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Post by Queerly on Jan 24, 2016 19:38:48 GMT -6
'Gather the clerics at the Temple,' their clever Sage suggested, and Eve dipped her chin in agreement. "This idea I endorse, and being that it is no longer safe for my clerics to travel the land, I do humbly insist." She added, blue eyes alighting upon their Emperor, fierce and absolute in his majesty. It was her dear hope that he would agree, for more than herself she worried for her healers, so delicate in body and devout in their craft. Her opalescent pearls did not belong in the midst of violence; their calcium carbonite bones would break against the tides of civil war. Sweet Tansy, thoughtful Oona, dedicated Eden... compassionate, beautiful Bloom. Eve's sigh shuddered from her lips. "Certainly they will bring peace to all who come searching. They are well schooled in the art of soul soothing."
The Divine fell quiet as Cadena's voice rose to pitch a new angle, and with each word that slipped from the mare's lips, Eve felt herself recoil. Celebrate the deaths of the virtuous and good? The rattled Divine was nearly able to brush the implications aside as a poor choice of wording, for surely their lady Councillor did not mean that their loss was a joyful event. But then- but then, her profane mouth suggested that the whole of the nation look to Cascade's benevolent gift, Her great Divine Rite... with grief?
Eve felt all the air hiss from her lungs. How dare she?
How dare she?
(Something within her screamed with deep, heaving sobs, 'why?')
"Blasphemy." She accused in a whisper, but it was lost beneath the rolling tide of Thaumas' voice, effortlessly efflorescing the Councillor's suggestion. At his words, Eve nodded sharply, sprightly curls dancing against her jawline. It soothed her indignation, and, not deign Cadena's words even worthy of her input, Eve's eyes slid to the next voice. Cethin was advocating that she be returned to her Temple, and that was a suggestion that the Divine found agreeable. She was not meant to be hidden behind palace walls. Her place was with the flock, guiding their paths to righteousness, soothing their aches and their crises of faith. There was no threat that her Guardian could not protect her from, and truly, the possibility of danger was worth reconnecting with the people. The fighting had left them mindless, their faith slipping. She intended to remind them to whom they owed fealty and undying love. Their beloved Emperor just needed to be convinced -
Her stomach fluttered. Whatever course of action the Divine had been on the cusp of taking was forgotten. All of her focus went to that small stirring of intuition, that prickle down her spine and the foreboding flutter of her heart. She listened to it, assessing it, fearfully wondering. Around her, the others continued to speak.
"... peace envoys would provide a start to the healing process?"
"Thaumas." Eve murmured, too soft to be heard.
"And you would be wise not to twist my words again."
"Rycaron?" Louder.
"I don't think anyone in here wants to see Aqoure fall just because we were afraid to venture out."
"Emperor!" The Divine sharply trilled, her quivering body rising into a half-rear. Her blessed intuition was screaming, screaming in her ears that something was wrong, something was not right. "We must-"
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Post by GingerBlues on Jan 24, 2016 19:41:51 GMT -6
 Checkpoint 2// The heavy wooden door bursts open and three cloaked, but clearly winged figures rush in with guards on their heels. Before they can stop them, one of the robed equines launches a dart from a concealed dart gun straight at the Divine. |
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Post by Queerly on Jan 24, 2016 20:34:20 GMT -6
Thmp.
The dart found its home in Eve's throat, nestling through fur and flesh, its potent concoction spreading through the rivers of her veins. Poison, she thought, or said, or screamed. Her vision silvered at the edges, and then spiraled into dark, deep oblivion. Blinded, the cold fear of mortality gripped her heart. Was it time? Was it time to be embraced, reborn, to slough off this vessel of flesh for something new? Eve had experienced the rebirth more times than she cared to count, and yet the poignant terror of dying was never easy. Brave, be brave, she thought. Or said. Or screamed.
But she knew her next words would leave her lungs, for the last words were of praise.
"Wave-Mother." She mewled, and slipped gently into the abyss.
The Divine's body crumpled. She might have been hurt were it not for Thaumus, narrowly catching her form with a burst of strong telekinetic energy. The magic shrouded her in a thin, sparkling film of aquamarine, her delicate temple kept clear of the table's unforgiving edge. Gently, so very gently she was lowered, head lolling as her weight settled upon the floor.
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Post by strixx-variaa on Jan 24, 2016 20:58:13 GMT -6
Thaumas couldn't help but give a low, disbelieving sound at the Lady Councillor, with her bile up and her sacrilege out. It would've been a chuckle, but it was short of the required mirth. Cardinal Law, Second. You are lawless even now, Councillor.And quickly, so quickly, it didn't even matter. The following debate was nothing compared to the shame Thaumas would feel in days to come, standing alone in his darkened study, bent over his maps and his board pieces, thinking not of the hand-drawn lines and letters before him but instead racking his brain to recall the events of tonight and why, why on earth he hadn't heard her when she needed him to hear. The crack of the heavy wooden doors bursting open reverberated through his heart like an electric shock, and as he rose on his hinds and screamed at his Guardians, he saw it happen almost in slow motion. He was on the off side of the table, you see, just beside Eve and Rycaron, and the door was on the near side with all of them, and what was he supposed to do, leap the table? Overcome first with a wave of purest anger that his Guardians had failed him within the royal palace, and second with an uncharacteristic bolt of panic through his breast and through to his navel, Thaumas saw the weapon wielded. "GUN!"There was commotion on the near side, all three Councillors scrambling to -- to what, to protect their superiors? Their Emperor? Themselves? But it was too late, and the dart struck their beloved, their beautiful, their gentle Divine, and he had done nothing to stop it. LATE! Late. You're always fucking late. And now when it matters, what are you? FUCKING LATE.She fell with an involuntary sigh and he almost couldn't bear it. I tell you what, it's something to watch the symbol of everything you love and everything you believe in topple to the ground with her life sporting a big fat question mark. It's something. He caught her before she hit the floor, spent just a moment in that effort with all the prayer and all the worry and all the love in his heart directed solely at her ( HELP ME, MOTHER). And then the moment was gone and she was there on the floor and he could trust Rycaron to be wise about her, couldn't he? And they were still there and he'd been itching for release this entire time, and he hoped they knew good prayers. He leapt the fucking table. words: 428 tags: GingerBlues Queerly posy-punch Dream-Lark Kelpie-River kawaiideadpool notes:fifth of five: "that time when thaumas went ham." (y'all can feel free to assume he's crushing skulls or something in your posts, btw.) this scene reminds me now of the second-season finale to the west wing. :'D and now i'm gonna go cry into my netflix see you later bye edit: and i just realized he's a better war machine now with this level-up, so please feel free to see him using crazy ice techniques or whatnot, because he 100% will :'D |
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Post by kawaiideadpool on Jan 24, 2016 21:03:05 GMT -6
Nymph | Council Member.
She barely had time to react as the large wooden doors swung open and a weapon was pointed towards the Talori's beloved Divine. Bright horror filled eyes watched as a sharp tipped dart sliced through the air and with a thump that echoed around the room, Nymph felt a terrified gasp slip through her lips as she watched the sharp tip of the dart slice delicately through her thing skin and deep into her flesh.
