An Ask of Mental Fortitude

The battle against the Corpse Eater had been stressful. Even with all of their preparations, things could have gone badly on the flip of a coin. A celebratory feast had been held at Grandfather's place afterwards, but eventually, Harkashan had taken his leave a bit early, along with Rune.

As terrible as the Corpse Eater was, and by all means they were justified in their celebrations, celebrating a death didn't sit fully right with the Death Singer. Such is the complicated journey of one who has been guided by the Death Singing Dragon.

Luckily, Harkashan is fully capable of plane-shifting himself and friends back to the Material plane. And a bit away from the Alexandrian teleportation limiter, he and Rune soon are reveal. A wave of red flaming 'wings' appearing to come from the ground, like a dragon rising upside down, then unfurling its wings to release them onto this realm.

Harkashan takes a moment to look to Rune, placing a hand on her shoulder. "All that preparation you did paid off. That being was difficult to tangle with. But your blade found purchase." He rumbles to her. "We have all come a long way since a year ago."

Though Rune often times benefits from the gifts that Harkashan receives from the Death Singing Dragon and his otherworldy patron, there is also moments when she feels a bit dwarfed by the magical abilities of others. Perhaps more-so stepping away from the celebrations in the aftermath of the Corpse Eater. Rune had been quiet, which likely lead, in part, to that early departure.

Now, she simply gives a nod of her head, "We have. But... is it enough?" She asks softly. Her hand slips up to touch her pendant, knowing all too well that there were questions she still did not have answers to, and things that were still left undone. "Let them celebrate. We'll seek out Blue and figure out our next steps."

It seems, there is little reason for relaxation. Her fate is still tightly bound to whatever path still lies before her. "Sorry I'm not more festive." She admits, then lifts her shoulders in a small shrug.

Hanging around the vicinity of the northern gates is that of a heavily scarred mul'neissa woman, verdant buckle jacket cinched up tight to ward against the cold. She sits at one of the many walls lining the roads into Alexandria, in hand is a wooden mug of something or another, it being swirled in idle thought.

But such idle musing cannot miss the fire of wings ripping out of the ground. A white brow rises as a two souls are deposited. She sculls the drink, drops it into a bag, and hops off the wall. Boots softly thud against the ground, and the shadow elf strolls on up to the couple.

They haven't exactly met Aryia, save for being in some meetings in the same place and time. And not much is known about her save for her coaching capabilities. She stops in front of the two, glancing between them before her hands rise, and sign. The gestures sharp, and the gist is understood even if one didn't speak the non-verbal tongue. "You both look like shit went sideways and fucked."

Oh. The other fact being she was blunt as hell. <Handspeech/Tongues>

"I do not believe either of us were particularly festive." Harkashan answers Rune with a soft smile, moving his arm to her other shoulder and pulling her to his side for a moment. Pressing the bottom of his muzzle against her head. "Do not feel the need to be sorry for your own emotions, Rune." He rumbles warmly, before releasing that half-side-hug.

"And whether or not it is enough, we will see." He adds, "We can but prepare and improvise."

As they get closer to the northern gates, Harkashan lifts a hand to Aryia. Though they've never properly interacted, he is familiar with her. "Hail. Peace upon your nest." He bids to her out loud at first. Showing recognition in his eyes.

Harkashan then moves his hands, replying readily in Handspeech. Something he learned from Rune, so his fluency isn't as capable as hers. But he /is/ a Speaker. So there's a beautiful kind of draconic grace to it.

"Peace upon your nest. The battle was difficult, but we managed to Curse our Foe to never be able to cause Fear again, before felling them permenantly."

There's a pause, before he asks in handspeech; "How do I say your name?" After all, in handspeech, names are unique motions.

Once, physical comfort might have been something Rune avoided, but she has learned to accept it from Harkashan, as well as many others. Though she may have once thought her heart closed to others with the death of her mother and her choice to leave her blood family behind, she has found new people to seek that solace in.

The half-hug is met with the faintest of smiles. "It's just... not over for me. Not yet. Not until we find out if this actually managed to solve the puzzle, or not."

Then, the sound of boots thudding on the ground and the arrival of the shadow elf has Rune's ears twitching once. The handspeech is responded to in turn with deft movements of her fingers. "We've had worse. You should have seen the other guy." Her lip quirks slightly, brows lifting, the elf naturally emoting more when using this form of communication.

