NationStates Jolt Archive

Tari was back down in short order.

"Well...now that there's a living corpse up stairs...what are you doing here?"

"Obviously the same reason you are. To kill that guy."

Raven pulled his balaclava off, and allowed the dim light to pass over his face. It was worn, as is he'd been working too much.

Tari begins to play cat's cradle with the guy's ethereal components.

"Looks more like you need a weeks worth of rest and time in the sunlight. You're about as pale as any living thing I've ever seen."

"I've been working alot recently"

"You look it."

"What did he do to you guys to warrant extermination then?"

"Attacked five of our ships, destroying two, he's got three of our captains on his payroll, and another dozen that are either under blackmail or threat to the safety of themselves or their families."

She shrugs, a well-practiced movement.

"Since under Snake Eater law, we can't exactly prove he's done it...sneaky bastard...he had to be taken out somehow."

"Or, alternatively, you could have dropped us a line at SESOU. We're more than willing to do stuff like this... he'd been doing the same to our trade routes"

"We only have one handy link to SESOU, who is only occasionally available, and there's a lot of trouble in trying to contact you guys in some official capacity. Since I'm trained in multiple styles of killing people, more than everyone else by like...two...I was given the job."

"Fair enough I suppose... still, no one ever said anything about official channels"

"Well, I could contact you...but I never know if you're working or not. I'd feel kinda bad if I called at an inopportune time."

"Like I said, I've been working alot... come on, they'll find him soon. We'd best be as far from here as we can"

"Okay."

She focuses for a moment, and then teleports them back to Raven's apartment.

"Far enough away?"

He looked around, and smiled,"That'll do nicely... a whole star system... I'm impressed"

"Yeah, I've been practicing. Back and forth between my room at home and the Corbrian Falls."

She looked down at her hands, which still held the guy's spirit and mind.

"Oh...best get rid of those."

She brings her hands together, effectively banishing them.

"You know...in comparison to other spirits I've dealt with...his was slimy."

"I wasn't even aware that they had a sensation," said Raven. You would have expected him to be a little more... disturbed by this revalation. But he acted as if it was the norm.

"Yeah, just a bit of one."

She laughs.

"You hang around mages too much. You've gotten jaded."

"I hang around one mage, infrequently... I don't see how I'm jaded"

"I sit there for five minutes playing with integral parts of a human life, then pronounce it slimy, and you act like it's no big deal."

"You see a lot of weird stuff in the universe... that's just another to add to the list"

She raises an eyebrow.

"Riiiiiiiight. So, what have you been up to, other than mixing poisons in such a way that one exactly cancelled out the other?"

He shook his head,"How was I to know you were there? In any case... I've been working. I can't say much more than that"

"Right...state secrets and all that irritating crap."

"Yeah, pretty much. It sucks, but it's gotta be done... aw crap, can't I have at least one day off?"

He rolled his eyes,"Another job just came in... yay, what fun for me"

"That sucks. Ignore it and get some sleep."

"Actually... this one is a joint-mission. One that they want both of us in on"

"Wait...how the hell do they know I'm here? I haven't been on-planet for ten minutes, and I am not in view of any sort of window."

Raven shrugged,"I have no idea either... but still, this is a nice mission. Here, read it"

He passed her a padd, and let her read through the assignment.

She takes the padd and scans over it.

"Well, what do you think?"

"How good are you as an actor?"

"I can hold my own. You?"

"I'm okay. You think I should remain a Drow, or disguise myself as a human?"

"You'd blend in more as a human... I know this place. Drow are very uncommon in there"

"Well...there are two angles we could go at this from. You try and join the other riff-raff...and how better to do that than to participate in their slave trade? You could have snatched me from Iy'arn province, where the Kestrals hold power...very safe, very sophisticated, very few lock their doors. Or we could join as security, in which it would probably be easiest to join as 'brother' and 'sister.'"

"The second option would be easier to pass off... although the disguise would be only the only point. However, if I know you, and I do, you'll whip something up with magick"

"Yeah. Hold still."

She looks intently at Raven for a few moments, and her features begin to change. She her facial features broaden, and the sharp elven lines of them blended into human ones. The points on her ears receeded, and her skin paled while black flooded through her hair.

"What do you think? Do I look human enough?"

"You'll pass for a human well enough"

He looked her up and down, and nodded,"Yes, this brother sister idea will work well"

She looks at the mirror, and darkened just a little bit.

"Yeah...enough resemblence."

"This should work... it's a good match," he smiled, sliding his knife into his boot once more,"Well, with that sorted, let's get this over with. The sooner it's done, the sooner we can crash"

She conjures a couple of weapons, then looks at Keris, and her attire.

Snapping her fingers, the outfit's sleeves receed to the shoulders, and the shirt changes colors to a deep blue. The pants themselves change material, from silk to denim. Gods, this is an uncomfortable material. She left the boots be.

