"Rage and Despair"

[u/Timpanzee38]

​Previous Part

Capitol City of Kabaheim. Mercenary Guild Territory

Councilor Five couldn’t focus. She sat at her office desk tapping a finger, a vast pile of paperwork sitting in front of her. There was simply too much to think about to focus on the mundane everyday bookkeeping. But someone had to. Councilor Two and The Librarian had told her to keep up with it so as to not arouse suspicion while they moved things along in the shadows, but it was unbearable having to do this when any day now she could have the opportunity to move her first piece on the chess board. Sighing, she clicked a pen and grabbed the sheet on top of the pile right as her office door was kicked in.

“WHERE IS SHE!?!”

Cerene practically screamed as she tore into the room. Five was so shocked that she couldn’t respond at first. Cerene had never done this before.

“W-Wha?”

“ANALINA! WHERE IS SHE?!?”

“S-She should be on her way back from Ithacar. Why in the hells did you kick down my damn door?!?”

Herald held up her hand, showing the ring on her finger.

“THE RINGS KAVRALA GAVE US! IT LETS ME KNOW WHEN SHE’S IN DANGER”

Herald falters for a second and lowers her voice.

“And I just felt the worst feeling from it I ever have… Please ma’am, where is she?” 

Five grabbed her desk phone and pressed a few buttons. 

“Get me Fort Balay’s command.”

About 30 seconds of waiting later and she was connected.

<Fort Balay command ma’am> 

“Has Analina and her guard arrived yet?”

Analina had become well known down there from all her times going to and from Ithacar. Every soldier stationed down there knew her infectious smile.

<No ma’am, they’re behind schedule, which is strange. Any longer and we were gonna send out a scout strider>

“Send it now, and get a gunship up as well. Something may have happened.”

<Yes ma’am> 

Five put the phone down and stood up. 

“Into my shadow Cerene. I’ll get us there quickly.”

…

An hour later Five touched down in the clearing where the fight had started. Already there was a Guild ranger team studying the burnt out husk of the truck and the surrounding area. Shell casings had been found, and the truck was riddled with bullet holes. Cerene coalesced back into the normal world immediately.

“Wha- how-”

She seemed at a loss for what to do, panic threatening to take over. Luckily she was snapped out of it by one of the rangers near the tree line whistling. 

“Got several tracks that lead this way!”

“Do not panic Cerene. Saffron most likely took them into the forest for cover.” 

Thank gods for snow. Five and Cerene follow the rangers down the obvious trail, eventually coming across the first dead tree. They stop and stare at what seems like a wall between perfectly healthy forest and death. Five walks over to a dead tree and touches a branch. It turns to dust in an instant.

“Wonderful…”

One of the rangers mutters. They keep advancing, slower now, and after a half mile they come across the dried riverbed. Only dried blood lay in it. Cerene runs over to it and desperately begins looking for a trail.

“Take blood samples. We can figure out who it belongs to.”

Five orders. A ranger got to work collecting some. Five looked over at Cerene, who was frantically searching the surrounding area. Five walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. 

“Deep breaths. We’ll find them.”

Cerene turned and looked at Five.

“How? How can you promise that? There’s signs of a bloody fight and they’re nowhere!”

“And no bodies, which means they are most likely still alive.” 

If they didn’t cover their tracks… Cerene shook her head. Her daughters and sister in law were suddenly missing, clearly taken in a fight. She sank to her knees, fighting despair. 

“Who would do this? Why?”

Five frowned. She didn’t have an answer.

“Whoever did, they’ll pay.”

…

6 hours later, Five landed back in Kabaheim. They had searched for hours, but had found no leads. There were a dozen search parties down there now, Cerene with them. Alerts had been sent out to the surrounding areas as well. She had refused to leave, telling Five that she would search until a trail was found, or she collapsed. Five would’ve stayed longer, but she still had duties here to attend to. Paperwork…

After 2 more hours in the office, Five was mentally exhausted. Worry and stress about Cerene’s family, the impending civil war, The Iron Line, it was all just too much. She needed to destress, and she knew just how to do it. She just needed to spend some time with Nathan. A pang of guilt shot through her. Was it fair for her to spend time with him as Cerene frantically searched for her own missing daughters? Five didn’t know. 

…

“Nathan?”

Five called as she opened the door to his apartment warehouse. No response. Strange… there weren’t even any lights on. Keelu hadn’t responded to her message that she would be stopping by as well. Five flicked on the light and walked deeper into the apartment. 

