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Above the Storm [FIN]; [P]
Topic Started: Thu Dec 19, 2013 3:44 pm (963 Views)
Ari
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Bethari. I've known for quite a while what your true destination was, and now it is plainly obvious. Why do you wish to go to Nalai? Your father was Nalaian. Any family you might have there would be paternal.

Ari put all her strength in the next stroke, forcing the oars to tear through the crashing waves. The boat crested over a wave and they fell several feet. Her sweat was indistinguishable from the saltwater drenching her hair, face, robes, and the living weapon that was trying to strike up a conversation with her at this inappropriate time. The storm was actively fighting her, waves pushing the boat back. It was a contest of wills. Normally Agorst wouldn't be able to speak to her unless she was touching it, but he'd offered to help her.

The young woman spat water and flicked her head so locks of hair would get out of her eyes. "Kusuma was an exile."

You will be exiled as well, soon as they find out that you killed him.

She wasn't worried about that. Preventing such a problem was as simple as not telling them. Moreso, Ari wondered what her extended family was like. She knew her paternal grandparents' names, but not their personalities or roles in their resident village. Whether or not she had aunts and uncles, or cousins, was totally up in the air. Sometimes she would fantasize about having a huge extended family that would be warm and hospitable and welcome her like their own. It wasn't going to be true, of course. A family like that couldn't produce a man like her father. Her mother and maternal extended family definitely weren't much better. Even if her father's side was kind-hearted, Ari feared that she was bound by blood to not fit into that idyllic picture.

Agorst continued to a different subject. The storm clearly stopped at nearby Kyokal'a. You should go there and wait it out.

But Aketal'a, the Nalaian island that she knew was ahead but couldn't actually see in this torrential downpour, was close. That was the island her grandparents lived on. "This isn't normal. Focused unmoving on the island." A cross-current almost ripped her oars out of her hands, exemplifying her argument. She considered herself an expert on freak weather at this point.

She realized too late that the waves were wrenching her boat straight for a huge, jutting rock.

Ari dropped her oars, took up Agorst and hurtled into the air. Her boat crumpled against the rock. Held diagonally below her, the living weapon left behind a momentary after-image that she pushed her feet off from to get even more height. That was all she had the energy to handle; after that, the woman fell like a stone into the water.

How badly do you want this?

Suspended in black water, Bethari clenched her jaw, bubbles rising from her teeth. She forced Agorst back into his sheathe and fought for the surface. One breath was allowed before she was pulled back under. About halfway into this struggle, the current changed completely. The waves stopped pushing against her and instead wrenched her toward shore. Her heel skipped across a rocky bottom. She was close.

She appeared to rise from the water, her robe dripping wet, one hand casually resting on Agorst as it always did. Her sandals found cracks between rocks so she wouldn't slip. It was so dark on the island that she couldn't tell what time of day it was.

Someone was up there. Not quite at shore, but close. Ari made a beeline. She didn't care who or what they were. "Tell me where Cahya and Setiawan are."
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Elena
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Elena walked through the storm, a slow walk from the lonely tip of the island. A cute little canvas umbrella kept the rain off her, and her bag had finally become less of an annoyance. She hummed to herself for company, it was rare to not have chirping and growling creatures following her like a pack of puppies. Just the howl of the wind and the roar of the waves. The storm was however dreadful for her pathfinding, keeping her from opening her map and preventing her from looking for the few landmarks she had recognized to make the trip. She flipped her eyepatch up and allowed her vision to seek for life instead of color. She gazed out upon the ocean and watched a human sized blip struggle through. Elena walked to the edge of the crashing waves and watched. She would like to have helped the person but Elena wasn't a strong enough swimmer and she didn't want to leave her bag unattended. After a short eternity the woman washed up on shore and Elena put her eyepatch down again, concealing her strange eye. She did however wield a blade common to Nalai.

