World of Sardon

[EHawkins]

Kallisto saw the hawk and that look of surprise was still on her face when he looked to her. She couldn't help it, she had never seen anything like that before. Hawks were dangerous creatures weren't they? She watched the bird climb higher and higher into the sky.

"Find a way?" She asked. "Aren't you worried about what we might run into?" She asked as they started walking. They would need to keep the Hawk in sight for them to really be sure of where they were going.

"Ferren... How long have you been a God?" She asked.

Ferren's face became serious then.

"We may well run against some bad things--every path has its dangers, but have faith, Kallisto. Dangers can be overcome, and I won't let anything happen to you."

"As for myself, I am a young god--I believe I've been in this realm for at least 100 years. I think time passes differently here than it does in the heavens..."

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Ferren's face became serious then.

"We may well run against some bad things--every path has its dangers, but have faith, Kallisto. Dangers can be overcome, and I won't let anything happen to you."

"As for myself, I am a young god--I believe I've been in this realm for at least 100 years. I think time passes differently here than it does in the heavens..."

"Ferren..." She said looking at him. "I can take care of myself..." she said chuckling at how quickly he moved to defend her. "I actually was more of a protector for Maximus." She explained as they traveled.

"It must... I have never met anyone as old as you," she said as she looked around at their surroundings.

"Are you always so protective of your followers?"

 

[EHawkins]

"I'd like that," Maddox said as he held onto her hips. The horse gave a smooth ride that was for sure but for how long would that last. Deshtal wasn't at all a cold place... He moved with her... with the horse as they road. Surely this was what it was like to really enjoy the company one was with.

"I mean... if you don't like Deshtal... I might have to follow you and make sure you find a good place..." He said coughing slightly.

"Follow me?" Lucifine laughed. It was a real, full laugh--the first one in a long time. "Well, I don't think I could ask for a better companion. I think Deshtal might be alright, though. Your people have a martial tradition--I can't think of anywhere else I'd feel more at home."

She felt Maddox's hands on her hips and the press of his body against hers. Somehow, it felt very natural to be so close to him and for the first time, she felt the sting of Marius' loss finally starting to fade.

Lucifine found one of Maddox's hands and gently laced it in hers.

"Thank you for being so good to me..." she said softly.

 

[EHawkins]

"Ferren..." She said looking at him. "I can take care of myself..." she said chuckling at how quickly he moved to defend her. "I actually was more of a protector for Maximus." She explained as they traveled.

"It must... I have never met anyone as old as you," she said as she looked around at their surroundings.

"Are you always so protective of your followers?"

"I know you can, else you wouldn't have survive E'sari" he said. "It is my nature to be protective, especially of the ones I'm close to. I've lived amongst my followers for some time now, and I've seen how fragile the mortal existence can be sometimes."

Ferren's brow furrowed.

"It's strange that Maximus died--he must've been weakened very much from his fall..."

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

"I know you can, else you wouldn't have survive E'sari" he said. "It is my nature to be protective, especially of the ones I'm close to. I've lived amongst my followers for some time now, and I've seen how fragile the mortal existence can be sometimes."

She chuckled at how he knew everything. "Well, if it makes you feel better..." She said looking to him. "I feel safe having you watching out for me," she said before returning to walk down the trail. She looked to the sky looking for the hawk.

"Are you hoping that I can weild Talos?" She asked looking anywhere but at him.

 

[EHawkins]

She chuckled at how he knew everything. "Well, if it makes you feel better..." She said looking to him. "I feel safe having you watching out for me," she said before returning to walk down the trail. She looked to the sky looking for the hawk.

"Are you hoping that I can weild Talos?" She asked looking anywhere but at him.

Ferren stopped for a moment and looked Kallisto. He lifted the wolf girl's chin with a gentle hand.

"You have a strong spirit, Kallisto." he said. "No one that I've given Talos to has been able to make her arrows manifest. It is my hope that you'll be the one who can finally stand at my side."

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Ferren stopped for a moment and looked Kallisto. He lifted the wolf girl's chin with a gentle hand.

