Frozen Castle, Frozen Heart

Sky meditates waiting for Kravor and Syn to wake after getting back through the gate, petting the bunny, trying to figure out what story she is going to tell them. “Say…Syn?” Solus whispers faintly between the cell bars that divide the two. “Hrm?” Syn shifts slightly, the sound of a chain that is attached to her right foot clatters. “What is your favorite season?” Solus asks in a whisper. “Mhm…I don’t have one. You?” Syn asks, moving closer to the rusted bars. “Ah! Winter. Most definitely winter.” Solus shouts with excitement.
Always so happy…
Syn huffs at her words. “Why? Its cold and miserable.” Solus leans her forehead against the bars closing her eyes. “Snow…when it has snowed heavily, the world around you gets so quiet and its so cold that the birds leave for the season, the bugs are gone, and people huddle in their homes. When you stand out in the snow, everything is silent except for the small sound the snowflakes make as they land. When the sun comes up and hits the fresh snow…. The entire land sparkles like diamonds.” “I’d like to see that…” Syn forces a smile, leaning her own forehead against the bars staring back at purple eyes.
“Of course we will Syn! Of course!”
Syn’s eyes twitch, and slowly open. Her body aches, and she lays cold on a stone floor. She glances around for a moment before realizing she’s back below the church. Her red eyes shift once more to the blue haired elf that sits cross leg meditating. “I’m alive?” She asks between sharp painful breaths. Sky has been in deep meditation for the past hour and can't stop thinking about the deal she just made. What story is she going to tell her new companions? What kind of consequences can a deal like this have? Who even was this Gig? and how powerful are they really? Having so many unknowns is nothing new to Sky but it concerns her nonetheless.
Using the techniques taught to her from her training she tries to find a moment of relaxation and peacefulness within. These times have been long and far between recently. She never seems to have any time to herself before she has to start moving again and she is so tired of moving.
Her thoughts took her back to the Twilight Forest and how she could just be one with nature. Being able to just listen and take in moments of pure tranquility. How she missed them so much… How she missed her home so much.... Just knowing she can't go back until she's free.
Sky’s eyes slowly open and her calm look changes, as she looks to the tiefling lying there, bloodied. She rolls her eyes with a look of disappointment on her face.
“Well of course you’re alive, I couldn't let you die now could I...” She said sarcastically. “He's also alive.” Pointing at Kravor “Oh! and this thing, whatever this is” looking at the bunny confused.
The bunny in question is larger than most. Fox sized in body. Big floppy lop ears that often are worn down like a hairstyle. A soft ruby gem is set into its head and gives off a soothing light for its blue eyes.
Equally confused in the confusion, the bunny-fox tilts its head to the side, causing its large soft ears to flop about and cover one eye. “….Save your sarcasm for later.” Syn winces as she rolls her head to the side, looking at Kravor who rests close by. She rolls her head back to the center, staring up at the stone ceiling. Silence fills the air before she jolts upwards, pain rushing through her body. “SOLUS!” She shouts and her name echoes through the chamber. She winces again, wrapping her arms around her torso. “F-fuck, fuck fuck FUCK!” She leans over grabbing her great club, using it to help stand. She staggers briefly before slowly stepping towards the stone wall where the gate was originally.
Every step is painful as she leans heavily against her great club until she ends up before the wall and stops. Syn reaches her hand out, running her fingers down the stone. “Sky…what happened? After we fell, what the hell happened?” She says with sharp painful breaths. Sky quickly rises to her feet with cat-like grace, after a brief pause she says “well… that's an interesting story” she pauses as she arches her body with a long stretch and starts pacing around the room. “The short story is that I saved your lives, but I’m guessing you want the long one.” She glances back over her shoulder at the tiefling, “So… after I killed the last ruby thing and you passed out, I made sure Kravor and yourself didn't bleed out, you’re welcome by the way” she said with a condescending tone. “After stabilizing you both that weird rock guy entered the room and said that he was here to help. Then told me to pick you up and that he would carry the Dragonborn, and with the snow storm getting heavier I thought this was probably the only way all of us were getting back. The whole ordeal was rather confusing but I'm glad that he showed up because I probably couldn't have gotten you both through the gate in a whiteout blizzard.” she says lying through her teeth effortlessly, as if she's done it 1000 other times in the past. Syn’s fingers pause at the stone when Sky speaks. Her hand falls to her side, the other hand still gripping the great club. The condescending tone from Sky makes her lean her had back, looking up at the ceiling with rolling eyes. “Ah yes the shy elf that stealth’s away when things go awry cleaning up the work of others.” Syn turns to look at her, angry red eyes narrow in her direction from across the room.
Sky tells her the full story of what happened and flashes of what had occurred storm her mind. “He? Gig? You got Gig to…help you? How?”
I’ll be your blood Knight.
She winces at the memory. Maybe from the shear pain from her injuries against the ruby creatures or the thought of what she had done before passing out. “You idiot.” She says abruptly. To Sky? Or to herself? Syn slowly walks back to Kravor who lays in the center of the room. “Let us hope Gig has not done anything to you because you asked for help.” As Syn walks over to Kravor, she is followed by a puff of white fluff as the adorable, celestial bunny hops up onto Kravor’s massive blackened chest plate in order to playfully nibble on his nose. A few moments of nibbling later, he lightly smiles and mutters something about a Silvarus, before slowly coming to consciousness and understanding the situation he lies in.
In a mess of metal, Kravor stabs his great sword into the ground to help steady himself as he begins to stand. Reaching down to pick up the bunny and place it on his shoulder, he looks around, confused and unnerved. “What... what have I missed ? How did we get out ?” “Good morning.” Syn says to Kravor, standing and leaning against her great club. “Our mysterious friend here has saved us. Apparently. Her eyes shift to the little bunny creature that rests on his shoulder. “….You got knocked out from those ruby creatures…and the ice blast that followed. Sorry about that.” She grins wildly. “But I too fell shortly after you. Sky managed to get Gig to help her take us out of the gate and here we are.” Kravor's massive blue eyes squint as he begins to look over their new elven friend. "Ahh." A low growling noise from deep within his gashed throat echoes throughout the chamber. "Well then. I guess we must thank our savior," he blankly states in his low, gravelly voice, keeping his gaze locked upon her for a few moments longer.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Kravor finally turns his gaze towards Syn. "We all must give the elves the same story," he calls out to her. Twisting his blade in the ground, he reveals the silver engraving along one of it's sides depicting a massive infernal being bursting out of chains in a surge of hellfire. "Whatever story that may be." Syn nods at Kravor’s plan before her eyes shift to the blade he holds into the ground. It catches her eye in a strange way. “I don’t plan on telling them much other than descriptions of the place we explored, and that draconic elemental thing. Leave out the rest, I don’t think they should know…” Her red eyes focus on the infernal being breaking out of chains surrounded by hellfire. “Who is that suppose to be?” She points to his sword. “Important enough to you to have engraved to the blade you carry hrm?” Reaching up to scratch the bunny on his shoulder, Kravor chuckles softly at Syn's abrupt nature. "A fair question." With a swift movement, the blade exits its position within the earth, landing within a pair of outstretched claws. As the silver glints in the low light of the room, the engraving is shown to now depict the figure of a massive silver dragon, unleashing an unending wave of blisteringly freezing energy from it's toothy maw. With a smirk, Kravor begins to sheathe the weapon, though slowly enough to allow Syn to just barely study the engraving as he reaches up to do so. "Though, a question for another time."
Clearing his throat, allowing a few specks of spittle to make their way out of his gashed neck, Kravor moves the conversation back to the topic at hand. "I assume we leave Gig out of it." Sending a glance over to Syn. "So. We entered. We looked around. We killed the dragon..... thing." Holding up the large, spherical core of the creature in one hand as evidence. "It just happened to explode, knocking us out in the process," he finishes, glancing over at Syn in order to keep his gaze as far from Sky as possible.
Holding his hands out to each side, Kravor looks around the group, seemingly pleased with the plan set out before them. "Any objections ?" As if to answer the question, the bunny hops down from his shoulder into his free hand, nodding in the direction of the magical platform that carried them into the room only a few hours ago. “Tsk. That’s fine. The plan’s fine. Im not concerned so much about the interrogations than I am what the hell Alexa is going to say the moment we step out from this place.” She chuckles at the thought. “Lets get this over with.” Syn says sharply with a frustrated tone. She walks to the lift, eyes glancing back to the wall where the gate forms.
What will I do?
Syn shouts. “LETS GO.”

Three Hours Later --

The interrogations take several hours. The story is asked. Reasked by different people. Magic is used. In the end, they are not even thanked for their cooperation. Compensation comes in the form of gold, which is somewhat a thanks, but nothing to spend it on as they are pointedly reminded not to leave the compound or discuss what they saw down there. The topic of the orb that Kravor brought out is met with surprising levels of leniency. He is instructed to keep it, as it is something that he was able to take out. However the restate, again, that until the situation is better understood that the objects, as well as the gate adventurers, are not allowed to leave. To better accommodate another set of successful expeditioner, they are given rooms in the housing complex where Gabe, Alexa, and Syn are stationed.
Curiously enough, the white cat-bunny-fox magical floofen, is able to evade notice from the elves against all odds. It seems to literally disappear when they go looking for them. The happy floof waits for them outside the church, hopping in a carefree way down the steps. Its twilight by the time they leave the church. The setting sun casting a warm glow on a person that Kravor and Syn can see, but not Sky. The creature stops at this person's feet, turning to the group and sitting. White hair. White and gold robes. Blue eyes. A book. Humanoid and familiar to Syn. The person in the water. The person who came out of the water, during the first adventure. Paulo Mysidi. Alexa stands outside of the church, nervously pacing... They should have been back by now, what could have happened. Flashes of Syns body lifeless on the floor splice with images of Syn standing above her fallen comrades, her club bloody, her face victorious and crazed. Her mind is racing when she sees Paulo outside.
"I'm sorry we left so suddenly in the gate, it looks like you made it out safe though" she walks towards Paulo, kneels down to pet the cat bunny. "Who is this? I don't think I've ever seen a creature quite like him, he's so adorable... And soft" "It was no trouble," Paulo says. His voice is as smooth as the rays of dawn's light. Despite the mixed sentiment of not being troubled by his involvement yesterday, it comes off as an undeniable truth. "Your pride spoke clear and plain on the need to make sure you returned safely with your friends," the blue eyed man says as he keeps his eyes on the church.
The cat-bunny-fox-floofen tilts its head to the side and welcomes the scritches. Soft like fresh down on velvet. "This is Pangur Ban, my friend and traveling companion," Paulo continues, "he is quite the lucky boon for adventurers across Arhor'ha." A deep breath, exhaling softly, "A good judge of character, when matters of the heart are concerned. I couldn't operate in this world without him." Its true, most people dont seem to look at the otherwise divine man in the middle of a downtrodden district. Some have come close to even colliding with him, to which Paulo moves out of the way. "Your friends are fine," he says after a pensive pause, "although, they have some truths they may need to bare to you." Another pause, "Or decide not to." "Pangur Ban," she smiles and looks into the animals eyes "it's very nice to meet you. So we're you in the gate a little while ago? I'm glad you're safe." She notes the gem in his forhead, trying to place it, realizing further research may be needed. Scratching behind his ear, and giving him one last pet, she stands up to face Paulo. "My pride? Is that why you were my reflection?" The tall, white haired man keeps his eyes on the entrance of the church. Any moment now he expects there to be the company he is waiting for. That isn't to say he isn't enjoying Alexa's company, as he maintains this professor-like air in conversation with the Candle. "It was," he answers plainly. "All things have a cost in this world and in others. Your pride felt it was the only thing that could do something and thus gave up its sentience in order to find me across an astral-etheric sea to petition for aid. I do not know if it meant to find me, exactly, but it did and I came."
The white floofen that is Pangur Ban misses the scritches, those big blue eyes watching Alexa as she straightens as if to say 'but I wanted more'. "Its a pleasure to meet you in person once more. I was in that place, yes, until recently. There are corners of the darkness that needed light. Especially there." A guiding principal of the Candles - To bring the light to dark places of Arhor'ha so that threats may not hide in obscurity. Alexa nods at those words, ones she is very familiar with. A sense of dread washes over her as she remembers his statement about the adventures hiding something, she kneels down once again to pet Pangur, this time as a way to soothe her dread and wait for what was to come. Turn your radars on, be prepared, and listen to every word.... The doors of the church slowly open and out steps Syn. Her expression as she limps out through the threshold is of exhaustion and worry. Eyes look upwards to the twilight sky then shift down to Alexa and Paulo. The man she had encountered once before within the gate. She takes in a deep breath and slowly makes her way down the stone steps, using her great club for support.
What will I say? What will I say? Repeats over and over in her head. Before she knows it, she’s standing, slightly hunched over and leaning heavily on her club, looking Alexa in the eyes.
“Hi.” She says, forcing a grin across her bloody face. Alexa jumps up and hugs Syn "I'm so glad you're okay, I was so worried... I should have gone with you!" She takes this opportunity to sense for any changes, broken bones, change in temperature... She ends their embrace and scans Syn's body, she's not okay... But will she tell her why? Those blue eyes from Paulo's face are not comforting. They are as harsh as someone placing a light on the vulnerabilities that are best left private. Blue eyes that seem to glow in the twilight as ambient gems that hold onto the light when the dark shades overcast his otherwise regal face. It yells volumes without speaking a single word.
By contrast, Pangur joins in on the reunion by hopping onto his hinds and putting his paws up on Alexa and Syn's calves to scritch for joy as he chitters happily away. Syn’s eyes widen. The first time she’s received a hug from someone other than Solus. Let alone from Alexa. A friend? She thinks as she hears the worry in her voice. Her hands twitch, remaining at her side and holding onto her club in the process.
“Tsk…why would you be worried? I am here am I not?” Her eyes shift to Paulo. They narrow as the creeping feeling of being read like a book unfolds. The entire moment is uncomfortable for Syn. Judging eyes from Paulo, the surprising hug from Alexa, and the panic from what had occurred within the gate.
“I’m fine, really.” She winces some, taking a step back from them both. “Kravor and Sky too. They are fine.” "What happened? I heard this adorable animal helped you out" lying. This is how it's starting, she's not always the most forthcoming with information... But still... Alexa takes a deep breath. Don't push it, intense questions now won't help anything. Them judgement eyes. Blue judgey judgement eyes. Squinting reading judgement eyes.
A silent voice. Pursed lips. Paulo knows Syn is keeping a secret. And, for him, it is an effort to keep her decision to bring those facts to light. Like asking water to go in the opposite direction.
Pangur, ever the floofen of levity, takes his time in the praise limelight with a flippty flop of his ears in his effort helping Syn's party. Eyes shifting back and forth between Alexa and Paulo. “This time the gate took us to this winter scape. A keep of some sort. We had to fight this…elemental thing. It was rather angry. It hit hard too.” Syn nods at her statement. “Kravor being the dumb ass that he is, pissed off some creatures towards the end. It knocked me and him out. Sky managed to get us stable and get us out.”
She looks down at the little creature at her feet. “This one just ran away.” She sneers down at it. "oh wow, that's definitely a big shift from what we experienced. If you just got stable, then we need to get you healed" Alexa keeps looking at her .. she looks injured... But not just revived injured. "This Sky seemed to have saved your life, with how long it took you, I was worried you wouldn't get out at all... Maybe her healing just took a while" "Or not at all," Paulo says, a line being crossed when Syn brings Pangur into this. A robed arm extends across to bar between his floofen friend and Syn's ire. His voice, like that of the sun, comes across with a quiet fury. "Leave Pangur out of your lies, if you would be so kind," he adds in, "he joined you at great personal peril." Tension rising. "Syn, what's really going on? You're not telling me something, and it appears Pangur tried to help. What is it? It's okay, I can take it" Alexa's blue eyes spark with worry and intent. Beginning to mirror those of Paulo's As Paulo steps in, a sneering look comes across Syn’s face. “Oh?” She leans in close to Paulo’s face. “Scary.” She steps back once more. Stretching her free arm and rotating her shoulder. “If I am being interrogated once more.” She sighs, looking back to Alexa. “It would seem Gig helped Sky in getting us out of the gate.”
Her eyes return to Paulo. “Does that suffice?” She pauses. “Or should I mention the fact that my supposed dead friend is entrapped in crystal inside there.” "Gig... And your friend... Are we able to go back? Can we help her? I'm so sorry you had to see that." Alexa switches into friend mode, noting Sky's name... She seems to either be in unknown trouble... It is intentionally causing trouble. "You are incapable of having the closest idea of what is scary right now," Paulo replies back in a condescending kind of truth to his words as he doesnt budge an inch when being leaned into by Syn. Like a porcelain statue. Not human, despite the look.
The very air in this area becomes heated like a devil walking on sanctified ground. "It doesn't come close, as you are quite willing to throw your own friends into the fire without coming to terms with the deals you've made to date to put them there." Oh. Damn. A hot, seething nerve there. "Or should I mention the fact all things come with a cost when dealing with Gig?" Like a heated iron rod, his words prod. Burning. Annoyance. Anger. Her teeth grind and then like a sword breaking, the rage surfaces. Her hand reaches up to grab his robe towards the collar. “What I do, IS NONE OF YOUR GOD DAMN BUISNESS.” She pushes back, letting go of the fabric. Hand twitching.
Syn knows, Paulo knows. They dance around the topic in front of Alexa. This isn’t about what Sky did. The rage she stands with now is a hidden panic of what she has done. The fear of Alexa knowing, and how to even move on with the idea that she is beholden to Gig.
She looks to Alexa. “…I don’t know what’s become of her….or what has become of me.” Alexa watches as Syn reacts, an overreaction, even for Syn. This is too much, "Syn, let him go! I know you're upset, but it's not like you made the deal! There are strings attached... Of course there are, but we can sit with this Sky and figure it out out!" She's concerned... But more that her worst fear has come true, that Syn is about to become who she ended as in Avernus... Because of Gig.... But Syn wouldn't do that, not to herself, not now. She hopes that her suspicion is wrong, please be wrong. Face to face so close to Paulo Syn could smell his breath. It smells like stardust and Spring. An insufferable amount of pure life. There is a glint of light as she touches Paulo's robes. Chains. Chains of light around her wrist. Shackles.
"As of right now," the man states, released as the tiefling pushes back against the statue of a man, "everything you do is my business, Breaker." The air is thick, now. Paulo doesn't address Alexa at the moment, refusing to dance to the tune of the lies of omission placed down. Alexa wants to intervene, but seeing the light shackles around Syn's wrist she actually feels relief, a weight lifting from her chest... Her brow furrows as she struggles with this feeling, guilt starting to creep up. Light surrounds around her wrists and shackles form, eyes wide she stumbles backwards away from Paulo. Holding her hands up looking at the chains that wrap around her wrists. A panic sinks quickly in her chest and flashes of slavery return to her mind. “Get these off. GET THESE OFF OF ME RIGHT NOW!” These shouts are different. These are not of rage and anger but of fear. “ALEXA! TELL HIM TO STOP THIS!” The shouting grows louder and louder. “REMOVE. THESE. NOW!”
The people in the streets see this tiefling screaming towards nothing. They hurry away out of fear. “It was NECESESARY TO LIVE!” She shouts out at Paulo. "No. It wasn't," Paulo says dispassionately, eyes looking down from where he stands. "That's the truth you subscribe to, even though, in this moment, you know that it isn't true. How many lies are you planning to tell yourself and innocents that will burn for your lack of discretion?"
He closes his eyes as this brings him no pleasure. When they open, he looks towards Alexa, "The Breaker made a deal with Gig," he outright says without Syn's permission, "a deal so bad she won't tell you. She won't even admit to the gravity of the situation. The 'smart' thing to do would be to banish her soul to the Abyss where Gig shouldn't go looking for it. That is, however," he looks over towards a panicked Syn, "not the 'right' thing to do. Even to her. Even like this. Those chains offer a small window of assurance for herself and those around her." Still speaking to Alexa, but looking at Syn, "Until she breaks them. Then no living thing is safe and more drastic measures aren't a 'smart' thing alone, but the only thing left." Panic sets into Alexa's chest... Oh no... It happened... She failed, she wanted to help Syn, save her... But now...