"Keris." She holds out her arm, and the glider arranges itself as an ornament above the elbow.

"Okay, ready."

He watched her, noting the expression on her face as her pants changed to denim. Humans were easier to read than Drow, and he smiled,"It's not the greatest of materials, but hey, it works."

He'd already changed into his own pair of khaki slacks, coupled with a loose overshirt. It was short sleeved, the colour a deep green, complementing the tan colour of his khaki,"You ready to go?"

"Yep."

He smiled,"Good. It's a two hour train journey to our destination, and we'd best stay in character. Don't worry about paying for anything, I'll sort that... now, which identity to take... ah yes, this'll do nicely."

He took out a passport, wallet, social secuirty pass, all the normal stuff of a citizen. He slipped them about his person,"Say hello to John Garon, a 22 year old stock broker in Oured"

She raises an eyebrow.

"So...if you have a bunch of pseudonyms...and Raven is more of a nickname than anything...what's your real name?"

His face fell,"I don't have a real name anymore... I can't remember it. C'mon, let's go"

She patted his arm, and started walking with him.

It was foggy in Snake City, and he led her expertly to the train station, paying for two first class tickets to Oured, which was on the far side of the planet. The journey would only take a few hours, it wasn't that far to the trains in Snake Eaters. He sat down in the compartment they had to themselves (as was the privilege of all first-class travellers), and began to stare out the window as the landscape rushed by. He hadn't said a word to her directly since they had left the apartment

Meanwhile, Tari had sent for cultural information on Snake Eaters, and was reading through it as quickly as she could.

She sensed that Raven had something on his mind, so she left him to it.

He still hadn't said a word after an hour of the journey. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, in his own world.

It was about that point that she finally broke the silence.

"My name isn't suitable for this operation."

He started, then nodded,"I was thinking that earlier... do you have any ideas as to what you would like your name to be?"

"I have absolutely no knowledge of human names. Preferably something simple."

"How do you feel about something like... Danielle?"

"H'mmm...Okay."

He smiled, and went back to his thoughts

She looks so much like her... it's surreal

Meanwhile, Tari had finished reading what she could, and closed her eyes to meditate for the duration of the journey.

This could be an...interesting mission.

He watched her go to sleep, and then sat staring out the window. A conductor came past at one point, asking for tickets, and looked at her funny, then at Raven. He smiled, and shrugged,"Dani always sleeps sitting up"

The conductor seemed to accept this, and moved along without arguement. Eventually, they were pulling into Oured Central Station. He shook her gently,"Wakey wakey, we're here"

"How do you wake that which is not asleep?"

She opens her eyes and grins. "Come on...which way?"

He smiled slightly,"I hate it when you do that, Dani. Come on, follow me, it's not that far really"

"Yeah, yeah. So what are we doing this time, John?"

He passed her a photo from his pocket, and started talking to her as they walked,"This man runs a local crime syndicate. Now, by local, we mean national. Essentially, he's one of the biggest crime lords in Snake Eaters. Drugs, extortion, murder... it all goes through him."

"Right. Sounds similar to Marnus from a few years back."

"Similar, to be sure... still, there are differences. This one is normally found in this place*indicates on a holomap*It's a crackhouse... drugs, prostitution, you name it, it happens here"

"Lovely. You're such a good brother."

"I'll choose to ignore that sarcasm. This operation relies upon two things. My ability to cause a mjor distraction, and your ability to move and kill silently"

"I think I'm okay with my part."

"It shouldn't be a problem with getting in there... after all, this stock broker is well known as an expert hacker, going by the alias of Omi when online... you're my kid sister, looking to make a quick buck. Just pull this sort of stuff out your ass, and you'll be fine"

"Yeah, yeah...you don't have to tell me how to do my job."

"I know that... but you aren't what you look. Anything suspicious, as in non-human behaviour, is going to raise questions... ah, we're here"

The building was run down, delapidated,"Classic technique... the feds don't even know this place exists"

"Yeah, probably not. Either that, or they're being bribed to turn a blind eye, or are too scared to go in there themselves."

"No, that's the local police. The fed's aren't... stuff like that isn't tolerated... and we know everything about everyone. Right, I'll do the talking, just look sweet sixteen"

He approached the guards, both of whom carried Skorpion sub-machine guns hidden not too discrectly under their jackets.

G1 -- "Name?"

Rv -- "Omi, I'm here to see Jacob"

G2 -- "And the girl?"

Rv -- "Kid sister, looking to break into the buisness"

The first guard leered at Tari, whilst the second looked at Raven, then Tari,"Alright, go on in. You know the rules?"

Rv -- "No worries, I know the deal"

He ushered them both inside, and shut the door behind them.

Tari pointedly ignored the guards, and followed her 'brother' in.

"See what I mean?"