"You have a strong spirit, Kallisto." he said. "No one that I've given Talos to has been able to make her arrows manifest. It is my hope that you'll be the one who can finally stand at my side."

She blinked at him as he looked into her eyes, she felt her skin tingling where his hand touched her. She knew tha that was supposed to be Dorin's hand but she knew that it wasn't... She was glad that it was this man's and yet she missed the man who had taken her against her will last night.

"I shall do my best..." She said as she touched his hand. "I will do my best to make you happy, Ferren..."

 

[EHawkins]

"I shall do my best..." She said as she touched his hand. "I will do my best to make you happy, Ferren..."

Ferren nodded, took her hand in his, and kissed it gently.

"By accepting Talos, you've already made me very happy, Kallisto. It's been such a long time since I've had the promise of a potential priestess, and there can be only one..."

 

[EHawkins]

<OOC>
Must sleep--'night!

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Ferren nodded, took her hand in his, and kissed it gently.

"By accepting Talos, you've already made me very happy, Kallisto. It's been such a long time since I've had the promise of a potential priestess, and there can be only one..."

She looked up at that.

Well, that was unheard of...

"You want only one Priestess?" She asked as he held her hand like that. Kallisto wondered if this was the smart thing to do. "You really are a strange man..." She said with a chuckle as she continued to walk with his hand in hers.

 

[EHawkins]

She looked up at that.

Well, that was unheard of...

"You want only one Priestess?" She asked as he held her hand like that. Kallisto wondered if this was the smart thing to do. "You really are a strange man..." She said with a chuckle as she continued to walk with his hand in hers.

"Not just a Priestess" Ferren said. "A High Priestess. I'm sure that there'll be other priestesses, but there's only one bow so there can only be one High Priestess."

The young god looked down at Kallisto's hand in his. It was small and warm and he smiled. He liked the young woman, and he was hopeful that she could wield Talos.

"Strange?" he said. "Perhaps. I'll admit I haven't been a 'proper' god, at least not in the way that people think gods should be."

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

"Not just a Priestess" Ferren said. "A High Priestess. I'm sure that there'll be other priestesses, but there's only one bow so there can only be one High Priestess."

The young god looked down at Kallisto's hand in his. It was small and warm and he smiled. He liked the young woman, and he was hopeful that she could wield Talos.

"Strange?" he said. "Perhaps. I'll admit I haven't been a 'proper' god, at least not in the way that people think gods should be."

Kallisto, foreign to the real world of gods, goddesses, and worship. "What's the difference?" She asked. The wolf girl was learning more and more about such things as Gods... True, she knew that there was the God of Hunt and while she worshipped in her own way it was hard when there were none of her people around... she wondered if he too was dead as Maximus was.

"Proper or unproper is a state of mind..." She said. "Much like virginity," she said with a smile as she continued to walk with him. "If it helps I think you are doing very well."

 

[EHawkins]

Kallisto, foreign to the real world of gods, goddesses, and worship. "What's the difference?" She asked. The wolf girl was learning more and more about such things as Gods... True, she knew that there was the God of Hunt and while she worshipped in her own way it was hard when there were none of her people around... she wondered if he too was dead as Maximus was.

"Proper or unproper is a state of mind..." She said. "Much like virginity," she said with a smile as she continued to walk with him. "If it helps I think you are doing very well."

Ferren gave the wolf girl a strange look when she mentioned virginity and the concept of properness or unproperness together. What did that have to do with anything?

Instead of asking, he simply smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Kallisto." Ferren said.

The windy hawk in the sky still led the way and they pressed on...

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Ferren gave the wolf girl a strange look when she mentioned virginity and the concept of properness or unproperness together. What did that have to do with anything?

Instead of asking, he simply smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Kallisto." Ferren said.

The windy hawk in the sky still led the way and they pressed on...

OOC: lol that wasn't funny

And pressed on they did. The day went by smoothly never really meeting any sort of trouble the men he traveled with had hunted and brought food to the camp. She felt silly for having to rely so much on others but really she was so used to taking the burden by her lonesome.