Her eyes look into Syn's, tears starting to form in her eyes, "you made the deal with Gig? After everything? After you almost killed me because of him... You still did it?" She wants to hold back her emotions, but she can't, the fear, anxiety, panic... She can't hold it back, "What was it for?! Was it worth it?! Was it you or Sky that made the deal?! WHY ARE YOU LYING TO ME?!" Tears stream down her face, she looks around at the people around her, noone is safe, she isn't safe. Her heart feels as if it's breaking, her worst fear coming to life She tries to take her breath in, assess the situation, be professional. Sharp pain shoots through her chest, she looks to Paulo, looking at Syn hurts too much now. "What exactly did she agree to?" Syn’s screaming abruptly stops as tears form in the eyes of her friend, Alexa. Hands fall to her sides and she stands there staring back with red eyes. She doesn’t respond to the panicked woman before her. Her shouting falling onto shamed shoulders.
Ah…the reason for your anger was so that this would not happen. You told yourself you wouldn’t bond with another soul ever again, yet here you are.
There is a shift in the air as Syn hangs her head low, her black hair shading her eyes as Alexa turns to ask Paulo the question of what deal was made. "She is still a soul worth saving, Alexa," Paulo says, perhaps tired, "permit her the opportunity to explain, now that the light doesn't permit her to hide it any more." A shallow breath. "She needs your support now more than ever. I've provided protections, but she needs a friend to answer the question 'Why doesn't she trust you enough to tell you herself?'" He looks back to Syn, "How can you save your friend when you push the friends in front of you away? Is that the person you want to be when you get her back. Is that the reality you want after the sacrifices you made to make it happen? You need to get up and get yourself together before its too late." Alexa turns to Syn, her eyes feeling heavy and swollen from crying. She forces a calm tone, "Syn, what really happened. Please, tell me, I know you wouldn't have made this decision lightly, and it had to be difficult." Each word feels wrong in her mouth, emotions wanting her to say otherwise, but Paulo is right, now is not the time. She let her emotions get the best of her, just like she did when she was younger.... But she's older now. Cooler heads will prosper. The stabbing in her heart is still there, but she just tries to numb it out, focus on Syn, emotions will only lead to no answers, and a dangerous situation. She stands under shadowed eyes listening to them talk. Help this friend, help that friend, get yourself together, what have you done, why have you lied, sacrifices, mistakes, support, trust.
There is silence when Alexa returns to her begging her to speak of what occurred. Then between strands of black bangs a hushed chuckle forms. The air grows heavy and the chuckle turns to a soft laugh. It grows and grows before she tilts her head back and bursts out into a raging belt of chaotic laughter.
“Friends!?” She continues to laugh between words. Her demeanor has drastically changed. Its different and disturbing. Another side of Syn that only Alexa has seen from time spent in Avernus. “I told you my plans the moment we stepped foot back in Arhor’ha. I have tagged along with your candle plan because it amused me. It amuses me like this conversation. Like this situation.”
Syn turns to look at Paulo with burning hate filled eyes. “Everything in this world comes at a cost. If this is what I had to do to let her live again, then let her live a life she deserved from the start. I was fated with bad luck the moment I left the womb. I…I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE TO DIE THEN. Not her. The world deserves her, not me. That is the sacrifice I am willing to make for the sake of HER. I am the one that killed her and they are the ones that forced my hand, let this world swallow me as I set fire to those that fated me on this path!”
The rage behind gritting teeth visually forms once more as red waves of hate flow upwards off her shoulders. The air is suffocating and heavy still as her hair drifts upwards, whipping around the red aura Syn finds herself in. A ticking time bomb of rage that brings Alexa flashes of the battle royale in Avernus. This truly insane, hystarical form of Syn is stopped short in her hate-filled ragefest as a familiar dragonborn makes his way outside of the church behind her. Stepping out into a scene of genuine chaos with absolutely zero information, Kravor let's his instincts react for him, as he has done so many times before.
In a surprisingly swift movement, at least for that of a massive creature formed of metal, Kravor grabs Syn by the loose fabric that now floats an inch off of the back of her neck, swinging her around so that she dangles a foot off the ground as far away from the encounter before her. As one hand grabs ahold of Syn, the other reaches for Ice, the trusty steel greatsword of House Targarius. Drawing a line in the dirt between the two parties, he finally stabs Ice into the ground in front of him, holding one hand up towards Paulo and Alexa, while the other fights to keeps Syn's burning ball of rage within his grasp.
In as calm a tone as he can muster, Kravor attempts to understand the situation before him. "I don't know who you are," he begins, taking a slow, deep breath in between phrases. "But I owe this one a debt." With a nod towards the raging creature struggling to escape his clutches, he sighs deeply. "I assume this has to do with her ...... caretaker. Would that be correct ?" With a final look towards Paulo, Kravor notices Pangur at his feet for the first time and awkwardly smiles to the adorable hybrid creature in the heat of utter chaos. Pangur raises a paw up into the air to Kravor as if to wave. Not even all the tension seems to dampen the spirits of this token floof of joy. "It is a topic," Paulo replies in his clean, academic voice, "specifically the topic which has led to this junction has to do with her lack of self worth and awareness junctioned with the inability to maintain friendships out of her own self loathing that has caused Gig, her caretaker, to exploit a deal she wished to keep hidden."
A pause. Paulo adds in, "And has come to explosive light just now." Just like that, the robed figure catches Kravor up as expeditiously as possible. "Okay well....." Kravor begins in a rebuttal, before fully being able to process even a fraction of the information given to him. With a questioning glance at Paulo, he can't help but laugh ever so slightly in the strange position he finds himself in. "That, uh. That actually covers everything I desired to know."
Taking another breath to process the wave of information dumped upon him, Kravor rubs his eyelids with his free hand, an action that looks oddly painful due to his striking silver claws. Keeping his eyes on Paulo, he calls out to the angry girl in his far hand with a smirk, unable to stop himself from teasing the seething teifling. "Hear that, Syn ? Turns out all your problems could have been solved with a little bit of friendship." Her hand comes up to grab at the draconic hand that holds her up off the ground by the back collar of her clothing. The rage still billowing as Paulo continues to speak ill of her. She tries to make the dragonborn let go by attempts at digging her nails into his wrist. “FUCK YOUR FRIENDSHIP!” She shouts, pressing harder with her nails. “Let go of me. All of you let me go.”
Syn looks to Alexa. “If you’re looking for confirmation, what Paulo said is true. I was going to die, I couldn’t let that happen. So I spoke out to Gig.” The rage starts to dissipate, like cold water splashing on an open flame. Paulo, wisely, says nothing with his words. Even his body language remains neutral for now.
Pangur, adorably, smiles in that way only a bunny-fox-cat creature of fluff can. As Syn visually shrinks into herself, huffing as her supernatural anger slowly begins to subside, Kravor slowly brings her up so that the two may meet eye to eye. With a smirk, "Are we done with all that ?" With a single, teasing question, his tone relays his care for Syn despite their short shared history. Dropping her hand to dangle at her side. Looking straight into the eyes of the dragonborn. “Put. Me. Down. Dragonborn.”
Exhausted, drained, frustrated, and embarrassed she recoils within herself. “…just put me down.” Alexa looks at Syn after this display of rage. "And what did you say to him?" Ignoring Alexa's lust for information, Kravor gently places Syn on the ground next to him. Looking her over, his eyes land upon the shackles binding her. Bright, radiant light shines between the two, illuminating them both.
With a sigh, he looks into Syn's saddened eyes before reaching down, grabbing ahold of the chains. For a moment nothing happens other than a slight wince from the dragonborn. A moment later, a searing white smoke begins to drift out from between his blackened claws. His wincing grows and grows as the golden shackles begin to burn so hot they turn cold, shifting colors from gold, to red, to blue.
The now freezing shackles lie as nothing more than a bright blue, brittle metal around Syn's wrists. A metal that Kravor promptly breaks apart with his hands. Turning over to Paulo, Kravor looks deep into his unreadable eyes. "She has friends. Or at least the ability to make them." Looking down to Syn before continuing, Kravor almost smiles. "That is something we can work on." Syn looks to Kravor as he reaches and grabs the chains that bind her wrists. They glow brightly, shifting to a bright shade of blue. Radiating freezing cold around her hands. The metal turns brittle and the dragonborn snaps the chains. She shakes her hands, faint marks of frost burn wrap around the area the shackles once remained. “…You burned me, again.” She scoffs. Looking up to Alexa. “I would be his blood knight should he help get us out alive. That is what was said as I fell from battle…” She looks back to Kravor then back to Alexa. “Though, you are not asking out of your own curiosity. You are asking because you are a Candle. Isn’t that right? "Don't be so petty Syn, I'm asking because I'm concerned about you." The words came out quicker than she could stop them, venomous and pissed. She collects herself again, "what does a blood knight mean, anyway?" Le Dragon Panda08/04/2019 Pleased with the little recognition given to his efforts, Kravor remains silent for now, standing behind Syn attempting to read the other players on the board. Buckland08/04/2019 Paulo, likewise, does not interject into dialog. His blue eyes are set on Kravor after his choice to break the shackles. Those blue eyes lower, not in a squint, but in a heavy burden as he sees the ward removed. "And now we have one less option," he says to himself, not stopping the dragonborn from his choice. Le Dragon Panda08/04/2019 The two blue eyed figures stand there staring intensely at eachother. Blue meeting blue. As the spoken conversation around them continues, they seem to have their own unspoken conversation. Trey08/04/2019 Idly, and without much consequence, a wooden crate resting against the side of the Cathedral, decomposes into about a five foot cube of mist that seems into the ground, revealing the form and hazel eyes of Gabriel. Quietly listening, though not getting involved as the adults continue their talk. So is the life of the gnomish lad. Buckland08/04/2019 Paulo's vacant stare locks to Kravor's as Alexa and Syn begin their conversations about knights, friendship, blood, and Gig. Blue eyes that glow as the night creeps up. A cerulean sea lit up by a thousand white jellyfish. The natural blink from his eyes are like clouds rolling past a deep blue sky.
"Kravor," the man plucks the words from a far away place. The dragonborn was not introduced to the white-haired wizard yet. "How do you feel?" he asks as if he took a walk through the man's snowborne soul and has seen enough to know the journey was not as simple as he openly conveys. Le Dragon Panda08/04/2019 Towering over the others, Kravor continues to stare at Paulo, trying and completely failing at reading this figure, something he's been doing quite often as of late. "Lost," calls out the voice of a broken husk of a man. "A familiar feeling."

Buckland08/04/2019 It is something Paulo and Kravor both have in common. One day you are fading from the world. The next you are awake and decades have passed by. The world you know isnt the same. The white haired man has sympathy for this, even if Kravor should be his enemy by all rights. "And one day at a time we find our place in the path unwinding," Paulo says just short of copywrite infringement, "If you have questions, I can answer them. I am Paulo Mysidi of House Mysidi. First and Last of my name. Sage of Light for the Dragon of the Silver Shield. Destroyer and Savior of Freeport. Sunderer of Gigareth." Well, thats one epic fuck ton of a title overload. He says it so formally as if incapable of deception. "Ally of your bloodline by choice as you may be aware of the grave danger you are in," he says. Le Dragon Panda08/04/2019 Kravor nods along to the information and the ridiculous titles with intensity in his eyes, reacting only to the mention of "Sunderer of Gigareth." Gripping his greatsword tighter, wisps of blue energy wrap around his knuckles, down into the engraving of the silver dragon upon the blackened, steel blade. "Ahh, my family was finally successful." Looking down to the blistering blue energy wrapped around his blade, a look of intense inner turmoil spreads across his face.
Contemplation fills his demeanor as his suspicions have finally been confirmed. "I've studied the Great Game for most of my life," he finally states, looking up from his family heirloom and towards Paulo. "I always knew that the Chosen of Gigareth were not supposed to last." For a moment, Kravor stares off to Syn in her conversation with Alexa. "And yet, I let my rage decide my fate." 『kɔs.mɔs』☆彡08/04/2019 Taken back by the sharpness in Alexa’s voice, Syn remains silent for a moment. “That I am…by my deal, A knight of Gig.” Her eyes narrow on Alexa gauging her reaction. “I hit things with this.” Syn points to her Great Club that lays on the ground. “For Gig.”
She pauses thinking and choosing her words carefully. “There were missions I was sent out to complete when I was a prisoner in Avernus. One of those times I went out with a cell mate, we ran into him. We talked for a while, and he mentioned he needed one. So I thought that was my leverage to use in order to not die in there.” She flicks her hand behind her, pointing at the church. "The battle in Avernus was not our first meeting." Alexa08/04/2019 'You had met Gig before?" Alexa is stunned, had she read Syn wrong this whole time? How long had Gig had his claws in her, waiting for her to snap? 『kɔs.mɔs』☆彡08/04/2019 She nods slowly. “Yes.”
“My cell mate was trying to give my soul up in exchange for him to leave Avernus. Though he’s dead now.” She grins. “Hrm… I’d say it was a few months before the battle.” Syn rubs her wrists as she explains herself. “I sense the anger from you, though I suppose its rather deserved. Remember…when we left that place how we talked about freeport? We wanted the same thing? ….this is my method I suppose.” Syn looks absolutely exhausted as she talks with Alexa. She remains sitting on the ground from the spot Kravor placed her down. Alexa08/04/2019 Hearing "this is my method I suppose" Alexa begins to feel the weight return to her chest. She thought their first time through the gate meant something to Syn, that she realized that giving into the rage that Gig would provide would only lead to more death... Guess Syn was lying to her then as well. Alexa really did want to help Syn with Freeport... "That's why we came here, to find answers... It just appears you decided to find your own..." Her voice trails off, the shackles are gone... Kravor in his attempt to assert his dominance stupidly destroyed them, what now?
"So will you be traveling with him now? Will he give you a pet name like he did Gabe? You'll be his hedgehog or something?" Buckland08/04/2019 "Not until recently when a woman, not a man, took up the Crystal Heart and ended it with what was left of Reth," Paulo admits without shame or support of that fact, "Gig and Reth, that sundering is my doing, but it did not end the game. It changed it." An air of calm as the other conversation continues alongside theirs, "Just as your fate being shielded changed the fate of a Chosen. We share that. The battle of my era was unconventional to say the least. I don't know for sure if it even qualifies for words to describe." There is a painful pause. "Worse yet, your brother and father yet live thanks to a well meaning wish at the end of the Game." 『kɔs.mɔs』☆彡08/04/2019 “I am still in search for answers Alexa.” Syn frowns, seemingly frustrated. “Though my questions may have changed since then.”
She closes her eyes taking in a deep breath of air then exhaling. “I am not traveling with him no. Nor have I spoken to him since we left the gate. Frankly I don’t care what he calls me, so long as the deal is held on his end. Which so far… who knows.”
Her eyes slowly open, looking up at her once more. “Sorry.” Was Syn’s genuine attempt at an apology towards Alexa for everything that’s been said and done. Alexa08/04/2019 She's never heard Syn say sorry before, she wants to believe it... She's just scared. Her shoulders relax "That's something to consider, technically you don't know how this will play out.. or when. I'm glad it seems you were able to save your friend." Now she'll have someone to replace Alexa, someone to be by her side as she follows the next being who has unending power to get to her ultimate 'just kill everything' motive. Hold that back... Now's not the time.
"Hopefully she comes back outside of this area, I'm not quite sure how she'd get out otherwise. 『kɔs.mɔs』☆彡08/04/2019 "What now? Will you tell your candles of me?" She watches her closely. "You are still angry, I can see it. " Alexa08/04/2019 "Of course I'm still angry Syn. I don't want to be, but unfortunately it's not something I can control. More than angry... I'm scared. I love you, but under Gig's control there's nothing stopping you from destroying everything... From destroying me." 『kɔs.mɔs』☆彡08/04/2019 I love you
There is this calm that surrounds her when Alexa speaks those words. Then a surge of fear as the thought flickers in her mind. She’s right, he could do that. Will I kill her by my hand the same as Solus?
“I…..cannot foresee what will happen.” She shuffles her feet in the dirt. “Though I plan to figure something out. As I always have. Though my intentions for freeport still remain.” Alexa08/04/2019 "I know it does." She takes a deep breath. "I need to get some air and clear my head, nothing is going to change by us going back and forth." Her eyes dart to Kravor, "It sounded like those brackets were going to help, maybe Kravor will come up with something different since he deemed them unnecessary."
Alexa calls for Nuru, watching him glide to her, perching on her shoulder. She turns away from Syn, kneels down to Pangur to give him another pet. Glancing up at Paulo,"I'd like to speak to you more later, I'm just unfortunately of no use in this state" Buckland08/04/2019 Paulo diverts from his conversation with Kravor a moment to speak with Alexa. Mostly it is due in part to Pangur looking at Nuru in a hungry fashion. Playful fashion? The fox-cat-bun has big eyes and that air of excitement that often follows a pounce. "I have many places to be at, at any point in time," he answers truthfully, "and extended time here for either of us could strain the political relationship. That said, I shall be here a time longer until order can be established for the best of the realm." Whatever that really means. "Things as simple as healing potions would have paid for their weight in gold from the state of affairs here." Alexa08/04/2019 "Yes, this place is in a sorry spot. You seem to know more about deals with Gig, I won't be gone long, I definitely don't want to hold you from anything important.' Alexa08/04/2019 She walks away and goes to the closet thing to a safe area. Sitting down, eyes closed, she channels Nuru as he flies off her shoulder, looking through his eyes, trying to relax. Le Dragon Panda08/04/2019 Kravor, who had stepped aside a few moments to process the constant flow of invaluable information that is Paulo Mysidi. With the multitude of world-shattering events that have recently come up, he quickly compartmentalizes everything he has learned in an attempt to focus on what is relevant, leaving the painful information for later. A very healthy skill.
Beginning to lose himself in thought, Kravor looks up to Paulo patiently waiting in his silent, off-putting demeanor. "I have many questions. But I will keep it to those that are important." With another moment of thought he lays out his desires in the form of a number of questions. "What do you actually know of the gate ? Why did I awake within ? Who is this Gig ? I-I. My family." Realizing he was moving from the relevant, Kravor looks over to Syn and gets back to the point. "That can wait. For now, I need help understanding my surroundings. This Gig. This place. How can you help ?" Buckland08/04/2019 The white haired wizard and his eternally upbeat floofen answers the questions in the order they were received. "I know that the Gate is a second Era construct. It sends people across the planar cosmos for short periods of time." There is a pause between that reveal and the next. "I know that your bloodline used that delay your destruction until the Great Game ended," he states, "when it has no teeth to force you to pay. As it does now. As you likely awakened."
Another uncomfortable truth, "It is a theory, but without you waking up, I do not think it would have been found as easily. As for Gig? Gig is half of Gigareth. Although an imperfect ritual, Elohimian elves have a way to only summon 'part' of an entity of that power. Even more complicated, what was summoned was his celestial part, as is with many Devils." A pause, "However, the world didn't accept Gig as a savior, thus he is what he is today. Like all living things, Gig is complicated." Understatement. Trey08/04/2019 Gabriel, wide eyed and curious as ever, scoots closer to the conversation to hear the delicious knowledge being given out so readily though he still stays out of grabbing distance, a natural instinct when dealing with larger people. He waves shyly at Pangur, remembering the adorable creature from his time with the Wayfinders. Le Dragon Panda08/04/2019 With a slight pause to collect the information being thrown out, Kravor takes a step closer to Paulo. Partly so that he may get within petting distance of Pangur, partly so he may ask questions out of earshot of Syn. "Alright. That is .... quite a lot." Kneeling down to pet Pangur, Kravor asks more quietly. "She's been called a breaker. Another has been called a Builder."
As Pangur tilts his head backward, Kravor lightly scratches the underside of his chin with a singular claw. "Both seem to hold unrivaled power. What do these terms mean ? And -" As his scratching begins to slow, Kravor looks up curiously and begins to stand so that he may stand face to face with Paulo.
"Why are you answering me ? Helping me ?" For a moment Kravor looks untrusting, but the wizard's uniquely straightforward attitude doesn't match up with that of a liar. "We are enemies. Devoted to rivalling entities. So why would your ...... pet ?" With a glance at the adorable fluff ball rolling in the dirt between them, the question remains. "Why would it trust me ?" Buckland08/05/2019 "I trust Pangur. Pangur trusts you and is a better judge of people's hearts than I am," Paul says plainly. "That is all there is to it. If you can see me, hear me, and interact with me, then you have already done enough to be given open and honest answers," the white haired man says directly and steadfast.
