Aya Returns

It is a hot, humid day in the temple district. The sort of heat that invites you to cooler climates. Somehow the overcast sky makes it feel all the worse. As if you're in a box. A box of heat with no escape. For some the heat is worse than it is for others however. As a sith-makar Zeke finds the warmth very pleasant, which is why he's chosen to take his break-meal in the out-of-doors. The blue-scale sits on a bench nearby the temple of Daeus, watching over the comings and goings of the various people. A meat skewer is lifted and he takes a delicate bite, pulling meat off the stick and chewing thoughtfully.

Aryia has been anxiously patrolling up and down the temples in her off time. Shoulders sagging and face sullen, never a night of good rest in a long while. The heat was unpleasant, and the humidity made it worse to only sour her mood. Languid steps eventually bring her to the Temple of Daeus, an idle gaze acknowledging Zeke. She sighs and ambles forward, a hand raising in greeting but not much else.

If it is a miserable day to be outside, then it is a truly miserable on in which to be wearing armor out of doors. Seldan is doing so anyway, and has not even bothered to mute the moonlit, unusual appearance of the metal. Reunion is at his hip, his usual accoutrements all present, his unruly hair damp with sweat and slicked back from his forehead. Black leather swordman's gloves are tucked into his belt, in concession to the heat. His usual cool, even, quiet demeanor are very much in evidence, from where he stands near the main doors of Eluna's temple, pale eyes roaming over the square searchingly. He has not yet approached anyone.

Imane makes her way through the crowd towards the fountain at the center. She too looks heat weary, though much less than poor Seldan in his armor to be sure. The considerable amount of elven skin visible is all glistening with moisture, be it humidity or sweat is hard to say. She doesn't seem to have any purpose here beyond seeking the cooling mists coming off the fountain's spray.

On such a day, water and a little shade could be welcome respite for those not so heat-inclined. The fountain provides one half of that. The temples, themselves, might offer some of the other, but most of the plaza is open.

Perhaps that is why, rather near the fountain, some shade spontaneously begins to form. Drawn from shadows of passersby, the fountain, and other decorations, many small ebon shapes move to join a rapidly expanding vertical circle of darkness. The shape then distorts as a not-quite-as-dark form emerges.

As the darkness vanishes behind her, Aya takes a moment to re-orient herself. She then steps towards the fountain. Step singular, rather, as her leg buckles and she collapses to a slumped kneel.

Zeke waves pleasantly to Aryia, noting her tiredness, but knows not its source. He notes Seldan as well, but does not approach his kin. Rather the man's thoughtful gaze sends his out across the plaza again. To where one unfamiliar figure walks toward the cooler mists offered by the fountain. Thus he is looking right at the fountain when shadows begin to gather there. Alarmed, he drops his stick of meat and rises to his feet, grasping up his quarterstaff in preparation for... Aya?

In Zeke's mind perhaps not in inappropriate action, yet he is surprised to see her, and when she falls instinct kicks in. He is a healer first and foremost so he moves with purpose toward the woman, already seeking out signs that she's been hurt or needs assistance beyond what might be needed for teleporting sickness.

Aryia looks behind her shoulder, wherever Zeke was directing his attention towards. The mute pugilist gasps silently, her exhaustion temporarily forgotten as she runs up to her beside Zeke. A raspy, hissy string of, "- -v- - b-n? I'v- b-n -k-ng f- - - n-ght!" following suit as she tries to assist Zeke in whatever what she could.

The gathering of shadows similarly snaps Seldan's roving attention to the fountain and its environs, and his hand at once goes to the ancestral blade on his hip. He takes the steps to the temple at a run that could be a lot louder, and could be a lot quieter if he wasn't wearing armor, and closes the distance to the fountain in a matter of seconds. Others are, however, closer, and so it is that he slows his steps to approach the group a bit behind the others, the thoughtful expression suddenly sharpened to razor focus.