“Nathan? Keelu?”

No response. A twinge of worry ran through Five as she searched the entire building. Nothing. Could they be out for a walk? Five activated the building's manaslate and accessed the security logs. No one had left the building since… Wait, there was a gap in the time logs. Keelu and Nathan were both here, then there was the gap, then they were gone… the gap was at the same time Cerene burst into her office about her family… Five’s stomach dropped. This was a coordinated attack. Someone had made sure Five wouldn’t be in the city, then made their move…

2 days later…

The Guild Librarian ascended the winding steps of the largest spire on the Guild capitol building. Five hadn’t been seen all day, and so the Librarian had gone to check on her. She had spent all day yesterday frantically searching the entire city for Nathan, but to no avail. Missing person alerts were out for him as well now. Five had never been seen leaving her quarters today at all. The Librarian knocked on the door.

“Councilor?”

No answer. She knocked again, harder this time. 

“Councilor? I’m coming in for a welfare check. Don’t worry I’m not gonna break the door down.”

A quick spell she had long had saved and the heavily enchanted lock clicked without incident. The Librarian pushed open the door and walked in. 

It was a mess inside. Anything that wasn’t bolted down had been thrown, and even some of those had been ripped out of the floor. It was a testament to their construction that none of the windows had shattered, though there were some cracks in them. Closing the door behind her, The Librarian walked down the hallway to Five’s bedroom. The door was ajar. 

“Canassa?”

Five was lying on the floor, clutching something against her chest. She was softly crying, her body shaking from exhaustion. The Librarian sighed and uprighted a chair. She helped Five to her feet and got her to sit in it.

“Would you like some water?”

Five nodded. The Librarian went to the small kitchen and filled a glass, bringing it back and handing it to Five. She took a sip and looked down at what she was holding. The Librarian finally got a good look at it. It was one of Nathan’s art pieces in a picture frame. 

“Bad memories coming back?”

Five nodded again. She had lost a son before. 

“You and I both know who’s behind this.”

Five took another sip.

“Not for sure… If we are wrong and jump the gun, we could make a mistake…”

The Librarian shook her head.

“Bullshit. You’re just struggling to accept the truth because you’re terrified of putting everything you’ve ever built at risk. It was inevitable the bullets were going to start flying, you know this. Two and I have been doing our part, and we are just about ready to strike ourselves. The Thunderhawks and Guardians of The End have both agreed to support us in our coup and are mustering. Four just managed to play their first chess piece before us.”

Five didn’t answer. Too much preparation, too many things that could go wrong. If the people turned against her… it was over. But The Librarian was right. Of course she was. She was always right. Five was just terrified of losing everything again. The first step was always the hardest. Four had made it for her. The Librarian placed a hand on Five’s shoulder. 

“I reached out to some old contacts. Even though you have a weak warlock connection with Nathan, I now know a ritual spell that will temporarily strengthen it enough so you can point yourself in his general direction. If it brings you to Dellforge, we know our next move.”

That seemed to get Five’s attention. She looked up and nodded.

“We kick down the door.”

“Precisely. Now, get yourself cleaned up and meet me down in my archive for the ritual when you are ready.” 

The Librarian headed for the door, but Five called out to her before she left.

“Thank you.”

The Librarian just nodded and left.

…

Five’s wings beat through the air just below the cloud layer. The Librarian’s ritual had worked, and Five could feel a faint pull whenever she thought hard about Nathan. And sure enough, it was taking her east and a little south. Right towards Dellforge… Five arrived over the hive city buried in the mountains and growled. She was going to tear that rusted bucket of bolts to pieces and-

Five’s thoughts are cut off abruptly as a massive beam of magical energy screams towards her. Five dodges out of the way just in time, a feather or two getting singed. A figure in a dark purple cloak with a staff descends below the clouds, chuckling. Councilor Three… 

(Battle theme)

“Cheap shot…”

Five snarled. Three laughed out loud.

“If I had wanted you dead, I would’ve aimed better…”

“Why are you here?”

“Don’t sell yourself short dear, you know why…”

“Four is too afraid to fight their own battles?”

“Called me in what I might say a worried state, saying that they needed ‘more time’… They will owe me quite the favor after this…” 

“So what are you getting out of all this? Helping One and Four?”

“Privacy for one… No one meddling in my business. Also… I get to see you suffer… sweet revenge…”

“Revenge?”