He led her through the dimly lit corridors, and they eventually came to the main room. They'd passed many a room where there was smoke issuing from under the door, or the noise of many people. Drugs of all sorts were rife, but 'John' ignored them all. He sat down at one of the unnocupied tables, and called over a bloke who seemed like a waiter, ordering a gin for himself and a water for his sister.

"Take in the atmosphere a while, and take a look at our mark," he said under his breath, nodding in Jacob's direction.

She put an arm over the back of her chair, and let her eyes roam around the place.

There was much here that she'd never seen before...much that she was glad she'd never seen before...

She didn't let herself look at anything or anyone for more than a second, before moving on.

"Right, so...yeah."

"Welcome to the underlife of Snake Eaters... thankfully, this sort of place is rare, given the level of funding. Right, heres the plan..."

He quickly outlined his idea. It was outside his normal modus operandi. He would plant a small bomb, distract their attention, whilst Tari got rid of this guy anyway she saw fit.

She raises an eyebrow.

"I can handle the plan...but why didn't you outline it on the train, where there aren't people?"

"Look around you. These people are so high, they don't even know what they are saying themselves. Hell, a few of them have lost the capacity for normal speech. They really don't care.. don't take this wrong, but for someone as old as you are, you're very naive"

"Point one: I'm a teenager. Point two: This doesn't happen back home. Point three: Not all is as it appears to be. And I don't think this water is water."

He sniffed at it,"Amazing...you've been spiked, and you haven't been here five minutes. Stop drinking that stuff, right now. That drug will knock you senseless"

He threw the drink away,"So, tell me what you see that I can't"

"I didn't drink it, dear. I see at least seven guys in this room that are very much un-drugged, and very much armed."

He nodded, having noticed them,"His armed guard. Notice how they basically surround him. They haven't heard us, or we'd already be dead"

"There's a good reason they haven't heard us. It's called a silence spell. Now...how soon can we stop enjoying the atmosphere?"

"As soon as you're ready. The explosive is already primed, I just need to place it... that'll take five minutes"

"I can kill him and be out of here in under a minute. When the bomb goes off, get out. I'll find you."

He nodded, and stood,"See you in ten minutes, just to be sure."

He left her alone, and headed out the fire exit, on the pretense of wanting a joint. and made his way up the wall, planting a small charge of C4 on the wall, and then leaving the building. Three minutes.

Inside the building, some stoned pervert was eyeing Tari up. Leering, he staggered over to her, and sat heavily on the sofa next to her,"Looking for a good time, darlin'?"

"No. If you want a good time, that guy looks like he's been eyeing you for some time now."

Gods, Raven, hurry up.

"Watcha say darlin', I didn't quite catch that?"

Raven looked at his watch, and nodded. Via his nanomachines, he detonated the C4. The bomb wasn't big, but it was enough to rock the building. He heard over the police comm chatter,"Explosion reported on the east side, 45th and 7th"

"10-4, Charlie Omega 1 is en route now"

He smirked, and dissapeared into the darkness. Inside the club, the guards had their weapons out, and Jacob was shouting orders,"Find out what the f**k that was, who the f**k did it, and kill the bastard!"

"Yes boss"

Tari teleported, drawing her knife and landing behind Jacob.

"Lu' nin wun dosst resk'afar d' e'trit, dos el."

She whips it through his throat, half severing the head, and teleporting outside the building.

She conjures a cloth to wipe the blade, then tucks it back into its sheath.

Raven was on the corner of the street, under the lamp. His hair had changed, and he'd somehow sprouted a beard, but it was still him.

She walks in that general direction, but doesn't slow down as she reaches the lamp, or stop as she gets there.

You're all really really gay. Fags.

snip
Don't troll.

You're all really really gay. Fags.

((Says you. If everybody here is a fag, what are you doing here?))


IC: "Going to ignore me then?"

"Get back to the station by one route or another, I'll be inside. Don't talk to me now."

Raven let her be, and made his own way to the station as ordered. He arrived before she did, and sat himself down, having brought a single ticket back to Snake City. She could get her own, she'd seen him do it once, and it wouldn't exactly take much. He went into the washroom, and emerged clean shaven and with his hair back to normal. No one paid him a second glance.

She got there and saw him.

"It's been fun and all, going and killing this one random guy...but I got called on the way here...I have to get back."

His face fell slightly,"Alright. I'll guess I'll catch you some other time..."

"Yeah, at some point or another. *gives him a 'sisterly' hug* If you ever need help, don't hesitate to call. Or if you ever need someone to talk to. See you later."

She heads into the ladies room, and doesn't come back out.

**Meanwhile**

Tari let her attire and appearance return to normal, and teleported home.

He hugged her back, in a brotherly way, and then watched her leave. He sighed, and headed back to Snake City, his head resting on his hand all the way. The fog had lifted, but it was still dark out. It was early morning before he finally got home, and collapased into bed.

*Rendelmar*
Cougar dragged himself out of bed, not really wanting to move around today, not really knowing why either.