He takes his hand from the sword at his hip and says only, "A spell of warding only, Mistress Aryia, it will not harm you," before beginning an incantation of several complex-looking symbols drawn in the air before him. He then draws the crescent-and-sphere of Eluna through all three, unifying them all under Her holy aegis. A sentence of incantation, and the sigils burst into white-gold-silver-blue fire before him. Both hands gesture downward, palm-down, and the sigils obediently lower into a circle around the group's feet. He speaks a final word, and the sigils flash moonlit-silver, then fade to a bare glow.

"The ward protects from any mental effects the statue may have," he adds, when it is done, straightening to assume a guard pose while the others look to Aya's welfare.

GAME: Seldan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 16 DC: 21

Aya does appear a bit worse for wear. A conspicuous cause for the limited mobility would be the large bone protruding from her thigh. It is a bit large to be her own, and more resembles a remnant of large tooth or tusk. Several slashes of clothing and flesh also mar her, some of the wounds being partially mended. Adding insult (and aroma) to injury, in addition to her own blood, the splatters of ichor from the totem are still present.

All of this might explain exceedingly contorted and displeased expression. She squints against the sun as she looks upward at those arriving. "I don't suppose... Sunguard..." she begins with slowed words and plenty of breath between (as breathing is important) "you could beseech your patron ... to dim the day?" Aryia receives what could be a strained half-smile, though it slips easily into a more twisted smirk as her eyes shift further. "I am pleased... to see you as well... Silverguard."

Zeke directs the others away a little so that he can get a good look at Aya's injuries, and then he shakes his head. "Will you allow thisss one to heal you Aya?" He asks her gently, laying his crystal hand on her shoulder. It is a distraction. The moment she nods assent to being healed, he pulls the tooth or tusk - whatever it is - free and sends a pulse of healing through her battered form in the same instant.

Aryia glances up at Seldan, her squinting her eyes against the oppressive sun despite it being cloudy outside. She gives a nod, grateful for the heads up but still tenses all the same as the warding magic goes out.

She grimaces as the tusk is pulled free, an empathetic pain twinging her flank before stepping forward to hold her cloak over the wound mul'neissa. A tarp offering some shade.

Seldan, too, winces as the tusk is yanked free, but he holds his ground, only nodding back and watching in silence - not just the operation at hand, but the whole square at large, eyes roving place to place. Sweat has beaded on his brow and continues to wet his hair, but he does not seem unreasonably uncomfortable or handicapped.

The sudden unexpected removal draws a yelp from Aya that is very quickly compressed to a hiss, which in turn flows into a brief series of expletives in Undercommon as she turns her head away from Zeke so they are not spewed at him directly.

The invective stops as the healing flows in, and her expression eases. All the easier for her to give Aryia a more proper, if slender and weary, smile to Aryia. "Thank you." This leaves the wary Seldan, who is fully justified in his caution.

"The statue is gone, Silverguard," she offers some assurance now that she can do so in a single breath. The same renewed bit of strength has her begin to stand, or make effort to do so.

Zeke assists Aya to her feet as best he can, his role as a healer means he has a great amount of experience dealing with the wounded. "Take it easssy." He tells her, knowing that even after healing some people can have muscle cramps or other side effects from the rapid transition. Her words make his eyes narrow, but for the moment he does not comment on it, only glancing at Seldan.

Aryia returns the weary smile with one of her own, though it was difficult to assuage the worry laced within it. She too helps Aya to her feet, her relieved that her soon-to-be mentor was in one piece. Aya must have read Aryia's mind, as she had to cease examining her fellow mul'neissa for the statue that always causes so many problems.

Once they were steady, Aryia pulls out a fresh looking journal and scribbles something down before showing everyone else. "This isnt the firyst tyme one of those statues did that." It reads.

