[Story] Blood and Water

[Rainbae]

Stats

Strength: 0
Stamina: 0
Speed: 0
Shimmer: 5
Soul: 0
Brawl: 0
Melee: 2
Ranged: 5
Preparation: 5

Terrain Affinity: Urban
Terrain Weakness: Artic
Element Affinity: Lightning
Element Weakness: Fire

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name: Koko Gero
Date | Time: 01.12.1323 |
Location: Johtan Wilderness
Wearing:  Red Overalls, White Blouse, Faded Blue Leather Trench Coat, Goggles, Heavy Work Boots
Tagging | Mentioning: Dari, Thessa, Chee, Shir
Notes: N/A
Koko felt incredibly helpless as she stood and listened to Yunla explain what she knew. Helpless both in the conversation and just at the greater world. The revelation didn’t hurt her directly of course. Not more than just lamenting the deaths of any citizen. Truthfully she had no stake in the people of Seabreeze, except to say that she knew both of her friends had strong ties there. And yet even without direct ties to the place she felt her heart hurt. Both because she knew she couldn’t do anything to stop their pain right now but also because it angered her once more. Angered her in that it just all seemed so impossible for people to live. It made her soul burn to know that three times she had heard of a Hollow attack on a town outside of Onyx and three times many had died. At least this time they had been spared learning of an entire town being slaughtered but still…the feeling of hopelessness was something she was feeling all the more often lately it seemed.

Thoughts for later it seemed as Shir’s hand on her shoulder and pointed look brought her back to earth. She nodded smally to him, acknowledging his command. She followed his logic almost immediately as she looked over at Dari and Chee. This was their moment to share for now, she’d be there for their fall if it happened. Here, or at home. She took a few slow steps over towards Dari. She had her back turned to Yunla now. Not that she trusted the woman but if she wanted to attack Koko first that was mostly fine by her. Even if she would almost certainly die it would be signing her own death warrant at this point with Shir free and her teammates still always ready to pounce. Even if she had supremely pissed her off earlier Koko didn’t think Yunla hated her so much to literally die to kill her.

She kept her eyes towards the tree line now, searching and scanning. She pulled her goggles down and turned a few knobs on them until the lenses turned and shifted such that she could see further. Meanwhile she backed into Dari without saying a word. All the way until she shoulders pressed into his back. Obviously she was much shorter but still the gesture was clear. Prop yourself up if you need. She knew him well, and she knew he had far too much pride to let himself seem weak in this scenario. And that was why she had gone for this more silent approach to supporting him. She wasn’t going to offer him verbal sympathies and make him feel small. More so because she still wasn’t even totally sure if Yunla would let her live long enough to speak it all. Still, she could keep his back straight if he couldn’t right now.

[Eye of Horus]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 3
Speed: 3
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 3
Brawl: 1
Melee: 4
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 1

Terrain Affinity: Desert
Terrain Weakness: Aquatic, Swamp
Element Affinity: Lightning (black arcanite)
Element Weakness: Earth (green arcanite)

Weapon Bonus:12

Character Name:Dariaq Syvanios
Date | Time: 12.01.1323 | Late morning
Location: Johtan wilderness
Wearing: Hammer uniform
Tagging | Mentioning: Shir Dhan, Chee Tortious, Koko Gero, Thessa Almentis
Notes: Drowning
When Thessa spoke of planting his father’s funeral tree, Dari’s stomach twisted once again. Why hadn’t those been the first words out of his mouth? This was all wrong.

He stared at Yunla, a pale ghost delivering voices for the dead. His fingers curled into fists against his sides, anchoring himself to the real with the coarse texture of his Hammer jacket, as rainwater wept down the kevlar weave. The silence after Yunla finished was a space full of ghosts.

Matilda. Olia. Those two names were like small candles in the dark. Witnesses. If he was to tell his father’s story…

He blinked against the rain, uncertain why the sudden compulsion had come to him. His mind was still a quiet fog. Was he feeling the duty of a son to a father? Or of a historian to a fallen protector?

“Thank you,” he said, quietly. “For staying with him.”

He couldn’t seem to put the other questions in his head into words. A family left behind. A dream of seeing their home. What did it all mean? He couldn’t-

He felt a soft pressure against his back - Koko, leaning against him in silent support. Just presence. The same thing he might have done. He uncurled one fist and reached back slightly, his fingers hooking around hers in a brief, grateful squeeze.

“The road to our home?” he asked, raising his gaze to look at Yunla once again. La Havre was no permanent home, even if it was the only one Dari had ever known. And Kalanos was a smoking ruin, with nothing awaiting them there except grinning Hollow. “Do you mean Tabor?”