Rhenna looked over at her husband.

"Something wrong?"

He shook himself,"Just felt real tired all of a sudden... happens sometimes"

"They've been working you hard lately...maybe you should try and get some more sleep."

He shook his head,"I'll be fine for today, but I'll crash earlier tonight"

She nods.

He leaned over to her, and kissed her,"I'll see you later, I've got something to do before the day really starts"

She kissed him back. "Go on, James."

"I love you," were his final words as he walked out the door. He went about his buisness for the day, attending his class as usual, and then training hard the rest of the day. Ever since the fight with his clone, he'd seemed to have turned a corner. His training was more effective, he was more attentive in lessons, and was improving well, at a steady pace.

Two more years pass, and about a week before their tenth anniversary, Rhenna seeks out Cougar.

"Hey. Got a moment?"

He stopped what he was doing, and smiled at her,"Course, whats up?"

She smiled back at him.

"I just wanted to let you know I'll be headed out tomorrow. I should be home before our anniversary."

He nodded,"Isn't it odd, how we're always away just before our anniversary... but hurry back. Ten years, Rhenna."

She smiles.

"Ten years...it doesn't seem that long, does it?"

He put his arms round her waist,"I know... it's not that long really, but it's worth celebrating"

She kisses him.

"As will they all be."

He kissed her back,"Just keep yourself safe out there"

"I always try to."

*The next day.*

Rhenna heads out, more serious than she'd been on the previous day, but this was supposed to be a simple three day mission.

So simple that Renor would have sent Shan or Tari, if they weren't both out already.

He watched her leave, hoping she would be back in time... he didn't want to miss this one.

*Three days later*

A lancing pain ripped through the left side of Cougar's chest, followed by a brief moment of shock...and then nothing.

It was as if a sudden hole had been opened, something, some integral part of his mind had gone silent.

There was with it a feeling of aloneness, and terrible loss...damage irreparable.

It was something he had never felt before, but there was no way he could mistake the feeling.

He collapsed to the floor, his face pale, as if in shock... he'd never felt anything like that, not ever. And yet, in his heart... he knew what it meant. He didn't know how or why... but he knew what it meant. He couldn't feel her... the bond was broken. Tears started to cloud his vision, but he pushed them aside. His first thought, except Rhenna, was simple.Find Renor. Must find Renor

The first one he stumbled across, however, was not Renor.

It was Vedt.

"Cougar, what's the hurry?"

Normally, Cougar wouldn't have shared this sort of thing with Vedt... it wasn't because he disliked the man, or anything else like that... he just didn't like opening up to him. This was an exception to the rules,"She's gone"

"What?"

Vedt's arm whipped out to one side, and his glider sped through the halls.

Renor was there in short order.

"I am told that something has happened."

"She's gone, Renor. As in nothing. Normally, if she was blocking me, I could tell... theres nothing. Literally nothing."

Cougar was obviously fighting back his emotions... but he was doing it well.

R -- "I am sorry, Cougar. I will go and collect her body...but there is little we can do for death."

Cougar nodded, knowing full well what this meant,"I have three days, Renor... I want to go home, to Snake Eaters, for 24 hours... I need to say goodbye"

Renor nods. "Take it. Stay as long as you like...or as long as you have."

He shook his head,"No... this is my home... I want to end my days here"

Renor nods and goes.

V -- "Can you get to the Dauntless yourself?"

Cougar nodded mutely, and then put his hand on Vedt's shoulder,"I'm sorry if I've been an arse over the years. Thought it best to get out the way"

Vedt nodded.

"Apologise for nothing, either in life or in death."

Cougar shook his head,"Somethings deserve an apology. This is one of them. Don't try and correct me, Vedt"

He left Rendelmar behind him, and took off for Snake Eater Prime. Only when he was clear of the atmosphere and in the wap did he allow his mental barrier to break down. Never, since the death of his parents, had James Cougar cried so much. His screams resounded through the warp, causing Eldrad to jerk suddenly, as he heard it.

A dark figure materialised inside the Dauntless.

"It wasn't her Time, James."

"You're damn right it wasn't her time, Aras... wait a second, I've got three days"

"No. Warfare gave you three days. But your life doesn't end until I cut the string. And you'll need much more than three days if you're to bring her back."

He spun round in his chair,"What are you talking about?"

"Well, either you can gather some aid and go to bring her back, or I can give you a month, and you can try and impregnate a human woman to stave off Kaelis Ra, leaving your child, should there be any, in the care of a complete stranger."

Cougar didn't pause to think,"Aid. You never answered my question"

"Do you not believe in the possibility of resurrection, Cougar? It was not her time to die. Therefore, it is possible to bring her back. This is a chance rarely given, and only to those who have proven again and again worthy of continued life...if they have someone who has the ability to help them. It will be an extremely challenging mission...and it is always your choice whether to continue or not."