Standing from her side of the table, she rushed over towards the fallen mare (following after Thaumas leap over the table) in fear that she was severely hurt; her many years of being a member of the Cleric kicking in as she skidded to a stop next to the mare, almost knocking the Sage and the Defender out of the way as she frantically looked down at the mare. She had to reassure herself several times that the Divine would be okay, that Cascade would safely bring her back to them even if it wasn't in the same form that she had now.
"Wave-Mother," The Divine had muttered as she fell, and Nymph caught herself pausing for a moment as she replayed the sound of the way her voice sounded so content with what had happened, and she understood that the Divine had already accepted that she might die long before she actually would. For if this was Cascade's plan for her, then there was nothing they could do about it.
"Monsters!" She heaved out, her lungs pushing out the gust of loud wind as she screamed at the robbed individuals who seemed pleased that they had maybe just cause all of Aqoure to come crashing down. She stared at them with hate filled eyes before pushing them to the back of her mind. Right now, she was not worried about them. Right now they could shot her down as well but all that was on her mind was the Divine who was laying helplessly on the floor.
{ Word Count: 336 } |
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Post by posy-punch on Jan 24, 2016 21:14:17 GMT -6
Cethin | Council Cethin had listened carefully to everything everyone was saying, but had caught in the slightest the murmur of the Divine, yet he dismissed it as a normal thing for the only one directly connected to their Lord to do. He turned his attention back to the quietly, level-headed, talking horses and opened his mouth to speak. "I agr–" "Emperor!"His head turned sharply and he caught the dapple grey mare's last unheard words of the night. The slam of the door opening drowned the rest of the words out, and with that he watched in fury as the dart interupted him, and struck home in his Lord's Divine. His rage peaked in those few seconds and the stallion whipped around, a hiss of violence in his throat, small fangs clearly visible as he opened his jaws in a silent screech of pure anger with these, as he could see now, cloaked pegasi's erupt and unwanted appearance. Those were their mistakes. They hit the Divine with a poison by the looks of things.
They interrupted his thoughts.
and as he looked forward, just about to spring, they also angered the Defender. The stallion had leapt the table and in that moment Cethin knew, yes he was clear to go rip these chicken horses apart. He sprung forward, like a cobra in it's attack after a poor horse's fetlocks, he picked one of the shorter ones, thinner in stature. A mare by the looks of things. She too bared her teeth, but unlike the black stallion, she had no fangs. His eyes locked on and they clashed together immediately. Cethin aimed not to kill, trying and then deporting this bitch would be much more satisfying for him. He struck forward, narrowly missing her many times, her hooves scraped at his coat and bright blood began to drop to the floor from both sides. He dared a glance to see how the other horses were doing, hoping there was someone protecting the fallen Divine. [333 Words] |
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Post by Kelpie-River on Jan 24, 2016 21:27:54 GMT -6
Cadena | Council
Cadena was going to respond, to say that Nymph's solutions to the proposed questions would do quite well to satisfy the needs of the Council, but she never had a chance to get the words out. The sharp trill of Eve's cry cut through the room, just before the doors slammed open, and the hooded figures rushed in, their cloaks streaming out behind them and masking their shapes. Cadena watched, orange eyes round in horror, as the dart buried itself in the Divine's neck, and she slumped to the floor.
Despite her opinions on the group, or her personal point of view, Cadena was not going to stand by and see her herd mates attacked. Her eyes narrowed, and she bunched her muscles, vaguely aware of Thaumas leaping the round table and engaging with one of the attackers. From her periphery, she noticed Cethin rush forward to clash with a mare. There, ahead, was the final attacker. Cadena pinned her gaze on him and rushed forward. Her hooves scrabbled on the stone floor, but she bunched her hindquarters and flew forward, teeth bared as she barreled down on the other horse, her large size adding to her momentum.
She hit him full on, his side to her chest, and her teeth were snapping at the crest of his neck when she felt it. The unmistakable feeling of feathers beneath his cloak, as he half-spread his wings to keep his balance. And in that moment, Cadena was transported back for years, to the nights when her father would put his wing around her, creating a little cave, a shelter, for his daughter. Whether she was frightened of the dark or simply in need of that feeling, his wings were there, arching over her in a personal protective blanket.
Cadena stumbled, and the attacker took his chance, swiping viciously at her face, opening a bloody gash along her cheek. She barely felt the pain, and she thought that she wouldn't be able to stay on her feet, as she was so overwhelmed by the rush of emotions coursing through her. Her loyalty to her herd was telling her to fight, to defend her emperor and her Divine. But her memory was telling her it would be like a younger version of herself laying marks into her father's skin. She still clearly remembered seeing his body, mangled by a Jaguar, in front of her eyes. She could not imagine feeling responsible for causing that kind of damage to one of her own family's kind.
But as the first drops of her blood hit the floor, Cadena found herself stirring from her trance. What had felt like hours to the mare was mere seconds in reality, and her opponent still stood before her, grinning, his jaw marred with her blood. He was readying for another strike. There was no resemblance to Cadena's father in his leering gaze, and the blood on his chin. And that, thankfully, was Cadena's saving grace.
"You are not him," she murmured, feeling her body rise to life as though it were some icy mountain, thawed by the sun. Her eyes fell, only for a millisecond, while the stallion was still puzzling over her comment, and steeled her resolve. With a cry of rage, the mare reared onto her hind legs, lashing out at the pegasus. For the most part, he dodged the blow, but her hoof connected with his shoulder, and she felt the flesh give a little. With this to encourage her, as well as the pain that she was just now starting to feel from her cheek, Cadena rushed again, her hooves moving furiously as she aimed blow after blow. Fewer hit than missed, and when Cadena fell to all fours, the attacker was waiting to nip in, his smaller size making it easy to leave marks on the black mare's sides. When Cadena could, however, land a blow, it was with much more force against her opponent. They were locked together now, his speed against her strength. And neither knew who would win.
[WC: 679]
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Post by kawaiideadpool on Jan 25, 2016 16:04:12 GMT -6
Nymph | Council Member
She watched as her fellow Councilors and the Defender went after the robbed figures whom had caused such harm towards the Divine. The painted mare knew she was too weak to even think about going against the enemies so for the moment she watched in horror before shaking her head side to side rapidly. She had to focus, there was more pressing matters at the moment and that was when her eyes darted down towards the limp mare that was laying on the ground.
"Lady Divine," She said, lowering her head down to get closer to her. She wasn't very sure that the mare could hear her but maybe if she got some form of a response from the mare her heart would be put at ease and maybe the rapid beating in her chest would be suppressed for a while. While her head was lowered she took the time to study the dart that had impaled her skin and she felt her lungs suck in a really quick breath of air as she blinked slowly.
Poison, she was absolutely sure of it as she stared down at how the Divine's skin was reacting towards the dart that had made it's home in her body. She look up around the room, searching for something or someone that might be able to offer her some help but her comrades were busy fighting the robbed figures, so all that was left for her was the Sage or the Emperor. She frantically darted her eyes back and forth between the two before she gave both of them a pleading look. Surely one of them would have some idea of how to help Nymph someone maybe keep the Divine with them for a little while longer? But when neither one of them responded fast enough to her she turned her attention back towards the Divine, "Lady Divine, are you still with us?" She repeated trying to get her attention as she held back the need to want to pull the dart out from the her throat for she knew that it would cause even more damage trying to pull it out than it did when it first went in.
The Wave-Mother definitely needed to be on their side if the Divine was to be okay. But who knew, maybe the Goddess wanted the Divine to come back to her.