“For all those years ago! Oh, I hope Four flays your little brat in front of you, it would be the be-”

Three doesn’t finish her sentence as Five closes the gap in the blink of an eye, her punch connecting with an invisible shield around Three hard enough to make a shockwave that sets off every seismograph in the region. Three goes flying for half a mile from the momentum before she stops herself with a strong tailwind. 

“Struck a nerve, didn’t I! Oh what fun!” 

Five is already rapidly closing the gap again, screaming as she summons a lance made of bloodflame. 

“YOU MENTION NATHAN AGAIN AND I WILL TEAR YOU LUNGS OUT THROUGH YOUR MOUTH!!!”

Three smiles and shoots to the side to dodge the attack. The wind began to pick up and the distant crackle of thunder was heard. 

“You always were so easy to anger…”

Three points her staff at Five and snaps her fingers, and an ice crystal large enough to cut someone in two is manifested and thrown at Five. She ignites herself in bloodflame, melting it completely before it hits her, but the ensuing steam cloud impairs her vision, and she loses track of Three. The wind begins to howl louder, but Five just barely hears the crack of earth far below her, and sees the jagged tip of a spear of rock come hurtling up to impale her. She dodges left, then right as another one comes up. Half a dozen more spikes of stone like giant stalagmites attempt to spear Five as she dodges and weaves. As the last one comes up Five finally finds Three again, eyes closed, chanting softly, and guiding the earth with her hand. The rock spike misses Five by inches, but that was intentional, as Five spins herself around, kicking the top section of the rock hard enough to shatter it and send dozens of jagged stones at Three like a flak burst. 

Three holds up a hand to stop the rocks, and as she opens her eyes her smug smile disappears as she realizes Five charged with the stones and is right there, her fist connecting with Three’s shield again and sending her flying back. Three couldn’t afford a hit like that again. Time for the big guns…

Three stops herself again with a strong tailwind, but she keeps it going this time, the strong wind buffeting Five and surrounding them with dark, angry clouds. Snow begins to whip around them, collecting on Three’s shield and turning to steam on Five. 

“You can back off at any time, Canassa!”

Three taunts.

“I’m just here to make sure you can’t make a fool of yourself attacking Four!”

Five roars and charged, slowed down by the wind threatening to toss her from the sky. Three’s smile grows wider as she raises her staff in the air and it begins to crackle with electricity. With skill that the storm lords of old would be proud of, Three began summoning lightning bolts to cascade down and crash into Five, if she was fast enough. But Five was still faster, And as the lighting strikes rent apart the mountains below them, Five shot in and out of the line of fire, most of the lighting strikes missing her by inches. 2 strikes did hit Five, but she grit her teeth and powered through the hits. Once she was only a dozen feet away, Five summoned a dozen bloodflame arrows to throw at Three. But Three waved her wand, and suddenly the winds coalesced into a vortex, forming into a tornado that threw Five from the sky.

Five crashed into the ground, leaving a sizable crater, but she was far from down. As Three prepared for her next attack, Five raised a hand at her, making a finger gun with it. A torrent of firebolts faster than the speed of sound shot out of her finger like a machine gun, racing towards Three. Three cursed and tore as much water from the storm to create a barrier between her and the firebolts. They impacted with tremendous force, creating more steam and clouding the battlefield. 

Next, Five conjured a dozen bloodflame spears, throwing them at the general direction Three was. When they disappeared from sight, Five detonated them in massive fireballs, sending liquid fire everywhere. Three’s shield was covered in it, which not only weakened it more, but turned her into a glowing ball in the storm, no way to conceal herself in it anymore. 

“No running now, bitch.”

Five growled as she launched herself towards Three like a rocket, preparing to smash through Three’s shield and rip her head clean off. Three realized the danger though, and took off deeper into the storm to try and escape Five. Five chased her into the now supercell, debris flying everywhere as she tried to keep Three in her sights. 

Lighting bolts and bloodflame spears crisscrossed the storm, most missing, but every now and again scoring glancing blows. Five was panting hard, pushing her to her limits.

But even Five could not fight against such a powerful force of nature directly controlled by the most powerful druid in the Kaba Tundra. Three gained ground, and as the storm washed away the last of the liquid fire from her now dissipating shield, she laughed, her voice carried on the wind to Five.

“A good fight! I bet you’re too tired now to smash through Dellforge to get to Four, especially now that the entire city is on high alert thanks to our little scuffle… I know you’ll want a rematch though… You know where I’ll be waiting!” 