[shengami]

Stats

Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Speed: 5
Shimmer: 2
Soul: 1
Brawl: 1
Melee: 3
Ranged: 1
Preparation: 3

Terrain Affinity: Grassland/Forest
Terrain Weakness: Arctic/Aquatic
Element Affinity: Lightning
Element Weakness: Water

Weapon Bonus: 12+2

Character Name:  Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 01.12.1323 | ~11:43am
Location: Johtan Wilderness
Wearing: Hammer Uniform, Bag, Weapons as CS
Tagging | Mentioning: Koko, Thessa, Dari, Shir | N/A
Notes: Mathilda!?!
Everything was tight, small, still. Still was dangerous. His ears flicked rapidly; they wouldn't cease. His tail was active. Weeks? His eyes narrowed. His mouth worked; it was dry. He'd thought he had time to make that right.

Even the news that Yunla had defeated the Hollow and there were minimal casualties didn't mean that one of them wasn't a sibling. The man who'd helped her, Dari's dad, had been helping Mathilda. That meant the attack might have been near the orphanage.

His chest was tight. His well-honed sense of direction had him twist to look at the horizon that hid Seabreeze. He tried to see, extend his will, but it was useless. He was helpless in this moment to do or know anything. He turned again to look toward Onyx, to the tower where Hammer had communications equipment, to the easiest and fastest way to check in on them,

Then his mind skittered to the general. She ought to know of the attack. Weeks. The military had to know. Why hadn't she told him? He clicked his tongue; he wasn't important enough to inform explicitly. If they hadn't let the city know, then why would they tell him? He could ask Yridan at their next duty. Maybe the man would have some sympathy?

Could he go?

No, he didn't have that freedom now. He was in the military now, for now. And he couldn't take the time from Hammer or risk the appearance. He sucked in unwilling air. His skull was too tight. He was too still. He needed to do something. He spin again back to the elf, "Matilda? Was da orphanage attacked?" He forced himself still, to wait, but if it was, he wasn't sure he could keep himself still. The rain beat unheeded on his head as he waited for what she knew. Only then did it occur to him to question the facts given by an enemy. But he dismissed it. She was telling him the truth.

[Aethyrium]

Yunla Tal

Shir Dhan

S T O R Y T E L L E R
January 12th, 1323, Late morning (~11:43am) | Johtan Wilderness | Grassland - Water Resonance
Deadline: 7.20.25 | Koko, Chee, Thessa, Dariaq |
Her head bobbed slightly. “I do,” but as Thessa had noted, she’d not say more on it in the presence of outsiders. Besides, it seemed as though Thessa knew. If Dariaq wished to go where his father hadn’t, he already had a way. There was little she could offer him in that regard - but there was still something to offer him. She’d not feel right until she did.

Yunla stood slowly, glancing at the anxious energy of Chee. “Damaged, I believe,” but she didn’t have the answers he was going to want. Orphans - or Seabreeze, really - had not been her interest. “But still standing.” Was that home for him, she wondered? Was this why he felt a connection to Blackrazor and to Ameyani? Curious, but another thing she could do nothing about here and now.

She turned to face Dari. “You really do look like him,” Yunla sighed. “It is certain I would have died without your father’s intervention. I owe Erevan de Cobassarez a debt. One I cannot settle while I am here, and he is Amnesty.” She frowned and reached up slowly, “It is fate to be brought here, to meet you, the son in Erevan’s dying thoughts,” her hands reached back around her head and she plucked at the chain inside of her hair, loosening and untethering it so that the ruby jewel dangling on her forehead slouched forward. “I believe then that this debt is for you.” She gathered the jewel and its chain in her palm and reached for Dari’s hand, pulling it up and upturning his palm. She set hers in his, and dropped the jewelry into it. She found his eyes, and looked at him between the droplets of rain - the seriousness of her commitment here seemed to slow time for a moment.

“I will honor this debt. In person, or in name. This will be the token of that debt.” It was a representation of her - Yunla, of the Scorched Seven. Not everyone, not even most would recognize such a thing. But those who would recognize it? They would respect it. This was a chip that could be traded to imply, suggest, or otherwise note that Dariaq had Yunla’s support. Backing. Authority. Or, of course, to remind her of what was owed.

Slipping away, Yunla wrapped her hand around Guillotine’s hilt. Her favors here weren’t done. She pulled the blade from the ground and looked back at Chee. “As it wishes, I will not take Blackrazor home today,” her eyes sought the weapon out, as if to conform, “But I cannot keep what I have discovered today secret,” she turned around toward him, “If Blackrazor does not return home—” if Chee didn’t come to Ruby as she offered, “—if we do not know it is where it belongs—” if it didn’t accept him when he did, if it wasn’t made official, “—we will come for it, eventually.” Maybe not today, and probably not tomorrow either. But this was a promise, and a warning. So long as Chee held Blackrazor, and that ownership was not made official in the eyes of the Scorched Seven, in the eyes of Ruby, he was going to be a target. “Not all of us are as…” she glanced back down at the blade and then up to him, “Understanding as I am.”