{ Word Count: 398 } |
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Post by Dream-Lark on Jan 25, 2016 17:53:05 GMT -6
Rycaron | Sage
Ocean colored eyes flickered between those present, noting the eddies and currents of tension. It was mostly centered about Councillor Cadena, and Rycaron had to struggle to keep his calm facade. What had seemed like it might work as an idea in the future quickly fell apart when she opened her mouth again to further explain. No, just /no/. Before he could even begin to counter this point, Thaumas jumped in, seldom spoken words ringing all the more true in that deep voice. The Sage felt he was getting quite the headache, and it's name was Cadena. With another stiffled sigh, he simply stood there, shifting weight from one hoof to another, watching the verbal sparring taking place then between Cethin and the before mentioned headache. He nodded once toward Eve, glad that she also approved of one idea. At this point, he was fairly certain the only decent things he could say about her were that she agreed with him upon one point, and she livened things up. Both he could do without, for time kept stretching on. How long would they be here? If Rycaron had known what was about to happen, he would have relished being stuck in that room, sparring with the other councilors, bandying one idea after another, but never settling on any. Usually he prided himself on following every nuance of the conversation, of studying body language...and he would later blame the exhausted condition he had allowed himself to succumb to, as the reason he never heard the voice of the silvery mare beside him. That he had partially tuned out the bickering around him, in an attempt to center himself, unable to truly follow the pointless conversation. What were they doing there? Would they ever agree or accomplish anything? He would never allow himself to slip again while in her presence, to miss the signs that had so clearly rolled like waves from her blessed being. Waves he had deafened himself from hearing, even when they called his own name. It was the high pitched trill that startled him, jerking his body, head whipping about to stare at Eve, as she lifted from the ground to paw fruitlessly at the air. Before the Sage had time to do more than register that something was utterly wrong, the heavy doors burst open with a resounding crash, and then the silvery body beside him was slipping into a senseless slump. He didn't even see the weapon fire, only caught sight of hooded figures, cover unable to hide their wings. Then a tinge of aquamarine that he knew, cradling the fragile form and lowering to the form. Quick thinking Thaumas, always trained to be at the ready. He couldn't breath, hadn't been able to catch or expel the breath he'd held when the doors burst open. No sooner had Eve touched the floor, then the Defender was leaping the table. Looking back on it, Rycaron would have sworn that was impossible to ever do, the table was so great. But he did it, his rage and panic giving him frosted wings to leap into their enemies. The hippocampus finally breathed, lowering his head to touch the Divine's muzzle gently, to assure himself she was still breathing. Rycaron heard and glimpsed Cethin and Cadena (for once he was eternally grateful for her obstinate and spit fire nature), as they rushed the other two assassins, for that was the only name his mind could conjure. Then he was being thrust to the side, and he nearly latched his teeth into the pale neck of Councilor Nymph, before he realized it was her. Lips parted to demand what she was doing, before his brain quieted him. He could recognize the movements and procedures of someone trained as a Cleric. Teeth clicked together and frame turned smartly, hooves setting in a wide stance before the two mares. He could do nothing for Eve but pray that the Wave Mother didn't take her back just yet. They /needed/ her guidance so very much, if they were ever to calm the people. Cascade /couldn't/ take her back now. But if she did...it was her will, and they would survive somehow. "Can you help her?" the golden hippocampus asked, tone nearly a plea as he cast a quick glance over his shoulder at the ladies, before jerking forward again at the sound of a bellow and a great crash. Thaumas. The fins along the Sage's jawlines and dorsal flared and quivered, revealing his severe agitation, but also making him look taller, fiercer. He was no fighter, but if any of those heathens dared to try to touch the blessed Eve again, he was taking them down with him. WC//787 Post 5 |
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Post by GingerBlues on Jan 26, 2016 5:50:58 GMT -6
 This was ridiculous. Hawkeye had endured more than enough of the arguments and petty accusations. It was easy to see where each of his officials were coming from, but now wasn't the time for back biting...Now was- "Emperor!" Eve's voice cut into his thoughts as the massive wooden doors to the war room swung open. What followed happened almost too quickly for the Emperor to keep up. Cloaked figures rushed into the room. A dart gun. Screaming. the Divine had been hit. Thaumas caught her as she collapsed in a pile on the floor. Nymph and Rycaron rushed to her aid. Hawkeye's blood boiled. Turning to face the attackers, he felt the cool press of a blade kiss his neck. "Just where do you think you're going?" The assailant's voice was like the hiss of a snake. "You played just as much a part in the murder as the Divine. Perhaps more, as you could have stopped it." Hawke pinned his ears flat against his skull, glancing around to see his attacker. He could feel the stranger's body pressed against his own, daring him to make a move, but the stranger remained invisible to the naked eye. "You dare to to threaten me?" Hawkeye laughed sharply, anger rising up from deep within his belly. "I am the Emperor of the Talori, blessed with the divine spirit and grace of our great Wave Mother herself. I promise, you and yours will regret this moment for all eternity." He spat out the words venomously. Smirking in confident fury, he glanced about the room. Cethin, Thaumas, and Cadena were each locked into their own fights as Nymph and Rycaron did their best to care for the fallen Divine. It was almost as chaotic as the city itself...and yet... Hawkeye reared up, violently knocking his attacker back. The knife slashed through his shoulder, but the Emperor barely felt it. His blood splattered onto the assailant, creating an easy target. Righteous anger fueled his every movement as Hawkeye pressed in on the stranger. Fins flared, neck bowed, and teeth barred, the bay hippocampus forced the assailant into a corner. A deep, almost feral growl escaped his throat as he shouted to anyone listening. "This one is mine."
[Post 4, Word Count: 374]
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Post by strixx-variaa on Jan 26, 2016 9:24:18 GMT -6
In a whirl of fury he descended upon them, shouting coded orders and formations at his ( WORTHLESS, FECKLESS) Guardians as they came to his aid. Thaumas was all but oblivious to the goings-on behind him, seeing the gunman and seeing the gun, snapping the gun with one heavy, torquing twist of his bright teal telekinesis. The touch of God.And then before he could blink it was five on three, and Councillors Cethin and Cadena were there alongside Thaumas and the two Guardsmen of the door. And it didn't even matter, because in the time it took the five to descend upon the three, their fourth slipped past -- fast, and with nefarious purpose -- and his Emperor was in danger as well. LATE! Fucking late, as fucking usual, and here you are and now they're all in danger because you can't be bothered to be FUCKING PUNCTUAL.But Hawkeye was no defenseless child-king; he knew his God and knew Her love, and knew how to use it as well. With a quiet, deep ringing in his ears the Defender called upon Her with the very essence of his soul and with Her aid, he drew moisture from apparent nothingness. In a violent eruption over the span of half a breath at most, Rycaron, Nymph, and Eve were shielded by a half-circle wall of pronged ice, each spike thrusting up from the ground as if the ornate tiles beneath their hooves were made of soft canvas. The table was no match, and toppled forward onto its side almost as if it independently willed to provide a secondary barrier. "FIRST ALARUM!" bellowed Thaumas to his Guardians as he landed a spinning hind round kick to someone's jaw, and the swifter of the two immediately whirled and abandoned his effort in the fight. "LIE THE NEST! FIRST ALARUM!" The Emperor's life is in danger. Secure the Empress. Shut it down. The sound of his messenger's hooves echoing on the hard floor retreated, easily drowned by the sound of the horse's voice shouting those same orders to his rapidly-arriving fellows. Within minutes security in the palace would quadruple. This wing, the residency (wherein Merrill ought to be), and wherever Hawkeye's secondary wives and offspring found themselves tonight would soon be crawling with the Palace Guard and placed under an impassable lockdown. The assailants got into the palace complex, and how they did so would be something Thaumas lost sleep over for many nights to come, but by his life he promised silently to never let them out alive. words: 423 tags: GingerBlues Queerly posy-punch Dream-Lark kawaiideadpool Kelpie-River notes: so i figure now is a time when he's defending the talori, so i'm using his rank to boost his frost manipulation for the fight. feel free to use his ice spikes to impale someone or protect yourself, or like, how boss would it be if he could freeze the water over their eyes so that they can't see? i can dream. :'D (6/5, +1 AP) |
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Post by posy-punch on Jan 28, 2016 15:42:46 GMT -6
Cethin | Council
The snake and the eagle, an endless battle it seemed. The black silky stallion lashed out, again and again, fangs flashing as he tried to clamp down on the mare's throat, her ears, anything he could get a hold of. Guardian training kicked into gear and the stallion was a blur of movement, countering the mare's smooth and quick movements with quick thinking and anticipating her next moves. They were matched so perfectly, so incredibly close in skill, that even the viper was surprised. He was distracted for but another moment by Hawkeye’s growl of claim to the last assassin, the one that had slipped past. Cathie matched Thaumaus and Hawke’s fury as he struck at the winged mare.