She thought of her friends as she sat there at the fire and was unaware of the fact that she had started crying... Until Ferren wiped a tear from her cheek. She was mildly surprised to find that she had indeed been tearing up.

"I'm sorry," she said as she got up from the fire and walked away for a few moments of alone time. She knew that she could wield this bow it was just a matter of when to do so. She could feel it's power and she was ready to use it. "I'm alright Ferren," she promised as she continued to wipe the fallen and unfallen tears from her face.

"Just lost in a memory," she said smiling at him to prove that she was fine.

 

[EHawkins]

OOC: lol that wasn't funny

And pressed on they did. The day went by smoothly never really meeting any sort of trouble the men he traveled with had hunted and brought food to the camp. She felt silly for having to rely so much on others but really she was so used to taking the burden by her lonesome.

She thought of her friends as she sat there at the fire and was unaware of the fact that she had started crying... Until Ferren wiped a tear from her cheek. She was mildly surprised to find that she had indeed been tearing up.

"I'm sorry," she said as she got up from the fire and walked away for a few moments of alone time. She knew that she could wield this bow it was just a matter of when to do so. She could feel it's power and she was ready to use it. "I'm alright Ferren," she promised as she continued to wipe the fallen and unfallen tears from her face.

"Just lost in a memory," she said smiling at him to prove that she was fine.

Ferren looked down at Kallisto. The wolf girl put on a brave face, but she was bothered by her memories. He gently touched the back of her head with his hand.

"You'll be with your friends soon." he soothed. "I know you've been through much, Kallisto, but if you need to speak of it, I'll--"

"Ferren!" Adirah called out. "There's a rider in the distance!"

"Sardonica's?" Ferren said as he and the rest of his men got ready for a skirmish.

"I don't know, but the horse was strange--it was a huge beast, snowy I think, with bluish mane..."

 

[EHawkins]

<OOC>

BrB in a bit (hopefully).

 

[EHawkins]

<OOC>

BrB in a bit (hopefully).

<OOC>

Back now.

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Ferren looked down at Kallisto. The wolf girl put on a brave face, but she was bothered by her memories. He gently touched the back of her head with his hand.

"You'll be with your friends soon." he soothed. "I know you've been through much, Kallisto, but if you need to speak of it, I'll--"

"Ferren!" Adirah called out. "There's a rider in the distance!"

"Sardonica's?" Ferren said as he and the rest of his men got ready for a skirmish.

"I don't know, but the horse was strange--it was a huge beast, snowy I think, with bluish mane..."

Kallisto's ears perked up. "Lucifine?" She said before laughing and changing into a wolf. She charged towards everyone. They moved as the beautiful brown wolf ran head on towards the horse... It was Maddox that leapt off the horse and caught the young woman in a hug. He chuckled softly as he held her. She was crying and he was just laughin.

"Kallisto, you're alright," he laughed. "Lucifine she's alright... We were so worried about you..."

"I was afraid you both had died..." She said sobbing.

 

[EHawkins]

Kallisto's ears perked up. "Lucifine?" She said before laughing and changing into a wolf. She charged towards everyone. They moved as the beautiful brown wolf ran head on towards the horse... It was Maddox that leapt off the horse and caught the young woman in a hug. He chuckled softly as he held her. She was crying and he was just laughin.

"Kallisto, you're alright," he laughed. "Lucifine she's alright... We were so worried about you..."

"I was afraid you both had died..." She said sobbing.

Lucifine slid off the snow horse and embraced Kallisto after Maddox let her go. She couldn't keep her eyes from tearing up at the sight of the wolf girl.

"Thank the gods that you're alive!" she murmured. "The last thing I remember was the assassin... He had the knife at your throat and Maximus..."

Lucifine hugged the changeling a little tighter.

"He... he died--I'm sorry, Kallisto...."

When she let Kallisto go, Lucinfine saw a large, dark haired man coming towards them.

"Who... is that?"

