?" Eve asks, looking up.


"He's expecting me?" Stephanie asks, a little unsettled.

 

Ihra lands nearby, looking for the settlement.


“Because I heard what happened with Kiin, and I’m sorry to hear that. Also, you’re less apt to call me a pervert for existing than Abigail.”


The raptor nods, seeming a bit confused.


“We all have.” Miorah says bluntly. “Everyone wants to know where your group is, for the better and mostly for the worse. Aj leaves a wake of ruin in his path, and you leave Thirteen to clean it up... or, more frequently, whoever you left alive.” She says, a touch of spite in her voice. “You’re a great help to the war effort, and a great enemy of the common folk.” She says, serious. “Don’t get me wrong, we need you, but you’ve wiped out half the people you’re ‘helping’ in the process.”

 

It takes a bit of searching, but eventually Ihra manages to find herself in Tiril's home; after getting lost in the woods.


Katie looks guilty, while Abigail looks offended.

"It was an accident, I promise." Katie says, almost pleadingly so.


Eve gets up from her repairs, opening her arms.

"I'll fly you down." Eve says, giving a gentle smile.


"I know. I'm sorry about that, but that's why I'm here. We're trying to channel Aj's...destructive attitude toward those that count." Stephanie says, sounding apologetic.

 

Ihra knocks on the door, confused.


“Don’t apologize to me, you both know you have Xlentia after you.” I shrug. “You just are friendlier than Abigail usually is.”


“I-I can wait...” They say, stepping back closer to the edge of the roof.


“As long as you’re aware of just how much you test Lady Gaia’s patience.” She says, still seeming annoyed.
“Regardless... I won’t send you into Atavul’s domain alone. It’s suicide.”

 

There isn't a door to knock on; just a large, secured clearing of trees with spiked logs lining it for defence. A couple of watch-towers poke above the trees, and an arrow buries itself into the ground next to Ihra.


"X-Xlentia's after me?" Katie asks, scared, "Sh-She killed Stephanie when we fought her! A-And I'm not a demigod!"


"I can assure you, no harm will come to you." Eve says with a calm voice.


"What should I expect there?" Stephanie asks, curious.

 

“Wait, I came here on behalf of Tiril!” Ihra calls.


“You did technically rip a part of her soul away from her.” I say. “It’ll be fine, though, Emerald’s back and she should be contacting Mortius to let go of it.”


The raptor stays still, wary.


“Fire, obviously. It’s not all as warm as you may think, but half of his half-decent fighters are strong enough to test your armor’s solar resistance.” She says. “Tunnel networks are winding, and tortured souls come a dime a dozen. If you stumble across a torture gauntlet, expect to meet with its wardens. To be clear, though, you’ll also find cloned guardians made to test guardian limitations. You may be able to make allies out of them, but they have been wiped of all memories of your reality.”

 

"How do you know Tiril?" A forest guardian calls from above.


Katie seems to calm down a bit.

"She's not going to hunt me down?" Katie asks.


Eve doesn't advance, waiting.


"Cloned guardians? How did he manage to clone them?" Stephanie asks, sounding offended.

 

“I escorted him into the Shadow Palace. He said he wanted to send money back here to help his home, and I wanted to come back and let you know he was doing okay. And maybe arrange an in-person visit with Lady Gaia.” Ihra says, looking straight at the guardian who shot at her.


“Well, she’s currently trying to, but she’s also still stuck in her room.”


The raptor keeps still, a bit less untrusting but still wary.


“Kidnap, analyze, assimilate. The usual.”

 

I approach, keeping notice of Scurn.
“Hey, Eve.”

 

@Nepeta Leijon

 

The guardian looks at Ihra for a bit, before an opening appears into the village.


Katie looks rather scared.

"S-She really can't get out though, can she?" Katie asks, scared.


Eve turns around, hearing a voice behind her.


Stephanie seems annoyed.

"What can I do to stop and prevent this?" Stephanie asks, determined.

Eve turns around.

"Oh. Hello Thirteen." Eve says, smiling.

 

Ihra hesitates before entering slowly, feeling unwelcome.


“She’s been trying for a month. It hasn’t gone well for her skull.”


“Reason with him after freeing him. He’s a dumbass, but he doesn’t like how bad his image is.”

 

Forest guardians about the village keep an eye on Ihra, though they don't appear to be particularly hostile. The village feels warm and full of life, seeming to keep the frosty air of winter at bay.


"I-I haven't hurt her too, have I?" Katie asks, worried.


Stephanie sighs, calming herself down.

"Well, I'm just going to get information..." Stephanie says, sounding a little down.

 

Ihra seems to release a pleasant aroma, and the grass below her flourishes even more as she walks.
“Could anyone point me towards Tiril’s home?”


“Not directly. You did sort of break her soul apart when Kiin died, though.”


“Just remember, if he finds you he will throw his life away trying to make a dent in you. Don’t let him find you.”

 

A forest guardian points Ihra toward a small treehouse, a ladder built into the tree leading into it.


Katie sits down on Abigail's sofa, sighing and looking stressed.


"I have an emergency way out if I need it. I'll try to be stealthy, though." Stephanie says, nodding.