Then he caught hold of one of her wings and he crunched into the joint, his poison beginning already to seep it. First it would itch, then it would sting a little, minor paralysis for an hour or so at most. His delight had shown on his face as he tore away, fangs bringing with it an arc of blood. The little clump of feathers that had fallen out floated delicately to the ground, being pushed now by their hooves as the two horses danced a deadly dance.
She lashed out again now and caught his ear in her teeth, she tore and a rip formed, blood dripping down the delicate torn flesh. His heart thumped ever more rapidly and he dared another glance around as he danced out of the pegasi’s reach. She certainly had fire. Eve was lying crumpled on the ground with the Sage just about blocking his view of her. In that same few moments he watched Thaum as he began to screech to the guardians flooding the palace room, secure the Empress. He knew the code.
The mare crashed into him again and he snarled, locking into the fight once more, guardians coming to join them. With a grunt of effort he and the guardian that now matched stride beside him struck the mare’s poll with the clang of metal, the guardian had delivered the blow that would knock her out. Her eyes blanked immediately and her hooves scrabbled to find purchase, but she collapsed to the ground with a great sigh. She would survive, but she was currently out of the fight for the time being.
The stallion flicked away the blood at his ear, a thin twist of pain shooting into his head. Some of his newer cuts had been reopened and he’d been recut over a past scar, added to all of that he had just earned some more cuts. The stallion’s pelt was slick with the blood and sweat of the fight. He was glad to see her wing looked to be in bad condition. His bite had helped slow her down almost, making her paralyzed wing a liability rather than a helpful fighting aid.
[489 Words] |
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Post by kawaiideadpool on Jan 28, 2016 21:12:23 GMT -6
Nymph | Council Member.
The light painted mare took a deep and long breath as she tried to calm her shaking limbs, it had been son long she since had worked with something being on the brink of death. And now, it was the Divine that laid before her in a weak and helpless mess and she was frantically searching for something around that might help cure the Divine. The Councilor let out a squeal of fear when the Sage came dangerously close to digging his teeth deep into her skin, but when he realized it was just the painted mare from the other side of the table he relaxed slightly before standing in front of them, offering the retired Cleric and Divine a slight feeling of comfort.
Feeling a slight bit more protected from the dangers in the room, she mentally thanked the Sage for his protection, "I will try my best, Sage," She said, fumbling around the room, looking for anything that might help the Divine in this time of need, "But if Cascade wants her, the Goddess will have her back," She said, rushing over with a piece of cloth in her mouth, and a few of the plants that the Emperor had hiding away in the room. It had been at last 6 years since she had done anything with her Cleric line of work, having left them before she became a Councilor, but she would try to put any of her remaining knowledge to use as she crouched down the Divine's level.
"Miss. Divine," She said, her eyes eyeing the dart that jutted out from her neck, "I'm going to have to remove the dart," She said, scared to touch the Divine and maybe even cause even more permanent damage to her than what the assassins had done to her. But as she stood there, waiting for the Divine to response back, she realized that she might not have as much of a choice. Closing her eyes in prayer for a split second, she prayed that the grey skinned mare would hopefully return to them safely and in the body she now possessed, and she hoped that she wouldn't get into any trouble for touching her.
Now with Thaumas' little shield of ice protecting them, she turned to the Sage, "If pulling it out causes her to loose even more blood we might need a something to put pressure on it," She said, looking down febilely at the little strand of cloth she had grabbed before turning back to the Divine, "And the poison....," She imagined the deadily liquid running through the Divine's blood vessels, "I don't know how we will get that out..." She said, mentally slapping herself as she let out a long huff; if it was anything like snake venom, they'd have to suck it out of her.