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Lucifine slid off the snow horse and embraced Kallisto after Maddox let her go. She couldn't keep her eyes from tearing up at the sight of the wolf girl.

"Thank the gods that you're alive!" she murmured. "The last thing I remember was the assassin... He had the knife at your throat and Maximus..."

Lucifine hugged the changeling a little tighter.

"He... he died--I'm sorry, Kallisto...."

When she let Kallisto go, Lucinfine saw a large, dark haired man coming towards them.

"Who... is that?"

"I know..." She said when the other admitted the diety was dead. Of course she was saddened by this but she had to talk about it. "We already saw... How did he get like that Lucifine?" She asked looking to the older woman who was becoming more and more like an older sister to her as time went on.

She looked back at the God and smiled.

"Lucifine... This is Ferren God of Storms," she introduced with a smile. "He found me and kept me safe," she explained. "Ferren this is Lucifine and Maddox. The elf and Korinthian I was talking about," she said. Maddox smiled and offered his hand.

 

[EHawkins]

"I know..." She said when the other admitted the diety was dead. Of course she was saddened by this but she had to talk about it. "We already saw... How did he get like that Lucifine?" She asked looking to the older woman who was becoming more and more like an older sister to her as time went on.

She looked back at the God and smiled.

"Lucifine... This is Ferren God of Storms," she introduced with a smile. "He found me and kept me safe," she explained. "Ferren this is Lucifine and Maddox. The elf and Korinthian I was talking about," she said. Maddox smiled and offered his hand.

Lucifine looked at Maddox and then back at Kallisto.

"When Maximus died, something happened to me..." she said quietly. "The Shard that containes the Night Mother's essence-- her High Priest, he... he put it inside me after Korinth fell. She reached through me and encased his body in ice when he died, presumably to protect it..."

Lucifine grew even more quiet.

"My body may not be able to handle the Night Mother's Shard. Aside from going to Deshtal to gain support for the war, and to see if you'd made it there, Maddox thought his mother might be able to help with the Shard..."

Lucifine looked up at Ferren.

"God of Storms?" She murmured.

Ferren nodded.

"And you would be the Avatar of the Night Mother." he said. "It was your essence that I sensed back in E'sari. The divine essence mingled with a human soul... I'd like to speak to the Lady, if you'd let me. I've sought her for a long time."

Lucifine looked at the others and then at him.

"I... I don't know. I don't know if that would be such a good idea. I think it might be best to go to Deshtal and have someone deal with this..."

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Lucifine looked at Maddox and then back at Kallisto.

"When Maximus died, something happened to me..." she said quietly. "The Shard that containes the Night Mother's essence-- her High Priest, he... he put it inside me after Korinth fell. She reached through me and encased his body in ice when he died, presumably to protect it..."

Lucifine grew even more quiet.

"My body may not be able to handle the Night Mother's Shard. Aside from going to Deshtal to gain support for the war, and to see if you'd made it there, Maddox thought his mother might be able to help with the Shard..."

Lucifine looked up at Ferren.

"God of Storms?" She murmured.

Ferren nodded.

"And you would be the Avatar of the Night Mother." he said. "It was your essence that I sensed back in E'sari. The divine essence mingled with a human soul... I'd like to speak to the Lady, if you'd let me. I've sought her for a long time."

Lucifine looked at the others and then at him.

"I... I don't know. I don't know if that would be such a good idea. I think it might be best to go to Deshtal and have someone deal with this..."

Kallisto wasn't sure what was going on with this whole Night Mother thing... She hadn't even known about it until just now. She was one confused puppy that was for sure. She looked back and forth between the two and looked to Maddox. He would know what to do right?

Maddox in fact did not know what to do but he planned on doing what made sense.

"I think it best we wait... Lucifine isn't comfortable enough to let herself be taken over again..." He said trying to break up the tension. "Will you be traveling with us to Deshtal?" He asked.

 

[EHawkins]

Kallisto wasn't sure what was going on with this whole Night Mother thing... She hadn't even known about it until just now. She was one confused puppy that was for sure. She looked back and forth between the two and looked to Maddox. He would know what to do right?