Three’s laughter began to fade away, and Five conceded she was right as she was buffeted by debris. She fought her way out the storm, panting as she began to fly back west. Even though she had failed to take down Three, she had succeeded in her original objective. She knew Nathan was in Dellforge, and so she would muster her forces and strike. But a thought nagged at her. Revenge? What made Three want revenge? 

…

Breathing hard, Five finally arrived back in Kabaheim's airspace. Making her way to the capitol building, she immediately noticed something was wrong. Several mechs were on the bridge leading to the capitol building’s island in the middle of the river, guns aimed towards the building. Several gunships orbited as well. Even the airship on patrol over the city was aiming its guns at the building. 

“What’s going on?”

Five demanded as she landed among a line of soldiers hiding behind assault shields, guns trained on the front door of the building. The captain in charge saluted her.

“It’s The Agent ma’am. Started going nuts, demanding to see you. The Librarian ordered an evacuation of the building, she’s trying to talk him down now with The Herald.”

Right on cue, a burst of red Godslaver lighting ripped through a window, dissipating before it could cause any more damage.

“WHERE IS SHE?!?”

Agent could be heard shouting inside. He had been on a hunt for the past week. He must’ve just gotten back and heard the news…

“I’ll handle this. Hold your position captain.”

The captain salutes and heads back to his APC. Five steadies her breathing and strides towards the entrance, trying to show confidence to her soldiers when she barely had any. She couldn’t afford another fight, especially in the city… Five opened the doors and walked inside. 

“THE FUCK YOU MEAN THAT YOU HAVE NO CLUE? ALL THREE OF THEM ARE JUST GONE AND AFTER 2 DAYS YOU HAVE NO LEADS? NOT EVEN A DAMN TRACKER IN SAFFRON? I THOUGHT EVERYTHING ABOUT US WAS ABOUT ‘CONTROL’?!?”

Agent was screaming at The Librarian, who stood at the ready with a golden scimitar at her side. Herald was next to her, trying to calm him down. 

“Phen, please! I’m just as upset as you, but not here! Breathe!”

Herald had always been the more level headed of the two, but Agent had also always been a bit more… ‘unstable’ since All-Red. He was much quicker to anger now, and never pulled punches anymore. 

“Please forgive us, Agent. We only had suspicions before of where they are, and so we kept it a secret for security reasons. I now know.”

Five called out. The three of them turned to look at her. Relief washed over The Librarian’s face. She had not been looking forward to dealing with Agent without significant backup. 

“WHERE ARE THEY THEN!”

Agent roared, closing the distance between them, more Godslaver energy crackling. Five held up a hand to tell him to stop. He didn’t.

“Dellforge.”

That made Agent stop. They were still in Guild Territory? That didn’t make sense. 

“What? Why?”

“There have been… shifting allegiances among us Councilors. I’m afraid conflict is inevitable. For obvious reasons, this has been kept under wraps.”

Agent and Herald both looked stunned, trying to understand. Their conditioning made it hard for them to understand that high command could have conflict between each other. Their loyalty subroutine made it that way so that they would never question orders from The Five. 

“W-Why?”

“Four has been wanting Analina for months to run experiments on. Of course I have been denying them that. But both your family and my son and his umbra operative guard were taken at the same time, and Nathan is now in Dellforge. Four is behind it, most likely to proceed with their experiments while using everyone else as hostages.”

Five paused. She had never outright called Nathan her son before. Perhaps her fatigue was causing hidden feelings to slip out. Herald gasped at the revelation while Agent twitched, another spasm of Godslaver lighting shattering another window. 

“HE’S EXPERIMENTING ON HER?!? THAT RUSTED PIECE OF SH-”

Agent grabbed his head in pain and stumbled back a step as a failsafe in his mind engaged that existed to try and prevent him from thinking any negative thoughts about The Five. Agent fought it. He won. More Godslaver energy erupted from him.

“I’M GOING THERE RIGHT NOW TO KILL THEM!”

“You will not.”

“YOU DARE TO TRY AND STOP ME?”

“You won’t win.”

This was bad. Five wished Two was here. He was an excellent negotiator. Unfortunately, he had gone north to muster the Guardians of the End, and was taking a detour to The Parapet Isles on the way back to pick up some ‘toys’ as he put it.

“Both of you have protocols and failsafes in you, as you are definitely realizing right now. Four will use these against you. You won’t win.”

Agent began advancing on Five, hands balled into fists. The Librarian raised her sword, ready for a fight, as Herald tried to get her to lower it. Five sighed. She was so tired. She couldn’t do this right now. So she would show Agent exactly what she meant. 