"However, the weight of these answers are a burden in themselves. Ask only questions that you can handle the answers to," Paulo advises. Its hard NOT to sound condescending with the way Paulo talks, but it has an air of sincerity given the amount of heavy topics he has answered in a short period of time. Pangur, on the other hand, continues to answer only one question: Who is a good boy? He is a good boy.
A deep breath is taken as the wizard exhales, "A Breaker and a Builder are terms for Gigareth. Builders are far more rare and anchor to Gigareth's celestial nature of creation. Breakers are more common and obtain the building blocks to which a builder builds. Often this is a cycle. Builders build what breakers break for builders to build. And on and on it goes if left alone." He takes a moment to look over to Syn, "A breaker in service to a builder is a powerful combination. He wouldn't be able to resist the lure. You'd be like a drug to him. And another builder? Well. Their limitations are self imposed. We learned that with Gig too late and at terrible cost. There is no tome of guidance for a builder. No frame of reference that is simple to explain. It is explaining the concept of color to a blind man. But they see it, and enough exposure looks like madness when they live in that world too long to relate to this one." Trey08/05/2019 “WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA,” exclaims Gabriel as he dashes towards Paulo and Kravor, staring up at the two of them as the strands of his white hair blow in the gentle breeze.
He is hopping excitedly, babbling incessantly about his theory of magic being universally connected at a break neck pace before finally calming down and looking at the situation he’s in. The emotions of a child overwhelm the mind of a wizard.
Gabriel takes two steps back, still staring at Kravor and Paulo to see if he had stepped a line.
“S-sorry...,” he apologizes as he catches his breath,” I uh... didn’t know any of that... it’s really exciting... to get some actual answers straight up instead of... looking... for them... all the... time... Sorry again.” Buckland08/05/2019 "You are welcome," Paulo says to the excitable gnome. It should be a question, but it comes off as a statement. "The truth is always there. However processing it is different. Being told what things are dulls the teeth of discovery. It is subject to interpretation." His blue eyes look at the destruction that some simple truths have brought, "Without some foundation of understanding, new truths cannot be assertained. And knowing which if which isnt always clear or possible. Aim not to ask questions you can find out yourself. Aim to ask those you don't know how to get the answer to." 『kɔs.mɔs』☆彡08/05/2019 Syn stands to her feet, grabbing her great club from the ground. Inhaling sharply as she bends to pick it up. She leans against the club once more watching Alexa take off and disappear down the dirt street.
She looks to Kravor then to Paulo as they talk. Breakers, builders, Gigareth. “But what is it exactly that we are breaking? What is it exactly that they are building? What is turning this wheel here?
A shriek close by makes Syn grip her great club, turning in a defensive stance before looking down at the small gnome jumping around with excitement. “…Gabriel.” Buckland08/05/2019 "I don't have an answer to that which would make it any clearer than it is now," Paulo begins, "but a Breaker breaks because it's what a breaker does. What does a predator hunt? What does a prey run from? They start to define each other. What a breaker breaks depends on what a builder builds so a breaker can break it. But there is already things built. There is already things broken." He looks at Syn now with those judgemental blue eyes. Then to Gabe. Back to Syn. "An applied example. Say you went and killed a farmer. Thier flesh and bones become the earth. Or maybe a flesh golem or a zombie. Maybe wolf chow or bonemeal. That is natural law. But. The more powerful a builder, the more arcane law applies. And divine law. Now the primal elements of that farmer, the steadfast of his earth and passion of his fire, become an ever burning torch or the protective aether in a shield. His soul? That. Well. That could be enough to lift entire islands to the sky. But it assumes a powerful breaker breaks the arcane bonds. Or that of a soul." Trey08/05/2019 Gabriel thinks for a moment. What kind of questions does he not know how to get the answers to. What can builders do? Just look at himself and there’s his answer. How to unlock his full potential? “Just grow” he assumes but his thinking stops when he hears Paulo.
In a few sentences, the world around Gabriel crashed down and in his lust for knowledge he forgot his trifles. He starts to get teary eyed.
“My theory... was right... everything... Oh wow...,” he starts and looks at Syn, then at Paulo, then at Kravor, then back st the ground as he speaks out loud,” I can’t believe I didn’t think of that before. I thought soul magic was a separate entity all together. I didn’t realize the elemental essence of nature itself was inside humans. I had it isolated... hm... but then... If thats’s true then it opens up so many more gateways.”
He starts to walk around Syn as he continues,” Given the corrupted status of a devil, it’s possible the process of. Corruption could be reversed if enough pressure is applied though as a process of equivalent exchange a large celestial source of magic could be used though primordial magic, different from elemental in my theory because it is the magical source, could erase the bedrock and elevate to new heights... Infernal magic is so tricky, mostly due to it being a ritualistic and verbal sphere rather than abyssal which is more physical...”
He looks at Syn, with a sort of soft purpose in his eyes, and says,” I have three ideas of how to get you out of this deal. You’re gonna need someone who’s broken a deal with Gig before and youuuu’re lookin at him.”
He then looks at Paulo,” Mr. Paulo, you have done a lot for me in the little time I’ve known you. I would like to talk to you more about the intricacies of magic and how it relates to my theory of all magic coming from the same source.”
“But first, do you have Yorkie?” And so the child returns. "I," Paulo begins, "don't have Yorkie." It takes a moment for him to put that together as he quietly gazes down at Gabe. Suddenly it becomes as clear as the morning sunrise, "but she is fine from what I can divine and on her way here." A gaze is set towards Alexa, "I cannot stay forever. There are many corners of Arhor'ha that require my attention along with the friction to political tensions which benefit few if at all. However while I am here, you are free to ask. I am not a Builder, but I have built many artifacts in my time off the self same principals. The only difference I see is scope and precision." While the others talk, Kravor finds a seat upon the same, now half shattered, stone wall that he and Syn had talked on the night before. Resting his head upon his hands, he begins to think about everything he has been told today. The magical lingo between Paulo and Gabe managed to fly white far past his head, which is difficult due to his height. As chaotic and confusing as this conversation has gotten, he manages to simplify it all, laying out what’s important and dropping the excess. Allowing the details to clutter the mind will only end in more confusion and no progress.
So that leaves the question. What’s important ? What should be left out ?
Well, builders build. Breakers break. They form a never ending cycle. As a student of the Great Game, Kravor is more than familiar with this concept.
Before him stands one of each. A builder and a breaker, standing next to a champion of Gigareth and a champion of Targ. There is too much duality here for coincidences. Kravor is unfamiliar with the universal founding and theoretic bullshit that the gnomish boy is currently blabbing about, but he does know the world is too precise in its choices for this encounter to be taking place by chance. So then, why are they all together ? In hopes of getting as much use of the walking thesaurus as possible, Kravor moves onto what they know of Paulo. He is the Sage of Light of the Dragon of the Silver shield. So he follows Targ. He is the Destroyer and Savior of Freeport. So he knows how to both break and build. He is the Sunderer of Gigareth. So he knows how to fuck with a Devils plans. All in all. Useful ally.
Now for the Builder. A small gnomish child in serious need for a parental figure. Or maybe just a friend. Apparently he’s broken a deal with Gig and lives to tell the tale. Somehow, believable. Has a plan, but with the way he’s spewing out theories and arcane concepts, somehow Kravor doesn’t entirely trust the validity of the kids plans. Still a useful ally.
And finally, the breaker. A rage filled teifling now acting as the Knight of Gig. A joyously ominous title that gives little insight on her current position. She’s emotional, short tempered, quick to act, and likes to, well, break things. She’s incredibly physically powerful, but incredibly emotionally vulnerable. She’s a terrible ally and even being within her vicinity is sure to bring nothing but trouble. And yet, Kravor remains.
With information laid out before him, Kravor has removed as much of the clutter as he can. Now it’s time to form the basis of a plan. As he thinks, he places his forearms upon his knees, staring up at Ice, which remains standing in the stonework a few feet from him.
The beautiful silver engraving of Targ glows a vibrant array of stunning colors and lights. Following the lights, Kravor looks up to find the beautiful aurora of the night sky. A sight he hasn’t truly taken the time to appreciate in well over a century.
With a smile under the warming lights, Kravor’s plan begins to form. Finally standing up, breaking his silence and interrupting the conversation of the others, Kravor turns to Paulo. “You state that you are not a builder. But do you follow one ?” With a slight glint in his eye as he hopes to be asking the right questions, he continues. “We stand among a builder and a breaker of Gig, another builder. Alongside a Champion of Targ and a Champion of Gigareth.” He points out, nodding to the others in the circle as he goes.
“The duality is more than a coincidence. Surely our patrons are the originators of these terms ?” He asks, half expecting to have made a multitude of errors in his speculations. To be here now listening to this information be spewed out before them all makes Syn wide eyed. Being kept as a slave for all her younger years had left her oblivious to the real workings of this world and frankly, others. There is a moment of interest in this history as she listens standing in silence around the gibbering little gnome, Paulo, and the dragonborn that has now taken seat on the wall where they shared drinks but just a days’ time ago.
Syn lets out a heavy sigh. It’s overwhelming though her head looks down at the little gnome Gabriel as he shares his victory of breaking a deal with Gig. “Fool. How do you know you broke the deal and not that Gig ended it himself?” Genuine question knowing Gig. Would he really let this little boy tarnish a deal made?
Syn turns to walk towards the wall that Kravor sits on. “Besides, what makes you think I want to get out of this deal anyway?” She says nonchalantly, leaning her club against the stone and turning to hop up and sit on the edge of the stone wall next to Kravor.
“If it is as Paulo says, putting builders and breakers together means power.” Of course offended by being called a fool, Gabriel, in the most polite way he can, says," I know because I saw it happen. There was a tether of infernal energy binding us together and when I broke the deal it shattered. Regardless, of whether it was him or me that broke it, the deal was broken which is more than most people can say. I got lucky because our "deal" was minor. He could talk to me and I could talk to him. I was lucky I broke it off before I did because if I hadn't he would have controlled me like a puppet." The gnome takes into account Syn's other inquiry and then, genuinely concerned with the life of a another person, takes a page from his a person dear to him.
"Judging by the way you freaked out about being put in those chains before, I can say that being bound or enslaved isn't something you wanna go back to. If you keep going with this deal you'll be bound to him, but you won't be able to see the chains. You'll be a wolf on a leash or, like I said, a puppet. I don't know if you kept up with Safina, the guy who came out of the portal with you guys, but he's not in the best shape. I don't want what happened to him to happen to you."
He creates a ball of fire in his hand, swirling it into a hurricane inferno," There are other ways to get power, Syn. You just have be determined, something you've got in barrels, and a little creativity. I felt the same way honestly, I wanted to burn down Crystallis because of those oppressive, condescending.."
Gabriels' voice heightens in pitch and tone, as the fire in his hand starts to spur out of control, threatening to consume his entire arm," UNBELIEAVABLE, SELFISH PRICKS THAT STOMP ON ANY ONE WITH A CHANCE TO DESTROY THEIR PERFECT LITTLE WORLDS! THOSE YELLOW TEETHED SNAKES THAT MANIPULATE AND OPPRESS PEOPLE WITH POTENTIAL!"
The fire rages, now licking at Gabriel's ear, tempting him, pulling his emotions to fuel its rampage. But the waves are pulled back by the tide. The fire recedes down his arm and morphs into trickling water through his palms. "I'm not gonna watch you trade in your freedom for some chains you can't even see. It's bullshit." “You can see these…tethers?” She tilts her head to the side. “Shattering as the deal was broken….hrm.” She takes a moment to ponder on his explanation. His remarks about enslavement snaps her out of thought. “Safina was not one of these…breakers though was he?” Again, if it is true then he needs me. This is more of a stand off then it is slavery. A mutual agreement, one that I plan to figure out and utilize in my own way.” She grins. Something is there, something in her mind that forces her to formulate and scheme.
Syn watches as fire forms in his hand. “Ooh?” It swirls and swirls as he continues to speak of determination, then of creativity. It erupts as his voice carries loudly. Shouting what Syn can see as his version of profanity towards those mentioned in Crystallis. Syn leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees, cupping the sides of her face and watching this unfold. The fire shifts quickly to water and the rage in him settles. “I can see why Gig is interested in you.” She smirks. “And if you find this bullshit, what might you have in mind little one?” "No, Safina wasn't a breaker. He had brown hair," Gabe reassures as he rubs his elbows, the warmth of the flame feeling a little comfortable. He looks up suspiciously at Syn when she calls him "little one".
"Uh... well, first idea is to present a counter deal. Gig loves contests and games from what I've seen. Maybe he builds us a puzzle we need to solve or something I don't know... Second idea, we make something that hides you from Gig. I probably could formulate something... you know because Builder and everything. Third idea, a little bit more risky but a few of us go visit a Phoenix in order to revive you. Phoenix's are known to revive from their ashes and I'm guessing if you die, and are reborn, then you would be cleansed of your deal.... A fourth one I just thought of, but don't like, is you... binding to me... I don't know the specifics for the binding of a builder and a breaker... Haven't really thought about it..."
He looks to Kravor, Paulo, and even Alexa to see if she's doing alright. "Does anyone have any other ideas that don't involve sending Syn to the Abyss? I'm in a really emotionally conflicting phase so my thinking might be a little off. By like a lot... maybe... I don't know. I'm basically in an "I don't know" phase. Yeah... that sounds right..." Paulo seemed content to have a psuedo conversation with Kravor. It involves a lot of staring and occasional levels of thinking. At least people are trying to figure out their problems, so he isn't one to complain. "I am not a Builder in the sense of Gigareth's dogma," the white haired man responds to Kravor's question about Paulo's capabilities. "Nor do I truly follow one beyond myself. I create artifacts. Mostly these are wards such as New Haven's or those on Crystallis."
It is something to chew on. A breaker and a builder. Champions of both sides of the Great Game. "It does seem to be a bit much to be a coincidence," the blue eyed man replies as he drifts mentally to think on that. It isn't until there are rants about his home before he focuses back on present conversation. "None readily accessible. Breaking a valuable deal would have heavy consequences. I can't think of what he would want more than a capable Breaker bound to him. A deal of higher value, as you say, would be..."
The man stops for a moment, "Maybe you don't break the deal. You work with the terms. And that could involve counter deals. If you can find leverage, then there is that, but I can speak from experience that intimidation is useless on him." Shot by a cannon. Ganged up on in the Great Game. Gig keeps coming back. It isn't effective. "Getting a new soul would be an option, but you wouldn't be you. Its been known to happen, but when it happens, no one knows." Select few know. “Yeah, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t send me off into the abyss.” She laughs at the thought. Syn takes out her waterskin, taking a large gulp of water. “Counter deals, now that’s something that could work.” She grins with eyes shifting back and forth between the party that remains outside of the church.
“Curious why this gate even exists. For what purpose and why has Gig renovated it as he says. Paulo, you seem to know him rather well….what’s that about?” Paulo's body turns ever so slightly to better face the church. It is framed up in the setting sunlight all too well. "Gig was sundered from Gigareth and I was the one responsible for it. He is my friend, my responsibility, and a more complicated threat than he le lets on. I've seen him take a city of poverty and oppression," his blue eyes shift from the church to Syn, "of races and vocations that people treated like monsters. He built a home with them." The eyes shift back to the church, "Only to see it destroyed. Twice, technically."
"He helped end the Great Game and bring precious people from beyond death," Paulo continues, "and for each great thing I've seen him do, he has done great harm in equal measure. Those deals always strike a balance. You may think him an unreadable storm of chaos, but he is quite bound by the same doctrines." A single, slow blink as the wizard reads off Gig's life story from an invisible book, "I need to spend more time with the Gate, but I have my theories. I'm sure the elves do, too. If Kravor here is involved, the prime theory is it is a second age artifact same as the one used to Seal Gigareth away. Time and space there work differently." Syn shifts while seated on the stone wall, laying long ways, putting her arms behind her head, and crossing her legs. She stares upwards at the night sky as Paulo tells the stories of Gig’s achievements. The aurora overhead swirls and dances across the dark evening sky as the sun takes shelter behind the horizon. “Are we talking about the same Gig?” She laughs slightly, rolling her head to the side to look towards Paulo as he moves onto speaking of the gate. “I thought you said this Gigareth was dealt with? What would be the purpose of an artifact that’s supposed to seal him?” As their conversation echoes through the town, a white Raven flies nearby, occasionally swooping closer as the conversation intensifies, and information about builders, breakers, and the gate commence. He perches on a nearby step, but on the mention of the seal of Gigareth, takes off. Gliding through the air he finally sees his owner peacefully sitting on the ground and perches on her head. Blue eyes open suddenly as she lets out an exacerbated breath. "What's the use of getting some space to focus your mind again it they're literally going to say all the information your looking for as soon as you leave?" She coos to her Raven.
Standing up, she brushes the dirt off of herself, takes one more deep breath, and prepares for the man of neverending knowledge. She walks back towards the group, wanting to ask question upon question, but realizing the best course of action is to be patient. Addressing Paulo she states "I'm glad to see you're still here, you seem to have very helpful information for the situation we're in. Is there anything we can do for you for being so forthcoming with information?" The white haired man is not asked that frequently. He has become accustomed to being asked questions to the unanswerable with the price being the burden of the knowledge that may yield only more questions. "I'll be here yet some day or days longer. If you find things in or from the gate itself, then it would help better understand the nature of it," Paulo offers as his blue eyes now glow in darkness of night like blue moons set against a dark sky.
Those eyes shift to Syn without his head moving along with it to focus. If it was not for the wind gently brushing those starlight strands of hair against his face, it would be to question if he wasn't a construct of some kind. "The same Gig," Paulo affirms as Pangur rubs against his ankle, "Gigareth is 'delt with', yes. Many ways, depending on how 'delt with' is classified. Gigareth was defeated in many great games. Delt with, but returned for another round. Gigareth was split to Gig and Reth, yet it caused a whole separate issue. That, alone, leads to believe the true nature of that entity is far more eternal than just removing its ability to do mortal harm." He closes his eyes and draws upon an analogy, "A storm made of water does not stop being water when the storm has yet passed. One must still make breaks for the waves along the shore, pots for the water in which to store, and shelters to be rained on nevermore. The artifact for the Great Game was part of this solution. It gave the water a path." "Gig did state that while he did not create the gate, he has altered it. I'm just curious what purpose he seeks with it." Her eyes wander over to Syn, her friend thirsty for power... Seeming to not care the cost. Her mind briefly travels to a darker place, "I wonder if all she needed to make a pact with Gig was something she could call an excuse" she thinks to herself. But now is not the time. A thought strikes her, "Paulo, how did Pangur get into the gate anyway?" Pangur looks up to Cass with those big cat-fox-bunny set of eyes. Eyes that sparkle in the aurora like he is the bestest boy. Paulo admits, "Pangur suppressed his natural abilities as to pass off as a kind of familiar to the party. By all accounts I have reviewed with him, additional entities should not be able to join. It still follows the law, so perhaps it is a loophole. Magic works, still, so Conjuration also does."
"I think he was worried about you," Paulo states in an academic, steril way, "and was quite panicked when Syn and Kravor fell." Kravor stands up to make his way towards Paulo, though is stopped halfway to his destination by the adorableness that is Pangur. Forgetting what exactly he was going to say to Paulo, he kneels down with a light chuckle to give Pangur the well deserved scritches. “Yes, well he seemed to want us to find Gig. Pointed us toward him, even.” With a curious look up to Paulo, “Is there a reason for that ? It would seem odd that a creature of innocence would desire an encounter with one such as Gig.” Continuing to scratch behind the ears, Kravor is reminded how odd, though still adorable, Pangur looks. “Ah, and what exactly is he ? Celestial I can see, similar to yourself, I assume, but beyond that I am at a loss.” Pangur takes to scritches like a duck takes to water. His little paws rise up and his muzzle turns to a smile as he eases into the hand that pets. An exotic floofen of simple means. Churr churr.
"Knowing versus feeling," Paulo begins, casting his stoic gaze down to his floofy friend, "would make the logical connection difficult. In that moment he may have felt you needed Gig or Gig needed you. Distressed and pressed for time. Pangur has a mixed history with Gig, like myself, and Gig is as much an ally as he is a threat to us both."
On the topic of explaining Pangur, the white haired man looks to the stars for guidance, "Pangur is a celestial guardian, bound to soul of Pisces, a being of emotion and rebirth. He is able to find those in great distress and provide aid, often simple acts of vulnerability and kindness. He is my most loyal and best friend." The blue eyes settle back down towards Kravor, "I am not a celestial like Pangur or Pisces. I am planetouched to a degree that the only discernable difference is the origin of the radiant energy you are likely picking up on." Syn’s eyes move to Alexa who returns once more asking questions, interrogating. They lock eyes for a moment, and she rolls her head back to her center, staring up towards to the sky once more as she casually lays across the stone wall. “You’re back.” She says sharply as she listens to Alexa ask questions to Paulo.