"Ah! Hello there!" Elena called out. She vigorously shook the woman's hand as soon as she got near. "I'll give you a shoulder and an umbrella if you lead me to the community on this island. I have someone I need to meet here." She was dressed in a thick leather coat with a high collar and little brown leather boots stuck out from beneath the long jacket. It had been treated to prevent rain, but she still felt like a drowned cat. "And no, sorry, I don't know who Kaya or Setawan are at all! This is my first time to one of these little islands, just unfortunate timing on my journey."
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Ari
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Ari's arm was a limp noodle in the woman's enthusiastic grip. Tired eyes framed with dark circles, she peered at the strange island denizen. That last push had taken a lot out of her. Sometimes she felt more like her life was just a series of near-death situations, and whenever Ari was safe she'd just try to conserve her energy for the next spat. Clearly the swordsman wasn't happy that this bag-carrier didn't know where her grandparents were. She had a good excuse, being a traveler and all. "Ah." Bethari waved away the umbrella when it was offered, noting that she was already drenched to the bone. "I see light further up. We'll go for the largest building we find."

Allowing the woman to lead the way let Ari move up the stairs of the island's slope at her own pace. The torrential rain dripped off her hair and chin, but she didn't care as long as she could see the step ahead. Pretty dark out here in the heart of the storm, though. You're a bit too eager to trust this stranger. I don't like the look of her. Why is she out here all alone, and what's in that bag? Ari let her hand slip off Agorst, severing contact and making him shut up. She was way too exhausted to deal with him right now.

At the top of the hill was a dark, quiet village or town of some sort. The path became paved, and Ari could just barely make out multiple levels of streets. The trees dotted between cute little buildings swayed violently in the wind; the two of them were forced to navigate the fallen branches scattered on the cobbles. Ari wasn't satisfied wasting her time with these smaller houses or storefronts, even when they glowed with an inner light that signaled habitation. Her eyes were set on the big house at the very top of this particular ridge. That had to belong to whoever led this community.

Ari hammered her fist against the door, too tired to notice the knocker just a short distance above eye level. She was answered promptly by a modestly dressed servant. "My word, what are you two doing out in this storm? Please, come in."

It wasn't until they were inside the landing, taking off their shoes and wringing out their clothes that the servant politely asked them about the purpose for their visit. Clearly it was important. Ari looked the Nalaian dead in the eye. "My name is Bethari. I am the firstborn of Kusuma. I wish to find and speak with Cahya and Setiawan." She gestured to Elena. "She's looking for someone too."

The servant almost lost his composure at the mention of the name Kusuma. He stammered something and excused himself, saying he would return shortly. Ari realized that she'd been resting her hand on Agorst's handle again without realizing it. Good thing the living weapon didn't have anything to say.

Still, that habit was a little off-putting.

The servant returned in a couple minutes, giving a bow at the end of his trip. "Sukarno is ready to receive you both. Please, accept these dry robes."

Their trip to the building's small antechamber helped Ari realize how wealthy the owners were. It wasn't a palace or anything, but still a lot nicer than she expected from whatever Nalaian... mayor or leader or whoever this Sukarno was. The antechamber was the size of a living room, but the chairs were replaced by pillows and the tables were low to the ground in the traditional Nalai-Istani style. Sukarno and his wife were seated across the table, sipping tea. His face lit up as soon as he got a good look at Ari. "I wouldn't doubt for a second that you're Kusuma's daughter. Take a seat, you two. Welcome."

Ari settled onto her knees. "I apologize for the intrusion. I have traveled for a very long time."

"Don't tell me you came all the way here from Balefire on foot. There was a horse out there, right, Yuda?" The servant at the doorway shook his head. Ari said nothing. "Why on earth would Kusuma's daughter come here?"

"As I said, I wish to speak with Cahya and Setiawan." Ari disliked repeating herself.

"Your grandparents are asleep right now. Cahya in particular has been ill ever since the island was cursed. Is there anything I can do for you?" Ari stared at him. "It seems I forgot to introduce myself. I don't suppose your father spoke to you much about his family. My name is Sukarno, hill-lord of Setubanda -- this town. I'm Kusuma's brother."