{Word Count: 475} |
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Post by Dream-Lark on Jan 30, 2016 18:48:56 GMT -6
Rycaron | Sage
With the three attackers tied up fighting, and Eve fairly secure if still in critical condition behind him, aqua eyes wheeled about, focusing finally upon his Emperor. Confusion and panic splintered mind for several seconds, as he saw the hippocampus rear up, and red liquid flower from his shoulder. Horror rose within Rycaron like a wave, as he watched the blood shower onto a previously unseen assailant. When had he slipped past? Panic and horror both subsided, replaced by a chill running down the stallion's spine at the growl emitting from Hawkeye. No, he needn't worry anymore. His Emperor was more blessed than any in the room, save Eve, and there was an innate fierceness in him that seldom saw the light of day. This was his release, and no one would take it from him. Ears twitched, torso turning to see ice spikes forming a wall before him, and the table tumbling down to further add to the barrier. It most certainly made him feel safer, and he was grateful the Defender currently bellowing his head off. The palace was about to be crawling with guardians as if this were an ant hive....and there would be many smarting ears and hides once this was settled and Thaumas got his hooves on any who had been stationed at the palace and let this tragedy occur. At the sound of Nymph's voice, Rycaron's attention immediately turned back to the Councillor, fearing bad news for a moment. His emotions were such a riot, he was having trouble quelling the waves of them. Breath, you need to breath. He repeated the mantra in his head, settling his nerves back into something that allowed him to think again, to act. He needed to be /here/ not in his head feeling only emotions. This was not how the Sage conducted himself, he was better than an panic stricken colt. "Do what you need to do, Councillor Nymph. I can supply the pressure if needed, and we can bind the wound with Eve's cloak if need be. She won't like it, but she will have to deal for now," Rycaron replied, nodding decisively. He would personally replace the pretty bit of fabric later, if it got ruined, and happily listen to her complain about how different it was, if it was needed to save her life. Gaze flickered to the fight, just in time to see Cethin's opponent fall the floor, unable to rise again. Thaumas and Cadena could handle the remaining two, but the question of what they were going to do with the poison was also on the golden stallion's mind, and someone here might have an answer. "Cethin!" Rycaron called, pitching his voice so it could be heard over the sounds of the fighting going on about them. "We need you here," he added, voice dropping slightly to a more normal level as the Councillor came closer. "You were blessed with poison, do you have any ideas what we might be able to do about what is afflicting Eve?" Perhaps it was a vain hope, but it was what they had right now. The Sage knew nothing about poisons, and only basic healing from growing up within Kiephis. If Nymph and Cethin did not know what to do...someone was going to have to run and get help. A pity one of those Guardians didn't go for their aid instead...but they should be back soon, with backup. He would grab one of them then, Thaumas would forgive him for the commandeering later. WC//591 |
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Post by posy-punch on Jan 31, 2016 0:59:37 GMT -6
Cethin | Council His head had drooped to the ground as his rage slipped away like the tide. Adrenaline left him and he was once again capable of feeling the pain of the cuts along his sides. What pain that had been previously masked now flooded into him. He relaxed, it was nothing compared to what could have been. Or to what the dissenter mare suffered. Then he heard the sharp sound of Rycaron's calling. They needed help with the Divine Eve. He shook his mane once and then made his way around the ice shards penetrating the floor and knelt next to the Divine. Sinking next to her he curled his legs under himself. "I'm not familiar with poisons other than my own and I would not feel comfortable using mine as an anti-venom because of the likelihood that I would only worsen her condition." His velvet black muzzle traced it's way across hers and he felt the faintest hint of breath. "My personal opinion is that this is killing her extremely slowly, in which case we'd need help but she could probably be saved, or that it's a poison in such a small dose that it's only slowing down her systems, her organs. Perhaps they wanted to take her hostage in the case whatever their true mission was... failed." He spoke quietly and then looked at them. He found his hooves and placed himself firmly in front of Rycaron and Nymph and then turned back and said, "Someone can go fetch a brewer or a cleric, but I will not leave the Divine now that I am beside her." His orange eyes blazed with the thought of leaving only for a dissenter to break through and finish off Eve or hurt the other two horses there, because despite them having basic fighting knowledge, Cethin had not pegged them as fighters from the start. [320 Words] |
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Post by GingerBlues on Feb 3, 2016 17:42:38 GMT -6
“Do you truly believe I fear you?” The assailant laughed, staring coldly at the emperor. “This is so much more than just you or me. So much more than you can even fathom. Kill me if you wish, but know, oh great emperor, this is only the beginning. Strike me down, but I promise you, two more will appear in my place.” Unfurling his wings, the attacker made himself visible. “We won’t stop until we have destroyed everything you hold dear.”The anger burning deep within the emperor's very soul finally exploded outward. As if touched by Cascade's divinity, Hawkeye called forth his blessing, encasing the assailant's head in a bubble of water as he reared up, slamming his hooves into his opponent's chest. "You and all those who are allied with you would be wise to fear me." The bay hissed, drawing closer to the pegasi as he increased the water pressure of the bubble. "I am not a horse you want to trifle with." He paused, leaning in close to the now struggling pegasi. "I am the stuff of nightmares." He whispered, rearing up briefly, only to throw all his weight into his fore hooves as he came crashing down into the helpless equine's skull, dispersing the water bubble as he did. The emperor turned back to face the others in the room, blood and gore of the fallen assailant covering his forelegs, chest, and face. Guardians were leading away the other three assailants, and most of his officials were surrounding the fallen Divine. Thaumas stood near the door, barking orders at the guardians with an air of frustration and disappointment as a small mare approached cautiously. "Someone sent for a cleric?" She whispered, her voice gentle even in it's frightened state. Hawke nodded, leading the healer to where the Divine lay. Shaking some of the blood from his face, he turned to the rest of the officials, rage and adrenaline still pulsing through his veins as he took in the room. Everything was in a state of disarray. The table had been overturned to act as a shield, and the map had been torn in the fight. Tapestries and decorations were destroyed and strewn about the room, a testament to the chaos that had transpired. Hawkeye let out a heavy sigh, releasing much of the tension he'd been holding in his body as a small storm cloud materialized over his head and began raining down upon him, a result of his emotions mingling with the blessing he'd been bestowed. Irritating as it all was, All the emperor wanted was to get back to the matter at hand. There were judgements to be passed, laws to be enforced, and absolutely no time to waste. Mercy was a thing of the past. Now, there would be only justice. [Post 5, Word Count: 470] |
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Post by Kelpie-River on Feb 3, 2016 23:09:24 GMT -6
Cadena | Council
In the midst of the battle, Cadena's senses dulled, focusing in on herself and her assailant, leaving all of the other information from her memory. Now that she was coming to her senses about the attacker, how he wasn't her kin, and therefore did not deserve her mercy, it was somewhat easier to fling herself into the battle. In a tangle of wings, hooves and horns, Cadena caught glimpses of the things going on around her, not really taking them in, simply processing them for later. Ry kneeling by Eve's side, her own Emperor fighting for his life, the mangled mare attacking Cethin. It all blurred together as Cadena renewed her attack against the pegasus, driving him towards the door with her sheer size and ferocity.
As the other pegasi turned tail to run, Cadena finally slowed, the outside world catching up to her. Various cuts and scrapes across her body began to sting, and the large gash across her face felt suddenly warm, as she finally noticed the run of blood dripping to the floor. Glancing about, the mare noticed that her companions were equally injured, though none too seriously. With this in mind, the mare turned her attention to Emperor Hawkeye, who was covered in blood and viscera from his attacker. The stallion's eyes burned.
Seeing that the Cleric who had been summoned was making her way towards the Divine, Cadena felt that the gray mare would be all right, and so turned her attention away. "Emperor Hawkeye," she said, her voice grating from heavy breathing, due to exertion. "Are you all right?"
[wc: 267]
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Post by Dream-Lark on Feb 4, 2016 8:56:37 GMT -6
Rycaron | Sage
Hope faltered within chest when Cethin declared he had no true knowledge of poisons other than the one he had been gifted with. A deep breath was taken as Rycaron nodded, the air halting in his lungs as the Councillor bent and traced his muzzle along the Divine's. The Sage prickled, faintly outraged at the move, but he said nothing. He knew the other was concerned, only checking for her breath, before he moved away and stood guard, as the hippocampus had done earlier. The chestnut was quite sure Cethin would be a much better guard, and merely nodded his thanks. One leg lifted, intending to dart off in search of a cleric since one had not arrived yet, when more guardians burst through the door. Everything was quickly settled down, the assailants outnumbered, the two were still barely standing at any rate, and marched away. The two who couldn't, were dragged or carried depending on their condition and the attitude of those dealing with them. Rycaron heaved a sigh of relief, gaze turning to sweep over the figure of his grime clad Emperor. Ry was just about to speak, when the soft sound of a voice filtered into his ears. Head shifted, taking in a small cleric, relief rising like a wave within his body now. Hawkeye took charge, leading the mare to Eve, and explaining the situation, freeing the Sage to peer around the room. It looked like a tsunami had ravaged the place, so much was torn up. Head shook in a small, sad motion, though knew they'd have a team of servants in there later to attempt to control and clean up the damage. With Eve now in hopefully capable hands, aqua gaze flickered from Thaumas to the Counillors to Hawkeye. There was a rain cloud forming over the latter's head, and it would have been rather comical were it not for the current situation and expression upon the stallion's features. It meant they were not finished, and he wanted action now. "My Emperor, are you against raising the rewards for sniffing out these extremists, and allies of these extremists? There are now emissaries waiting outside the doors, and I can spread the message through the city, while the guardians get to work. Emissaries can be assigned sections of the city, traveling with guardians if need be, to get this city and these violent equines under control." Gaze shifted to the Defender, to see what he thought of this idea. They had to get control, soon. Swift, hard action was needed now, of that Rycaron was certain. The events of the past fifteen minutes (had it even been that long? Short? It had felt like an eternity) had made that fact very clear in his mind. Once the violent extremists were taken care of, they could extend the gentle hand of healing to the people. WC//479 Post 7 |
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Post by kawaiideadpool on Feb 4, 2016 20:03:44 GMT -6
Nymph | Council
The painted mare felt her heart sing very quickly to the bottom of her chest with Cethin spoke, her ears twitching with anticipation as he spoke his words that seemed so dull and lifeless. Aqua eyes looked down at the fallen Divine with regret and despair. What if they had been listening to her a with a little bit more attention? Would she not be in the situation she was in now... Would she still be with them instead of floating to Cascade's loving embrace? These thoughts rushed through her head like a violent storm tearing down the trees of thought as the wind rushed through and she was almost completely gone in her own thought when the Cleric approached.