Cougar would have glared, but even in life, Aras was formidible. As Death, she was worse,"There is no choice... I've already made it. Ten years ago. Who will I need?"

"Leviathan, Eldrad, and Mith...and you may choose two others as well. Gather them, and then I will return to you."

She disappeared.

Leviathan was easy, all Cougar did was pray and he was there. He quickly explained all, and Leviathan agreed to accompany him. Eldrad was the same, for Cougar turned about and headed back. Two down, three to go.

He approached the temple at Mithdelmar, his hands burning. He'd stopped suppressing his power, and it now flowed freely... to a degree of course. He went inside, and asked to see Mith on urgent buisness.

Within half an hour, Cougar was in Mith's office, sitting across from him.

"I was told this is urgent?"

"I'll be frank with you. Rhenna is dead... Aras has given me a shot at bringing her back... I need you to come with me"

"I need a few hours to make the arrangements necessary to leave the temple in the care of one of the other mages. My Chosen, brilliant as she is, is still too young."

"Fine. The rest will be waiting outside, onboard the Dauntless... I must return to Rendelmar, and then back to Snake Eater Prime... there are two more who must come with us"

With that, he vanished, and appeared in Rendelmar, not wasting a moment. He grabbed his gunblade, coat and the pistol she had crafted for him. Then, he went looking for Vedt, going wherever he could.

He eventually found Vedt with Renor in a fairly small room.

There were four lanterns in the room, glowing darkly with energy, one in each corner.

Other than that, the room was empty, save for a stone table in the very center.

Rhenna's body was arranged on that table.

Death hadn't seemed to rob her of her beauty. From his view (of the right side), she seemed as though she were merely resting, and might wake, or breathe at any moment.

The dark light glinted off her scales, and her hands arms were laid along her sides.

It was almost too much for him right then and there. He stifled a sob, and moved silently. They wouldn't stop him, he wouldn't let them. He moved slowly towards the table. He approached the body, barely noticing the gaping hole in her chest where her heart had been. He kissed her forehead and whispered,"I'm not giving up just yet"

With that, he looked at the Master and the Right Hand,"Vedt, I need your help"

Her skin was cold to his lips...colder than it ever had been, and had he taken her hand, no warmth would have spread in response.

Renor and Vedt had let him be while he was with Rhenna, but when he turned to them, they looked at him.

V -- "What is it you need?"

"Aras has given me a chance to bring her back... said it wasn't her time. It's going to be dangerous, for sure... but I'm doing it. If you don't want to, that's fine, no one could hold it against you... but *looks at the body*I'm not prepared to let go yet... if theres a chance, however slim, I'm going to take it"

Vedt looked at Renor, who nodded.

V -- "Well then, Cougar...if it wasn't her time...then all possible actions to correct this must be taken."

"Mithdelmar. One hour. Inside the Dauntless"

With that, Cougar shot one more look at the body, and returned to Snake Eater Prime of his own power. He sought out his team, and told them the situation. All volunteered to go, and he had difficulty selecting one. In the end, he chose Watt, his closest friend. The others understood, and wished them luck. They returned to Mithdelmar, and entered the Dauntless. Eldrad and Leviathan were already waiting.

Vedt was already there, and Mith showed up just as soon as Cougar did.

Cougar looked around... a group of people willing to lay their lives down for Rhenna. He felt teary eyed, but ignored it,"Alright Aras, we're ready"

Death appeared.

"If there are any of you who are not completely dedicated to this cause, leave now."

None of the Snake Eaters moved an inch

You're all really really gay. Fags.

Death Factory: Official Warning for Trolling
You've made a bad start here in NS, with only having 5 posts, and already offending people. I strongly suggest that you change your attitude, or you won't be here for long.

Aras looked at all the still forms in the ship, and nodded.

"Very well, then. There are things you will need to bring her back.
First, as Mith cannot create a heart where none is, you will need the heart of a Black Dragon. You might find your Farseer useful in this endeavor, or I'm certain Vedt or Leviathan might know.
Second, death only occurs when a life-strand has been broken. I can only bring her back if there is something with which I can bind it back. There is such a creature in Kaymiril. Come, Jalron, so that you remember what I taught you."

The Gray Master thought for a moment. "Orbb d' Dro." He looked at the others. "It is a very fierce spider which lives in the Northernmost Caverns. Its silk, however, is rumored to be able to help someone return to life."

A -- "Exactly. You will need three lengths." Mith looked somewhat confused at the need for three lengths, exactly...but he figured that Death would know the rules of this endeavor better than he would.

She continued.
"You will then need to collect and purify two souls. After that, there is a flower that grows on the Plains of Hell. It is called Death's Hand, in the common tongue. You will need one of those. Finally, you will need to find Rhenmet's soul to return to her body, which I do trust you have?"

Vedt nodded. "Renor got it as soon as Cougar left."