Noble blood? You? Truly? Agorst laughed in Ari's mind. I sense some... family history. Tread carefully.

"...Forgive my ignorance," Ari said, hesitantly bowing her head halfway.

"And what about you, miss? How may I help you?" Sukarno smiled at Elena. The servant Yuda set cups of tea on the table for both travelers. Ari sipped hers, but preferred coffee. "Forgive me if my friendliness comes off as overbearing. It's nice to finally speak to some new faces. Since the storm started, everyone has more or less stayed holed up in their homes."
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Elena
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Elena helped the woman through the rain, then helped her find the proper house within village. The samurai girl picked the biggest house. Elena would have done the same. As soon as they were bidden into the house Elena moved inside quite quickly, taking Ari as well. She removed her jacket, revealing more mundane traveling clothes beneath. A thick cotton shirt and brown canvas trousers, a belt cocked to one side and a bit of red ribbon escaping from a sleeve. Her heavy boots came off as well. She followed Ari within, sitting at the man's table as best she could. It was low, and she couldn't quite manage the sitting style the other two had. It was terribly painful. Instead she simply crossed her legs and kept her bag on her lap. Nothing could get her to give it up. The conversation drifted slowly but still stayed a bit pointed. The homeowners politeness would delay her finding Ajiah by a whole night at this rate.

"Oh, hello, I'm just a traveler. Can you help me find Professor Ajiah? I've had letter correspondence with her for so long and I've come to help with her botanical research." Elena said, as pleasantly as possible. She sipped the tea with the manners of a northern noblewoman, keeping a slight smile as she did. Tea was good, she had missed it. "I would like to see her as soon as possible so I can help her get expedient results."
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Ari
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Sukarno placed his hand on his chin. "I've heard of that name before. Stories of a scholar visiting Nalai recently. Friends of mine have complained about some undocumented Istani having the run of the place -- they don't trust them. She's probably not here in Setubanda, but I'd be glad to help you locate her once this cursed rain finally ceases. If ever."

"Could you elaborate on the island's curse?"

"The sky demon king has set his palace on the anvil-cloud above Aketal'a," Sukarno replied, pointing upward. "He was gravely insulted by the offerings he received at this year's festival. Your grandparents joined the party that aimed to appease him, but he was enraged. Cahya was among those struck down. Soon after, he condemned the island to a burial by water." A frown tugged at his face. "Every day the waves close further in, and the torrential rain washes away anything loose. We can't escape. If we can't appease the demon king, a whole slew of misfortunes will happen -- even before the island is drowned."

Ari responded without hesitation. "I will appease the sky demon king. Or, if necessary, defeat him." She put a definitive hand on Agorst.

Sukarno's eyes widened. The expression looked just a tiny bit fake. "You're a warrior? We've been a family of merchants and mystics -- not a single warrior for generations. You're exactly the person we need." He looked to Elena. "Miss, do you have any skills that would be helpful in Bethari's quest? You could hasten the curse's lifting and find Professor Istani sooner."

Once they were done negotiating those particulars, the hill-lord stood up. "Yuda, prepare a guest room with two beds. Ari, I will arrange a meeting with your grandparents tomorrow morning. They will be able to give you a family relic that should help you immensely in the passing through the temple." Ari thanked him for his hospitality and they were led off through the hallways once again.

Agorst made a thinking sound. It seemed like he was contemplating something serious, but what he ended up saying was more silly than anything. It's a shame that he never let his wife -- your aunt -- speak a single word. There was nothing she could do about that. He was probably trying to bring her attention to something more than that, but Bethari didn't really care about anything like that right now. Sukarno's servant opened the door to the guest room and bid them both a good night.