Nearly jumping out of her skin, she watched the Cleric for a moment with harsh eyes before the soften into a grateful expression as the small mare tended to the Divine, and for the first time the painted Councilor felt her muscles relax and her bones pop as she let out a sigh of relief. For now she could relax, but with every small nose and movement her back arched and her ears went back against her neck, now permanently fearing for the worst.
"We could offer a huge reward for anyone who gives us information," She chimed up, her eyes now falling on her wounded Emperor as she let out a sigh, "If we appeal to the more greedy side of the citizens of Aqoure, maybe we could get to the extremist quickly... We all know the Rouges will probably snatch up that opportunity," She was now all for taking down the extremist. Anything to keep the nation from falling apart, anything to calm the storm that was sweeping over the nation as if Cascade was trying to sweep the mess she had created up under the rug. They could go down swiftly and quickly if that's how Cascade wanted it and for the first time in a while Nymph felt herself fearing the wrath of the Wave-Mother.
{Word Count: 341} |
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Post by GingerBlues on Feb 5, 2016 16:38:24 GMT -6
Checkpoint 3// Though the Divine has received care and the attackers have been subdued, the meeting is in an uproar, the palace is much the same. You had some ideas before the attack, but are they good enough? Will you put your personal feelings aside to protect the Talori way of life and restore order and peace? Can you do what needs to be done? |
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Post by strixx-variaa on Feb 7, 2016 12:46:26 GMT -6
With the surviving insurgents successfully removed (under power of his Guardians, if not under their own, for their injuries were grave indeed) and the dead one dragged away (perhaps to be thrown in a cell alongside his compatriots, so that they smelled his flesh rotting as they awaited their own dark fates), Thaumas Anereus surveyed the room with a growl ready to fly from the back of his throat. The room was secure now, but that it hadn't been would lose him much sleep in the coming days. From beyond the great doors he heard the sounds of his Guardians yelling to each other, coordinating their movements now in the way they drilled each morning. 'Be your best at our worst' was one of the mottos of the Guardsmen, and something each of them seemed to be taking rather closely to heart in this moment. The Defender would've allowed his pride to take a more central role in his observation of the aftermath had there not been a successful breach by the insurgents in the first place. To his Emperor he turned, and from across the room clicked his hooves against the floor and stood rigidly at attention. "Your Majesty," he called, the growl seeking exit through his lips and finding the way barred at least in part by a tongue unwilling to let words devolve into animal barbarity. "The palace is secure. I beg leave to oversee my units more effectively, if it please you." words: 246 tags: Queerly GingerBlues posy-punch Dream-Lark kawaiideadpool Kelpie-River notes: seventh of five! ♥ |
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Post by Queerly on Feb 18, 2016 2:00:05 GMT -6
Ah, Mother.
She was submerged, surrounded by the color blue. Eve took a breath, and sweet water filled her lungs. Infinity stretched before her. The current of time itself rolled forwards and back, stretching, contorting, breaking into smaller streams that vanished into the heartbeat of oblivion. Eve peered into this void, unable to comprehend its endlessness. A shudder curled her spine; The Great River was not meant for mortal eyes, no. She would lose herself to madness here, lost to what she would not, could not understand. She obeyed. Of course she did. Eve opened her eyes (when had she closed them?) and looked. Beneath her fearful, reverent gaze the future did expand, forging a prophecy of dark water. She witnessed it, all of it. The fall of their people, the rise of the godless. The death, the disease, the corruption. I don't want to see any more. Mother, please. Please Mother, I beg of You.
Wake up.
The Divine awoke sharply, launched from her poisoned sleep with a cry on her lips. Her eyes were open and backlit, pure blue light emanating from her pupils. She did not see her companions, did not even comprehend that they surrounded her, worried for her health. Indeed she didn't comprehend anything at all, save the vision witnessed by her eyes alone. "They come." She cried in a warbling voice. Trembling, she tried to stand, tried to get her hooves beneath her - but it was for naught. She slipped.
"They come!" Louder, the sharp trill echoing against the palace walls. Her sides heaved. "Blasphemers, deceivers, butchers. Their dark tide will sweep through Aquore, will rust the foundations of our culture, our piety! Winged foes- Wave Mother's tears- blood will rise to our people's throats and they will cry out in anguish, will plead for absent mercy."
The glow died from her eyes, and Eve was left panting into the ringing silence.
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Post by GingerBlues on Feb 18, 2016 10:55:36 GMT -6
"Emperor Hawkeye, Are you all right?" Cadena's voice glided to the bay's ears. "I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Cadena." He nodded his acknowledgement of the mare, blood from his assailant still dripping down his body in a morbid fashion. "Unfortunately our homeland is not." He huffed softly, looking about the room. As he did, both Rycaron and Nymph piped up with a similar suggestion: Offering a massive reward for the extremists. It wasn't a terrible idea, and could help get them off the streets a bit quicker...but it wasn't a reliable plan. Too much rested on the idea that the Talori were a greedy bunch...and while some of them were to be sure, most lived quiet, humble lives helping their fellow citizens. There had to be another way... As Hawke opened his mouth to speak, he heard Thaumas's voice ring out from behind him. "Your Majesty, The palace is secure. I beg leave to oversee my units more effectively, if it please you." The emperor nodded as he began to speak, knowing the Defender was much more comfortable out in the city actually doing things. "Yes Thaum-" He was cut off once more by the unexpected cry of the Divine as she awoke from her unwanted slumber. He turned toward the mare, a wave of relief washing over him. She was alright. That relief was short lived however, as a prophesy came pouring from the Divine's lips. "They come. They come! Blasphemers, deceivers, butchers. Their dark tide will sweep through Aquore, will rust the foundations of our culture, our piety! Winged foes- Wave Mother's tears- blood will rise to our people's throats and they will cry out in anguish, will plead for absent mercy."