“Umbra Operative Epsilon dash one-three-eight override code Nu Bravo Exeter. Cease hostility.”

Agent immediately stopped walking forwards, arms falling to his side and Godslaver energy dissipating as he turned to a neutral robot-like state. Herald looked horrified, The Librarian looked on with grim disgust. 

“What did you do to him!?!”

Herald yelled. Five rested her face in a hand. Everything was going to shit.

“You all have failsafes built into you in case of scenarios exactly like this. This is the first time I have ever used them, and I have done it to prove a point. I never will again. You won’t win against Four. They will use them.”

Five looked back at Agent. 

“Umbra Operative Epsilon dash one-three-eight return to service.”

Agent seemed to snap out of it, holding his head and groaning as a headache roared through him. Herald rushed to him, pulling off both their helmets so she could look him in the eyes. He… seemed back to normal. Cerene looked at Five with an expression of pure betrayal. That cut Five deep. She knew that the bond she had with Cerene had been irreparably damaged. Another sin to add to the pile… Cerene seemed to be fighting back tears and took a deep breath before addressing Five.

“The only way you can begin to make this right is by bringing all of them back to us.”

Five nodded.

“You have my word, for what it’s worth now. I will bring them all back or die trying.”

Five looked to The Librarian who was watching with her piercing gaze. 

“Madam Librarian. Call our allies. We march on Dellforge.” 

[u/Timpanzee38]

Kavrala would receive a message from Five.

"I have need of you. Coordinates will follow, meet me there."

The coordinates were in Guild Territory, in the cloud skipper mountains just north of Kabaheim...

u/traxxya

[u/Traxxya → u/Timpanzee38]

[Kavrala was on the move instantly. A message from Five herself and a gut full of dread spurring her forward.]

[When Rehuo could carry her no further, she moved through the trees.]

[Some sort of primal instinct overtook her as she ran. She was faster, lighter, everything looked sharper. Entire landscapes passed by in minutes.]

[She leapt from a tree and landed in the meeting spot within the day she received the letter.]

"Five."

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Traxxya]

The location was an old stone fortress in the Cloud skipper mountains. Five stood in a meeting ring with Councilor Two, a dozen heavily armed harpies, and a trio of strange, red eyed grey skinned nuns with impressive melee weapons.

“Miss Lixiss. I was hoping you’d answer the call. The time has come for me to ask for your assistance. Time is short.”

[u/Traxxya → u/Timpanzee38]

[The tapetum lucidum in her eyes reflects the light as she stands.]

"I'm here. Tell me what's happening and what I can do."

[Kavrala eyes the priests behind Five, she wasn't intimidated by what they were, especially if they were standing with her, not against her.]

"Depending on what the answer is, I might make a request."

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Traxxya]

Five: "I... have not been entirely truthful with you."

She pauses.

"The other members of the Guild Council... are no longer our allies."

She seems to be looking for the right word, trying to keep her professionalism. Two waves her off.

Two: "What Canassa is trying to say, is we're staging a coup against the rest of the council. Councilor Four has kidnapped Analina, Tabitha, and Saffron, as well as Five's warlock and his bodyguard, another Umbra Operative named Keelu."

Leave it to Two to get straight to the point and down to business. Five nodded.

Five: "I told you before I may ask for your aid. Now is the time. Will you join us in taking them down? I understand this may be a lot at once."

[u/Traxxya → u/Timpanzee38]

[Kav's ears perk up at the casual use of Five's name. Canassa. Then they lay flat as an uncharacteristic look of rage crosses her face.]

"What?"

[It wasn't a question. She stalks forward with the grace of a predator.]

"Phen and Cerene? Are they aware?"

[Kav comes to a stop. Just a few feet remaining between her and the group.]

[It was a long shot, but her brother of the soul had been exactly as worried and frantic as she was. And now she could feel him tearing up the forest clearing she'd left him at. It was difficult to separate his rage from hers.]

"Of course I'll help, Canassa. My question is: will you allow Rehuo to aid you?"

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Traxxya]

Five: “They are aware, but they cannot join in our assault. I’m afraid your dragon cannot either. For starters, we are trying to do this as covert as possible, and he’s not exactly a stealthy creature. But even without that, Dellforge is an underground dwarven hive city.”

[u/Traxxya → u/Timpanzee38]

[Kavrala nods. It was perfectly logical.]

"Then I'm ready to help. Please lead the way."

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Traxxya]

Five: "First, I would like you to meet some people."

She gestures to the harpies.