A -- "Good. Is there anything you need to know?"

Cougar listened carefully,"How do we purify the souls once we capture them?"

"Mith knows how, as Vedt should, by this point in his training. You will, however, need a vessel for each soul, to hold it in."

Eldrad spoke up,"Would a soulstone suffice?"

"It should be able to, yes."

E -- "Then we have our vessels"

L -- "I have been to Hell before... I know where a Death Hand is located."

C -- "And a Black Dragon"

E & L -- "Afraid not"

Watt looked up,"This is all going well over my head"

C -- "You'll get used to it. I have no more questions. Anyone else?"

Mith and Vedt both shake their heads, and Aras leaves.

V -- "I know where to find the heart of a Black Dragon. Actually...so do you, Cougar. Where does Rhenna keep Tellryon's heart?"

Cougar started,"Of course... the drawer. She stopped carrying it around about seven years ago... I know exactly where it is"

He also noticed that Vedt had said 'does' and not 'did'... it filled him with even more hope.

OOC: Hey, thought I'd drop in to say hi. I'm surprised you kept this going.

I think that this needs archived when it hits maximum. :)

Anyways, continue. :D

OOC: Hi, Derscon.

IC:
V -- "Then let's go. This looks to be at least a ten-day quest. It takes two solid days to purify a soul...and crossing Hell will take more than a day. Not to think of how much time we will be spending in space."

C -- "The heart first"

*Two minutes later*

"That's one thing down... next is that thread. Mith, can you guide me to the location. I'll fly us down there"

M -- "Seven hundred miles north, if you take a seventeen degree eastward slant."

Watt was already setting the course, and lifting them off,"We'll be there in about thirty minutes... can't go much faster in the atmosphere"

V -- "I'll go in, and Cougar and Leviathan, come with me. These are spiders that will suck the life right out of you if they can catch you...they don't start their webs for a kilometer down...but then, there are hundreds of them...They stand almost half as tall as a man, with fangs almost the length of your forearm."

L -- "Lovely. Just how I like to spend my sunday afternoons"

C -- "..."

L -- "Oh, right... bad timing, sorry"

M -- "What I still don't understand is why she needs three lengths for one life..."

V -- "We'll get six lengths...in case something should happen."

Leviathan and Eldrad were off, planning together as to how to seal the souls effectively and also what the Death's Hand flower looked like.

Watt was piloting, in familiar territory.

Cougar was sat in the back compartment, looking out the 'window' at the landscape passing by, his head resting on one of his palms

The Drow, at least, left him be.

What had happened, no matter how they were trying to change it, was still overwhelmingly traumatic.

He'd cried all he could, his eyes were red and raw, but still he pushed on. watt shot a glance at his friend, and knew that he had to be left to deal with something like this on his own... only then could he truly come to terms with what had happened.

Vedt approached Watt.

"Take these passages. There's a spatial distortion that will have us there in a few minutes."

He nodded, and altered the craft's heading. Indeed, soon, they were there,"We're here, James"

Cougar looked up, and nodded,"Leviathan... let's go"

As soon as the shuttle had set down and opened, Vedt stepped out. The entrance to the cavern loomed blackly in front of them, and he stepped out for it.

"This is also an exit and entrance point to the UnderDark. We might run into some Drow. Eldrad, toss me the soulstones."

Eldrad dug into his belt, and tossed two to Cougar,"Sorry, Vedt, but only Cougar can operate soulstones. He is, after all, half-Eldar. You need Eldar blood to operate them.*To James*You know the spell, make sure you use it"

Cougar nodded, and gestured to Vedt,"Lead on"

"And remember...you have to suck out their souls, not put in yours." He starts the descent.

Cougar nodded,"Like he said, I know the incantation... I'll know it when the time comes"

L -- "Get in the middle, Cougar. I'll take rear"

And so they descended. About half a kilometer down, they started running into some tiny, glowing strands, but Vedt brushed these impatiently aside.

"I'm guessing we're running into the very edges?"

"The very edges. These are just infants. In a few more steps, we will come to the Junction between Kaymiril and The Underdark...and I think I hear at least one coming."

"The sooner we get this over with, the better for all concerned"

I just want her back so much...

They came to a 'crossroads,' at about the same time as did three Drow...two females, and a male.

OOC: We shall assume that everyone here speaks Drow, and therefore not make me have to type and translate all of this.

IC:
V -- "What is it that brings you to this place, foul servants of Lloth?"

DF1 -- "One of her kind...her followers." She guestures at the male. "Destroy them!"

The male cowered at the female's tone, but as she shot a venomous glance his way, stumbled into action...and was quickly devoured by one of Vedt's spells.

Another spell wound around each of the women. It forced them to kneel, and bound them.

V -- "Your lives will better serve another than they will the Spider Queen, foul ones. Cougar...it looks like we have our souls."

OOC: To play catch up.