Maddox in fact did not know what to do but he planned on doing what made sense.

"I think it best we wait... Lucifine isn't comfortable enough to let herself be taken over again..." He said trying to break up the tension. "Will you be traveling with us to Deshtal?" He asked.

Ferren looked at Lucifine. Was this woman not an Avatar? Could she not summon the Night Mother to speak with him? His brow furrowed, but he said nothing. He didn't completely understand why she would be so uncomfortable with her goddess speak through her.

"I was traveling with Kallisto." Ferren said. "I promised to see her to Deshtal. She thought you and Lucifine would go there, but here you are. I can continue with you, if you like. Perhaps more allies can be found in Deshtal..."

*****​

Dorin stumbled into the former temple of the Night Mother. It had been remade and reconsecrated to Sardonica. The wounds that his sweet Kallisto had inflicted on him, burned, and the mage, Kaelis, saw him lean against a marble pillar.

"The Lady has been most upset at your absence" Kaelis said as he approached the assassin. "It seems you've met with something... unfortunate"

Unfortunate? Dorin thought. Hardly. She was rather... lovely.

"Some of the rebels" he managed. "are not to be underestimated. I had the priestess of the Lady's brother, but she turned out to be more of a fighter than I imagined. We shouldn't tread so lightly with them in the future."

Kaelis eyed Dorin. This was the Lady's favorite assassin, and he was also missing Wrack.

"She's waiting for you, Dorin. She wishes to speak with you--after you've cleaned yourself up."

Dorin only nodded and disappeared to take care of his wounds before his audience with his Lady.

 

[ultimate_nerdslut]

Ferren looked at Lucifine. Was this woman not an Avatar? Could she not summon the Night Mother to speak with him? His brow furrowed, but he said nothing. He didn't completely understand why she would be so uncomfortable with her goddess speak through her.

"I was traveling with Kallisto." Ferren said. "I promised to see her to Deshtal. She thought you and Lucifine would go there, but here you are. I can continue with you, if you like. Perhaps more allies can be found in Deshtal..."

"I would be most appreciative if you would continue with us," she said with a smile as she tried to ignore the obvious tension in there air. Obviously there was a lot that she had missed in her night with that assassin.

Maddox nodded. "It's decided then. We shall all travel together to Deshtal and we shall decide from there how it it going to work." He looked around at the man's followers. "Safetly in numbers afterall..." He said before looking to Lucifine. "Is your steed still ready to travel or do you need a rest?" He asked her. She was holding the beast together after all.

"Lucifine... What's going on now?" She asked.

*****​

Dorin stumbled into the former temple of the Night Mother. It had been remade and reconsecrated to Sardonica. The wounds that his sweet Kallisto had inflicted on him, burned, and the mage, Kaelis, saw him lean against a marble pillar.

"The Lady has been most upset at your absence" Kaelis said as he approached the assassin. "It seems you've met with something... unfortunate"

Unfortunate? Dorin thought. Hardly. She was rather... lovely.

"Some of the rebels" he managed. "are not to be underestimated. I had the priestess of the Lady's brother, but she turned out to be more of a fighter than I imagined. We shouldn't tread so lightly with them in the future."

Kaelis eyed Dorin. This was the Lady's favorite assassin, and he was also missing Wrack.

"She's waiting for you, Dorin. She wishes to speak with you--after you've cleaned yourself up."

Dorin only nodded and disappeared to take care of his wounds before his audience with his Lady.

((OOC: I am going to an all day music festival... so I won't be back on until later tonight))

Sardonica was indeed upset with her favorite assassinns absense. She had things to do people to destroy and he wasn't there. But then she sensed him there, upon her temple's steps. She waited for his wounds to be cleaned and for him to return to her. This was strange for her... Dorin did not get wounded... most definitely not as severe as this.

"It would seem that you've met some trouble on your way back to me?" She asked. "Where is my brother's body and his whore?" She asked. Sardonica was sure that she had made it perfectly clear what it was that she had wanted and even more so clear that he was not to fail... even on this task...