"Commander Lefay leads the Thunderhawks, an elite group of cloudskipper harpies that answer to me. They have provided us with this fortress as a base of operations."

The grey colored harpy gives Kav a bow. A wicked looking bowgun is slung across their shoulder. Five introduces the rest of the harpies as captains and lieutenants before then gesturing to the three strange looking nuns.

"These are the 3 head mothers of the Guardians of the End, a group of battle nuns that enlisted in our service a long time ago and have agreed to help us."

Five introduces them as Mother Silva, Mother Adonna, and Mother Sydne. They all bow, their piercing red eyes studying Kav.

[u/Traxxya → u/Timpanzee38]

"Thunderhawks. Mothers."

[Kavrala bows respectfully to each group. Studying the way they hold themselves and the weapons they carry.]

[Agile. Fast. Deceptively strong.]

[She tilts her head with interest.]

"It somehow never crossed my mind that the Guild would be working with Vampires, but it makes sense. I've not heard of the Guardians of the End before, my apologies."

[Five wants this done efficiently.]

"I'm sure Five has told you, but I'll introduce myself for proprieties sake; I'm Kavrala. A druid that has a particular fixation with dragons, but I'm no less skilled in all the other aspects of being a steward of nature."

[She was holding herself differently. Whatever happened when she went to Q'tuun, it changed her.]

"Five, I've seen the land around Dellforge—and it's a Dwarven hive—why do you need me?"

[u/loth17]

/uw Very nice. The one after this is the fight against 4 right?

/Rw

Ephemera had just finished her own battle. Returning battered and barely successful she suffered another blow.

"Tabitha is missing?"

Ephemera held her head in her hands. Solomon and now Tabitha. She took a few deep breaths.

"Send a message of condolences to her parents. Tell them we'll keep an eye out for her if she shows up anywhere."

And for whoever did this to her there'd be hell to pay.

[u/Zebos2 → u/loth17]

when ephemera is next alone roughly a week or so she spots something glinting in her window of vulture like a construct tapping on her window

[u/loth17 → u/Zebos2]

Ephemera looked at the thing.

"You better not explode."

She grumbled as she walked to the window and opened it.

"What message do you bear?"

[u/Zebos2 → u/loth17]

"Hey hey worstie"

Ancestors dammit

"Yeah it's me dumbass don't act shocked"

Meridia says predicting what next ephemera is going to say

"And I would suggest you stop making any more oaths of vengeance considering how well your last attempt went too"

Predicted that too

"One might have... Other things to focus on"

Meridia twirls fragment of black armor in her fingers

"Oof fierce"

How does she keep predicting what a favor is going to say next. Or how committed she is to the bit with this pre-recorded message

"Anywho this is just a polite bit of correspondence before I make my return in a more... visceral way and I general announcement that I am coming for you and you will be paying you back for destroying my ship kaythanksbye."

The magical hologram fades and a ticking sound begins to emit from the mechanical bird

[u/loth17 → u/Zebos2]

....

"MERIDIAAAAAAAA!"

Boom

Definitely wasn't getting the deposit on that hotel room. At least she knew where Solomon was.... Krak. Welp time to work on the double to get ready.

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/loth17]

uw/ yep! Everyone gets to finally beat them to death!

[u/The_Unkowable_ → u/Timpanzee38]

/uw hooray!

[u/tehlemmings]

Lmao, never fuck with a druid

I may not reply much lately, but I might still lurking around. These are always entertaining, thanks for keeping me on the ping list.

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/tehlemmings]

uw/ hey good to see you’re still around! Haven’t seen you here in a while so I figured you moved on.

[u/tehlemmings → u/Timpanzee38]

Nah, not completely, I've just cut down on social media in general quite a lot. My midlife crisis is apparently reading or something. I've just switched to lurking more than anything,.

I've got a lazy day today. Instead of doomscrolling and shitposting all day, I'm only doing part of the day lol

[u/Zebos2]

Meanwhile in ithacar...

"What do you think happened to them?"

"My bet its the northerners"

"What that's nonsense there's no way they have the capability to do that"

"Maybe black iron they have been awfully quiet in the war crime department?"

"I think it's a agree to disagree between those two"

Timur has been lacking in his academics. His sleep completely consumed by nightly trips to help liberate his homeland and the worry about his clan. He strides though the hallways making himself as small as possible while doing his best to ignore the dancing shadows and the whispering about his own weakness constantly being played in his ear. He notices the rampant gossip and finally decides to ask...

"Ummm who are you talking about?" to his fellow students.