IC: In the time between The events with Chaos, and just recently, when Rhenna died, Warfare had lost even more power. He was struggling to keep up with first year students of magick. Thus he had become a bitter, foul tempered old man, in almost every sense of the word. Kajeenith was still fighting the Impenetrable Bubble, though, cracks were starting to appear. His efforts had become almost desperate.

Gypsy, who had recently finished weaving an original Warhaven Rug putting Leviathan as the Picture, came to see Warfare in the Crystal World.

G - "Father, Rhenmet Cougar has passed away."

W - "Well whoopie, what do you want me to do about it? Cry? I'll send flowers later, after Cougar passes as well.

G - That's not nice, they've always been there to help you when you needed it.

W - Well then why in the name of the nine levels of hell haven't they figured out what's wrong with me?

G - Your just a stupid old man that can't handle change. You loose your powers and you become mean and evil. Maybe you deserve to fade away to memories. It'd be better for all concerned anyway. Maybe Grandma, or Death should come talk to you, better yet knock some sense into that fool head of yours.

Warfare was stung, but only for a second.

W - Fine then, Leave my Crystal World and don't return. Leave me to my misery. First Arianna, then you. Who next? Rahegalhoff?

Gypsy left, tears in her eyes. She stopped at the Exit.

G - Incase your intrested, Death is trying to help revive Rhenna. James has one Month, then I must Weave both out of the Tapestry, as they fall beyond resurection. But even I will weave good Fates for those involve in helping her. It may not be much, but it'll help. If the fates don't discover me.

W - I SAID GET OUT!

And thus, Warfare had successfully driven his family away. Misery was all well and good, but after a time, you simply had to get over it and try and fix the problem. God or not.

OOC: I'm so ashamed of Warfare at the moment. You ever want to smack one of your characters a good one?

They came to a 'crossroads,' at about the same time as did three Drow...two females, and a male.

OOC: We shall assume that everyone here speaks Drow, and therefore not make me have to type and translate all of this.

IC:
V -- "What is it that brings you to this place, foul servants of Lloth?"

DF1 -- "One of her kind...her followers." She guestures at the male. "Destroy them!"

The male cowered at the female's tone, but as she shot a venomous glance his way, stumbled into action...and was quickly devoured by one of Vedt's spells.

Another spell wound around each of the women. It forced them to kneel, and bound them.

V -- "Your lives will better serve another than they will the Spider Queen, foul ones. Cougar...it looks like we have our souls."

Cougar nodded, and drew the two soulstones from his pocket. He ignored the looks and the curses that would no doubt come his way, more likely than not having something to do with his being a rivvil. He placed the stones in front of both of them, and then let a beam of energy flow from him, into the stones and then finally into the Drow before him. Speaking a language none but Vedt had heard before, he said:

Gods of the Fallen
Seal these poor souls
So they may lead a better existence
On the plain of spirits

As he finished the spell, there was a sudden jerking of the bodies, as their souls flowed into the stones. The stones glowed, not as brightly as when Cougar had sealed himself away. The bodies became nothing more but drones, vessels without a soul. Cougar's eyes opened and his voice returned to normal,"Looks like Eldrad was right... we have our souls"

"We also have spider bait."

Vedt directed the bodies up, and to walk forward.

Leviathan nodded, and followed behind,"Well done, James."

He put his hand on his friend's/chosen's shoulder for a brief moment, and then let go. Something wasn't quite right... not about this situation, but something, somewhere else. He dismissed it, and carried on

They got deeper, to old, dusty webs that had lost their glow.

Vedt started burning webs away. The fumes were horrible, but Vedt seemed to know what he was after.

And who knew how far down that would be?

As they descended deeper in silence, with Vedt clearing the way and Leviathan watching his back, James started thinking. It wasn't a good thing... he couldn't stop thinking about why she had died... how she had died. Her heart had been torn from his chest. He suppressed a slight sob, passing it off as a mild cough. Still, his focus was split. And it was not a good thing.

Vedt eventually paused.

He spoke swiftly, quietly. "We're starting to run into spider corpses. It means that the silk we want will be very near indeed...as will the spiders that we don't want to get eaten by. Focus in, Cougar."

Cougar nodded, not saying a word. His magick was subdued, and he drew the Glock pistol and his combat knife. Both had been customised by him to fit together nicely, making him capable of switching between a gun battle and a knife fight. However, the pistol was loaded with mana rounds of White Flame, and he could instantly go from solider to mage.

Now, the Drow females were leading the way, hacking through the webs with the clumsy, zombie-esque manner of the living dead.

Vedt could see the web they wanted...but precious little of it. Maybe two lengths worth.

Suddenly, one of the Drow was snatched. The other was left undisturbed.

Vedt called for a halt and sheilded them from the arachnid's sight.

"This is perfect."

L -- "Please, for the unintiated of us"

"What do spiders wrap their prey in?"