Seldan nods gravely to Aya, but does not immediately answer her claim. Instead, the ice-blue eyes unfocus briefly, and he murmurs something under his breath, then glances around the area once more, finally meeting Zeke's eyes. It lasts only a breath or two, and he shakes his head, appearing satisfied with whatever it was he was seeking. "I do not sense its presence. If I might, Mistress Aya, what became of it?"

He is distracted from the question, though, leaning over to examine Aryia's drawing with interest. "Even so? I would hear of the other times you have seen this statue."

"You are quite adept at treating legs," Aya opines to Zeke. A compliment, and possibly a reference to Mei and their interactions around the same. Perhaps this is some minor divine retaliation? In any case, she works to remain upright under her own power now that she's there.

She looks then to Aryia's writing and nods, lips pursing, "I believe that someone was attempting to warn me... when my ability to chose was taken."

Aya doesn't move much more than her head and eyes as she looks to Seldan and his inquiry. "To the creature that attempted to eat me, with whom I disagreed..." A dip of head and eyes to the removed tooth/tusk. "As I no longer bore it, I assume its turn to violence freed my will."

Zeke nods once to Seldan and seems to relax somewhat, looking instead at the tooth-like thing he holds. "We may be able to ussse thisss to determine what it wasss that attacked you. Yet, if it liesss dead then there is little purpossse in that." He tucks the item away just the same, he will do some research for his own gratification. Then he moves away from Aya, allowing her to stand on her own two feet, but keeps an eye on her in case she should lose her balance unexpectedly.

Aryia gives a long sigh at Aya's explanation. Makes sense. The scarred mul begins to write a long explanation, taking some time while the others talked. She shows the full page of text. 
"The first time I saw them was in a warehouse that took Paentyia's mind. I couldnt brek the statue with my foot. Another tyme Culicks had it in hand and got her mynd controled again. It was the same statue I showed you yesterday." 

She flips the page, her lips pursed. "I dont know how to handle the statue. Weve tryed to move it with bags and poles. And stil it does its thyngs when touched."

"It's really pissing me off," she adds with a gesture, her tiredness seeping out. <Handspeech>

Seldan reads the writing in silence, leaning over to study it. When she is done, he offers, "Were I to be faced with one such, I would destroy it without question, but it is well to understand how they are being used. It seems almost certain that they are magical in nature, and if stone is a difficult thing to break, then enchanted stone is worse still. Do not think yourself lesser. I am inclined to try magic to do so, but I think it likely that the thing will resist.

He then turns his attention to Zeke, and to the thing that he holds. "Perhaps, yet one such as ye may command all manner of horror."

GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/the planes: (19)+12: 31

After a moment of study, he adds, "A nalfeshnee. Doubtless one of Eclavdran's servants, and one not to be taken lightly. A creature of some power," he observes.

Aya reaches to put a hand on Aryia's shoulder. Not to steady herself, though she would be the most convenient and comfortable (due to comparative statures) choice. "You know not to possess it, which I was ignorant of. Let the anger become resolve; it is far more useful." She leaves Seldan and Zeke to their words for the moment. Her knowledge of the thing would be limited to aspects such as appearance, smell, and bite force; all of which could be classified as 'unpleasant.'

Zeke lets out a snort of surprised breath at Seldan's proclomation as to what the creature is. He does not doubt, but he looks at Aya with marked surprise. "How did you get away from sssuch a creature?" He shakes his head, but falls thoughtfully silent in the wake of his own words.

The replies she was given has an opposite effect: Aryia was looking for answers, not reassurance. She scribbles more, faster with more mistakes, and the pen making deep grooves. The page is presented forward once more, her foot bouncing with increasing pace. "Then what the fuck am I suposed to do against a statue that n e one can cary? I cant break it, I cant rip it out of someones hand. Cant toch it with a bag or a glove or a stick. Am I suposed to have some kind of symbol on me or somethin? Lyke some oposite gods thyng?"

The name of the beast and what it does goes over her head. Far above her paygrade.