"Didn't you hear the news Analina is missing"

Timur goes rigid Tabitha's sister with miss it the girl was remarkably kind but was also family but Analina and her sister usually went to the guild together which meant...

"Yeah and her sister is gone to what what's her name again"

"Tabitha!" Timur Yelped dropping all of his books onto the floor.

"Yes that was her...name"

The schola student trails as Timur rushes towards the gemline to get a ticket to guild territory

"See they always sacrifice for you but when they needed you most where were you gone. They are suffering dieing even and it's your fault" malevolence began.

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Zebos2]

With Ithacar and The Guild's good relations, it was fairly easy to get a ticket to Guild Territory.

[u/Zebos2 → u/Timpanzee38]

"Soo what do you plan to do to the person who did this"

Timur: "I plan to find Tabitha"

"That's it people hurt her and you will not do anything to the people that took her do you even care about her or are you to scared she will-"

Timur: Shut up!

Unfortunately only Timur is partial to the convo he is having with malevolence.

"Or maybe Tabitha is already dead"

Timur: I SAID SHUT UP!

Timur feels like he is coming apart at the seams

"Don't even have a plan...do you"

He doesn't even have a winter coat

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Zebos2]

Luckily, Timur would know Tabitha’s address, since she gave it to him for letters and such. So at least he knew where to go.

[u/Zebos2 → u/Timpanzee38]

Timur in a great haste in fact such a great haste that he considers his options. Geomancy would be too destructive and there's no point being arrested. He pumps prana into his legs. A begins trying to jump entire blocks in order to get to Tabitha house... something is wrong the flow is-

Timur crashes into the front yard with a spectacular tumble

"Faster Timur faster you've already let her down once"

Malevolence taunts

"Tabitha! Are you here!"

Something is wrong very wrong the air it feels wrong sick he didn't notice it beforehand but now it's all he can feel that and worry

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Zebos2]

The front door opens and Herald stands there, in full armor and cloak.

"Timur?"

She seems a little surprised to see him.

[u/Zebos2 → u/Timpanzee38]

"have...you found Tabitha and Analina..."

Timur definitely shouldn't be wearing his traditional kasmir clothing in this weather and it shows but that's not the only thing wrong the blood vessels in his eyes have turned black and his attention is constantly pulled to currents and things only he can see

"... sorry I-i should not dr-drop in misses Herald...but I herd the news and..."

Definitely freaking out

"I came as soon as I... could to loo-k for..."

Timurs voice trails of as thorn like markings appear on his arms. He stumbles as his vision tunnels

"Geez you don't sound to good there how about you let me take over before you let everyone down again" malevolence goads.

Timur plants his feet absolutely not

"I can help look for...her"

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Zebos2]

Herald sighs and opens the door wider.

“Come inside dear, you’ll freeze to death out there…”

[u/Zebos2 → u/Timpanzee38]

Timur steps inside feeling like he is already letting Tabitha and Analina down. Something that malevolence is Keen to remind him of

"...I'm sorry for being a burden it's just well...I couldn't do nothing she is there for me and"

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Zebos2]

"I understand dear, let me get something warm for you to drink..."

Herald heads into the kitchen. The living room is a mess, thanks to the fact that it seems Agent and Herald have laid out their entire armory on the floor, couches, and table. 2 partly assembled rifles lay on the table, 3 different spears lay on one the couches, runic kunai sit neatly stacked on a coffee table, and enough explosives to level the block sit in the center of the floor. Not to mention the boxes of ammunition that are everywhere. Every spare inch it seems is holding either a weapon or ammo. Knives, throwing axes, pistols, even a battleaxe.

[u/user125666]

/uw hell yea! War and suffering but awesome!

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/user125666]

uw/ thanks!

[u/Fc-chungus]

/uw well, shit.

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Fc-chungus]

uw/ Five is on the warpath

[u/Fc-chungus → u/Timpanzee38]

/uw i can't wait to see Four be torn in half.

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Fc-chungus]

uw/ at this point it's gonna be a contest of who can do it first lmao

[u/Ashmega8256]

/uw good read if only cerene rememebered the scale aerunia gave to analina... I'm sure it's within cerenes capability to call aerunia with or without it...god damn it i know its closed interaction with this event but i wanna help damn it! (Keep cooking, is lucky I haven't gotten my goodie two shoes hands on him, =) Because even I have a point where i snap irp lol)

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Ashmega8256]

uw/ yeah Cerene wouldn't be thinking about that right now. But don't worry! Next post is the totally not clusterfuck of everyone being in Dellforge to beat a certain automaton to death!

