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

[iguanasolution]

You Greeks and your tricks... where's a good old Roman legion around the suite to protect the lamps?

[He teases, but he soon goes back to a serious expression as he rubs the back of his neck.] Actually, we should probably have something guarding the doors. Bufford could come running to us if something happens?

[sophos]

I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeve, thank you very much. [She knows he's teasing, and her tone is light to match.] Subtler ones.

[She makes a hmm sound.] Bufford's a good start. I have a cat golem, too, named Laikha, and we could probably put the mechanical seagulls to use again as well. [...she still has those. Among so many other things how did her zoo get bigger than Percy's.]

[iguanasolution]

[He actually laughs at that. At least rooming with Annabeth isn't going to be boring.]

We might actually need an entire room for the animals at this point, and that's not counting our turtles who'll probably want to visit.

[sophos]

[They're laughing. It's good that they're laughing, for all they've both been through here. It feels good. She's smiling still, and it feels pretty natural, too.]

Forget the room. They could use a whole building. Think they got any to spare?

[iguanasolution]

[He chuckles again, but when he speaks his tone takes a slightly ore wondering tone.]

Actually, do you think we could do something like that? A turtle daycare or nursery of some sort?

[sophos]

[Her expression flickers with a grin.] You know, that's not a bad idea.

We're supposed to keep them safe, right? And they're still playful as anything. Having a giant space for them might be useful in more ways than one.

[iguanasolution]

Right? And it could be a good way to let people take a break from them while still knowing where they are. Maybe all the parents could take turns?

[sophos]

[She nods brightly.] I know we're all technically responsible for just one turtle, but - it's important to keep them all safe, not just the one who chose us.

If no one in a set of parents can be around for whatever reason, it might be a good plan to have others available too. Just as a backup. Besides, I think they might like having a large enough home to call their own, too.

[iguanasolution]

[He also nods- that's a good point. What baby doesn't like having a place to call home, no matter how big and smart? And it'll solve the problem of having the big turtles barge into the not-so-big houses... ]

Do you think we should use an unused building, or find someone to build one from scratch?

[sophos]

We could probably see what's already available first - it's not like they're short on buildings, and modifying structures can be easier and faster than starting from scratch.

It should probably be on the outskirts of Keeliai though, especially if the turtles are going to keep growing.

[iguanasolution]

I'm actually a bit worried about that. I mean, it might take centuries but they still are going to grow just as big as Asti himself eventually... and that means they will get big enough we can't fit one on top of the turtle. Let alone all of them.

[sophos]

I wonder if they'll... link up again somehow. The continents used to be turtles, right? Maybe they'll create new spaces. I never expected they'd live on Asti forever.

[iguanasolution]

[He frowns, kind of imagining the turtles making some sort of puzzle together and just staying like that. Must be really uncomfortable for them.]

What are they going to eat if they do that? ...What does Asti eat, actually?

[sophos]

[She blinks.] That's... a really good question. I don't know if anyone's thought to ask him before.

We'll have to remember, the next time he comes to us.

[Even if it hasn't escaped Annabeth's notice that Asti's been very quiet the last few months.]

[iguanasolution]

[He nods] If we ever get to talk to him again, anyway. The closest I've gotten lately is talking to Penelope, and she actually doesn't know all that much.

[sophos]

[She sighs.] Same with me and Captain Bobby. I hope he's okay. He's been kind of quiet since Eshai was killed.

[iguanasolution]

He probably misses her. I mean, they were close right? [He'd been paying so little attention, at the time, he just knew Eshai had been a soldier who deserved to be respected.]

And for a giant turtle making friends must not be all that easy.

[sophos]

They'd known each other for centuries. Missing her is probably an understatement.

Pretty sure he doesn't share the same connection with Evandau. And he definitely can't quite communicate with us normally.