Soon after the door closed behind them, Ari shed her robe. Even in the presence of this stranger, she figured it wouldn't be too immodest to expose the wrappings around her chest. The forward-thinking Yuda had already taken away her wet robe and placed a set of dry clothing on the stand between the two beds. It was a modest guest room, but a lot more luxurious than any conditions Ari had lived in for the past several months. Her eyes turned to the stranger. Catching something out of the ordinary, they followed Elena down the length of her arm until they stopped at a piece of red ribbon peeking out of her sleeve, clinging to her body. Odd. Folding her robe in her arms, Ari took a step closer, tilting her head and studying Elena's unnaturally colored eyes with detached intensity. "You never told me your name."
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Elena
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Elena was suddenly asked if she could fight. She thought of a quick cover. They probably wouldn't give her the location of Ajiah as willingly if she didn't prove herself in combat. "I train drakes. Lots of drakes. I'm not much good in a fight myself!" Elena explained. She smiled sheepishly. Drake trainers, eh? The whole situation itself seemed nuts to her, talk of demons and curses. These people did need help. She was lead to a room with Ari, where changed in a split second into a robe the moment Ari had her back turned. She had always been good at quick changes. Ari stared at her, Elena evaded her gaze. She hated being stared at.

"My name is Elena." Elena said quickly. She flopped into her bed a moment later. She didn't like being trapped in a room with a strange woman. She slipped her bag on the opposite side of the bed from Ari's bed. She would have to feed the skittering somehow tomorrow, it was probably getting hungry.
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Ari
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Ari lay in the darkness on her stomach, fingers draped over the handle of her weapon. She kept Agorst under her pillow, listening to his slow heartbeat that at this distance was audible even through the scabbard. Facing the wall, she kept her eyes half-open. Couldn't sleep.

I've been thinking.

She had been, too.

Be wary of your family. Something is not right about this. They may be using you.

"I know," Ari whispered, hoping Elena couldn't hear. She sensed the same thing, but she didn't care. Maybe she went along with it out of some misguided desire for belonging. When her uncle told her she was just the person they needed, it might have been some kind of ploy, but it still gave her a warm feeling. Happy, sort of.

...I see.



Their servant Yuda escorted the two of them to Cahya and Setiawan's chambers. It was a very formal meeting, like one between strangers, which it was, in a sense. Neither asked about Ari's father or even mentioned him by name. They did not attempt to get to know their granddaughter better. It was a very formal affair. Most of their conversation was concerned with, of all things, what the two of them were to wear to the sky demon king's palace.

"I will entrust to you the Painted Armor, one of our family's most treasured heirlooms," Cahya said. She was a squat old lady with baggy, clouded eyes, who was very sickly and could not walk far. For now she sat with them in an ornate-looking little padded chair, sipping tea. Setiawan insisted on standing and had a very solemn atmosphere to him. Of everyone here, Ari's grandfather was the only one who acted anything but friendly. He wasn't rude, per se, just a bit cagey. Clearly took him more effort to treat his granddaughter in a neutral way.

Cahya went on to explain just what the Painted Armor was. Motioning to a nearby display case where it was mounted, she noted that the intricate designs on the lamellar armor were part of a declaration of alliance with the sky demon clan. The suit had originally been worn by Kamon, an ancient Nalaian hero whose exploits included swordsmanship, horsemanship, archery, commanding, and mysticism, all to a legendary extent, of course. Ari didn't know any Nalaian stories or mythology, so even her grandmother's briefest shared details were lost to her.

"And you..." her eyes turned to Elena. "You must also declare yourself a friendly entity. I hope you won't protest, but I will lend you my priest's garb from when I was a young girl. It should fit you fine."

After the meeting, they excused Elena to go change while Yuda helped Ari get fitted into her new armor. The suit was surprisingly light and easy to move in, though fighting in it might take a bit of getting used to.

By mid-morning, they were back out standing out in the rain. Ari insisted on holding Elena's umbrella for her, while her other hand rested on Agorst like it always did. All her family told her was, "Good luck."

She wasn't sure what exactly she was supposed to be doing.