“The question is…what’s next? Do we continue to enter this dumb gate over and over till it kills us? Till these elves get whatever it is they want out of this? Or leave and let these poor people fall one after another. I know nobody here is oblivious to the enslavement that’s happening here. It pisses me off. These elves piss me off, this entire situation pisses me off.” Standing up from petting Pangur, Kravor looks around to the run down prison that was once a village until his eyes land upon the church. “For now. We use the resources available to us. Learn what we can from what we have.” As if reminded of why he was walking over to Paulo in the first place, Kravor pulls out a broken, blueish-silver sphere from his bag, handing it over to Paulo. “We found this within the Gate. I assume it is connected to Targ or at least my bloodline in some fashion. It came from some silver, draconic elemental creature. Any help in determining its uses would be appreciated.”
Turning back to Syn he attempts to help where he can. “As for this .... enslavement. We all can find use for the Gate. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here. For now, as long as we are the ones entering, your “poor people” will not be forced in.” Looking around the the various elven guards that walk to walls of the prison, he grunts. “As for the fair folk. They are merely a nuisance to put up with for now. Once we lack use of the Gate and we have built up some strength....” Pausing, Kravor looks over to Syn with a near sadistic grin. “Well. At that point, it would seem this town would require a breaker.” "This," Paulo says as his voice trails like the end of a comet. The ambient light of his voice synergizes with the ribbons of purple, orange, and blue overhead in the night sky. "This is what you found?" He seems to disbelieve it as he holds the orb in his hands. Wisps of light bask over the sphere and the cracks seal over, leaving darker veins where the damage once was. Scars and bruises. "You have found a fragment of a soul scattered to the darkness. Impossible, or at least improbable." He then repeats something Kravor observed, "Such as a Builder and a Breaker; Two opposing champions." Syn leans up, propping herself forward with her arms, looking towards Kravor with a large grin. “Oh?” Tilting her head to the side letting her black hair dangle down off her shoulder. “I think you might be right Kravor. This town would indeed need a breaker.” She returns sadistic smirk. She watches him hand over the sphere to Paulo, for someone as dry as this white-haired wizard, there is something in the way he speaks about this orb that makes Syn jump down from the wall and walk closer to the two in conversation. “Fragmented soul?” She reaches the two and leans forward, looking closer at the sphere and pulling her hand up to lightly poke it. “Who’s soul is it?” She asks, looking up at Paulo. Paulo shifts the orb in his hand as if th contents were made of water. "A Targarius by the name of Ty," he states. An familiar name that is slippery to remember. As if the memory itself was thrown far away and left to fade away. "Ah. I suppose," Paulo looks down to Syn and hands her the orb, "it adds a new possibly for your deal. If you took this to where you found it, then you may find a way to free your friend. She, too, may be a fragment. Or the sum of her fragments made whole." There is a look away from Syn as he casts his eyes upwards. "I do ask 'why' and," settling down to look to Kravor, then Alexa, "whom." Gabriel frowns at the mention of that name. Ty. Targarius. Hmmmm.... The question of the boy’s memory quickly turns into a irksome problem as Gabriel’s face turns sour by the minute, the question of “Where have I heard that before?” becoming internally infuriating.
The boy speaks, hoping knowledge will put his mind at ease,” Well, if we do find all the fragments, what then? I don’t know a lot about soul manipulation, but isn’t there a catalyst or some force that’s required to put it back together? If so, where are we gonna need someone that can do something like that, but where are we gonna find them....”
With a new question to distract himself, the boy scratches the bits of his white hair that are continuing to grow. “Feels like tough grass...,” he mutters to himself. After a moment of contemplation, Kravor reaches his claws out, casting a shadow of darkness over the gnomish child in his thoughtful state as he plucks the fragmented soul out from the grasp of Syn. “For now, we have no reason to care about this Targarius enough to attempt to rebuild him.”
Holding the broken core up to get a better look at it, his eyes glow with curiosity. “For now. This is merely a resource to be used,” he states with a familiarly sadistic grin. "You are not to be trusted," Paulo states with an air of finality as Kravor states his sadistic intent. Blue eyes look down to Pangur, who gently lowers his head so that his ears cover the creatures bright eyes. The white haired man shifts his gaze back to Kravor, "And as you have proven yourself capable of breaking warding, the only prudent thing to do is to destroy you before you cause more harm. To your own kin. Again." His book glows with hairline wires of light as the magic builds. Alexa saw it all in slow motion, stuck in her thoughts around what Gig actually wants, and the gate, she sees a dark shadow fall over the small boy. Kravor grabbing the soul, calling it a resource, and then Paulo's book glowing. Scrambling, Alexa steps forward in between Paulo and Kravor. "Paulo, wait. The soul should not be seen as a resource, it is someone, and they deserve respect. However we cannot wholly judge a person on one action. We cannot be the people who decide who live or die." Turning around she looks up into Kravors eyes, his shadow cast over her. "I don't know why you feel you can play God with someone's soul, but I implore you now to reconsider your decision and see the value of what's in your hand. It is not yours to use for your personal needs." Her stern face holds strong as she is thrust into this very volatile situation, but she needs to give Kravor a chance like she did Syn. Everyone deserves that. As Paulo turns hostile and Alexa jumps to his “defense”, Kravor continues to analyze the core, twisting it in his grasp to fully take in its nature. Sarcastically pretending to have missed the interaction taking place in front of him, he finally looks up as innocently as a war torn, Dragonborn Champion of Gigareth can.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I say something ?” A joyfully dickish question to start off with. Uncharacteristicly, the gnomish boy stands firm between Alexa and the two forces of a decades old feud begin to repeat history.
“WOAH, WOAH, WOAH, WOAH, WOAH! Let’s pause for a minute here before we start leaving people in a worse form than they started.”
He looks to Paulo,”Mr. Paulo, you yourself said that the sphere could be used as leverage and in this instance, Kravor agrees in that it is a resource to be used. Different perspective on a set of coincidences that couldn’t possibly happen anywhere else. This is FATE! He was brought back for a reason, you’ve seen the relationships he is trying to make, and taking him out of this world so quickly could break everything! You can’t destroy a clock just because a gear isn’t behaving correctly. You oil it, polish it, or something that doesn’t involve Celestial beams of smiting.”
Now to the Dragonborn,” Kravor I hear your points, but you gotta stop generalizing all good guys man. Yes, from both angles everyone has their flaws, but you don’t pull in those flaws to generalize. Everyone deserves a second chance, this might be yours bud, don’t let hate stop you from learning. The worst sin anyone could ever do is deprive themselves of an opportunity, and this is a PRIME opportunity if I’ve ever seen one. Look dude, I’ve been hurt before but this isn’t something to get worked up over. You’ve got a second chance to try and help the world overall AND fix that gash in your neck. Hell I could do that given some time, but not when you’re dead!”
“Please guys,” he looks at both of the respective titans with all the sincerity, trauma, and passion a little gnome raised in the slums of a magical city can muster,” Let’s not repeat the past... Murder is a temporary solution for a bigger problem. Why settle for temporary when you can go long term.” “Please guys,” he looks at the two titans, and Alexa, praying she won’t be harmed in the crossfire,” Don’t repeat the past. Murder is only a temporary solution to a longer problem. Why do something temporary when you could try making a long term impact.”
The boy, empowered by fire, standing firm like stone, sees the perspectives from both sides like a river and tries to guide this calamity with the wind beneath his own fresh ideas stays. Between “good” and “evil”, Gabriel stands. A boy from the slums of a magical city talking to a Dragonborn and a plane touched old man. What a crazy day. The orb is taken by Kravor and Syn’s eyes shift slowly up to the Dragonborn. “Excuse me? I was not done looking at that.” She huffs as both Paulo and Kravor tower over her and Gabriel in the conversation.
When Gabriel speaks there is a moment of pause, contemplating on the thought. “A catalyst to put it back together. ….So a builder?” She says out lout between the party. Though the aura of everyone changes quickly from the remarks of Kravor. The tone of Paulo’s reply “You are not trusted.” Makes her look up quickly to them both. Paulo mentions destroying Kravor and Syn’s eyes widen. “Oh boy. Kravor you really pissed him off—” Her words cut off as Alexa steps in. She peaks around her, to look up to Kravor. “This is coming from the guy that threatened to send me to the abyss. You were not there with us the first time in the gate, but I don’t doubt for a second he really could do the things he says. So maybe shut the fuck up?” "Did I say something?" Rings in Alexa's ears. Willfully ignorant dragonborn that he is, standing before this Titan of light, she shakes her head in disbelief. "Choose to hear me or not, this now is your only chance. Do with it as you will." She puts her arm out and steps back, bringing Syn with her, leaving the space now open between Kravor and Paulo. Alexa’s arm reaches out and steps back, pushing Syn along with her. She grabs her forearm and pokes her head out from under Alexa’s arm, looking up towards her with wide red eyes. “This is kinda bad huh?” Syn stares at her a moment in a weird awkward pause before blinking and turning to look over at the two in a standoff. Alexa looks to Syn and sends a message to her head "yes. Souls shouldn't be messed with, and this one means something to Paulo" So much transpires in a short period of time. The flow of it begins to slow. Words from everyone begins to blurry together. Gabriel's request to halt. Alexa's diplomacy. Kravors quip. Syn's warning.
The thin white lights of Paulo's book extend to his fingertips as he touches the tome. They tattoo his skin like circuitry of a pure white energy. His hand extends out as Gabriel and Kravor continue to curb fate. Silver threads of reflected sunlight touch the air between his hand and the book as it leaves the fine leather binding.
The book itself becomes a beacon of light that splits into a prism of color to make the aurora envy in splendor.
It is over in an instant as those blue eyes don't leave Kravors. The idea that this is some game or a power struggle is the wrong idea. The idea that it is a duality that needs natural conflict and judgement. "It is done," the white wizard explains as the tone of arbitration is as impartial as a wind gale or solar flare. Kravor stands, albiet with something "off" that only Gabriel would be able to notice. Radiance within him.
"By morning light your soul will separate the hate, bloodlust, and malice from your draconic core so that Gig cannot take it for himself in the deal that owes it to him. It will be swift, painless, but simple death isn't even an option with the choices you have made and intend to make. You can call yourself the victim in this matter, but you had full will to live the life you decided. You decided poorly how to spend this gift. How to thank those that loved you enough to give you hundreds of years and a second chance. So that you can hurt others?" It is painful to watch as Paulo says such words with a tone of a reserved, soft sunrise. He doesn't even raise his voice.
The next statement goes to Gabriel, looking to him, "And if he but wishes to live a better life, let the Phoenix that has touched his very soul stop being seen as a scar in a departed war. Let it heal and mark rebirth, not ash."
The wizards stops being so alight as he steps away, "I will also be gone by morning light, and your wards restored that none of you can see me," he states, taking the orb quietly, "I pray this serves as a warning so that the past may not be repeated. Ask Gig about Freeport, Gabriel, so that you don't repeat the same mistakes. Learn. Decide for yourself."
Without turning his head to look back, "And when the decision settles, I pray that we don't find ourselves enemies. I take no pleasure in drastic measures. I take less in wishing for a better outcome when it is plain where the arrow leads." As is the power of a Sage of Light, to see these things in a way that can't be described if not experienced first hand. “Oh... my gods... KRAVOR,” Gabriel hollers as he goes to Kravor, giving him a quick once over. The radiance within him leaves Gabriel momentarily speechless. Such a display of light. Something he might never bare witness to again. And hopefully not.
A rush of adrenaline taps into Gabriel’s mind, forcing the gravity of death to not pester him. “Radiance... like a battery... exorcism... of the soul... a sundering,” he mutters in a quick and eccentric tone of rapid analysis before finally mumbling,” I’m sorry...”
To the best of his ability, Gabriel attempts to lead Kravor to the steps of the Cathedral for but a moment, not believing that either Syn or Alexa would assist him after he made the choice himself. After making sure he is as comfortable as possible, the boy walks back to Paulo, eyeing the orb at first before staring back at the Sage of Light.
“Mr. Paulo...,” Gabriel’s eyes locking with the wizened sage,” We need some way to contact you. I don’t know about Alexa or Syn, but... I’m going back into the Gate and in case I find another piece of Ty’s soul I’d like for you to know. Don’t mistake what I’m asking. I know you did was you felt was right. I can’t blame you for that. The world might be better without him, but it could also get worse. I don’t know, but... I want to keep this world going. So, if there’s something I can do that will keep it from not blowing up, I feel like you’re the guy to talk to. I’m sorry that you were compelled to act...”
The boy then turns to Pangur and gets on his knees to be eye level with this vanguard of light wrapped into the most adorable package. Gabriel smiles at him. ” If you see Notte, Elara, Cassandre, Brindle, or Safina again, can you let them know that I miss them. I haven’t really figured out how to cast sending yet,” Gabriel holds out his hand for Pangur to accept, with only hope coating his words as he finishes,” I know if they see you again, they’ll feel a lot better. When I left, they needed a lot of help. I hope that when they see you, they’ll think of me and be happy.”
Tears. Like a gentle rain, tears coat Gabriel’s cheek. Whether the sadness of Kravor’s inevitable fate finally took its toil, the realization that his parents were involved in his grandmother’s death, or perhaps the wave of regret for leaving the few people he could have actually called a family. The boy cries. But the reason, the world will never know. There are slow, methodical steps that take Paulo away from the scene. It is no match for that of a determined gnome. "You do not need me to keep the world from burning. You have the power to keep the elements in balance. However," the man says as his words drift like a summer breeze, "if you find fractured souls, Ty in particular, then letting Pangur and Pisces know would be the best course of action.
Pangur, excited to hear his name, chirps with a little hop. As to the others the wizard continues on, "They care for you a great deal. In their hearts they knew you needed to do what you needed to do. When you are able, you should say hi with your own words. Elara, Cassandre, and Brindle all are doing well." A thought on how to phrase the next part, "Safina is a fractured soul. Alive. Capable. However Gig and myself had to diffuse the bomb he became when he lost control. When he is feeling better, I am sure he will also want to see you." Then something with a soft sincerity, "It takes a lot to break a family apart, even when they feud and disagree." With his fate sealed, abandoned once more, Kravor walks off alone into the night, leaving his family heirloom buried into the stonework within the center of the town. “Tsk.” Syn throws her great club over her shoulder. “Just fucking great. Now I am going to be out of a drinking partner.” She turns to watch Kravor walk off. “…maybe there is a way…” She turns to look at the rest of the party standing around in shock then eyes shifting to Paulo. She opens her mouth about to say something, but nothing surfaces, she closes her lips and starts to walk away, following in the direction of Kravor. She shouts over her shoulder. “Gabriel, Alexa, leave him. He’s made his point. We have till sunrise to figure this out and Im not sleeping till we do.” To the voice of the Breaker, Gabriel turns his head and smiles as a second wind blows through.
“Hell yeah! I’m thinking he might be light sensitive, similar to being filled with dormant acid until someone puts an enzyme inside to burn you up from the inside, or maybe he might turn to dust,” Gabriel says in an unusually chipper tone given the situation.
He gives Pangur a quick ear scratch before standing, but just when he’s about to turn on his heel, the young man points at Paulo,” First, I want to say thank you for giving us this opportunity to learn so much for essentially nothing, but also, subjectively, what you did was, in the most polite terms, a dick move. I’m sorry, I have a lot of emotions going on right now. I hope to see you again, but please try not to kill someone you haven’t been around for less than a day. Unless you’re got a good reason that multiple people agree to. You know what never mind, the advice I’m saying isn’t really thought out. Not that’s it not valid, but I’m gonna workshop, bring it back to you later, and have better points. Okay bye. SYN WAIT UP!”
With that the young man waddles towards the black haired tiefling in a rush of movement. Mimicking Syn, he hollers over his shoulder,” DON’T BE A STRANGER, PANGUR!” Gabriel runs to take the lead and starts immediately doing a deeper analysis on Kravor with his eyes. Syn stops walking as the little gnome shouts and goes running past her in an excited furry. She looks over to the sword that stands upright in the dirt. She walks over to the sword reaching her hand out, pausing as her red eyes look over the engravings across the metal before grabbing the sword with her free hand and pulling it out from the ground. Its heavy, very heavy. Similar to her great club, she places it over her other shoulder. Carrying two large weapons she turns to look up at the church tower that lingers menacingly over the camp.
Why are you doing this?
Each step she takes up the stone stairs is heavy. Carrying two heavy weapons on her shoulders makes her short of breath. The tower stairs twist and curl upwards until she reaches a small wooden door at the very top. The excited gnome stands at the last step staring down at her, their eyes meet. “…a warrior should not die without their sword.” As the two enter into the small landing that holds the towers massive iron bell, they are met with the scattered remains of blackened steel armor that had been thrown about the area. On the ledge, a bare-chested, soldier of a long lost war sits with one leg lain across the balcony edge, allowing the other to hang off the side as he basks in the light of the midnight aurora above.
As the dazzling lights begin to illuminate the area, the scarred form of the dragonborn becomes all that much more detailed. Scales ripped from the flesh. Scars from various weapons, claws, and teeth seem to make their way across his entire body. The flesh seems ever stuck in a state of near-rotting. Perhaps most peculiar, silver scales begin to glisten past the blackened façade in spots where the flesh seems to have been burned in scorching hot fires of unnatural origin.
Within one hand is the bottle of Draconian Fire, seemingly missing some of it's substance. In the other, he holds up a small silver figure, carved from the other half of the geode that lies within Syn's bag. The carved silver dragon's head within Kravor's hand seems to judge the misguided dragonborn as he stares up into the night.
Kravor doesn't react to their approach. He simply continues to stare out into the horizon, probably waiting for his final sunrise to whisk him away to his reserved cell within the Nine Hells. A fate he has eluded for over a century. From being in awe at Syn’s strength to witnessing the melancholic aura of Kravor, Gabriel steps into the room caught between optimism and pessimism.
“Kravor,” the boy walks closer to the Dragonborn, passing over his armor but staying three feet away to give him space,” There may be a way we can keep you alive. I’m been going through scenarios and I’ve got some solutions, but I need to go look at Paulo’s book or at least the light that he used. The aurora could help, but honestly everything is just a theory...”
The boy stands in silence for a moment before remembering,” Oh, we got your sword. Well, Syn did...”
The silence resumes.