"Dealing with some Fey bullshit, but the worst of it should be over. I hope." Her hand motions explain, but she doesn't look entirely sure of that statement.

"Peace on your nest," Aryia gestures back readily as she joins in on the conversation just as the two part from the embrace. A brow quirks as Harkashan's hands move in reply. She blinks. "That's good, right? Because if I remember correctly, this shit has been fucking up stuff bad for folks for a really long time. So, little weird that the two of you look like you just were told you don't have long fucking walk through the sewers instead of sloughing off a massive weight."

Observant.

The question gets a surprised look to flash across her scarred face. She holds up a finger, fishing out a journal and clicking a pen before scribbling something down and handing it off to Harkashan.

'R-ree-ah,' it reads.

She scowls at the mention of Fey bullshit. "Hate to say it, but it's never over. However, deed's done? Fuckwit is gone? Cor'lana doesn't have to camp out in her house for fucking ever anymore?" <Handspeech/Tongues>

"Like this then." Harkashan offers in handspeech, motioning her name in lettered type with his fingers. Waiting for a confirmation. Then continues.

"Their death is but one step on our road. And in our case... something that opens a more dangerous path we must walk." Harkashan continues to sign. Letting Rune speak more adequately on matters if she so wishes.

"But yes. Cor'lana and her kin are free of this accursed Fae. The deed is done." He adds patiently. Notably, he avoids naming the Fey, even now. After all this time.

"You're not far from the truth." Rune replies with gentle motions of her hands, looking as if the whole situation were a little bittersweet for her. Her blue eyes look to Harkashan, then back towards Aryia before she makes an attempt at explaining.

"The end of the Corpse Eater is just one step on a long path I've been traveling for months. He was responsible for the imprisonment of another Fey being, causing more trauma and pain. One that is tied to my family quite intimately." Her expression looks a bit pained at that.

"I don't know, yet, if his death will have freed this other Fey being. We won't know for sure until we travel back to where this all began in Am'shere." And that is likely why it still weighs so heavily on Rune's shoulders.

"But yes, Cor'lana should finally have some freedom. She's faced far too many people wishing her and her husband pain over the past few months."

Aryia stares for a moment. Sighs as a palm smacks her forehead. "Sorry, not used to people asking how to say it in Handspeech. It's like this-" The letter 'a' drives forward into an open palm. Simple and straightforward.

She rubs her hands to warm them from the chill, shifting on her feet. "I see. Trust me when I say I know how that goes with family," she signs back, expression dropping slightly. "Hopefully you both can get that shit wrapped up without loose ends. Best of luck."

She chews on the inside of her cheek. "Good. I'm glad it was sorted. I had enough on my plate and was glade some others helped her punch the fucker for me."

She wobbles her head from one side to another subtly, looking to the two over, like she was internally debating something. <Handspeech/Tongues>

GAME: Harkashan rolls Sense Motive: (11)+24: 35

"I understand." Harkashan signals back patiently, then signals the name Aryia to her. "I am Harkashan." Signaled as a dramatic flame with his hands.

At Aryia mentioning she has shit on her plate as well, he continues in handspeech; "Another one that They harmed, I understand? I am glad we could assist in easing your burdans. Yet you still bear them. Anything we can help with - friend of Cor'lana? We always seek ways to better prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead. A Friend of Cor'lana is a Friend to Us." He signals.

She can tell, Harkashan's eyes are intent as he gazes upon her. He's reading her. "You need aid."

With the sign-name offered, Rune repeats it with a nod of her head. She doesn't offer one in return, perhaps because she doesn't have one. Her use of handspeech has always been less of a necessity and more of a way of communicating in sneaky ways to get away with things that she was never supposed to be doing in the first place.

Instead, she finger-spells Rune, which separates it from the type of writing or from the ancient city. "Consider the Corpse Eater well stabbed a few times for you, then." She adds, before reaching back to pat one of her blades which is strapped along her back.

She doesn't dive into her own family matters, though, perhaps because there is a whole lot more to go into there than can be explained in a single sitting. Instead, she simply looks over to Harkashan with a measure of curiosity. He did have a way of reading people better than she ever could.