"Maybe I should call out to the sky demon king? Do you think he understands Common?" Ari asked her unlikely ally. After a pause, her eyes went down to the duffelbag in the fake priestess' hand. "Must be something important in there..."

A peal of thunder interrupted her speech. A moment later, lightning danced across the sky in front of them. The clouds shifted, tendrils of solid air spiraling downward from the sky above, unfurling into stairs as it went. It was awfully fast, convenient, and maybe a little anticlimactic, too. Ari looked around, uncertain of whether this was supposed to be happening. Not that she had much choice otherwise. Expecting a great ritual? None needed. Wearer of the Painted Armor, I'm sure they're just welcoming you home. You and your little priestess friend. Heh, that reminds me, I'm surprised you haven't--" Ari lifted her hand off her living weapon before he could finish that thought.

The swordsman stepped to the side and made a polite gesture to Elena. "Please go ahead. I'll keep you safe."
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Elena
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Ari received armor. Elena received a strange looking little priestess outfit with a big red skirt and a little white top. The sleeves were bizarrely large as well. She plucked the garment into the air, looking at its proportions. Nalain women were tiny. The old lady was a bit delusional. She hurried off to change into it for fear of angering them and failing to find Professor Ajiah. The skirt fit but it was difficult to get over her hips. The top, on the other hand, was a small nightmare. Her waist wasn't as small as a Nalain's, her shoulders were broader. She didn't have a boyish figure like the previous owner did, forcing her to loosen the neck a bit and adjust the pseudojacket that made up the torso of the garment. At least she wasn't a physical fighter, it was completely impractical. She sighed, felt the awkward rise and fall of her full chest, picked up her skirts and found Ari. A bit of color touched her cheeks as she compared outfits.

"This is unfair." Elena mumbled, adjusting her bag. "I have no idea if your demon knows anything about common. I'm not a demonologist or a demon hunter or anything like that. The bag just has a specimen Professor Ajiah requested I bring her from my area." Ari gestured for Elena to go ahead. She sighed and began the long walk up to the mountain. She searched nearby with her creature-sense and told the Harbinger on a neighboring island what troops she would need. She specified to the creature that they were to minimize their ecological impact, eating some of the fruit off a tree or killing pigs. Even Elena knew pigs shouldn't live on little islands. She needed smaller winged creatures than Overwatches and ones that actually flew, unlike the trio of Stalkers hiding on the cliffs of the mountain. The Stalkers would be hard to justify as a breed of drakes, but the new beasts she was ordering would not be. Just a bit strange for drakes.

"Your people have many strange beliefs. Why would a demon toy with the weather and not simply kill your people?" Elena asked, adjusting her umbrella. Water was striking her oversized sleeves. Who wore such a useless garment? And it was cold. The adjustment she'd made hadn't helped with the draft, but having a giant skirt that was constantly flapping in the wind(and getting wet) was miserable. Elena grumbled miserably. "I also hope he isn't too far up the mountain, if he is, your family is asking quite a lot out of a stranger who just wants to see a professor."
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Ari
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The endless stairs spiraled up through the anvilcloud, surrounding them both in blackish grey. "I do not know." Ari was just as much in the dark about Nalaian lore as her compatriot was. After circling up for what felt like an eternity, they finally emerged. Ari stepped onto polished fragments of the sky sitting on top of the cloud. The swordsman squinted, holding her hand up toward the sun to shield her eyes. They had entered a new world above the storm.

Rays of mid-morning sun beat down on a desolate, dark grey wasteland. Marked krummholz dotted the landscape, some rooted to the "ground" and others floating in mid-air tangles laced with garland, charms and decorative embroidered cloth. Tendrils of translucent magic whipped through the air at high speed, forming visible patterns. By far the most daunting aspects of the land were the huge towers made of twisted, notched metal, like ore that had been beaten into shape by some force of nature instead of human hands. When Ari took her first step off the stairs, fragments of the sky rapidly coalesced into a path solid enough to support her weight. She kept her hand on her sword. "Stay close." Once they passed under a braided iron arch that crackled with electricity, the closest tower was already looming close above them. Despite its size, its surface was singed and maybe even dilapidated -- the metal looked almost like it was decaying.