In his mind, Gabriel goes over the image of Paulo casting the spell, remembering how the strings of light from the book tattooed itself onto him and the blinding light. If only he could see past it. If only he had the book. Gabriel scrunches his face in deep contemplation. Alexa watches as everyone runs after Kravor. He made his choice, now the only one who can save him is himself. She looks to Paulo, "Since I will only be able to speak with you until sunrise, i would like to take every minute I have." She pauses for a moment, trying to think of what question to ask first, but one is burning in the front of her mind. "I understand that what Kravor was going to do is beyond apprehension, but do you think there will be a problem with him passing before he accomplishes what he was brought back for?" There is a steady step from Paulo's boots as he walks through the district. Away from the group, with Gabriel being the last to psuedo agree, psuedo insult him. Now with Alexa taking a moment to break away to speak with him. A member of the district walks as if to walk through him, and the white haired man steps aside. When the man clears, Paulo is looking at Alexa with those glowing blue eyes. "Conversely, there would be a problem with him accomplishing what he was brought back for, if he chooses a road of damnation over salvation." He does not blink or draw breath. Paulo has more in common with a statue than he does the disenfranchised denizens of the blocked off district. "A road he not only is well on, but the truth of the road will make itself clear to himself and those around him. It is a dissapointment." The blue eyes shift back to the church where the others have gone to reconcile. "A disappointment to choose a reality where rejection is the root. It truly is the Winter of the soul. Given seasons to thaw by those that wish to see Spring, those hopes may come undone. But he is free to chose that road, just as the sun is free to melt the snow to water, then vapor, so that it may yet become life giving rain." Alexa follows his gaze to the church. "I'm far from saying his actions were correct, but you mentioned his coming back might have to do with the gate. How can a soul become corrupted like that, anyway. You mentioned Ty Targarius was blood... Meaning he should have fought for them. Would there be a way to revert him to that state? To bring him to good to positively impact the gate?" "Revert?" Paulo asks as his blue eyes drift like clouds back to Alexa's. "Return, yes. Revert, no. Things always move forward, even if it is to a familiar place." An awkward pause, "His soul is less corrupt now than it was over a hundred years ago. It becomes that way through letting negative things penetrate your core. Pain. Grief. Loneliness. Hate. Anger. There are no shortage of ways. Just as there are no shortage of ways to a positive existance. Trust. Love. Kindness. Comraderie." She nods as she listens, "The soul seems important to you, who was Ty Targarius anyway?" The orb that is in Paulo's offhand is yet raised up to the light of the aurora. "He is important to many people. He is important to Kravor. With it, he could restore his lost power that Gigareth once granted him. Only if you saw your own blood as a tool, such as one to sacrifice on an altar of blood so vile that their soul would shatter to glass that you would be stronger for it. He is important to Syn, as he is important to Gig, and it would not surprise me if the entire system was designed to find broken souls such as these. Such as Kravor's. I am unlikely to believe that Gig would 'enslave' this man's soul. Gig breaks as many chains as he creates. Perhaps more, if not bound by his nature." The air is still around the white haired mage. His eyes settle back down on Alexa once more, "Ty was erased from your memory to protect something he loved, his family. To even fathom for a moment that his family line would return the favor is a discredit to what little memory of him is left in this world and a fate so dark that every fiber of what I am could not hold back action. I do not require you agree with my methods, I am prepared to carry the burden of my choice until the end of time." Not until his death, as the man somehow feels... ageless. 'Ty was erased from your memory' these words haunt her, those are her memories, no one should be able to take them. She meets Paulo's gaze, her eyes sparkling blue, carrying the same stone like stare, but a fire is flickering behind them, a fire for knowledge... For belonging. "I've dealt with Gig before, back when I got stuck in Avernus. He used our souls like playthings. He was bored, so we had to fight each other to survive. That's where I met Syn... What he did to her... It was like all she could see was death... And I was her victim." Flashes in her head, the look in Syn's eyes, that of disconnection and death. "I was able to get her out of that state, but I've stayed by her side ever since. At first it was to protect the realm, but as time went on... She's my friend. I've never really had that before. I can't see her become what Gig made her. I feel torn between protecting Syn or protecting the world." And at that point Paulo says one simple thing that only someone that has been unfailably honest can render with authenticity, "Syn had that power in her the entire time and still does. Gig was the match, not the fire." A chill wind tussles the silver starlight hair around Paulo's oh-too-perfect face. "Just like Kravor I know they can both be saved if they chose it so. There is a war inside of all of us between the light in dark. Sparks that create everything inbetween. Fear doesnt feed light, it feeds darkness. Remember that when you have to decide between loving your friend and fearing her." "You seem to be speaking from experience. I am very thankful for everything you have told me, but I can't help but feel that this knowledge is a burden to you. How do you get through it all?" "One day at a time," Paulo offers stoically. "Hmmm .. it just seems lonely. I can't help but shake the feeling that there is a reason you were in my reflection in the gate. Or was it just coincidence? I keep looking for answers, but seeing you standing here very stoic with all the answers..." Her voice wanders, trying to word this correctly, then an idea Sparks, "are there any answers that you don't have? Anything you're searching for?" Paulo takes a moment to think on this for a moment. His eyes close as he retreats back into his own mind to find a suitable answer. When the crystaline blue eyes that glow like a sea of flourescent jellyfish off azure shores, he has an answer, "As a Sage of Light I am subject to knowing without knowing. Everything the light touches is something I become intimately aware of. Things that were and things that are yet to come as clear as we stand here and talk right now. So I only have one question 'Why?' and every person I meet provides part of it. It is an exercise in collecting sand to slowly build a beach." An awkward silence follows before he speaks again, "Yet more than that, to act is of more importance, as Pangur and I have been guiding the light within people without being seen to do it most of the time. Rare occurances such as this provide an opportunity to reveal and interact. And in those moments, what is shared is vital. Alexa, you care for those around you and seek answers. Yet you have not asked me anything for or about yourself. And queens of Onyx, Summer, and Raven all have taken notice since you left Avernus. Life and Death walk close to you at all times."
She shifts at Paulo mentioning the Queen's... Excited to be noticed, but also concerned. "That's because I am a tool to help others. I look for answers to solve the problems plaguing the area, and to help people. You only get the important information by putting yourself in danger. I've never seeked answers about myself or my past because... There's nothing of importance there. But this gate has to mean something, and if I can figure that out, I can help these slaves, and maybe even Nexus." The small wooden door opens, and Gabriel runs out to the bell tower. Syn catches her breath for a moment then takes the last step out the door. A cold evening wind whips past her face, tossing her hair around as she looks out across the vast land before her. The aurora dancing and swirling once more. There was a faint peace in the moment till her eyes fall on the loathing Dragonborn sitting on the edge looking out towards the horizon.
“The sun has yet to rise Dragonborn.” She says, dropping the sword to the ground with a loud clanking noise. She takes a step forward, kicking the chest piece of armor that lays on the ground to the side. “Maybe there is something we can do…you know, to not have you die.” She looks to Gabriel. “He seems smart. Alexa is smart. Don’t quit now just because someone told you this is the end.” Red eyes look him over. “Sulking. Not your colors.” "Consider these facts, then," Paulo tells Alexa as his angelic blue eyes remain on her without dialation or shift, "today I informed you that your rememberance of someone was removed. You informed me that there is nothing of importance about you or your past. I informed you that Queens have taken interest in you." He stretches a hand out to Alexa's tome and in that moment the two are not too different from one another. "Gods do not make their pacts lightly, nor for free. It may not be something you were, but something you will be." A pause, "Or do." She looks down at her time "That's all I've wanted..." She says quietly, almost as if just to herself. "To be something... Or do something... That gets noticed." Silence falls between them, her mind bounces around ideas. "Syn and Kravor, am I meant to save them?" Paulo slowly shakes his head, "They are meant to save themselves and they need help in what that means. A candle in the darkness, lighting the path that they might decide to tread it. The candle doesnt save the traveler, it provides them the option, and both the candle and the traveler are part of the journey, no matter how far you wander." She nods as if to understand, but one question lingers, "Would there be a situation in which you would stop the spell?" "Yes," Paulo answers simply. She continues nodding, understanding what she needs to do. "I have greatly enjoyed this conversation, and I will be sad to not be able to have them again. I hope that you find the answer to the 'why' for everything you search for." A half smile comes across her face, she looks down at Pangur, "I hope I never forget his little face" And the fluffy floofen looks upwards with big eyes and floppy eyes. It shakes its head from side to side as if bobbing to music yet unheard. Paulo, by contrast, stands stiff as his robes billow softly with the breeze of the district. "Pangur feels the same," he replies for something that doesnt need to be said. Turning, the wizard continues on his journey through the district. Where he is going as much a mystery as ever. Alexa turns away from him and walks towards the church, looking for Kravor. She makes her way up to the Bell tower as she hears Syn's voice echo through the halls 'Sulking. Not your color.'
She sees Kravor sitting on the edge and sits next to him. Calm has set over her. She looks out, not making eye contact with anyone. "So what were you looking for in the gate?" She asks plainly, just trying to engage in a simple conversation Letting his fixation on the aurora drop, Kravor looks around the now cramped bell tower where only a few moments ago there had been peace, quiet, and unbridled isolation. Three figures whom he has known for only a few days bore witness to his life sentence, and yet, now they have come to help him escape it.
With another glance at the lights overhead, he can’t help but remember the late nights on the old mansion roof he once spent with his brother, talking about all the adventures they would go on together. The memories flood his psyche in flashes, though with a quick shake of the head, he forces them back down to where they came from. They aren’t important right now. They can’t be.
The silence is understandable to say the least. Accepting death is a difficult thing to do, though it is quite easy to tell yourself that you have done just that. Despite the somber air filling the bell tower, the gnome displays his hopes, the tiefling gives the gift of a helpful, sarcastic insult, and the candle attempts to truly understand the situation.
Eventually, the silence is broken with a sigh. “You’re right. Sulking never has suited me.” Looking back up to the aurora, he continues. “Though, I don’t think I have truly embraced these lights since I came out of that Gate. Weeks, I’ve mulled around beneath them with none of the appreciation I once held. If I must go now, I wanted one, lasting, pure memory of them.” Shifting his stance so that his whole figure may turn to face Alexa, he gives her an inquisitive look. “You know, while standing amongst infernal breakers of immeasurable strength and celestial builders of unending power, you befuddle me far more than the others.”
An awkward pause later, he returns to her question. “I entered the Gate in fear. Once I had awoken, I knew my connection to Gigareth had been severed. I knew he had fallen. I had been placed in unfamiliar territory with no knowledge of this time nor its people. So I chose to explore the gateway that brought me here. Maybe it could guide me to where I was meant to go next.”
Bringing both legs back within the confines of the bell tower, Kravor rests his forearms upon his knees, staring at the scattered remains of his armor that he had all but torn off. “To be entirely honest, I was quite relieved when my suspicions of his fate were confirmed.” She continues to stare out as he talks, nodding as she's listening. "Being in unfamiliar territory can be really jarring, especially after losing a connection you had, even if you are relieved about it." She pauses, concerned about how the next question will go... But knowing it must be asked for her to be successful. "Did you think Ty's soul would give you answers?" She continues to look out. Kravor does not seem like a feelings type of guy, but for this to work, he'll need to be. Kravor looks down to Alexa with eyes that seem to channel winter itself. Harsh in nature, capable to destructive storms and life-ending colds, yet holding a far underappreciated inner beauty. "Ahh, the soul. Apparently a descendent of mine. Felt familiar." One deep, prolonged sigh later, he continues. "Whoever this Ty is, he was powerful. I could feel that much. I could also feel inklings of what I assume decided my fate in the eyes of Paulo. His soul held the potential to bring me back to my full strength. Not this weakened husk of a man," he states with disgust, gesturing to his many scars and wounds.
"I could have consumed his soul right there and regained the form I once held. The thought crossed my mind more than once." Breaking his gaze with Alexa, he turns to Syn. "Then I thought of your friend. And I wanted to h- .... And I thought it seemed like you needed someone to balance you out." he states mockingly, realizing how close he came to openly stating that he wanted to help Syn save her once lost friend. "And uh. So I decided not to abuse the power of the Targarius' soul. With the foresight of the last hour, perhaps that might have been a mistake." Alexa looks over at Kravor, realizing the amount of effort used to make him appear not weak. "You said that you came from the gate. Do you think it's possible that you once were a fractured soul like Ty? Somehow you were brought back, and you believe there is a reason. Is it possible it is to bring Ty back? To find your connection back to the Targ line?" She hesitates, and starts tapping one nail against the other.... She must be careful. "Weakness is scary, so I can understand the allure, but all magic comes at a cost. That is something I've learned through my life. He may have let you come back to your full power, but I believe it would lead to far more powerful people wanting to take you down, like Gig." "I believe you have more to accomplish in your life, I would hate for this to be the way it ends. I've talked to Paulo, he seems willing to listen and change his mind, but you have to be willing to speak." Taking a moment to think on the questions at hand, he takes them one at a time. "Yes, I was awoken within the Gate, though I do not believe that I my soul had been fractured. At least not to my knowledge. No. My brother brought me within an inch of my life, though before he could finish the job, he decided differently. Sealed me away with that of Gigareth."
As he takes a swig from the bottle of Draconian Fire, which is now reaching its half-life, Alexa is lucky enough to get a good look at how some of the liquid bubbles up and slowly seeps out from the gash within his neck. Quite a beautiful sight. Catching her looking at the wound, Kravor drags a claw across his wound, gathering the excess liquor that managed to escape him before licking it off. "That was when I got this beautiful reminder of all of my many failures."
Stopping himself from getting lost in the painful memories, he rushes past the subject. "To answer your questions, yes. There is undoubtedly a way to bring this Ty back. Though, like you've said. All magic comes at a cost. It is up to you if you wish to pay for a stranger's soul. As for my connection to the Targ line. In my experience, the family is not the most forgiving type. Your actions speak for you and mine echoed across the cosmos quite a long time ago."
Getting to the meat of matter, he continues on. "I am willing to speak to Paulo. I would rather not awaken just to fall once more." Pausing for a moment, he looks back over to Syn. "I'll try to keep in mind that he is not one to appreciate my humor this time." Alexa stands up and straightens out her outfit, then states plainly, "I don't know this Ty very well, but he definitely means alot to Paulo. I would keep that in mind. Your family may not be the most forgiving, but they are family, and that is something to be thankful for. Not everyone knows their family, or have the opportunity to do something to be forgiven for by them." With that she turns away and starts to walk down the stairs , leaving the dragonborn, tiefling, and gnome to their conversation. Gabriel, disjointed from the situation and given a chance to catch his breath after the initial adrenaline of a new discovery wears off, wanders with Alexa as she walks down the stairs. He doesn’t walk side by side with her, not even nearby, but instead fills the steps she leaves behind.
An expression, twisted into a layered whirlpool of unreadable perplexity, pours over the little boy’s face as he sits at the top of the stairs, and gives Alexa a very pitiful wave goodbye though, in his heart, the fact of her seeing it or not meant little him. The gesture itself was a gentle reminder that the boy could in fact be mortal.
With all this talk of Builders, Breakers, Celestials, Infernals, Magic, and the works, it’s easy to get caught up in the world above the one you were raised in.
“At a time like this,” the boy says outloud, not really having a person in mind,” Gram Gram would probably tell me to take a nap. Not even sure if heroes have time to take naps...”
But I’m no hero. I’m not a villain either.
“Or maybe I am... My parents put a hit on Gram Gram, Gram Gram night have been raising me to be Celestian’s little builder, Gig’s using me and not at the same time, everyone sees me as a kid, I wanna go help everyone, but I can’t be bother to stop the problems of everyone I...”
What am I?
From a drizzle to a downpour, Gabriel leans against the walls, in the dark, wrapped up in his blue blanket, with his hood pulled over his head, and let his tears well in his eyes but not a drop dares cross his cheeks.
“You’re a wreck, Gritzel... A nineteen year old wreck with a brain bigger than his future. At best you’ll die alone. At worse...”
His eyes drift towards Kravor. Then back into the darkness that stretches down the stairs. Syn remains silent as Kravor and Alexa converse, leaning against the stone ledge underneath the tarnished bronze bell. As Alexa takes her leave towards the doors, Syn grins. “Alexa’s a wise lady, Kravor.” Syn watches as she heads down the stone stairs. “It’s why I enjoy her company!” She shouts out towards her. Syn’s words echoing down the chamber. An attempt at reconciling the palatable disappointment from Alexa since returning from the gate.
Syn’s head rolls and looks back to Kravor. “We should go…attempt to fix this with Paulo before time runs out.” Syn pushes off the stone wall and leans down, grabbing his armor chest piece and hurling it at him with unnecessary force behind it. “I also just wanted to come up here and do this…” And with the biggest, wildest grin stretching across her face, she picks up her great club and whacks the large bronze bell with a hefty cleave. Making it ring across the entire town. Her eyes widen and she takes a step back. The intense ringing fills her ears and she bursts out into a psychotic laughter, turning to look back at Kravor.
“And for the record, If anyone needs balancing out right now it’s you Dragonborn.” She smirks at him. Kravor laughs softly and smiles alongside Syn as she forces a cacophony of echoes bells throughout the town. It’s been far too long since he’s had someone he could consider a friend.
Clutching onto his blackened set of plate mail, Kravor runs a palm across the front, where the faint outline of the Targarius crest still remains as words begin to echo throughout his mind.
And if he wishes to live a better life, let the Phoenix that has touched his very soul stop being seen as a scar in a departed war. Let it heal and mark rebirth, not ash.
With a light grunt, Kravor looks down to his scarred chest, running a single claw down the few silver scales that remain on his body, products of a phoenix’s fire.
Looking over at Syn, he reaches down to pick up the greatsword at his feet. “Well, as much as I appreciate you hauling this up here,” he begins, pausing to heave the greatsword up into the air, only to once again strike it into the stone below him. Seemingly a signature move.
The dark purple crystal embedded into the hilt shines angrily in the light of the aurora, spreading an array of prismatic colors across Kravor bare chest, each slightly.... Tinted ? No. Corrupted. In a purple energy laced with hatred and malice. Leaving the chest piece to hang from the hilt, Kravor looks almost revitalized. “I believe that in order to survive the dawn, I shall need to distance myself from what I once was.”
Making his way over to walk alongside Syn, he laughs softly to himself. “Plus, I’ve been thinking quite a lot lately.” Looking out into the distance, obviously thinking hard on a truly troubling dilemma, he smiles. “And I’m thinking I’m going to go with some dark blues for my next set of equipment.” At the ringing of the bell, Gabriel jumps from his seat startled and tumbled down a few steps. He stands up dazed slightly, hasn’t been the first time he had a few steps to the head. A few steps to the head...
“I can’t just stay here,” the boy packs away his blanket and takes a minute to stare at his hands,” Can’t think about my life right now. I’ve got someone else’s to save.”
But how?
“I can’t fix it myself... at least not with what I have now...,” Gabriel looks into the darkness and a smile forms on his face as he conjures a candle with chalk,” When the wizard needs components he goes to the store.”
As fast as his little legs can carry him, Gabriel goes up the stairs and stands in the door frame,” Hey, if you guys are going to see Paulo, I’ve got a back up plan. I’ll be right back.”
Without another word, Gabriel wanders around the Cathedral to look for a secluded room.
Once inside the room, which is on the bottom floor of the Cathedral, he traces a chalk door on the shadow cast by the candle against the broken pew he found and dives into the portal once it opens. Syn begins to walk towards the doorway. “Well I suppose you better hurry the hell up then. The sun will be rising soon. You need to find Paulo.” She tosses a nod to Kravor, placing her great club over her shoulder. Gabriel meets her in the doorway spouting a backup plan before scurrying back down. “Promising.” She scoffs watching the little gnome fade off down the stairway.
Syn finds herself emerging out from the church. The late-night air is crisp and cold. She walks slowly down the main street, eyes scanning for her friend Alexa and the white-haired wizard. “Where the hell have they gone?” [Syn-Akexa-Kravor] Where Alexa is, is to be stated. As for Paulo, the white haired wizard of note, he is not seen. Rather, he is heard. The light tap-tap-taping of someone playing a tune on another's face and the familiar tones of a Devil pestering him. Sounds like it in one of the houses in the district. [Gabriel] The expanses of darkness continues beyond the chalk outline of a door. Stepping through it leaves an opening where the bottom floor of the church remains. The only color in the room of velvet darkness. Steps that clack on polished obsidian recall a familiar place. Last time the encounter here was brief, transactional, and mildly informative. No friends were made. No deals cut. A long shot, but with the deadline fast approaching that is what is left to the party.
Normally the room has soft singing from a female vocalist. Melodic and providing substance that cuts the dread from the ebon void to provide a classy meeting. A desk that seems out of place and its denizen equally so comes into view. Handler Leone, flipping through a ledger and making notes with a quill as dark as a Raven's. The man appears timeless and clearly infernal with red eyes slit with bestial black at the center. Alabaster skin that is painted with intricate black lines over his body and flowing black hair that closely resembles smoke dispersing from his head. There are other figures here, as well. One, the familiar musician, is sitting by the piano. For now she does not sing, but instead is talking to another patron of the market. A human-esque figure that is still hazy from distance away of the entrance. “Oh, new people,” the gnome chirps as he merrily walks up to the front desk,” Hi everyone.”
In case he wasn’t heard, once getting close to the desk, Gabriel hops up on the tip of his toes. “Excuse me, Mr. Leon, I would like some assistance please. Also how are you?”
In a place of velvet darkness, Gabriel assumes it is very odd for someone to be so cheerful. The general read of the room is uneasy. That is the normal state of a room that is suspended in inky darkness without any rational explanation why Gabriel's feet are on a form of ground and not falling into an endless abyss. The Handler looks from his book to the fair haired gnome and his chipper demeanor. Those eyes could form the basis of a trope of a goblin banker. "Mr. Locktick," the devil begins to say. His voice is dark, deep, and drawls on in a rumble. "Buying or Selling?" he asks directly. Transactional in nature. Purely. Business. An effect of the last declaration of the type of relationship they wished to have. Or, possibly, a decision made for them.