Aryia copies the motion with little flicks of flame from waggling fingers, an amused smile flickering across her lips before she shakes her head. "The asshole didn't harm me, just my friends. Just glad that's dealt with, don't like having something creeping around that I have to be anxious about." She lightly smirks at Rune, nodding at both the spelling and firmer at the stabbing.

The mute elf stills as she's called out, lips twisting to the side. "I need strong, discreet people," she signs slowly. A hand motions towards Harkashan. "You are strong enough to pierce planes. I'm aware of the power of that magic you just used."

Another towards Rune. "Most don't ever fool my sense, yet I didn't even hear your approach, only his."

"I admit I was hoping to catch the magic spouses on the approach back here, but others that know when not to say a fucking thing and aren't predisposed to dicking around will help immensely too," she mentions, giving the two a stare, glowing eyes bright in the shade of her facial features. <Handpseech/Tongues>

"It was imperitive we did not mention this plan, or even the name of the one targeted by the plan by accident." Harkashan signals back to the mute elf as she mentions discreet people. "We are most certainly capable of at least that much." He pauses for a moment, looking to Rune.

He doesn't just want to volunteer her after all. Still, to understand what this means, means to speak on the topic itself. And that means becoming involved.

"What do you need aid with? I am uncertain we are prone to 'dicking around', but we have learned how to..."

He pauses for a moment. Then makes wing-flapping motions with his hand.

"Wing it."

There is a lift of one eyebrow as Rune looks over towards Harkashan, "He has some pretty amazing magical prowess, if you ask me." Rune, however, doesn't give off any sort of impression of magic beyond the weapons and armor that she carries.

However, the comment about her naturally silent movement is met with a soft laugh. "The Shadows and I are close friends. Most of the time, people don't see or hear my approach unless I intend them to." She seems to reach into a pool of nearby shadows, and they seem to cling to her fingers as she shakes off the effect.

Then, there is a nod of understanding. "I've been part of a number of plans to foil dark tidings in Alexandria. But I do have to warn I have relatively weak mental defenses. I tend to fall prey to those sort of magics that mess with someone's head more often than I'd like." She inclines her head, "It's only fair to lay that outright." She signs.

"It's up to you, I'm not going to force either of you to help. I'd rather have too many allies than too few," Aryia mentions. "But it is reassuring that you know how to keep your mouth- or maw- shut."

A mild smirk crosses her lips, her watching the way Rune's finger mingle with the shadows. Aryia holds a hand out, clenching it like she was squeezing a citrus, and drops of shade drip out, falling to splash and melt into the shadows on the ground. "It's a boon for certain. Though I figure it's different for you- I was born into it. Interesting."

Snorting at Harkahsan's signs, her hands raise to give the premise. Then freeze at Rune's warning. The pugilist grimaces. "That may be a problem. I won't give the full details yet, but essentially, myself and Seldan are going to delve into a place that requires something within that cannot be let out. It infects the mind and spreads though sound. Currently the sound is sealed, and we plan on keeping that seal through deafening ourselves. Who knows what may happen, however, it is critical said sound does not leave in our minds when we leave with an object of interest. My need is reliable people that can keep their mouth shut about it.""

She looks to the two of them. "This is an insanely dangerous endeavor. But it is a necessary one. If you are not mentally sound, I fear it may not work out. Yet I know not what we need fully. So...." she ends her gestures with a shrug. <Handspeech/Tongues>

"I died into it." Rune replies, her brows lifting slightly. Once, she would have avoided talking about her demise, but over time, the rogue has become more comfortable with her time among the recently deceased. "Some 'gift' in either how I died, or how I was returned, or what I experienced in between. Can't say for sure." She shrugs then, not seeming too bothered by the strange way the magic of Ea responds to her.

As for the problem that Aryia carries, Rune seems thoughtful. "I wouldn't say that I'm mentally unsound, but I am more vulnerable than some others. Specifically to nightmares." There is a glance to Harkashan, "We've been working on improving my mental defenses but... Harkashan is significantly stronger at that than I am." It takes a lot to acknowledge a weakness.

She shifts her weight slightly, letting her arms rest at her sides for a moment. "It sounds like Harkashan is the one you'll want, if there's that kind of concern and risk. He has an iron will bolstered by an otherworldly being that protects his mind fiercely." She inclines her head again, expression showing her own uncertainty. "I wouldn't want to put a task of that importance at risk. Sure, I'll worry about my friends, but being the weak link isn't fair to the team."