Hawke swiveled his ears back, facing Eve directly as she spoke. It had to be a dream...yes? Then again, Eve's visions had been growing stronger and more accurate with each passing day... The emperor shook his head in frustration, slamming a fore hoof on the hard, marbled floor. Enough was enough. He couldn't risk these "winged foes" destroying all he held dear. Looking about the room once more, he raised his voice, speaking clearly for each of his officials to hear. "We can not, I can not, let this vision come to pass. We must strike now, and quickly while we still can." He paused for a moment, thinking over his next words carefully . "I propose we create a settlement. Nearby of course with guardians posted at all times. This settlement would become home to all of Aquore's pegasi and all who deviate from the law with their lifestyle. There, we could monitor them, while keeping them, and the rest of the Talori safe. If an uprising were to begin, the guardians could quell it before it became anything more than a nuisance." Inhaling sharply, he continued. "This could bring about peace, and maybe, just maybe, we could work towards creating a unified Aquore once more." [Post 6, Word Count: 495] |
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Post by GingerBlues on Feb 18, 2016 10:59:08 GMT -6
Wrapping Up!Hey guys, this is just a heads up to let you know our plot is nearing it's end 
You'll each get to post at least once more, maybe twice if time permits it.
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Post by Dream-Lark on Feb 21, 2016 5:28:22 GMT -6
Rycaron | Sage
The cry that resounded through the room sent a jolt of electricity down the stallion's spine, a tingly feeling remaining as frame twisted about toward the Divine. Aqua eyes widened, and he stood rooted, as if frozen in place by Thaumas' defensive ice spires. Her eyes were glowing with an ethereal force, and it could only mean one thing. As she spoke again, ghostly fingers traced an icy path along his fins and spine, touching his heart with foreboding. For a moment, he thought it was another premonition of the present, head turning quickly toward the door, until Eve continued to speak. He turned back just as she was trying to rise, and when she slipped he slipped beneath her, helping to steady. She was so slight, so out of it, so taken by the words of their Wave Mother. Frame trembled slightly, though Rycaron prayed to Cascade none would notice. This was turning out to be far more of an ordeal than even his great composure could handle, and this prophecy of winged foes and crumbling culture were more than he could handle. Heart was heavy, feeling nearly as if it resided in his hooves, unable to speak into that echoing silence just then, when Hawkeye's hoof struck the marble floor with a resounding crack. He didn't need to speak yet, for his Emperor responded with his usual decisiveness, formulating a plan to shelter his people. "A settlement camp..." Rycaron murmured, turning the words over on both tongue and in mind. No, this was not an idea he liked, and yet...what else could they do? No one wanted to imprison anyone in such a way, for without a doubt innocent pegasi would get swept up in the tide. However...there was no way to truly test who was an extremist and responsible for loss of life and this chaos plaguing them, and who was only a bystander, trying to get through life. For that reason, this action must be necessary, until the individuals were sorted out, and all could be healed once more. He had learned in Kiephis while young that sometimes one must break a bone, in order for it to heal properly once more. "I do not like this, but I agree it must be done for the safety of all," the Sage finally announced, making no bones about how he felt. The was no doubt in his mind that Hawkeye enjoyed the prospect of separating the people so, splintering the Talori. But it had to be done to heal the whole. WC//426 Post 8 |
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Post by strixx-variaa on Feb 22, 2016 9:06:01 GMT -6
It was a shock to his conscious, to hear Eve punctuate his request and interrupt their emperor. It was a lightning-bolt to his heart, both energizing him with the sort of sonic wave of relief her voice laid over the room (because at least she was still alive) and arresting him, rooting him to the spot as she breathed prophecy. She was an awful, terrible sight to behold in this state. He'd never seen it before, and it made him feel small. The light in her eyes was not of her own doing, he was sure, and it was easy for him to feel the weighty omnipresence of Cascade Almighty pushing words from Eve's delicate lips. Small, small, small.He was a child again. He was smaller than a child. He was nothing, next to Her, and She was here. She was everywhere, too, and he knew that, but normally She didn't make Her presence known quite so well (to the psychological benefit of all, he was sure, because this awesome power threatened to overwhelm him and he liked to think that he was one of the more stable, stalwart models of Her children). He almost didn't hear his Emperor's command, almost, so focused was Thaumas on seeing Eve through the presence of their Creator. You see the depths of my heart, O Star of the Seas, thought the Defender, his hooves rooted to the floor just shy of the chaos beyond the grand doors. The prayer consumed him. It seemed the only thing to do, in the moment, faced at the same time with a mounting burden of responsibility and the divine assertion of his own insignificance. I beg Your love, Your guidance, just once more.There was nothing in Hawkeye's decision which gave Thaumas pause; indeed, it settled him a little to think that he now had permission to preempt any further incidences of the brutal insurgency which had not only rocked Aquore for the past week, but which had now unacceptably found its way into the seat of Talori government. "We shall begin preparations," Thaumas replied, wrenching his eyes from Eve's limp body. They flew up from her face to Rycaron's, but only briefly, and they settled on Emperor Hawkeye. The Defender's voice was rough, and raw, as if he'd just spent an hour shouting, and he couldn't tell you why. "I await further orders, Highness." And in a breath he was gone, slipped through the doors with a quick field-salute to his Emperor. His voice rang through the hall outside as he bellowed to his Guardians and they bellowed back. He was in his element now, out of that stuffy room, and yet... And yet... He still felt much too small.words: 455 tags: Queerly GingerBlues posy-punch Kelpie-River Dream-Lark kawaiideadpool notes: eighth of five! probably my last one, but i don't mind popping back in later if it's necessary/useful to do so. just lmk! |
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Post by Kelpie-River on Feb 22, 2016 14:44:03 GMT -6
Cadena | Council The black mare was ice cold. Seeing the....transformation....of the Divine had shaken her to the very core of her bones, infused her blood with ice and snow and her heart with frigid cold. She may not have pledged herself to Cascade, at least, not in whole, but seeing the Divine taken over by such a powerful force was enough to make the black mare wish she could bow to her knees on the blood stained floor. Emperor Hawkeye's announcement only added another layer of frozen cold to Cadena's soul. Separating an entire people simply for their wings? Whatever the Divine had said, Cadena could not bring herself to believe that such a superficial judgement could bring good to Aquore. Cadena felt herself finally coming to. The ice, it seemed, in her veins would soon thaw. The furious fire that filled Cadena's heart would melt it with haste.
Her orange eyes flashed, and the veins on her neck pulsed. Her jaws ground together, and the mare found her exhausted body trembling with the effort of staying quiet. Her first instinct was to ask the Emperor if he always had his head up his ass, or if it was just the assassins that had shoved it up there. She knew, however, that there was the tiniest of chances that would get her put in a camp as well. And there, she could do no good. And good needed to be done. So, the mare took a deep, shivering breath, forcing her mind into a state of semi-calm.
"We cannot forget the words of our Divine," the mare said, feeling the bitter taste the words left in her mouth fill her. Pausing, she took another slow breath before continuing. "Though....I must say my heart tells me these actions....they do not bring me an image of peace," she said, choosing her words carefully, lest the insult the Emperor's decision. "Our foes must not cross our doorstep again," Cadena said, even then feeling the sting of her enemies' wounds on her flesh. "But we cannot darken it with the blood of innocents as well," she stated softly.
"Divine, you speak of Winged Foes, and by my own eyes, I have seen - have fought them today. But can we in good conscience say all who carry wings carry evil? Could we not imprison those who deserve punishment, but not those who are of innocent blood? Are we not the Council, the judgement of our very people? Can we not judge all the Pegasi, and offer imprisonment to those who have sinned, as we do with all other criminals of Aquore?" She fell silent, her eyes finally downcast, as she waited for this, her last hope, her last effort, to be received by the Council. Whatever would come, this was all she could think to do, and all she could say to help her father's people.