Seldan seems to have been distracted out of his full attention to guard duty by Aryia's writing, and now watches both it and her, real sympathy written across his features. "We do not yet know the answers you seek, Mistress Aryia. I have not previously seen them used actively as more than effigies, and have not studied one closely. I know not its nature, but know this - the warding spell I cast upon this place was intended to protect all of us from its presence and its effects upon the mind. I have indeed taken your and the Hearthguard's warnings to heart," his eyes lower here, "and sought to ensure that nothing seized our minds, and if it did, that Mistress Aya might have the opportunity to break free. We shall find the answers you seek." His tone is cool, even, and attempts to be reassuring.

"With significant difficulty," Aya offers in rather deadpan response to Zeke's inquiry before returning her focus to Aryia as she removes her hand. "If nothing else, bring down the one holding it. Gently, if you prefer. The alternative is likely far worse." Now that she has an inkling of that.

Zeke nods to Aya, though her answer leaves something to be desired, and in truth his nod is more of the half-listening variation. "If you have ssseen thessse ssstatuesss before Sseldan, asss effegiesss... were they perhapsss magical then alssso?" There may be no way of knowing at this point. "Where wasss thisss effegy, and can it be sstuddied? Perhapsss to give usss cluesss asss to what the sssmaller onesss do?"

Aryia, looking like she had been up a full night- maybe two-, lightly huffs and rubs at her face. She flashes a simple "Ok," to Seldan. Not meaning to be curt, but she was running on fumes. Some solace is afforded for light touch from Aya, but she ends up crossing her arms together and resting on a back foot. Frustrated with no particular direction. <Handspeech>

Aya's addition makes the journal come out. Scribble. "Kiling the holder just maykes them a zombi that cant be kiled until its removed."

She yawns through her nose as she's holding the book out with one hand to view.

"You should rest," Seldan offers quietly, all trace of smile gone as he watches Aryia. "Your friend is now safe, as safe as she can be here, and you will not be able to face what comes, if you yourself are not hale." This last elicits a hint of rueful smile. "There are those within the city who are fond of reminding me of this." He carefully does not look at Zeke, instead keeping focus on the journal and its writings.

Zeke's question, though, does draw his eyes. "I cannot say, but it is possible. If we are to find one anywhere, to examine in, there may yet be one in Maridran, although one would hope for its removal by now."

Aya confirms again that she may be the least worthy to offer insight regarding the statues/stones/cursed things. Another thought strikes at Seldan's comment, and she shifts topics. One brow arches at Aryia. "Would you care to escort me to the lower markets? I could use a meal and would welcome the company." She glances down at herself and scowls. "Or perhaps the Tarrace..."

Zeke nods to Seldan's suggestion. Perhaps the item is there. Perhaps it is not, it might be worth looking into. He turns his attention on the two women preparing to leave and nods low to them both. "Thisss one thinksss that food and relaxation isss good healing for you both. Thisss one will return to the temple, and sssee what thiss one can learn there." He walks away from the group at a slow pace, his food forgotten and swiftly stolen by one of the many small quick hands of Alexandria. Such is the way of life.

Aryia nods slowly at the advice. Yes, now she could finally get some rest, and what a pleasant idea that was. She turns to Aya, bags heavy under her eyes. Aryia weakly smiles and nods, her looking to her self and making a wiping motion. The Tarrace was a much fairer idea.

"Then I shall leave you to your seeking," Seldan agrees. "There is little point in me seeking the baths ere nightfall. I shall remain here, and keep watch. Her light upon your paths." He, too, makes to turn away, back towards the temple entrance. Before walking away, though, he pauses, and makes an arcane gesture. The faintly glowing sigils on the ground at everyone's feet wink out, as if they had never been, and he turns away to resume his guard post.

Aya acknowledges Aryia's confirmation, then bids Seldan and Zeke farewell. With no deity to espouse nor wishing to offend any nests, it is a simple "Good day to you both." She subsequently turns to move towards the lower city; more steadily than the last step she took, but at a very limited pace nonetheless.

-End