The rest of the room isn't as cold to the gnome. Once in further view, the back of the human can be seen. Short, unkempt dark hair. Travelers leathers and linens on a runner's build. His head turns a touch over his shoulder as Gabriel announces himself. It is a familiar face. One Alexa was talking to not long ago. Clive? Clarence? Carver? Something like that. The lady at the piano leans around C-man and offers a muted smile. She is a classic tiefling beauty in a long black dress, skin like a porcelain doll and dark hair that flows like a silken river of heading to a starless sea. Eyes similar to her father's but with far more delicate, nimble hands that give the gnome an open hand wave.
As if to round out the series of greetings, a pair of red ears pop up from the human's drawn back hood. Then a pair of eyes on a sunset hued face of a fox as two paws reach for the edge to pull her up. “I’m,” the gnome starts yet pauses as he waves at the tiefling woman and curiously stares at the familiar human... Cl..Clar...Clee.... C something and the fox.
Note to self: Bring Alexa.
After the initial curiosity, Gabriel is snapped back to his senses by the state of Handler Leon. “Buying,” he resumes,” I’m buying. An ally of mine is going to die at dawn on the material plane due a combination of a light based abjuration ward and infernal energy that will tear him apart. I would like something to take down that could either remove the ward without killing him or remove the infernal energy so that when the ward breaks he, again, will not die.”
Gabriel tried his best to look like a young man, but puffing his chest up is more comical than anything. Especially when he is still bouncing on his toes to maintain eye contact. The devil behind the desk stops writing when Gabriel speaks. An uneasy length of eye contact lingers on the comically upselling adult in action. Handler Leone takes his hand to the book on his desk and begins to flip through the pages of thick, leather like sheafs. "Do you wish the solution to be temporary or permanent?" Yes, that is a question he is asking. What he is looking at on that page that speaks to 'only mostly dead' is better left unspoken.
The Cleee-o human turns back to his conversation with the musician that accompanies the room of black velvet walls and obsidian floors. The red fox, however, dips down into the hood quickly. When she emerges again, it is with both paws first and a powerful kick against the man's back. It launches her neatly into the air. She is a majestic spark of red and yellow, so kindred to the elder elemental of fire if not for being a fox. Landing on what this room calls a floor, she pads on over to Gabriel with a small mouse in her mouth. Alive, albeit squeakingly happy to see Gabriel before she is returned to the ground herself. “Permanent please,” Gabriel states confidently,” As for payment, I am willing to lend my services in the magical object revival on a... uh... credit? I think it’s credit... System! System of credit. Yes...”
Nailed it.
Witnessing the majestic passing of fox paws on the solid abyss, Gabriel looks and squeaks just as happily as Yorkie, but out of respect, covers his mouth to stifle his happiness. In the next moment, he has picked up the fox and lovingly hugs her while repeating,” Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!” until he calms down enough to put her down. “Aw man...,” he accepts Yorkie happily into his hand and lets her crawl into her little pocket,” Alexa is going to loooove you! She’s all about amazing animals AND you’re with the C-guy.”
He leans forward to whisper,” I’m sorry I forgot his name. Also, if you don’t understand me, that’s okay too. A lot of animals I’ve met could talk or understand common. I’m sorry for assuming.” He smiles happily while looking between Handler Leon and this Fantastic Mrs. Fox. There is another pause as the Handler Leone flips to another set of pages. 'Locktick. Locktick.' he mutters to himself beneath his breath. A long finger scrawls down the page. "Mr. Locktick, your business with us is purely transactional. There is no 'relationship' of credit and/or favors by explicit request. In short, you need to have payment upfront, you will receive goods and services up front, and our business concludes there until another transaction is required by you," the man states in a slow, 'reading terms and conditions' sort of way. It is largely overshadowed by the reunion of mouse and fox. She is wide eyed and surprised. Her fur is bristled with leaves of an active huntress in her fur that feels as warm as a camp fire. A long bushy tail flicks and she yips to be let down, shortly after she is. The fox tends to the tail first, cleaning it with maw and paw.
"Clyde," the human introduces himself, being able to hear the whispers, "Clyde Mason. Alcina can hear you just fine, but speaking as a fox requires her shift out. If you want to convince her to get out of her comfy form be my guest." Don't mess with the misses when she is in her PJs. The fox doesn't agree or deny any of that, instead looking up to Gabriel in a stilled frame that only an animal can before returning to fixing her fur. “Clyyyyyyde,” the boy says in an exaggerated fashion as he facepalms,” My bad.” Upon closer inspection, the boy stares at him as if piecing his face together.
“I feel like I’ve seen your face before,” the boy mutters but snaps back to Handler Leon. “Sorry, Mr. Leon. I wasn’t aware that the purely transactional basis of our meetings carried over to favors,” states the boy with a genuine scholarly sadness,” I shall return shortly with an associate or two to discuss the options and the pricing.”
He looks at Alcina and Clyde,” Could you guys please stay here for a bit longer if you were about to leave. I’m sure Alexa would love to see you guys. I’ll be right back.”
Now, reunited with his favorite squeaky friend,” Gabriel rushes out of the velvet darkness, squeezes through portal, snuffs out the candle, and runs out into the streets screaming,” ALEXA! ALEXA! I NEED AN ADULT!” Alexa, calmly sitting in the tavern, listening to the squabbling of two forces clenches her fists as she hears her name being yelled through the streets. 'I didn't come here to babysit' she thinks to herself. Looking at Paulo and Gig taunt each other, she stands up exacerbated and leaves the tavern. Once she leaves she lifts her invisibility to follow the screams of Gabriel. She sees the small gnome running around. Getting on her knees she puts both hands on his shoulders, "What's going on? Are you hurt?" “Sorry for calling out your name, but I need someone sensible. I think I found a way to help Kravor! Also I found Clyde and his fox friend Alcina, but it will cost us something. Item depends on the cost of the service. Have you seen Gig or Syn yet,” he looks towards the tavern and raises an eyebrow,” Is Gig in there?”
He looks up at her with a sort of half smiling half confused look of slight excitement at the prospect of saving Kravor. Alexa stands up at the mention of helping Kravor. "Kravor created this problem, it is not something for us to fix. I'm surprised he hasn't gone to Paulo yet... Although maybe he's too far gone." She looks back to the tavern, "Gig and Paulo are in there, arguing like children' Its true. They are in the middle of what everyone assumes is a stand up act, but is actually a normal interaction between the wizard and devil. “He’s on his way.”
The words travel down the street as the black haired tiefling approaches the two. “He seems to have a last attempt plea for Paulo although…if you guys have found another way, Im sure he’s all ears.” She grins faintly at them both before the familiar voices of Paulo and Gig are heard from the tavern. “….don’t tell me…this was your solution?” “Nah, mine involves business not madness,” the boy states confidently to the tiefling,” So, are we gonna wait for Kravor to get here or are we gonna take the lead?”
He turns to Alexa and smiles,” I understand your reasoning. The main reason I wanted to get you first was because of Clyde. I’ve heard seeing someone familiar helps you relax after something crazy. Maybe you guys can trade apples or something.” She relaxes, "It would be nice to see Clyde, maybe get an update on things. And you should know, Alcina is his wife, not his friend. What is he doing here anyway?" "Isn't that the man from the other side of the pool? The one that helped us with the potions?" Syn looks to Alexa. "That is...a friend of yours? A Candle as well?" "Yes, he's been through alot though, so he's been spending more time with his family lately." “Oh.... That’s good to know,” flashbacks of hugging a man’s fox wife will now haunt the boy’s daydreams,” I didn’t ask. I was just so happy to see Yorkie again that I forgot to ask. I asked them to hold on so I could come get you so they should still be there.”
He looks in his pocket and shows Alexa the cute little rat that is some how sleeping peacefully with a little cloth for a blanket. "Ah, that makes sense, well, I'm glad to see you got Yorkie back. I stand by that we should not be the ones to find a solution for Kravor, but I will go with you." “Cool. You gonna come with us, Syn,” the boy asks as he looks in the direction of the tavern. An alternative to shadow room adventures with an equal balance of sensibility and crazy. “Tsk.” Syn grits her teeth with eyes that shift between Gabriel and Alexa. “Yeah, yeah I’ll go." She pauses then speaks once more. "Where exactly is this?" “A demiplane,” Gabriel clarifies as he strides towards the Cathedral,” I made the door gnome sized so you guys will have to crouch.”
Once the Alexa and Syn catch up with Gabriel as he zooms to the room in the Cathedral where he left his set up, he lights the candle so the door will reopen.
Being the semi-polite gnome he tries to be, Gabriel waves over to the door with an open palm,” Ladies first. Or you know, with new experiences and all, I can go first. No big deal.” Upon looking at the setup, Alexa immediately knows where they're going. "I'm surprised you've talked with Handler Leon before" she looks at Gabe. She crouches down and goes through the door to the other side Syn follows Gabriel and Alexa to the Cathedral. Looking at the tiny shadow door, tilting her head to the side. "...This? We go through here? And...we can return? Right? We will most definitely return to this plane? Right?" Once in, she stands up fully, recognizing the room from her many times in there. "Nice to see you again Handler Leon." Walking over to Clyde and Alcina, she smiles."I'm sorry you guys had to come all this way to return Yorkie, do you have a moment to talk?" Gabriel gives Syn a friendly elbow nudge to the knee and a thumbs up before going through the door and stands still once on the other side, waiting for Syn to come through. "H-hey!" She watches Gabriel walk through the door and she steps through hesitantly. Eyes blink and she finds herself in a void of darkness. Meeting eyes with the little gnome that waited for her on the other side. "...Interesting..." The place is largely the way Gabriel left it. Alcina is back in Clyde's hood so she is peaking out with head and paws. The Handler slowly nods his head to Alexa when she enters, paying her no additional heed as he continually flips through his book. Making a mark there. A note there. An eternal book keeping devil. Clyde takes a step back to swing around, opening the conversation with the Musician and now Alexa. The young looking man offers a sly smile, "We can spare a few minutes, sure. Turns out Gabriel ended up coming to us instead of the other way around so we have some free time." "I understand, and I don't want to hold you for long, I hope the kits are doing well. It's nice to see you Alcina, it has been a while." She smiles at her, knowing Clyde's hood is her favorite place to be. "There's been a few developments here, and it would be nice to have someone to talk to about it" Slowly Clyde leans to the left. His command of his balance is commendable as he looks past Alexa to the people she came in with. Looking in Gabriel and Syn's direction he asks, "Can't you talk to them about it? They seem trust..." Looks at Syn. "...worthy." The fox in Clyde's hood scampers up, popping her head above Clyde's messy hair to also look at Syn and Gabriel. Fox eyes. She looks back at them, "They are, but there's just a couple of things..." She switches into the language of Candles, trying to keep a semblance of privacy, " I met Paulo. I'm not sure if you've talked with him before, but he's very forthcoming with information. He told me that they are a builder and a breaker... Something to do with the cult of Gigareth." She bites her lip, how much does she tell... But Clyde is trustworthy, at least he's always been to her. Continuing in their language "They went into the gate, and the tiefling... She made a deal with Gig. What do you know of deals with him? I don't want to lose her, but I don't know what I'm up against " Clyde responds back in the same cipher that they established. Sometimes it makes no sense, like talking about weather conditions and soil that can't possibly be true. They are talking in some sort of spy-code language. "I know plenty about them. Enough not to make one and not recommend making one. They always have a cost and he will get you when you are the most desperate, powerless, and vulnerable. Those are horrible conditions to make a deal. All deals can be unmade with another deal dealing with the deal. A new deal. Or you find a way to void or default the deal. Or you deal with the deal you are delt." Having spent a LOT of time infiltrating the devils of Avernis, Clyde has become a bit of a master of blending into infernal society. "Its not personal to them. The equivalent to flirting or saving up for something special or whatever. Not everything translates nicely into mortal motivations. Point is, not a lost cause. Just be smart about it. If you have time, be patient and learn your dealmaker. Once you know what they want and value, you know how to react. When they need something the most. Its how the devil got you in the first place. Hell, Leone isn't all that different. He doesnt go market this place, he waits for people to come to him." Leone, however, does understand the conversation and sends a distant glare at Clyde. Clyde smiles cheekily. Continuing with their conversation about soil temperature, Alexa says "Gig seems to have been waiting for her to be desperate enough for a deal. There's something about every builder needs a breaker... Which she is. I just don't think he's going to be so willing to bend on the deal, but we shall see." "Ah hah," Clyde laughs unsteadily, "Well. In that case. Your friend might be the 'big payout' of a long game. Yeah. Tough sell there. Still. It means there is no opportunity now. And, if its a long game, the weakness is leading up to it or moving away from it. Chances are you'll have to roll with it for a while until an opportunity to renegotiate presents itself. Like, when Goldstein exploits the slums, it was for political gain. How do you get around that? Threaten loss of the gain or give a better gain. Just dont be the target of the loss, thats how you become a threat. Devils dont like threats. I dont think any ambitious person does." Alexa's gaze seems to go past Clyde for a moment, lost in her thoughts, collecting data, planning her next move. Continuing their cipher "Do you remember who Ty Targarius is? He seems to have been removed from people's memories by... Someone" There is a moment where Clyde takes his hands to his temples. "Strange," he says in his smoothed out voice, "It sounds so familiar to me, but I can't remember any details. Someone important? Maybe one of the Targarius line from a history book?" He really doesn't remember. Few seem to. Alcina the fox also shakes her head. She doesn't remember either. "That's a pretty powerful thing to do, if what you say is true. It is complete erasure. You can't hope to do something about something you don't know exists." A wry grin flashes on his face, "Speaking from experience." Oh ho ho ho. Syn peaks over Alexa’s shoulder, resting her chin against it. Another disregard of personal space as she grins. “I am pretty sure we didn’t travel to another plane just so you can talk to Clyde about tending apples.”
She steps backwards spinning around on the heel of her feet to look around the inky black room they all find themselves until her eyes lock onto the devil writing in a book at a desk. “Hrm?” She strides up to him. “Whatcha writing there?” Syn asks, sitting on the edge of the desk to look over and down at the book. More orcahrs talk "I don't think there's anything I can do about it.. it just... Bothers me. We found his fractured soul in the gate.. Paulo at least seems to remember. The gate appears to be from the seolcond era when the seal of Gigareth was made. Apparently Gig has altered it somewhat, that's all I know.' The book itself is in infernal, so Syn would see words and phrases next to numbers. Gems of elementals. Souls. Services going from simple alchemy to assassination. Handler Leone slowly turns page to page. "It is an accounting of the transactions taking place in this place," he states as a pen strokes across to update a number. Changing it requires no ink, but it reminds more of carving a knife into flesh in the force and sound of the etching. "We offer gifts for your first visit as a token of continual business favors," the devil says, burning eyes looking to Syn. "Though we accommodate many different types of business relationships. So long as you are buying or selling, in the end."
Clyde continues his conversation about how many different TYPES of apples exist. Oh boy. "Sounds light on information. Me? Not a fan of gates or portals. Coming here is like a therapy session. Baby steps. Baby steps through portals. Oh right, thats where you guys were talking to me in the scrying pool. Well you have stumbled yourself onto a mystery, it sounds like. Fractured souls. Erased memories of some guy. Deals with Gig from your friends. Sounds like you have your hands full. Been at this for a few weeks or something?" A shallow laugh escapes Alexa as she thinks on how long it's been, back to apples "less than a week actually, but you know me, I'm going to keep digging until I find everything." “Hrm….” She watches him closely, etching away at the changed number within the book. “Is that so?” She quickly digs around in the soft leather pouch that hangs off her belt around her waist. Pulling out a few coppers, jerky from…well, something, and a small figurine carved from stone that was made by Kravor.
She slams it on top of the book in front of him. “What can I get with this?” She grins. Seemingly excited. "You and Evelynn certainly have that in common," Clyde responds, going into detail on how cross breeding the types of apples can yield entirely new culinary experiences. "Keep an eye out for the undead for me. Things are complicated enough without a bunch of undead versions of the complications popping up. Push come to shove, Alcina still has plenty of sway with the Phoenix but its not as simple as asking for favors from an elder elemental. "
Handler Leone looks deadpan at Syn. Grin versus straight face. Leone takes it seriously, flipping through his book. Page after page. After Page. After Page. "One roasted boar leg, slightly gnawed on," he says, as people sell some weird shit here and Syn's offer fits right into that niche part of the market. His hand goes over the figurine that Kravor crafted, appraising it further. "And a handful of owl feathers." She blinks. One, two, three. “THAT’S IT!?” She shouts. “No no no, look see, look here.” She shoves the figurine closer into his face. “This is crafted by a badass ice dragonborn currently on deaths row. Made from the finest Nexus Cathedral stone you can find!” Her other hand taps against the desk. “The fuck am I supposed to do with owl feathers?” She looks down at his book. “That there! Surely it’s a fine trade!” She points to a log in his book. “Shard of Madness. That seems cool.” "It is a fine item you are looking at," the Handler says as he has a figurine so close he can smell the salty tears and booze of a dragonborn that saturated the minerals. "Perhaps you'd like to put the remainder of the balance on a credit as part a continual payment plan?" And making a deal with a Devil has never gone poorly. Furthering her knowledge of Fuji vs Gala apples, "I will keep that in mind. I have a feeling things are going to get much worse before they get better. I don't want to hold you any longer, I'm sure you want to get back to your family." "We are here checking up on an old friend, actually," Clyde explains while explaining that the time of year has an impact, and that magical aurora variances does has a surprising relation to sweetness, "as well as delivering one stray mouse. The kids are in good hands. Not about to be raised by wolves. Heh heh." He looks at Alcina who stares back at him. "Kelemvor has been on my case lately so I need to go walk about this year anyway. Portal travel is fastest. But. Yeah." She pulls the figurine back. “Pfft. No. No I would not.” Starting to place it back into her leather pouch. She pauses for a moment. “…Do you have meat steam bun things?” Eyes wide with a childish excitement. "Yes," Handler Leone responds simply. His voice is rasp like sandpaper over a creaky door. "Would you like to buy one?" Probably dont ask where the meat came from. “YES, YES I WOULD!” Syn shouts. Slamming both hands down onto the desk, leaving the figurine sitting there next to the handler’s book. The Devil waves his large boney hands over the figurine. In a puff of shadow smoke the item is gone. Off to the void to find a home for a buyer who wants that sort of thing. When the hand waves backwards there are three meat dumplings, still steaming hot. The bread itself is firmed with a golden brown hue to it. That fresh baked smell immediately coming from the Handler's desk. The mystery of what is inside these bite sized treasure treats. The corner of her mouth curls with delight and probably drool, seeing the dumplings appear before her. “Pleasure doing business with you.” She grabs the dumplings, slipping off the desk and casually walking up next to Alexa, biting into the meat dumpling. Nom nom. Gabriel just watches in confusion. Syn yelled at Handler Leon over dumplings and got them by trading a figurine made by Kravor, and Alexa is talking to Clyde about apples....
Facepalm.
“Apparently weird just follows me,” he mutters to himself before walking up to the desk once Syn leaves and instead of bouncing on his toes he gets to a distance where he can maintain eye contact with Handler Leon.
“Mr. Leon, could you recite the options available to me for solving my little inquiry,” he asks politely, pulling out his big boy words to better reflect his intelligence though not sure if he’s using them correctly. The Handler looks slowly away from Syn. One more satisfied customer. No transaction too large or too small in this little den of shadows. However, some more important than others. Value is relative. The blood red eyes of the bone thin man turn to Gabriel. Hands move over the book. A crisp flip of the page. A scrawl of a transaction. "Mr. Locktick, your options are of goods and or services relating to removing the ward placed on your target. An alternative is to remove the infernal energy within him so that when the ward is released, it will not be 'fatal'. That was your request from earlier. There are both goods and services that cover these results: Removal of a ward. Removal of infernal energy. If," he pauses as the book and hands still, "I may be so bold, the transaction you seek is the means to the end. The end being that your 'associate' lives another day come dawn. Of which you have summised two ways to accomplish this. Perhaps the service you seek is a consultation of all your options so that you may weigh them before purchase and implementation." The paper continues to move, "I do not presume to think either of your methods are ineffective. However both are costly and offer no assurance of your end goal. We do so seek to have satisfied customers here." "Hrm... true," the gnome says, though internally he is screaming that his big boy words were not enough to impress Handler Leon," What would you recommend given the situation? Also, how much would a broken wand or some broken low level magic item cost? I don't want to just waste your time and not buy anything." Gabriel looks over to Syn and Alexa, wondering if the apples conversation is over and how Syn can understand them. [Gabe] The Handler looks as if few things impressed him. The things he has seen. The things that be has written in that dark book. "Recommendations are consultations. Do you wish to purchase a consultation?" There is a flip of the pages, "I commend your application of industry and economy, Mr. Locktick. We have no shortage of inert magical items that a person of your skill could make use of. The lowest of them go for objects of minor barter. That of an animals soul, for example." There is a pause there. "The cost is so trivial we do accept enriched elemental gemstones as well. Pebble sized for broken items." "Gotcha," he pulls out a tiny helmet fit for a rat to wear," If I broke this down into gemstones would it cover the consultation cost and the cost of an inert item? As it is, the item casts shield once but then it's inert. Also it's rat sized..." The boy looks at the helmet and then at the pokcet where Yorkie is sleeping.
