EVENT | GUIDING LIGHT

[alderwood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: June 1st-5th, 2014
Location: Keeliai, all sectors
Situation: Following Evandau's announcement about the soul lanterns and new housing, the Foreigners are shuffled around while Malicant's agents try to complicate this as much as possible!
Warnings/Rating: Possible mentions of violence from the cultists, plus various characters' reactions to moving.

LINKS
Fire Sector | Earth Sector | Metal Sector | Water Sector | Wood Sector | Cultist Shenanigans | Speak with Eva & Celaunn | OOC Plot Post

The new Basswood Commander, Celaunn, stands watch outside of the building with one ready hand resting on the hilt of her sword while her protectorate goes inside. A prodigy of magic as she is, liberating all the Foreigners' souls right out from under Malicant has left Evastelei far more expended than any of them care to admit. She looks as tired and worn as Evandau sounded on the radio post, but she tries to cover it with good humour, much as can be mustered given the situation. Eva's sent out messages to the ones whose essence she's felt resonate for each address and upon arriving, carries the lanterns into the new units whether they're all present or not... she's a busy lady and when this is all done she might just sleep for a week.

"Couldn't rightly explain some of these set-downs," Eva says as she goes about hanging the lamps up in the central part of the house. For most of the units, this equates to the main living area, though sometimes in the kitchen or unfinished room -- the layouts on each building has variations, after all. "One of those things you just have to feel, I reckon. Never figured Evandau much for leaving new bottles of wine on the pillows after all, so this will have to do."

While she's in the buildings, she'll run her hands over the wards built into the walls, letting them light briefly with various colours of light depending on the purpose, a symbol-based language not unlike runic illuminating at her touch and then fading to invisibility again.

"Now for these," she'll continue once she's sure she has all their attentions. "These are the best I could do on short notice, what with the Creature throwing all his resource at breaking Eshai's spells. That's why none of you could get into the Throne Room few weeks back-- that was a right bold move on your parts, by the way. See if you can't talk tall and smileless up there," she jerks her head toward the front of the building to indicate Celaunn, "into learning something from it. Chilu's are too by the book."

She'll explain how the lanterns are strengthened by proximity of those whose soul they house, and the dangers of staying away from them (particularly in a Dreaming state) for too long. "You don't want the Creature coming to rip you out of here," she says, jabbing them in the chest for emphasis, a deep frown distorting the burned scar on the one side of her face. "Be something like putting your insides through a wind shearer. Don't recommend it, that's for certain. Are you paying attention? Don't be moving these anywhere. With the power of these, I can understand why Eshai wanted to keep them close but keeping them from you... well, it wasn't the only thing she and I disagreed on."

Once she's satisfied that they've got as much information as she can provide at this time, she'll remind them as Evandau did: these lanterns are their Keeliai anchors and should they be destroyed, it won't be a trip back to their worlds that they can look forward to. "Without these, I can't keep you from being lost for good," she'll add seriously. "Good luck with them."

Comments

[iwannabeadragon]

Can't rely on something I've never had, which is why I never expect you to use your brain.

[His luck has always been the worst and he's not afraid to admit that, even to someone like Bakura.

Just as Bakura is eying Hawke, he's doing the same. With one good arm and healing ribs he knows he's vulnerable, especially if Bakura decides to summon some kind of beast. His eyes land on the knife but Bakura's stance seems more defensive than aggressive.]

I was walking. Then you got in my way.

[denyamenti]

[ His gaze hardened slightly at the insult, his fingers flexing briefly as though silently debating drawing the blade. He knows that it's just the man's preferred way of getting under his skin but Bakura hates to be implied as stupid and it's not the first time Hawke's done so. But, perhaps surprisingly, he doesn't withdraw the knife and after a moment of study, steps to one side. There's no deference in the movement, but it will let the man and hound pass mostly without going out of their way. ]

Go. No use in my snuffing out whatever sporting challenge you may offer in the future for a win on your half-healed ass right now.

[iwannabeadragon]

[The more they bicker at each other the more Hawke gets an idea of what angers Bakura. He likes knowing how to push someone's buttons. If he needs them to do something stupid it's the best way to make it happen. Plus he just plain enjoys irritating the bad guys.

But then Bakura steps out of the way. That makes Hawke's eyes narrow and raises his suspicion. He expected some kind of back and forth as they demanded the other to get out of their way.]

You know, I just can't see you being above stabbing me in the back.

[denyamenti]

I'm not.

[ Like Hawke, there was little point in trying to disguise his own nature. ]

But if I wanted to stab you, I wouldn't need your back to be turned to accomplish it.

[iwannabeadragon]

[Hawke snorts and nods his head.]

At least you're honest.

[Then he smirks.]

No, you'd need a miracle.

[Beside Hawke, Notch's lips peel back in a silent snarl. The hound readies himself to protect Hawke from anything. Hawke's hand moves to touch Notch's shoulder reassuringly.]