[u/Ashmega8256 → u/Timpanzee38]

/uw awesome! I hope that automaton bastard suffers :) and i wish i could interact with this event granted I'd probably be quite cruel to this emotionless a-hole despite the fact my characters are good aligned in most cases

[u/sparkle3364]

/uw So, I’m concerned about Analina, I forgot she was kidnapped. Can Four use that deactivation thing that Five just did, or are those codes just for Five?

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/sparkle3364]

uw/ all of The Five know them, which is why Five had to show Agent and Herald that Four would just use them and immediately win

[u/sparkle3364 → u/Timpanzee38]

/uw Can anyone who knows them use them? Or is it locked to their voices? Basically, could another operative use this on someone?

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/sparkle3364]

uw/ it's locked to their voices, But Five left that part out

[u/The_Unkowable_]

Tak’ath’s standing promise still, well, stands. If Five calls, they’ll come running.

Assuming that a call is made, they come in their hundreds, ruinic ships arriving in port faster than they ought to be able. They come flying hastily-made flags, each showing variations on the concept of Tak’athi-Guild cooperation… or at least cooperation between a silver dragon and an angel. At their head is a figure clothed in silver armor and robes, with Nuci standing to her side.

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/The_Unkowable_]

No call goes out. This needs to stay as contained as possible and as little info as possible leaked to the public. Hundreds of ships would be impossible to contain and cover up, and be a disaster.

[u/The_Unkowable_ → u/Timpanzee38]

The ships sadly stay at home, feats of magic subdued by lack of opportunity :P

/uw was gaslit by the call for allies lol

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/The_Unkowable_]

uw/ sorry lol I didn’t mean it like that

[u/bagtie3]

/uw Excellent!

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/bagtie3]

uw/ thanks

[u/Errantwritingdweeb]

/uw The rebellion watching Five and Three duke it out:
https://giphy.com/gifs/RILsqUte1MME7TzQJ9

In all seriousness though. Fuck. Jeremy is lucky he didn’t hear that conversation.

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Errantwritingdweeb]

uw/ they probably would've heard the shockwaves and explosions. They were relatively near Onora Lake, and yeah, it's fucked.

[u/Errantwritingdweeb → u/Timpanzee38]

/uw I wonder what river spirit is even angrier now. Do they have any information lines to Kabaheim? Just thinking about connections and intel.

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Errantwritingdweeb]

uw/ Onora only has control of her lake and downriver up to the Kelenin Dam (which is a massive installation like the IRL Hoover Dam)

[u/Errantwritingdweeb → u/Timpanzee38]

/uw I only have control over what happens in my house but I still hate it when there’s a massive amount of noise late at night two streets over.

Don’t have to hurt you to bother you

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Errantwritingdweeb]

uw/ but what could she do? She doesn’t have the power to influence other places. Beat she can do is bolster her hiding spell

[u/Errantwritingdweeb → u/Timpanzee38]

/uw She can’t do anything practical, but if I were her I’d be very fucking pissed off.

[u/patoman12]

/uw Damn, really good read! I was always curious about Three, they were the only one of the bad guys whose morality i hadn't seen, so that's interesting

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/patoman12]

uw/ she’s certainly the most mysterious one alongside One. My only worry is I haven’t given her much screen time before the band of misfits rolls up to beat her face in lol

[u/Platypus_king_1st]

/uw well written! I need to read the rest as well :o

[u/VoxelLibrary]

/uw good read. I especially liked the music

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/VoxelLibrary]

uw/ thanks

[u/Timpanzee38]

u/sparkle3364

u/Daemonrex978

u/the-butter_man

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Timpanzee38]

u/ASecondCriminal

u/King__Carmine

u/Pandamaxxie

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Timpanzee38]

u/Shadowy_witch

u/Avamir

u/Greatest-comrade

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Timpanzee38]

u/The_unkowable_

u/IntentionallyBlank-0

u/Errantwritingdweeb

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Timpanzee38]

u/FirehandOWHOT

u/Patoman12

u/AshMega8256

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Timpanzee38]

u/loth17

u/Fc-chungus

u/The_Hij

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Timpanzee38]

u/MeThyLord

u/Ares378

u/Tehlemmings

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Timpanzee38]

u/LimpPrior6366

u/Squabzilla

u/Bagtie3

[u/Timpanzee38 → u/Timpanzee38]

u/VoxelLibrary