Once they passed through the imposing double doors made of solid blue stone, they were locked in. Ari once again had to let her eyes adjust, this time to the low light. Natural light filtered through the gaps in the twisted metal, negating the need for windows. The two of them stood in a large, circular antechamber. Ari heard soft footsteps and sensed movement from almost every direction, and flinched quite a bit, but couldn't see anything except glimpses of shadows.

"What a nostalgic sight."

Taking in a sharp breath, Ari turned to face the source of the voice, instinctively positioning her body between it and Elena. Her fingers wrapped around Agorst's hilt, but she did not draw the living weapon yet. A figure emerged from a shadowed side-entrance. The person was humanoid in shape, but defining features of their body were obscured by endless layers of wrapped cloth, all of varying lengths and widths, some solid and others embroidered with ancient and very sacred Nalaian runes. A gentle breeze swirled around their body, churning the occasional tendril of mana suspended in the air. Over the wrappings the figure wore a simple loose-fitting cloak lined with embroidered gold and silver thread.

They stopped walking after a time, now close enough to give the new arrivals a closer look. "Kamon has been dead for generations. Simply wearing the Painted Armor isn't enough to gain my blessing in these trying times." Folding their arms in front of them, the figure looked to Elena, silent for a suspiciously long time. While its expression was difficult to discern at this distance and from underneath such a deep hood, Ari thought she spotted them smiling. "Would you happen to know anything about the undead, miss? I need expertise in addition to the consult I already have."

Harsh. You just got completely brushed off. Does the sky demon king care that little about the Aketal'ans? Agorst wondered, interspersing his musing with a chuckle here and there.
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Elena
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Above the clouds was an alien world. Elena picked across it delicately, her eyes roving across the wild mana. She didn't see any reason to it, but she suspected a master mage could. There was a risk that such wild mana could harm the magical disease that kept her alive. Elena kept close behind Ari, somewhat attempting to dodge the streams of magic passing them by. They stepped onto the sky itself and Elena nearly clung to Ari. She didn't budge more than an inch from her, and even kept their hips touching. Ari didn't seem nearly so bothered, or even bothered when they walked into a place that thrummed with magic and angry lightning.

"Nostalgic?" Elena asked the voice. Its body materialized and Ari seemed a bit agitated by its presence. Presences were something Elena could deal with more than the entire environment. Then the presence simultaneously told them it didn't care and then asked for help. Presences were obnoxious. "I know a fair bit about the undead. What do you need? If you could direct me to Professor Ajiah, I could help you even faster." Elena pressed. She straightened her skirts a bit.
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Ari
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The "presence" hesitated. "Come." Ari glanced at the girl, giving her a questioning look, before she continued through the tattered palace after the sky demon king. The three of them wound through convoluted corridors, some wide and some as narrow as an alleyway, until they reached a comfortable living space. Ari's eyes passed over the countless books on the walls -- and the ones distributed haphazardly around the floor. They were stacked or placed pages-down to mark a spot. And in that room? A vampire.

"You have visitors, Ajiah," the demon said, opening a space for itself to ease into a chair. "Do not waste time with heartfelt reunions. I need both of you for my purposes. And perhaps a swordsman, as well. Listen now. My great shrine at the peak of Aketal'atalan has been corrupted by negative forces. I suspect the Nalaians have not taken good enough care of it, making it so vulnerable to filth. This is why I punish them. Do you understand what you must do?"
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The presence-entity-demon god king lead them through his palace until at in the depths they found Ajiah. Elena waved weakly. Ajiah perked up immediately.