Aryia cannot help but snort at Rune's answer. She shakes her head. Stops. Reads the half sil for a beat. "Your're serious. I see. That'd probably do it. Weirder shit has happened, so getting shade to stick and morph with you is honestly the least bad shit that could have happened to you."

The mute pugilist purses her lips. "Nightmares bely mental disturbance, I was no stranger to that," she sagely motions. "But being ware of such shortcomings is good to acknowledge and accept. There is strength in that."

Mention of being bolstered by otherworldly beings gets Aryia to cut Harkashan a glance. She's terrible at hiding her emotions, and it's clear as she doesn't like that fact. "That won't be a problem about something's existence starts with us entering the place and ending with us leaving there, will it?" she deeply frowns. <Handspeech/Tongues>

Harkashan answers by signalling something; "I am able to protect the mind from some untoward influences." He answers Aryia patiently. "We had to make similar preparations against our former Fae Foe. To cast away fear, and ensure our minds would not be interfered with." He explains.

"My mind is a fortress. And I can also aid in bolstering the mind of others that are near me, though it strains heavily on me." He then adds to this to Aryia. "So I can aid in maintaining the minds of those with me as needed." A rather precious ability to have in the situation that Aryia provides.

Harkashan then tilts his head as Aryia gazes upon him. "This other presence lives within the Realm of Flames. They are tied to my soul, but I am certain I can bid them to look away for a time." He explains to Aryia. "They are known as Astahii Svaust Uclar Thirku. They desire to see the unfolding of the events that bend fate through those bonded with them."

"Usually." Rune replies, but she leaves the discussion of her strange return to Ea at that. There is enough about it that she doesn't understand without trying to explain it further.

With a glance over to Harkashan, she tilts her head in acknowledgement. His abilities had pulled her ass out of the fire a time or two, but sometimes it isn't worth the risk if there is enough threat to be had. "If nothing else, we can figure out what exactly is needed. Harkashan is probably your best bet of the two of us. If there's something I can do that doesn't put others at risk, you have my blades, too."

Her lips press together, "I owe my fair share to the Sky-singer, so if Seldan needs something, I'm here."

"Good. We're going to need as many folks that can do things like that as possible," Aryia gestures in approval, looking a bit better about the ask now before he explains further about Thirku. Her brows furrow, heel grinding into a patch of dirt on the ground. After a time where it may seem like she may call it off, she signs, "Fine. Just make sure they look away for the time or close their ears or some shit. I'd say nevermind, but Cor'lana has similar binds, and if she trusts you with the Fey shit then I can trust you to keep this from spreading further than the party."

She rubs her face, sighing and shaking herself straight. She bobs her head to Rune."I understand, he'll be glad to hear something like that. I'll let you know- both of you- know if and when you're needed. Anyways- congratulations on killing that dipshit. I know Harpists don't celebrate death, but that prick is going to be judged /harshly/."

She cracks her neck and rolls her shoulders. "Mainly was out here to make sure friends got back okay. Anyways, don't let me keep you. Thanks. Peace on your nest." <Handspeech/Tongues>

In that quiet moment where it seems like Aryia may change her mind about trying to recruit them, Rune seems patient enough. It's important to consider all aspects of what they bring to the table, good and bad.

When it seems that the decision falls to 'we need more bodies despite their strange connections', Rune just nods her head. "Oh, trust me, I celebrate his death. I just also need to figure out where that leaves me. That's the only reason I'm not getting drunk and stupid tonight."

Then, she adds, with the faintest of smiles, "I'm sure they'll be along eventually. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they appreciate Grandfather's hospitality a bit longer."

With that, she looks to Harkashan, "Come on, big guy. We've got plans to make."

"That just means you get to get drunk and stupid even harder once it's all said and done," Aryia smirks, taking a half step back. "If Grandfather is hosting them a party, then they'll be fine. Which is good enough for me."

Seeing as the two were getting ready to resume their heading after being stopped by the mute, she gives a parting wave. "Thanks. Until then." She takes a deep breath In. Lowers her stance. And takes one step to the side before winds kick up from where she once was, dust flying, and the pugilist's form fades away in an afterimage. Aryia could briefly be seen down the road, before that image too fades away. <Handspeech/Tonges>

-End Scene-