She'll be fine... I can make her a better one. "A fine item that will get a fine consultation," the Handler says, making no mention of it paying beyond a consultation cost this time. With a finger gun of friendly acceptance, Gabriel places the helmet on the desk. "I'll take the consultation, Mr. Leon." As deals are made and conversations of apples last an excruciatingly long time within the shadowplane, back in the material plane, Kravor makes his way through the rundown streets that act as their prison. His eyes flicker a dark shade of purple as his search continues until he finally lands his gaze upon an abandoned building near the town's tavern, cleverly titled "What Ales You ?" with an accentuated question mark. Analyzing the building, Kravor grunts as he looks it over, finding slight amusement in the man-sized hole he had placed in the roof only a few days prior.
Making his way into the building, he comes across the oddly argumentative friendship of Paulo and Gig. Truly an unexplainable occurrence.
With a carved figurine of Targ in one hand and the bottle of Dragon's Fire in the other, at least he comes bearing gifts. "Ah. I don't mean to intrude, but I was hoping in my possibly final hours to receive some consultation." Realizing the awkwardness of the situation he continues on. "And who better than the only beings around who might possibly understand how lost I currently am."
Pulling up a chair, he places his respective peace offerings in front of the two men as he attempts to make his way into a conversation far above his pay grade. [Gabe] "One moment," Leone responds to the gnome of finger gunning. His voice rolls off like a dull creek of a door. Flip. Flip. The pages turn. "Here we are," he says as the sound of water kettle starting to whistle gets louder and louder. Soon a burst of flame rips through the non existent floor and a creature the size of a large house cat erupts. Impish and burning from his head, the long nosed creature shifts around skittishly. "What what what?" the torchlight borne denizen asks in squawks.
One look at the Handler and the two lock in place, mesmerized. "Ahhhh. Eeehehehehe," the red creature cackles, turning to Gabriel and sniffing his leg. "Yes," it hisses, scampering up the gnome's clothes until it rattles around atop shoulder and head. "Options! YES! Options are good." It kicks off, vanishing into a puff of crimson smoke mid jump.
Before a word or thought can form, it appears again as if being molded by an angry red clay before the fire kilns it into shape. "They way I SEE it, your friend is FINE. However in the morning, its true, he shall die. Die. DIE. EEEEehehehehe." The cackle fills the dark chamber. "Oh ho, but not the consult you see, no. No. You wish to stop this, yes? What pain! Lets see lets see. The ward on him? Hmm. Removal would only HASTEN the process now. He dies before dawn!" The red creature makes an explosion motion with his large, boney hands, "So the ward, perhaps, should stay forever? That would buy some time, yes, but still die. An artifact to keep the ward alive, yes. But! If you think it an imbalance, then strike the malice like a boil! Drraaaaiiinnn it out. Come dawn, symbiosis. For that, crystals of the crystal city. Or null of them."
A deep breath and an exhale as the creature goes on, "Of course you could go the other way. Get the light to balance the dark, but, eeeehehhehehehe, your friend is a wretched soul. Blind and blackened. Inject more radiance before dawn, yes?"
There is silence as the consultant devil changes his tone to dark infernal words as dark as dried blood in Fall, "Come dawn Winter will be released. " [Kravor] Neither Gig nor Paulo are in the tavern. The tavern is adjacent to the building where the two are talking in 'as private as' a setting as talking to Gig would allow. As Kravor enters the abandoned home that was privately occupied, to interrupt a private conversation, only Gig responds. "Stop being mean, Paulo. Look at this poor soul here," the horned Devil states. Mischief practically dances around his words like high school musical production.
"Look, he even brought gifts," Gig says in a weebywobby babywabby voice to the tall white haired wizard. The red eyed devil's robes flutter around him as he launches towards Kravor. A single, talon like fingertip stopping just short of one of his eyes. "Big puppy dog eyes. Awoof woof," he barks, fingertip tracing down that jawline to his neck where it scrapes enough to draw blood. "Hes really sorry, Paulo. Forgive him. Mm? Hes so lost and," the last words sound downright predatorial, "vulnerable."
There isn't even a heavy breath of a sigh from Paulo. He watches where he stands like a statue while Gig practically molests Kravor, "Thats not what he said. He wants guidance. Consultation. He came with gifts. An olive branch. Stop sniffing him, Gig." Gig is, indeed, sniffing Kravor's scorch marks now. He doesn't stop doing so and Paulo continues, "Ask, but ask with great care," Paulo tells Kravor evenly. Death and the Nine Hells must be quite the motivator if they are enough to keep Kravor calm while he is being sniffed, nibbled, and mocked so viciously by The Great and Wonderful Gig. Taking a breath, he breathes out a small wave of frost from his wounded throat, covering Gigs hand as it picks at his open flesh. Of course, accidentally inducing more amusement and mockery.
Lookin to Paulo, Kravor phrases his words with what care he can muster. “Firstly, I, uh..... I apologize...” Pausing to give an awkward look towards Gigs mocking baby voice. “For the orb. I did not realize anyone present held prior connections to the soul within. I assume you expected me to consume it ? Take its power and all.”
Opening up his posture slightly, Kravor does what he can to express that his next words are truth. “Yes, I knew what I could do with it in my possession. But I had no intention of acting upon that knowledge.”
Knowing that Paulo is the smart and resourceful he seems to be, Kravor adds, “You probably knew as much. I am unfamiliar with your capabilities. But I thought it best you heard it from me.” "Ooooooooooo," Gig begins, "Ooooooooooh SHIT Paulo. You fucked up!" The eccentric devil has white hair that bristles at the idea of his 'friend' making a mistake. Slowly he draws the fresh blood to his lips, locking eyes with Kravor as he talks. "Mmm. Your lies taste. Delicious." One could have their soul etched by looking too hard into Gig's eyes. Something Kravor is quite immune to. It is, instead, a familiar glow from that of Gigareth.
"Thats the part of you that wants to believe that version of the truth," Paulo explains while Gig taunts both dragon and wizard. A hand extends out, making a small series of white streaks into the air before him. "But, its not that you wouldn't. Its that you did. Intent or not. I don't seek apology for averting tragedy. That's your kin that you hold in such disregard. Present company with me and Gig gone had prior connection to the soul within."
Gig cackles, "Two liars, and for once it isn't me. Hahahahaha!" Firstly, “AAAAAAAH!” Being sniffed by an imp is quite terrifying for the first few seconds. Being climbed on by an imp, not so much, and for the briefest moments Gabriel swears he hears the faint cackle of Gig. Strangely comforting.
Gabriel strangely finds himself understanding the imp much better than most other people. Perhaps a combination of his own erratic thinking and listening to Gig allows this understanding of infernal information.
“Oooooooh,” Gabriel starts before the infernal’s words take a darker tone and in turn so does Gabriel as he repeats in a lower octave,” Oooooh....”
Parts to save Kravor and stop Winter. Crystallis Crystal: Check Capability to Drain infernal: Check (Need helps though) Celestial Energy on standby to balance: Check (Might need more though)
The boy looks at the little devil darlin and says,” Thank you for your consultation. You were very helpful... Youuuu... Sorry I don’t know what to call you and I don’t wanna be rude.” Gabriel looks at Handler Leon and asks if he’s missing some formality through his expression. "A name," Handler instructs the burning creature. Not the true name. No. Names have power over things less concerned with the mortal coil. Yet only one name truly fits the creature with energy like this. "Tooooorrrrcchhhh," is practically rumbles out like an out of control camp fire. "Eheh heh heh," the creature naturally cackles, as if what most might do for a long breath. "One could even steal his heart? Lock it away!" One by one the creature eats his fingers as they grow back just as fast, "Eat it. Its such a deliciously aged soul. Such a GOOD FRIEND should lend it to you. Go shopping!" Handler Leone does add in, "It does fetch a good price, if that interests you. Even if it does not, breaking off the excess is a waste if not refined."
Torch nods repeatedly. "Yes yes! BREAK HIM! SUNDER HIM! Then scoop him up and," he licks the air in front of him, "om nom nom." The small creature's eyes venture to Syn, then back to Gabriel, "Give him to Gi.. Giiii. Giiiiiiii." He can't seem to say the word. Handler Leone notes, "Gig," without going into the difficulty that Torch has saying Gig's name. Power in a name, that, great power. "Also, the great fire. Phoenix. Rebirth. Necessary if you do the breaking and the eating. Need to restart the spark, yes." To that, the red fox pops her head out of Clyde's hood as the two Candles yabber about apple skin texture. “Third time I’ve heard the Phoenix today,” the boy mutters while listening to Torch intently. Giving it to Gig? Big no. Give it to the Phoenix? Never met it before. Actually...
“Is the Phoenix a boy or a girl?”
With all the information the boy was just given, a majority of it would need to be discussed and only a few questions could be answered. For instance...
“Also how would someone “null” a crystal from the crystal city? It’s not as easy as just taking out the color part. Right?”
Now these are the million dollar questions to be asking a self devouring infernal with the name of a burning stick. This is the epitome of conversation. The sudden burst of cackling beside the desk of the handler causes Syn to turn around, taking another bite from the mysterious meat dumpling and watching the impish creature drift around the little gnome. “Ah yes…one of those.” Memories of Avernus return. The first time she wacked one out of the air with the femur of a passed prisoner. She chuckles at the thought.
The creature shouts its ‘name’ across the inky black room and Syn listens as it cackles and explains possible solutions to the desperate Gabriel in saving Kravor’s life. It speaks of sunder and its eyes momentarily lock on to hers before attempting to spew out the name of Gig. “Tsk. Yes, yes. Breaker.” She says condescendingly. “If that’s really part of the solution, I don’t have a damn clue how to do that. You know…it keeps coming up but no one has actually informed me of how to utilize it.” She shrugs, taking another bite. Mhm. "That's because you've got dumplings for brains, bwahahaha!" Torch says as he hops up onto Gabriel's head, pointing and taunting at Syn. "Eeehhehehehe," he dances. Then a hop. A hop on Gabriel's head as if to scold him, "No! No no no! Null a crystal. A crystal of neth. Nethicite. Drained. Much like you drain your friend. Fill the drain with your friend. Nethicite once more!"
"Phoenix is a Phoenix!" states the burning little devil. Those elementals have chosen not to gender identify. How rude of Gabe. Sizzle……
SNAP.
In a quick movement she dashes towards the little creature that’s jumping mockingly on top of Gabriel’s head. Like a ball resting on a tee she brings her great club back with a forceful swing. She stops the great club right at the top of Gabriel’s head, inches from the creature’s dumb little eyes, leaning forward to hiss at him. “You’re a little shit, you know that?”
She leans back, pulling the club away from him and letting out a sigh. “So we split him, put a half in this fancy crystal thing, and seek assistance from this Phoenix?” Again," AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAooooooooooh....." Clubs are scary when they're coming at you with the speed of a flying arrow.
After another brush with potential death in case Syn missed her mark, Gabriel, sweating out a of fear, looks up at Torch and then at Syn," It's um... one of our options...another is to pump him full of radiance... I'm just happy we have options... and that the Phoenix... is a Phoenix... Also Nethecite... I know what that is... Torch... you are very helpful... How do you know so much?" "Ehehehe," Torch cackles atop of Gabriel's head while looking at Syn. He sticks out his tongue when there is a hiss. To Gabriel's question? " I don't." and another voice "I DO," in a deep rumble. The creature kicks off with his large, claw-like feet. Into the darkness, leaving only a trail of red light where his eyes once were before they fade out. "Wooooow... He's so cool... and rude... Like a... like a... a baby... a flaming baby... I feel really light headed...," Gabriel mutters as he leans against Handler Leon's desk," BUT! I'm ready to go... when you guys wanna go... I don't have anything else... I wanna buy... Don't have any more souls... yaaaaaaaaaaaay...."
With that, the boy slumps down and rests his eyes as Yorkie wakes up finally. She scurries on top of his head and acts as the mini radar she was always meant to be. Concluding her in depth conversation on the weather patterns and how different clouds effect the mouth feel of an apple, Alexa looks around to Gabe. "Did you get the information you need'? Syn looks over to Alexa then back down to the sleeping Gabriel. "...I would assume so..." She rolls her eyes at the little Gnome. Grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and shaking him. "HEY! We gotta go boy!" She drops Gabriel to the floor. tossing a wave to the Handler, Clyde, and Alcina. "Time to split a soul." She says, stepping through the door once more. With a hint of concern in her eyes, Alexa addresses Clyde once more before leaving. "Again, it was good to see you and Alcina. You may see a Raven from me soon. I hope you find who you were looking to visit." Stepping back she looks at Handler Leon, "A pleasure as always, Handler Leon." Watching as Gabe and Syn leave, she places a piece of paper on his desk with some low level Intel written on it. "Please add this to my tab for future need." With that she turns and walks through the door, leaving the darkness behind. The Handler places his hand over the paper in a slow, methodical fashion. Not the first time intel has been shared. It wont be a last. Information is a commodity, after all. Clyde waves a gloved hand and provides a small, if not sincere, smile on his face. The fox in his hood scampers to his head and waves as well, red tail flicking with traces of the purest flame flickering off of her fur. Gabriel follows Alexa and Syn after being plopped on the floor. He waves to Clyde, Alcina, Handler Leon, and the beautiful piano playing lady whose name gives him a headache for some reason, individually instead of just a blanket goodbye.
After existing, he sniffs out the candle and allows it to disappear just as he had created it while also rubbing away the chalk door. Without saying a word to either Syn or Alexa, because sleepy boys be sleepy, he walks to the abandoned home housing Gig, Paulo, and Kravor while yawning the entire way in an effort to keep himself away. To push through the tiredness of screaming his little lungs out with Yorkie’s help. To which all the scenes converge, as they should, to Gig's laughter.
Gig cackles, "Two liars, and for once it isn't me. Hahahahaha!"
The Devil is uncomfortably close to Kravor, providing a 'two against one' look as they face a standing Paulo. Dignified Paulo. Stonefaced Paulo against all of this laughter. Syn follows behind Gabriel, weirdly quiet as they approach the abandoned home. The cackling echoes out from the door and her hand grips the handle of her great club that is slung over her shoulder. She’s been avoiding the inevitable and there is a heavy weight that presses against her chest. Fear? Regret?
She stops at the door paused for a moment. In hushed tones she speaks. “Let’s get this over with.” Syn bumps the door open with the hilt of her club. The wooden door creaks and slowly gives view into the room that Kravor, Paulo, and Gig find themselves. Her eyes quickly scan the room, passing each one of them as they stand there conversing. Her hand grips tighter to the handle of her club and she walks inside. Gabriel, oblivious to the tension in the moment, waddles his way to the nearest wall and plops down before telling Kravor," Good news. You've got more options if you wanna live. Bad news, one of them involves you taking a short death nap until we can resurrect you."
He looks the the devil," Hi, Dad Devil Dude with freaking floating scythes..." Then to Paulo," Hi, Mr. Paulo." Finally, he rests his eyes, still awake but not wanting to waste precious energy to look. The silver dragonborn with scorches as dark as his past is left with a stare at Paulo when the group is entering. The cackling of Gig isn't adding to the situation. Danger itself is thick in the air, but its nothing that hasn't existed in every sober moment. "It IS the truth," he rumbles, locking with Paulo once more. "And I don't know him from anyone else. Condemn me for choosing survival, wouldn't be the first." When Gig finally finishes his cackling and accusation. "Not that it worked." Liars? Who? Them? Or the people who just entered.
Paulo's infinity blue eyes shift to Syn as she enters first. They are like aloe on a burn. Cool. Calming. Disarming when the static of Gig's voice pulls the tension back. "Gabriel," the white haired figure says with the regality of an academy professor. Of course it isn't Paulo that greets the club wielding tiefling first. It is Gig, "Synnnnn," he drawls as his head lowers down on his shoulder. Eyes squinting as that body lurches forward, like a predator sizing up something that caught his eyes. Looks like the gang is all here. Mostly. “Gig.” Eyes narrow as she walks into the room, taking stand beside Kravor. “I’m extremely glad to see you two catching up and what not.” Her eyes bouncing between Paulo and Gig. “It’s been a shit show of loathing and inner reflection and frankly, I am two seconds from vomiting. So…” Glancing over to Gabriel. “Your little bun bun has some ideas thanks to the Handler…and a creature that oddly reminds me of you, Gig.” She turns back locking onto amber eyes from across the room.
“Option one, we start with this whole breaker thing.” Syn starts to casually walk around, circling Kravor as she speaks. “Though you might die.” She grins. “Most likely die. I don’t know what I’m doing. That’s my disclaimer.” She twirls the club down off her shoulder and points it directly at Gabriel. “But you…also have other options that go along with this. Divine energy, and a crystal.” She returns the club back up over her shoulder, letting out a faint sigh.
Don’t pick the first option. She thinks over and over in her head as she returns to stand next to Kravor. Gabriel, opening one eye at the mention of his name and to look at Syn for the briefest second, finishes his breaking counterparts sentiments.
“One option is that we gather a large enough source of celestial energy to overpower the infernal energy within you. Think of it like like a circle. Add more Celestial and it creates a balance in your body with your Draconian side rather than Infernal which will tear you up once the ward is gone. Removing the ward isn’t an option, it’ll only speed up the process. However, we can use that crystal in your greatsword to essentially bottle up some of your essence. It would kill you, but you could later be revived due to the feathers of the Phoenix or maybe Dad can make you a new body if we strike up a bargain though I recommend trying other options first cause you know... what you get out of the deal might be less than what you give...”
The boy looks at his devil dad with... slight agitation perhaps?
“Infernal called Torch consulted us after a healthy transaction. Pretty rude but very helpful. Would talk again...” The eye closes until the boy is roused from resting once again while Yorkie stands on his head. "I came here seeking a consultation during my last hours," Kravor says as he moves his draconic gaze from Paulo to Gig. From Gig to Syn. Syn to Gabriel. "The crystal in my sword," he asks, drawing out his massive weapon. The crystal in it, once a crystallis crystal, pulses with a dark corruption of black and purple. Far beyond use as the original purpose. "Sounds about right. Live or die by the sword, eh? So where are these feathers now?"
Paulo states with simplicity, "I can provide a connection to as much radiant energy as you need, if thats the route you want to explore. It has to be your choice." Gig bears his teeth in a cheshire smile, "How neat and tidy. How boringly Paulo, Paulo," the devil states as he begins to walk around the room. On the room. Deciding that now is a good time to walk up the side of a wall and then the ceiling of it. "Torch sounds like a reliable source. With a name like that how could you ever get burned by the intel," the white haired man cackles, long white hair going straightdown towards the ground as it remains subject to gravity. For now. "Rest assured, I shall be here when all of your attempts turn to ash in the fire and present a deal to make you anew." That deadly pause, "For a price."
Paulo snaps his fingers and states, "The denizens of this realm do not need your deals, Gig. They can solve their own problems with tools and will of their own making. Stop preying on their vulnerability." Gig cackles in response, "Oh? Is that a fact or do you SEE that too? Looks to me they have choices. What will they pick though, mm? Tick tock tick tock. Thats the sound of Kravor's clock. Tick Tock." “Feathers are with the Phoenix. Once we get your essence in the crystal, we go find it, and ask it nicely for the feathers. I’ve always wanted to see an elemental so we’ll be knocking out two things at once,” the boy says without opening an eye but chuckling slightly at Gig’s impression of a clock and also his Phoenix references. A good reference must always be acknowledged.
But in a more serious tone, akin to Handler Leon, Gabriel opens his eyes and looks towards Paulo to ask,” Will you giving us this celestial connection have any drawbacks on you?”
