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

[ruinsprofessor]

[Raine is in and out for a little while with her few armfuls of things. When those are placed to her satisfaction she settles down to stare at her lantern thoughtfully, one hand flat against her sternum, fingers tapping on her collarbone.]

[She might have stayed there in contemplation for a while, but the smell of things being made in the kitchen catches her attention, and she pokes her head in to take a look.] Ah-- I've met you before, haven't I? Iroh, correct?

[Someone who can cook. She's gotten lucky.] What are you making?

[whitelotustile]

That's correct. And you are Raine, right? I thought I'd start some tea, but if you're hungry, I think I can start cooking rice for dinner.

[ Iroh's cooking skills aren't as good as his tea-making skills, but he is a passable chef. And very practiced at boiling water ]

[ruinsprofessor]

I am. [She gives him a small, genuine smile.] If you don't mind, I'd appreciate it. Though tea would certainly also be nice. Is there anything I can help with?

[She is a menace in the kitchen, but she doesn't always let that stop her.]

[whitelotustile]

If you can grab the cups over there...

[ Iroh gestured ]

[ruinsprofessor]

Certainly. Here. [She reaches for the cups, sets them where he can reach them, then pulls back a bit to make sure she's not in his way. She watches what he's doing closely, however.]

I don't anticipate much difficulty in sharing a common area, but I should warn you there may be a turtle here occasionally.

[Informing people when their living space will be taken up by a rapidly growing turtle is probably polite.]

[whitelotustile]

One of the children?

[ Iroh hasn't seen any other sorts of turtle here. Not that his world has turtle-turtles. (Turtle-ducks, however, were quite common in Fire Nation gardens.) ]

[ruinsprofessor]

Yes. He introduced himself to me as Ryder. I don't see his other parents very often, but they may also stop by from time to time, depending. I'll endeavor to keep you apprised.

[It had been an adjustment at first, looking after the turtle child and having him in her head, but once she started in on the advanced mathematical theorems like she would with her brother, everything kind of clicked.]

[whitelotustile]

It is your house, so don't hesitate to have people over on my account.

[ Iroh is one of those rare natural extroverts who will serve strangers tea and make friends. ]

[ruinsprofessor]

Our. [Firm, but polite. She is not a natural extrovert at all.] But thank you.

How have you been, since the last time we met? It's been months, hasn't it?

[She'd be content to watch him make tea and cook, honestly, but for some reason some people are put off by silent observation. And if they're going to share a living space, it would be good to have a pleasant basis of interaction.]

[whitelotustile]

Well enough. Business is doing quite well. I don't remember if we met before or after I opened my shop. And yourself?

[ he's keeping an eye on things, occasionally adjusting things, but Iroh can talk and work at the same time ]

[ruinsprofessor]

Similarly well. A little busy, but that's preferable to the alternative. What sort of shop do you run? I don't recall you mentioning it, but that may simply have been the situation.

[Her gaze continues to follow his hands, trying to pick out the intentions behind each thing he adjusts. The mechanics aren't exactly a mystery to her, but the reasons are.]

[whitelotustile]

It's a tea shop. I had one back in Ba Sing Sei, and it's a very satisfying business to run. And the kedan do appreciate a good cup of tea.

[Iroh seems to have an almost supernatural skill at judging temperatures for cooking and steeping tea. A lot of his fiddlings are making sure things are heating and cooling at the same rate.]

[ruinsprofessor]

Where is it? Perhaps I'll come by sometime. [Pause, thinking.] Ba Sing Sei? A city in your world, I presume?

[She has noticed his hand with temperature, but she doesn't think anything of it, other than that he's had practice with this. These arts are a little arcane to her.]

[whitelotustile]

Exactly. The capital of the Earth Kingdom. And my shop is in the Fire Sector. It was near my old apartment.

[ruinsprofessor]

[Earth Kingdom doesn't ring a bell, but Fire Sector... he's moved a fair distance.] Will the commute give you trouble? [And a little frown.] Why move you so far? She said she couldn't explain, but surely there must be some observable criteria... Perhaps if I asked others about their moves.

[Everything has an explanation. Everything. It's just a matter of finding it, as far as she's concerned.]

[whitelotustile]

Why can say? Maybe they thought the neighborhood suited me better.

[ruinsprofessor]

[A lovely not-quite-answer. Iroh is nice, friendly, but not particularly open. It's interesting. And a little concerning, but she'll have ample opportunity to watch him.]

Perhaps.

I'll get out of your way. [She suits action to words, moving out of the kitchen. Not leaving outright, since he did offer tea, but out of social niceties.]

[whitelotustile]

Don't worry about it. I'm nearly done. We just need to let it steep for a few minutes.

[ruinsprofessor]

All right. [She doesn't actually re-enter the kitchen, but neither does she abscond, rather remaining in the common area.] Thank you.

[All in all she could have had a much worse suitemate, and this one can make actual edible food. Raine's comfortable in the new situation.]