"I do have visitors! Elena! I received your letters, I've been very excited to meet you." Ajiah said. Her eyes were deep blood red and her fangs were out, giving her a permanent lisp. This immortal was living on animals and not sentients. She rose, wearing an academy of magic robe that barely fit her tiny frame, adjusting a pair of narrow glasses. "Ah, Storm Demon King, would you dreadfully mind if I spoke with these ladies outside? I think I've narrowed down your issue and we should have it solved. Thank you for letting me use your library for my research on undead transformations." Ajiah explained quickly. She gave a little wave and then skittered out. Elena offered a quick bow and explained that she did understand as she chased after Ajiah, holding her big bag steady as she did.

Outside, and part of the way down the mountain, Ajiah stopped them. Elena put down her bag and undid its buttons, then from within she pulled out a six legged creature the size of a cat. It looked at Ajiah and then at Ari with its ax head and six eyes before looking down and wiggling furiously. Elena put it down and it promptly skittered over to a small bush and began chomping on it. Ajiah's face lit up.

"A skittering! I didn't believe you when you told me! Oh my gosh you really are the one!" Ajiah squeaked, her words tumbling out faster than her impaired tongue could manage. "I'm Professor Ajiah, of the Academy of Magic! I study living to undead transformations, and you are the one partially responsible for the largest living to undead transition in recorded history!" Elena blanched. She looked to Ari.

"Uh, uh, to explain quickly my father infected me with a very nasty plague and after my initial...contagiousness I can sleep in cities safely now. So don't worry please, I really do promise that I'm safe!" Elena pleaded. Ajiah was giggling while watching the skittering devour the stout little bush it had chosen.

"I've gotten over the Ikhar Valley anyways. So, here's the deal on this mountain. Your people formed a cult of cannibals who, by their own cruelty in their hearts and the whims of magic, were afflicted by a terrible disease that only affects those sentients who devour sentients. Ghouls! Very interesting stuff. They retain the bulk of their human memories but are pressed to avoid the light, hide and overwhelmed with the desire to feed. They are quite a bit stronger than a regular human, stronger than a vampire even! The Demon Sky King Lord has a very good book on the subject in Nalaian. This will make for a very good article if we can just cut one up." Ajiah explained. She was busy toying with the skittering, tugging its little legs and poking it in the back of the head. It squeaked at her each time.

"That one doesn't eat meat. She's got some small defect and prefers to eat grass." Elena explained. In a heartbeat Ajiah was taking notes.

"Can I take her to my lab safely?" Ajiah asked. Elena nodded.

"She's never grown an inch, so she won't spawn. She's also quite responsive, so train her like you would a dog." Elena replied. Then her eyes fell on Ari. "Please don't kill me."
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Ari
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"Nalaians do not eat human flesh," Ari corrected. It was more unusual that she didn't sound insulted by the blatant challenge against her heritage. She really didn't feel much connection to any culture, much less this one. Her intricate armor felt fake when it was on her body. The conversation continued as if Ari was invisible, leaving her to watch the strange, small animal that Elena had been carrying in her bag. Based on context, it was undead -- as she was. Not a big deal. Ari knew plenty of sentient undead in Balefire. And less than sentient undead, as one scratch across her back attested.

Are you paying attention, Bethari? These are important people. You should befriend them so that they might be of use to you in the future, Agorst cautioned. Ari didn't realize she'd been holding her hand on her living weapon.

She stood, gesturing for the two of them to return to the sky demon king's presence. It was still sitting in the library with its legs crossed, paging through one of the tomes the Professor had lying around. The explanation gave the demon pause. "Unacceptable. I have defined exactly what food is clean and unclean in my teachings to them. Anything that can think for itself, as a human might, is not fit for the dinnerplate. It baffles me what they even have to gain from such sacrilege." It stroked its chin. "I will send all three of you down to Aketal'atalan. Do not simply purge them, but also obtain as much information as you can. We will see from this whether I do indeed need to bury this island under the all-cleansing waves."
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Elena
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Ajiah waved her hands quickly. "Don't bury the island, we'll solve this little problem. You've got a team of experts!" The littlest vampire grabbed the two and pulled them close. Elena grabbed the skittering and the creature flailed its tiny legs about while trying to lick Elena's chin with its long, wide tongue. Without warning they were sent sailing into the air, constricted in place by powerful pressure and winds. The mountain became a blur as they were deposited a quarter of the way up the mountain. Elena nearly toppled when their feet touched the ground but Ajiah kept her steady. The blonde knelt and put the skittering on the ground. Its legs scampered desperately before it touched earth, propelling it straight into the underbrush. The only evidence of its existence was the sound of delighted plant eating.