"Wha happened to you?" She asked finally.

 

[EHawkins]

"I would be most appreciative if you would continue with us," she said with a smile as she tried to ignore the obvious tension in there air. Obviously there was a lot that she had missed in her night with that assassin.

Maddox nodded. "It's decided then. We shall all travel together to Deshtal and we shall decide from there how it it going to work." He looked around at the man's followers. "Safetly in numbers afterall..." He said before looking to Lucifine. "Is your steed still ready to travel or do you need a rest?" He asked her. She was holding the beast together after all.

“Of course”, Ferren nodded “If you wish, Kallisto. Your friend’s right—we’ll be safer for our numbers.”

He went to motion for his people to move out, when Lucifine held up her hand.

“I’m fine, Maddox—I can maintain her, but if we’re to travel together, then when all need to travel on equal footing…”

A chilly gust of wind suddenly whipped past Lucifine and stirred her white hair. She focused on the cold that swirled. Large motes of powdery snow sprang up and took the shape of horses for every two people there.

“I’ll keep them manifest for as long as I can, but we should be able to reach Deshtal much faster…”

"Lucifine... What's going on now?" She asked.

“Do you mean with the Shard?” Lucifine said as she swung onto the back of her own mount. “The Night Mother’s shard contains her essence, though she’s weak. Every ten years or so, a new High Priest or Priestess is chosen and the shard is put into them. They’re either cold aspected or dark aspected, and through her they have control over the elements. Before the High Priest, Marius died, I think he somehow drew it out of himself and force it into me.”

“Since I’m not trained to be the Night Mother’s priestess, I can’t fully control the ice magic.”

Lucifine held up a gloved hand.

“I can’t touch anything without it freezing and I can’t control when or how the Night Mother manifests through me. If it’s not taken care of, I fear it may be… disastrous.”

Lucifine smiled as she suddenly changed the subject.

“I see you’ve faired well, little sister” she grinned in a way that only a warrior could at a well earned victory. “and you’ve gained a trophy”

The Korinthian gave a nod and acknowledged Wrack at Kallisto’s side.

“I trust you sent Sardonica’s assassin to his grave?”

*****​

Sardonica was indeed upset with her favorite assassinns absense. She had things to do people to destroy and he wasn't there. But then she sensed him there, upon her temple's steps. She waited for his wounds to be cleaned and for him to return to her. This was strange for her... Dorin did not get wounded... most definitely not as severe as this.

"It would seem that you've met some trouble on your way back to me?" She asked. "Where is my brother's body and his whore?" She asked. Sardonica was sure that she had made it perfectly clear what it was that she had wanted and even more so clear that he was not to fail... even on this task...

"What happened to you?" She asked finally.

Dorin knelt at Sardonica’s feet, washed and bound, and in fresh armor, with Scourge at his side.

“My apologies, Lady.” He said as he surreptitiously palmed Scourge’s antidote in his hand. “It was not my intention to keep you waiting.”

“As for your brother and his whore… You asked for your brother’s death and it is done. My Lady did not ask for his body, but if you wish it, It will be brought. The woman is what happened to me. She was a changeling wolf—far stronger than I thought she was. I was not prepared when she suddenly changed on me. We fought and even with my wounds I tried to track her, until the pain and cold was too much. Perhaps this can be used to our advantage. She has a connection to Lucifine, the woman with the Night Mother’s Shard. She might lead us to her and both could be slain…”

Dorin deftly popped open the tiny vial of antidote and felt the slick contents absorb into his skin…

“If my Lady doesn’t see fit to give me another chance, then I’ll gladly poison myself with my own knife.”

Dorin knew that poisoning by Scourge was slow and painful, and even though he’d given himself the antidote, he’d still suffer a death-like state until the poison passed from him. One way or the other, he’d see his Kallisto again, as an agent of the goddess or hunted by her…

The assassin deftly tucked the tiny bottle into his cuff, drew Scourge and waited…