[denyamenti]

[ There's a pressure building behind Bakura's temples but ironically, it has very little to do with Hawke's baiting. The Kul Elna ghosts have linked the warrior and his hound with remembrance of the hot flash of rage that Bakura felt when Hawke unknowingly dismissed them as figments of the thief's imagination and are reacting to that, thinking the pair a target. The fact that Bakura thinks of him as sefet, "sword", further links them with soldiers in their shared and twisted collective conscious, and they remember soldiers that bloody, fiery night.

The air around the three of them grows heavy, like ground zero before a lightning strike. Bakura draws a slow breath, trying to push down the flood of enraged ethereal screaming that demanded to know why he wasn't killing the sefet where he stood. ]

You should leave. Now.

[ And then, probably unwisely, he steps forward toward Notch as though to push the hound in the right direction. ]

[iwannabeadragon]

[The suddenly change in the air is almost palpable, even Notch feels it. Hawke's eyes narrow and Notch's snarl grows louder. Normally this is right about the time when a fight breaks out. Except Bakura appears to be trying awfully hard to avoid one.

Hawke's not so full of himself to believe Bakura may actually fear him. The sorcerer seems too unhinged for that, which tells Hawke something else is the cause. Injury perhaps? Either way, this isn't time nor place for a fight for either of them.]

This is my neighborhood, but you're more than welcome to go.

[Hawke whistles and Notch obediently steps out of Bakura's way. Neither take their eyes off him however.]

[denyamenti]

Stop trying to antagonize--!

[ That's as much as he gets out, as an eldritch force slams into both Hawke and Notch, shoving them back against the nearest surface. There's no spell spoken as with the previous times that Bakura has attacked, only an angry ringing in the air, vibrations from enraged shrieks that they can't hear and only sense. ]

Stop! I don't want him dead!

[iwannabeadragon]

[Hawke hits a wall and his ribs cry in pain. His teeth grit together to keep himself from crying out himself. Next to him Notch yelps in pain and surprise. He's no mage but he knows magic when he sees it, or well, feels it.]

He's possessed. Of course he is.

[By what Hawke hasn't got a clue. Normally he would say demons but this place is very different. Who knows what's living in Bakura's head. Though he has no weapon, Hawke stands his ground and glares defiantly at Bakura.]

[denyamenti]

[ Bakura doesn't even hear Hawke's snark, nor Notch's yelp. He steps forward to close the distance and pull the champion free from whatever was holding him, but the same force shoves him back. Undeterred, the thief steps boldly between the pinned pair and the invisible assailants, back to the former, and voice quiets. ]

He's not menfeyt, they're all long dead. Let him go, my ghosts.

[ The pressure restraining Hawke, feeling like a hundred hands shoving against his chest, tightens like it's considering disobeying Bakura's words. But then it eases, fading out and doing the same to release Notch. ]

[iwannabeadragon]

[One thing is certain, the show is very entertaining. Hawke finds himself wishing Anders were here. Maybe he could shed some light on this situation. It seems whatever possesses Bakura might have more control over him than he does over it.

Then his ribs cry out again as the pressure on his chest tightens. His teeth grind together so hard that he's sure they'll crack any moment. For just a moment his vision blurs but then the pressure disappears. He slumps forward but straightens himself a second later.

For once, Hawke just remains silent. Even he can learn, but he doesn't back away or show fear. He just continues to fix Bakura with that defiant glare whiel keeping his hand on Notch's scruff to keep the dog from lunging at him.]

[denyamenti]

[ When the ghostly aura withdraws, Bakura knows he's averted a potential disaster for the moment. The Kul Elna souls obey him generally, but to stop them if they truly wanted Hawke dead? He doesn't know. For the most part, he doesn't care who they target, because they've usually been those who Bakura would just as rather take out himself.

Except for today, apparently.

Hearing no retort, sarcastic or otherwise from the champion, Bakura turns to make sure Hawke is indeed still breathing. ]

Sefet?

[iwannabeadragon]

[At first all Bakura gets in response is a savage growl. Notch doesn't understand any of this. What he does understand is that Bakura is the source of it and he just hurt Hawke. Even Hawke's hand holding him doesn't settle him completely.]

You should leave.

[Hawke's tone is flat yet full of menace.]

Notch starts to get hungry when something tries to kill him you see.

[The growl gets a little louder.]

[denyamenti]

[ Bakura wasn't afraid of Notch or Hawke either for that matter, but like the warrior he also knew that there was a time for baiting and tossing tempers back and forth, and that this was not it. So he takes a step back, then turns to go in the direction he'd originally come from. ]

[iwannabeadragon]

[Hawke doesn't need Bakura to fear him. Frankly he doesn't care what most people think of him, but Bakura is on his list now. He'll be watching the sorcerer, or whatever he is like a hawke. If he hurts anyone Hawke will be there.

For now Hawke just watches Bakura as he leaves, making sure he goes.]