"So, ghouls." Elena commented. She took cover behind a nearby rock and peeked out at the dilapidated temple. It was bigger than she thought.

"Ghouls are just one big group name for ravenous undead. You don't need to know much more about them than that if you just seek to kill them. But these ghouls were formerly humans who ate too much sentient flesh or blood and developed a craving for it. A magical disease." Ajiah explained. She was kneeling behind a bush. A strange human stepped out from the temple's door holding a broom. It swept slowly, its movements rigid and uneven. It was pale. Elena looked closer. She was pale, gaunt and her eyes were black pits. Even from this distance Elena could tell what was wrong.

"The thing about these ghouls is that I don't know if their disease is contagious or how to actually kill them. Some undead are shockingly resilient, we might need to resort to cremation. I think they can still speak and act like humans, and perhaps even hold some vestige of their memory." Ajiah finished.
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Ari
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The anvilcloud had parted around the top of Aketal'atalan. Probably a favor from the sky demon king. Sparing them from the oppressive rainstorm while they were doing the job was the least it could do. Ari took cover next to Elena, back to the rock, watching the ghoul as the Professor explained. "Sounds like a good opportunity for a field experiment." Following her dull one-liner she stepped out from behind the rock, sliding Agorst -- sheathe and all -- out of her armor's waist tie. Scraps of cloth, maybe the remnants of a cloak re-tied to the Painted Armor's sharp edges, whipped violently in the wind.

Lightning flashed in the distance, casting everything in stark contrast for a moment. The Painted Armor clattered with each step until Ari took a stand at the center of the courtyard's entrance.

Had the temple at Aketal'atalan been in prime condition, it would have been a spectacular sight. The building was huge, made of stone and polished metal, its roof lined with statues of Nalaian mythological figures. A long walkway through a dead garden led to a staircase with two distinct levels and three sets of doors, one on every side of the peninsula-shaped entryway.

It didn't take long for the ghoul to notice Ari standing there. The beast froze, dropping its broom. Ari took her still-sheathed sword into a two-handed grip, arms straight out in front of her. The ghoul screamed. It was a horrible sound, like a dying animal. Then it bolted down the walkway, stumbling over itself, sometimes pushing itself up from all fours, anything to get away.

Ari's eyes went wide as the movement triggered something deep inside her. She was sprinting after the undead before she even realized. Her blood boiled. She caught the fleeing ghoul in a horizontal strike that collapsed half its ribcage and knocked it to the ground. It kept screaming. Ari couldn't think anymore. Her whole world was killing this monster. She was breathing fast and deep. Gasping, almost. The pauldrons of her armor rose and fell quickly. Her heart raced.

The swordsman rose from the crushed remains of the priest-ghoul. Agorst's sheathe dribbled thick grey viscera. She rose from her kill. Her eyes were half-lidded and the natural sheen was gone from her irises. Her body turned, gait swaying, until she faced the temple entrance. Holding Agorst's sheathe vertically in front of her, she drew the black blade and cast the sheathe aside. That was the instant she snapped out of whatever trancelike state her mind was in. She looked around, clearly perplexed as to how she got so far away from Elena and the Professor. She even started after catching the dead ghoul in her peripheral vision. "How--"

Laughter boomed from all directions. Dark shapes moved behind the statues on the roof. A half-dozen pairs of eyes reflected in the low light of the enveloping storm. Even more figures peered out from further down the mountain. They were surrounded.
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