After saying this however the boy’s attention immediately goes to the devil and chuckles with a tad bit of awe. He never realized how long Gig’s hair was. Syn’s hand twitches with building anger as she hears Paulo’s statement about vulnerability. Like teetering on a fence, part of her hates the decision she’s made, the other part of her welcomes it with open arms. The thought angers and frustrates her down to the very core and hearing Paulo speak on preying vulnerability only makes it worse.
Because he’s right.
Or is he?
Syn lifts her head upwards to watch Gig casually walk up the side of the wall “It’s true. We have choices. Some are good, some are….bad. “ She continues to watch him scale the ceiling as long white hair tumbles down from gravity. “Choices nonetheless.” Her eyes shift from Gig to Kravor. “And you have a choice to make.” There is a finger tap against the handle of her great club waiting for his decision. The heavy weight against her chest remains.
If he chooses to be sundered and it doesn’t work, its on me. I’ll kill another friend. If I become the monster that I was told I was in Avernus during the battle, then what? Will I go after Alexa again? Even Gabriel?
But a part of you wants to see what being a Breaker is. A part of you wants to feel that power again. Subconsciously a disturbing smirk forms at the corner of her mouth as she stands there in thought.
Tap, tap, tap tap. Her fidgeting increases as everyone stands around, eyes locked onto the dragonborn. She breaks her thought and reaches out, grabbing the arm of Kravor and pulling him down closer to her eye level. “Make. Your. Decision. Dragonborn.” "Predator and Prey. Predator and Prey. Just because you don't like it, you can't wish it away," Gig says as his hair remains annoyingly in the way as he walks on the ceiling. He is oh too perfectly at eye-to-eye level with Paulo when the horned devil finishes his pacing. "Paulo, its a fucked up world. Can't you see the FUN in that?"
Alas, Paulo cannot, in fact, see the fun in that. He speaks through the mess of white hair to address an issue with the presented plan. "A crystallis crystal as corrupted as the one in Kravor's sword would not work that way. It has already filtered as much of the negative energy as it could. You would be putting water in a full bucket. A pure crystal would be required. You would likely die from the speed of the imbalance. A Phoenix feather would do its job afterwards. Not a bad plan."
A gloved wizardly hand appears out from the side of Gig's mass of hair. Paulo's hand, albiet he is shrouded by the Devil's confrontation with him. "The other plans," Paulo continues. He is cut short by Kravor, "I'll do that plan." The dragonborn looks to Syn. Decisive. Decisions must be made. Good or bad. He resonates with the Breaker's sentiments. "Where do we get a pure crystal?"
"Oh I know a place," Gig says with childlike glee. "But," as the red eyed accents during a flip to the ground itself, "that would be telling. Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. Tick Tock. A gem and a feather, oh how they belong together, tick tock." Syn lets go of Kravor’s arm as a look of fear crosses her face for a brief second. Turning to look up at Gig. “No. Of course you wouldn’t tell us. Which is why I’m not going to ask you.” She lets out a frustrated sigh, walking towards Paulo behind the white hair that dangles before him. Grabbing Gig’s hair and jolting it to the side to look up at the blue eye wizard. “Perhaps you know where we could find one of these crystals?” Tilting her head to the side as she asks him. Paulo responds in a simple, academic fashion similar to certain library bound Aquarians, "You could return to the Shadow Market to purchase one. If they have any in stock, it will be expensive. Alternatively," the wizard says as he looks down to the inquisitive tiefling, "there are some in Freeport."
The red eyed devil tilts to the side as his hair is tugged. "Have I mentioned how boring you are," Gig says as he is tilted hard to the side, exaggerating the tug as he looks up towards the two nearby. Straightening up, he grins, "have some sense of mystery! Some pizzaz!" Hands throw red smoke up into the air. "Go here. Grab this. Return here. Place crystal into dragon's chest. Blah blah blah," Gig makes his attempt at a robotic Paulo voice. "Its FREEPORT, Paulo," the infernal states, one arm around Syn's shoulder and the other around, well, Paulo's waist as there is a significant height difference. "Land of memories. You remember, dont you? Mm? MMM?" Head goes from Syn to Paulo to Syn to Paulo.
"Where it all started. Why, if you were capable of being deceptive I would be thinking you are suggesting it so Syn here has a way out of our little arrangement," Gig says, he hasn't forgotten, "but thats why its so fun! What will you find there in that watery grave? Crystals? Despair?" The later words drip like blood off of a fresh corpse.
"Crystals," Paulo answers cleanly, not baited by Gig's words. "One portal to and back before the Xan'theril elves send their assassins out. One light to see that side of Freeport. One sufficient crystal in that area. Return..." Gig stares with squinting eyes up at Paulo as he starts reciting an instruction manual level of detail so mechanical it is like biting into plain bread with bread in the middle. A bread sammich. Syn slaps Gig’s hand that is placed on her shoulder. “Neither of those options are pleasant. The shadow market is out of the question. I don’t think we have anything for payment.” As Gig speaks of Freeport, the land of memories, where it all started, she pulls his hair to the side even harder. “Tsk. Was hoping you’ve forgotten about that Gig.”
Still looking up to Paulo. “Freeport…unfortunately seems to be the better option of the two. I know the city rather well for what it’s worth. Where the crystal is located though, I may need help.” As she finishes her sentence, small breadcrumbs tumble down over her head. “CAN YOU NOT!?” Brushing the crumbs away as they fall onto her head. Om. Nom. Nom. Gig eats his bread sammich loudly. Chew chew chew. "What? Itsth an enthrawlling schtory about bhoring schystematic schteps that even you could fowwow," the Devil says as he smacks his lips. "Like this here bread sammich. So rich in. Bread. Flavor."
Antagonism aside, Paulo offers one stoic correction, "Different Freeport. The Freeport you know north of the original site. Just as Crystallis is east of its original site. The name is the name of 'home' for those wishing freedom from oppression and to live their lives by their rules. Home isnt a place, it resides in the heart. In this case, however, it is the place that is more important than the name." Clear as mud. He restates it differently, "The place where the crystals are is known as the Ruins of White Waters. It is where Skyport launched from when Ishtia, Leviathan, and Lancyte were unable to prevent its ascent." Gig smiles like a happy child at that statement. Crumbs everywhere. "I can see two pure crystals there. However," he looks into the distance as what looks like flecks of light cross over his deep blue eyes, "neither are uncontested." Gig ignites his toast with a flame underneath one hand, "See? All bread needs to be interesting is a little... fire. Tick Tock." Its not even insinuated that Gig has something to do with it being contested. At this point is one of those established facts. At the mention of Freeport... And Syn, Alexa perks up in worry. This is too much, a Gigged up Syn going out into the world before they have answers can't be good. "We may have more pull with Handler Leon than you think." She states matter of factly. "Before you wander out into the world, let me talk to him alone." Looking to Syn, then Gig, then Paulo. "Please." Addressing Paulo, she clarifies what is needed. "A pure crystal? Crystalis or nullicite, correct?" "Pure Crystallis. Condensed auroracite, yes," Paulo confirms with Alexa. "Drained Nethicite, or Nullicite will also work. Less effective containment and lower stability. It could detonate." Gig grins to Alexa, a sharp toothed smile, "I'm sure the Xan'theril elves will love that. Their little outpost with little jagged nethicite shards all around it. Lets do that option!" Alexa's eyes narrow at the sound of Gig's voice. "Pure crystallis it is." She turns around and walks outside of the house into the alleyway right next to it. She takes out a candle and a piece of chalk and creates her entryway to the shadow market. Stepping inside to barter for an option that won't damage the continent “Aw come on Alexa, a little fun in Freeport? Opportunity to take a vacation from this forsaken place?” Syn takes a step back in a huff watching Alexa leave the house. “BECAUSE YOU SAID PLEASE!” She shouts. A little disappointed that her portal to Freeport might be snuffed out. There is a silence that fills the air briefly as her body language shifts, slowly turning and tilting her head up to the ceiling. “And you…” She says is a slow menacing voice watching the devil chew and chew and chew on bread upside down for that matter. “Where is she?” "Closer than you think," Gig says with a long, drawn out chew that forms his trademark maniacal smile. To spoil all of the fun, Paulo starts with a , "She..." before Gig turns around and throws the bread sammich at him, "NO! BAD PAULO! NO ONE ASKED YOU!" “So what? I’m suppose to take your fucking word on that statement?” She says behind a frustrated voice, watching Gig hurl the bread sandwich at the stoic wizard. “Ah, why would I expect anything more from you? Of course, a Devil. Taking the thing I desire most and twisting it into a game.” She grits her teeth. Knowing she can’t do anything, knowing both of them here are well beyond her power. Helpless, again, and again, and again. Gig sways from his perch on the ceiling. He moves so that his white hair surrounds Syn's face like a white forest. Long, talon-like hands extending to rake against against her cheeks with the faintest sharpness of a winter gale. "Am I?' he asks, turning his head to look directly below him at the tiefling, grinning broadly ear to ear. "I can hear those chains of fear tightening around you," he says, razor like tips going down to her neck, over her jugular, "I can smell the desperation like a perfume." He inhales deeply, exhaling, "Yet," fingertip to the pulse, "oh that fire radiates just beneath the surface. There it is and no Big Sister around to tell you not to let it out."
Meanwhile, at the Shadow Market. Handler Leone and the Musician are present. The familiar vocals echo the formless corridors as she is playing the piano and singing now. The Handler raises his eyes from his book, "Back so soon," the raspy old Devil states as a skeletal thin hand rests atop the page he is on. "Yes, it appears I'll need something to prevent something much darker from happening. Do you happen to have a pure crystallis crystal?" Handler Leone takes a moment to flip through the pages. Flip. Flip. "Rare item, that. No. Not readily available. We could acquire one for you if time is not an issue." His burning eyes set in coal black settle on Alexa, "Though, I assume that time is, in fact, an issue." Usually is. She sighs, this was not what she was hoping for. "Unfortunately time is of the essence in this situation. It's unfortunately forcing my hand in a direction I did not want it to go. Why is it that people make such dumb decisions?" She looks at Handler Leon, half expecting an answer, half just talking to the room. "If people didn't make mistakes," Handler Leone provides an odd moment of insight with an old client, "there would be no need for commerce. It would be a vast field of black or white." The Handler doesn't seem to get frustrated with things. Simply makes a note here. Makes a note there. "It is most regrettable our stocks were depleted. Until recently, we did have one in stock." That sort of information, normally, is not revealed. Its confidential. Eyes level on Alexa as if letting her know that. "However, we are not in the business of making excuses like that. It has been noted to keep more in stock for such situations as this." Alexa notes his statement, his opening about something he normally doesn't, let's her know her groundwork with him has been working. Returning his unspoken favor, she states "It appears that Gig has made his own alterations to the gate here in Nexus. Who knows, with the way things are going you'll be seeing more of me." She nods her head to him, returning the same glance that this information is one of value. "Irregardless, it's a pleasure doing business with you as always." She smiles and slightly nods her head to him, turning around and exiting the room. She erases the door and very quietly says "shit." Syn leans backwards with wide eyes as he moves quickly from the ceiling. White hair flowing across her face and shrouding her view to only see amber eyes staring back. Her expression changes as the talon like hands scrape slightly against her face. With angry dark red eyes, she speaks. “I am not afraid.”
The talon finger moves down her jugular and pauses on the vein as her heart beats. “And you seem to have confused desperation for determination.” Her free hand quickly comes up, grabbing his wrist and bending it back slightly. “The deal. She was part of the deal. I need confirmation she’s alive and well. Or do you no longer want a breaker?” Her mouth curls into a menacing grin, sharp canines showing from underneath her lips and eyes that widen once more as she plays the devils game. Alexa walks back into the house, and seeing Syn distracted takes the opportunity to speak with Paulo out of earshot. "I was unsuccessful, but you said you could create a portal to Freeport? Is this old or new?" The bending causes the sound of leather tightening as Gig moves with enough force for it to be moved away and then back. Away and then back. Each time that talon comes close to her neck until the Devil is so close that he is practically touching her forehead with his. "Oh ho. Confirmation wasn't part of the deal. If you can't tell, that is not my problem." As the tension between the wrist becomes more intense the senses sharpen. Then a cut, enough for blood to trickle like hot rain down the side of Syn's neck. Enough for her to catch the scent of Solus on Gig as the senses heighten. That familiar scent that doesn't have a word for it. Like what lavender would be like off the blackened cliffs of Avernus on a day when the smoke of a crimson fire only gently paints the olfactory palette. Gig scoops up that blood in his talon, "Stick to Breaking, dumpling brain, before you become boring like Paulo here."
Paulo here, who is standing by while... whatever the hell you want to call that... is occurring. He answers Alexa when she returns, "Old Freeport, by your standards and yes. Though you must be quick about it. It won't be long before the elves are aware of your departure. That would further complicate things." "And you say you know where it is? We can be quick, if Kravor truly wants a new chance he can join me and Gabe to get it." She states, looking to Kravor and Gabe, allowing Syn's moment with Gig to envelope her so they can get there without her. At the mention of his name, Gabriel opens his eyes to blink a few times," Mrhrjmmm... wha.. way what? I'm goin too?" Alexa nods "you seem to have a high enough knowledge of elements and crystals that would make identifying the correct crystal quicker." She states, almost militant in nature. She forgot herself for a moment, quickly a warm smile forms on her face... Motherly, that's what he prefers, "This was part your idea, I think you'd be a great help, and I'd appreciate your company." "Oh okay...," the gnomish boy says while rubbing his eyes," I appreciate the niceness, but if you need to be serious just go full warden. Not the first time I've followed a soldier... I mean... ex-soldier.... Mercenary? I forgot the word Mig used..." Utter gibberish from a waking boy. His eyes consistently glance at Syn and Gig though be it because of his anxiety at Syn being so close to danger or the proximity of being so close to Gig is up for debate. Alexa pulls out a map of old Freeport that she has in her bag. "So where exactly do we need to go?" She looks to Paulo, preparing to leave as soon as possible A single finger points to Alexa's map as Paulo makes reference to building near the docks. "I see it here," he tells her. The finger trails back to a temple near the entrance, "And the safe place to put the portal is here." A bit of a trek inwards and then back again. "Okay, Kravor, are you coming?" She looks to the sulking dragonborn, then back to Paulo, "we're ready to go, and will be quick, I promise." There is a brief shock and an intense flash of memories as the faint scent of Solus lingers off the devil before her. The force of his hand fighting against her own, and the talon reaching out to cut a small line across her flesh sends her into a frenzy. It reaches its boiling point and she snaps. DON’T FUCKING BELITTLE ME!" Pressing her forehead against his and shoving him into the wall behind him. “I SAID I WOULD BE YOUR KNIGHT YET YOU CONTINUE TO PLAY GAMES!” She hisses and sneers in a red frenzied rage oblivious to the plan that is underway behind her with Paulo, Alexa, and Gabriel. There is enough force from Gig being moved back that he hits the wall and lands on the correct side of gravity. Paulo, notably, moves out of the damn way. The white haired devil runs a thumb over his fine lips, licking the corner at a taste of his own blood. "Oh this has been a minute," the devil grins with a sense of wild abandon found only in infernal circles. Or maybe just Gig. While Syn is still seething, Gig strikes on the hot irons, coming to blows with Syn with a punch to the gut followed by headbutt that causes a fresh line of blood to go down his forehead. "Ahhh YES I forgot how good this was," the creature says as those strikes don't seem to break every fiber of Syn's body. They seem somewhat. Normal. Like a bar brawl. Made worse as Gig takes his jacket off and cracks his neck to the side, "C'mon. Do it. Do it do it do it do it."
Paulo absentmindedly mends the damage caused to the wall that Gig cratered into.
Kravor silently grabs his greatsword and nods to Alexa. Its his mess, he is willing to take part in cleaning it up. Alexa looks at the mess that is whatever is happening between Syn and Gig, worried to leave her with him. "Please don't let anything too crazy happen, I know there's still good in her, and I trust you." She looks into Paulo's eyes, imploring his help with Syn. The punch from Gig lands solid into Syn’s abdomen. Letting out a sharp cough and a loss of air momentarily. Her head throbbing from the collision between skulls. She drops her great club and it tumbles and rolls to the side. There is a cold sensation across her forehead as she reaches her hand up, smeared with blood. “What!? Will you kill me?! KILL YOUR PRECIOUS BREAKER!?” She shouts, stepping forward, pulling her arm back and returning a heavy rage filled punch into his stomach. She shakes her hand as shooting pain runs up her forearm. Gig's stomach is like a flesh covered bag of iron sand. "HAHAHAHA," the devil cackles, stretching out his chest as he laughs against the rage. Not a nervous laughter. A question of sanity laugh. "Kill you?" he asks, reaching forward in a grapple with one hand on Syn's horn. The pure heat coming off of Gig's clawed hand reminding of a lava filled Avernis. The sizzle as he grips the other horn. Holding her so that her eyes lock to his, he gives her another headbutt, mixing the blood over his face before releasing. "Tear you apart?" a boot comes next, kicking her right towards a wall. "Limb from fucking limb and stitch you back together again?" A hand comes to his face, wide, wild eyes dancing as he draws his own hand just like Syn did. To his own face. Smearing it down one side. "Never crossed my mind." His laughter continues to fuel Syn’s rage as he grabs onto her horns. The heat radiating from his hands can be felt across the top of her skull and it burns, god does it burn. She brings a hand up to grip at his forearm, attempting to shove his burning hands away. Her eyes widen as his amber eyes lock onto hers, cracking skulls come together, opening the head wound even more. Before the pain can be shaken off, it’s met with a boot kicking her back forcefully into a wall. It leaves several cracks against the wood interior and causes the framed artwork hanging to fall off the wall. With blood trickling down between her eyebrows, there is a silence. Dark red trickles down her face, her mouth contorting into a sadistic smirk. The blood drips down onto her bottom lip and she rolls her tongue across her smirking mouth. “I never did peg you for someone into sewing anyway.”
She presses her palms against the wood wall, pushing off and lunging towards the white-haired devil. She comes in low, ducking before jumping upwards and throwing another punch underneath his chin. As his head tilts upwards, she reaches up, grabbing his own horns and pulling him down into a perfectly placed knee. “For someone who made a city for the poorly treated..." The blood now rolls down her chin and a single drop falls, hitting the floor. "You sure do enjoy stripping what little hope people have left. Or is that the point? If you can't have it, nobody can?" The punch connects like a hammer hitting the polished stonework of fine masonry. Gig's head recoils back, a perfect fulcrum to swing back down as Syn's knee cracks into his face like an axe into a freshly seasoned cord of wood.
There are sounds that should be pain that are instead laughter. Wet, maniacal laughter as his face is mostly blood with the canvas of his skin peeking through in untouched spots. “Hahaha haha ha. Ahhh,” the Devil runs the back of his hand against his face as the knuckle drags across a busted lip. “Damn, for a Breaker you hit like a little girl. Maybe ‘precious’ is right and I should put you in a frilly dress instead,” he says, opening and closing his jaw with a wet crackle along the mandible. A quick jab right to Syn’s face. “Back to being a pretty face.” Jab. “Some exotic pet on a leash.” Jab. His motions seem almost human. Not faster than light. Not supernatural.
Gig places his entire hand over Syn’s face after peppering it, bashing the back of her head against a wall. “You.” Smash. “Are.” Smash. “Not.” Smash. “Paying attention.” Release. “Class is in session. What have we learned? You haven’t learned anything about me and your friends are leaving through the only place you might learn. Anything. Hahahahaha.”
Its true, the fight would serve as a fantastic diversion as Paulo has finished the portal which Alexa, Gabriel, and Kravor have already made their way through. “Tick tock. Tick tock. What’ll it be. Want me to keep babysitting you, precious little Breaker?” “Oh? Your face right now tells me otherwise.” Before she can reply to the frilly dress comments, a quick jab from his fist lands across the side of her face, stumbling slightly backwards and gaining balance. Quickly glancing back towards the devil only to be met with a palm to the face. He shoves her head against the nearby wall, over and over. Pain shooting down the base of her skull and down the back of her neck as blood trickles out her nose. In between the head slams she lets out a chaotic laugh. Just as disturbing if not more than Gig’s previously. “I. AM. FUCKING. TRYING.”
Her eyes peak between his talon like fingers and over his shoulder. The portal to Freeport remains. She shoves his hand, sliding down the wall and ducking underneath his arm to dash towards her great club on the floor, picking it up and throwing it up over her shoulder. She makes her way to the opening of the portal as it begins to close. Turning back with a blood-soaked smirk. “Gig.” She nods leaning backwards and closing behind the portal to join the others.