[WC: 485] |
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Post by posy-punch on Feb 22, 2016 15:14:27 GMT -6
Cethin | Council
Whatever prophecy that boiled from Eve's mouth threw off the stallion's thought process further. He couldn't think with the dappled mare spouting prophecies, and they were not pleasant ones, and then passing back out. The Defender marched on out to tend to the Guardians, Hawke was looking with a sort of cold stare around the room and then he finally suggested a settlement camp. Cethin pricked his ears at the thought, but didn't comment immediately. A slow silence formed in the room, only to be broken by Rycaron, the Sage.
"I do not like this, but I agree it must be done for the safety of all." Cethin, in that moment, could not agree more with this horse. He wasn't all for the idea, but for the time being it seemed the safest option. Caden spoke with an almost frantic air underlining all of her words. Words that still, despite the fact that she had fallen widely quiet since the fight, sounded the slightest bit forced. However, they were polite, and Cethin nodded to the mare. For once he almost agreed with her, but imprisoning some wouldn't remove the threat of hidden horses striking out.
"So I would suppose we would be converting a village, the one on the outskirts?" Cethin looked to Hawkeye for a moment and then continued, recalling everything Cadena had said already. "The homes would have to be cleaned up quite nice, to subdue the pegasi being moved. If we just sent them to abandoned buildings or slum-like homes, it would be quite hard to contain them even if we had guardians posted. In addition to being cleaned, there'd have to be accommodating space for families. Larger homes to the larger families. Then of course there must be a place for foals to continue their schooling and then to have play areas." Cethin blinked slowly, running through jumbled ideas. The attack still unsettled him, despite the fact that the dissenters had been dragged away.
"For businesses that are owned by pegasi inside of Inaria, what will we be doing? The business is livelihood of the workers, to strip them of it would be cruel and widely unpopular. Will they be allowed to go and work within the day, so long as they checked in and out at the city gates? Will the shops just be closed down and in-limbo pegasi be provided with ways to provide produce within their settlements or be provided for?" The stallion wasn't so sure of the camps, it seemed as if they would cause as much uproar as would the sacrifice of the child.
"Perhaps in addition to all of the currently suggested methods of settling these horses, add a small temple in the area? Many pegasi are quite religious and are loyal to Cascade, we mustn't remove their faith especially in this time. Lastly I must say I agree wholly with the Sage, Rycaron, I do not feel comforted by this idea of camps in any way... but it seems the best option." Cethin stepped back from the group, widely removing himself from further comment. His eyes surveyed the room, the blood on the floor had not yet been cleaned, nor had the water or the slowly shrinking ice spikes. Cethin turned his gaze back to the group, though he longed to follow the Defender out of the door, ready to travel through the city and to the beaches where he could calm himself, but no the beaches were dangerous with all of the storms making the surf so rough.
Perhaps even find Sinclair, his sister, and make sure she was alright. Especially with the storms rocking the city, the pale delicate mare must be having the hardest time dealing with the current crisis in the herd. Had her employer allowed her temporary release from work at the time? Cethin shook his head and returned to the current conversation, forgetting all of his worry in that moment.
[655 Words] |
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Post by kawaiideadpool on Feb 25, 2016 19:04:21 GMT -6
Nymph | Councilor.
Words of fear and terror flowed like the white waters from the Divine's mouth, the painted mare eyes grew wide as she let out a harsh gasp of air watching as the Divine screamed out her words before slumping back down to the ground with an exasperated expression wiped across her face. The Councilor let those words ring within her ears as she stared at the Divine, her blue eyes wide in horror as she thought those words over inside her shaken mind.
Great nations don't fall. Aqoure can't fall to it's own kind... But if the Divine was told to sputter these words out then by Cascade it must be true. There nation might be tore down from the inside out and that frightened the mare as she thought these things over. The winged horses trying apart the children of the sea as they seek revenge for the young filly that was thrown over the side of the cliff in order to please Cascade's wishes. Was the Water Mother just testing them? Was this all just a trick? Repentance. We must get them to repent is all that she could think as she listened to the Emperor speak, the sounds of Thaumas large hooves clanked against the ground as he marched out the room, and her fellow councilors were talking to their leader as they tried to get their ideas out as fast as possible.
"Camps..." She mumbled out, listening to the ideas being spun around into the air as her blue eyes darted around the room. How on Earth would they willing get these pegasi to go where they needed them? If they would attack the Divine then what else might they do? She didn't voice her opinion for a while as she tried to get her ideas together before she blurted them out into the air, not wanting to cause even more tension and havoc within the shaken up members of the court. The painted mare no longer desired to be in this word so she searched for an excuse to leave this room but when she came up with nothing she let out a harsh breath before turning to her Emperor.
"Emperor, I can try to locate as many Pegasi as possible," She called out to him, her words sounding tired and almost lifeless as she spoke, "Hopefully most will come willingly, but anything is nescesary in order to keep our nation in one peace," She said, almost giving him a pleading look as she turned to eye the door. She must leave, and she must do it now.
She thought that she must find her mother, and make sure that she was okay. Maybe help her find somewhere safe to stay while they figured out the best way to keep the Pegasi under control.
{Word Count: 471} |
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Post by Queerly on Mar 17, 2016 0:41:30 GMT -6
The words of her fellows were not so much heard as they were felt, the vibrations of tone and inflection shivering against the grain of her fur. Eve's dark lashes fluttered, vying to stay open, to keep hold on the fragile consciousness she'd only just managed to wrench herself into. Or- rather, had she been thrust into it by Another?
"Nymph." She called, and internally flinched; was that her voice? That soft, delicate sound of a flower, struggling to speak? It was mortifying. "Come... please."
When the Councillor headed her request, Eve struggled to her hooves and let half her weight rest against the perlino's shoulder. Her head swam unpleasantly, the floor doing queer loop-de-loops before her unfocused eyes, but at least she was standing. At least she was alive, Wave Mother be praised.
"Thank you." She murmured, gratitude aimed at Nymph and Author of Eternal alike.
The voices were still little more than the white-out noise of waves crashing against rock- at least, so they were until Cadena spoke, her storm-born contralto demanding that she listened. Eve raised her head, meeting the dark mare's gaze as her ears tipped forward. And perhaps at another time, she would have agreed. Another time, another place, where her Emperor's life was not at risk and her flock was not slaughtered in the streets.
"Councillor, I empathize with you." She replied, struggling to put the might of the seas into her trembling, breath-starved words. "You do not wish to see innocents treated with suspicion. But I, I no longer wish to see them slaughtered!" Eve bared her teeth in a grimace, as deeply pained with emotion as she was of body. "Go into the streets, Cadena. Stand upon the blood-stained stone, look upon the body count of your people. They are dying- they are being killed as we stand here debating." Eve's cheeks has grown flushed with exertion, but she was not finished. "You ask us not to take extreme measures, but is the murder of your people not cause enough for them? When war is waged against our Emperor's life, is it not enough?"
An exhale rattled past her lips. "It brings me sorrow, but I... I would see every pegasus in the world sequestered, if it meant no more would die at the hooves of madness."
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