This was an unnecessary question, as the victim of the spider was being tied in the brightly-glowing silk.

"And I've sent the other one on to stave off any others who might want a share of the feast. Leaving us to kill the spider when it's done wrapping her, and then taking as much silk as we want."

Leviathan nodded,"I see it now... ingenious"

Cougar remained silent, his eyes pinpricks in the dark.

A few minutes later, when the spider had finished wrapping its victim, Vedt guestured to Cougar and Leviathan.

"Do one of you want to take down the spider, while the other two of us get the silk?"

OOC: My IM isn't letting me log back in... something about the service being unavliable. Typical...

IC: Cougar screwed a silencer to his weapon,"Do these things like magick bullets? I don't think I could risk using my true magick right now"

OOC: It did that to me too. Try again.

IC:
"Or you can split its carapace in half at the seamline and from there give it an incredibly gory death with one of your blades."

OOC: I've stopped trying, it's just not working. Sorry -_-

IC: He shrugged,"Either way is good. Just get that silk"

He slipped into the shadows, and worked his way around behind the creature. When the moment came, he put three rounds into the carapace, his rounds stiching a line which he exploited with his knife, cutting it open and giving it the death Vedt had talked about

OOC: *Hugs*

IC:
Vedt started unwrapping the sticky thread from around the dying Drow female.

As he reached a length (almost two feet) of thread, he slashed it off and handed it to Leviathan.

When he had gathered six, he spoke out to Cougar.

"We must leave now."

OOC: *Hugs*I'm doing my best to fix it... but don't wait up. It says that my Messanger is damaged... il see what I can pull out of the magick hat

IC: Cougar nodded,"Then let's get out of here... the sooner the better"

Vedt led the way back up swiftly.

When they got back to the crossroads, he sealed it permanently behind them.

"Come...we should purify the souls first, and leave what we have with the body. That way, there's no chance of losing it through some mishap or other."

Cougar felt a lump rise in his throat, and didn't answer. Leviathan did it for him,"A wise move... we could not risk losing any of this... it's too important"

"As Drow souls from the UnderDark are forbidden to enter Mithdelmar, we'll have to do it in Rendelmar. We are, fortunately, prepared for such doings. We also have a different type of soul stone...since we've no idea how to operate with these. Cougar, you and Eldrad will need to release these souls when we tell you to...and then you will have two days and four hours to rest and prepare. The hardest parts occur once we leave Kaymiril."

Cougar nodded mutely, his fingers brushing lightly over the soulstones in his coat pocket. In there, was one of the things he needed to bring his wife back from the dead. He clutched one of them, his knuckles white. They were going to make it... he hoped.

They get back to the shuttle without too much more trouble.

OOC: I think I found the source of the problem... I doubt I'll be back on IM tonight, but with a bit of luck...

IC: Watt took James aside, and started talking to him in a low voice. The shuttle acted of it's own accord, James controlling it from where he sat. It set itself down outside Mithdelmar, for James knew the rules concerned Underdark souls.

Vedt had spoken with Renor, and as the shuttle set down, he gathered the items they already had and teleported the lot of them into the Central Hall of Rendelmar.

V -- "Cougar, come with me, Eldrad, go with Mith...Renor will show you where to go. We need to purify these souls. Everyone else...there are rooms. Get some rest. If you need anything, ask someone. Shan, take these *hands him everything but the soul stones* and put them with her."

The boy nodded and took the items carefully, then headed toward the room that Rhenna was in.

Vedt started to lead Cougar off, and Renor took Mith and Eldrad.

Eldrad followed Mith, Cougar followed Vedt, and Leviathan went with Watt to a room. Although they knew it was single rooms... well, almost all of them were, they preferred to stay together. After all, the others had all gone. James left them instructions to go to his old room, which he knew hadn't been given to anyone else. So, they went there, and awaited the others.

The room Renor went to was close, and as soon as they were in there, Mith set a slightly spherical stone on a ledge.

"Okay, Eldrad. Release the soul...I can't work with your soulstone."

**************************************************************

V -- "How are you holding up, Cougar?"

Unlike Cougar, Eldrad didn't say a word, nor did he move. He simply looked at the stone, and it released the soul.

One day, they'll understand. Today is not that day

*************************************************************

"About as well as I can, considering the circumstances. My wife is dead, and despite Aras' doing this... it doesn't make me feel that much better"

Mith captures the soul, not permitting it to go anywhere.

"Go on, Eldrad. You have time to rest, and to prepare for the coming quest."

**************************************************************
"It will be better...after we have revived her. Here."

Vedt opened a door and set down a Kaymirilian soul stone.

"I'm ready."

Eldrad nodded,"You should know, Cougar does not intend to sleep. It's his way... and nothing you do will make him sleep any longer than perhaps three, maybe four hours."

**************************************************************

"It's that bit inbetween that I'm not liking. At all. Oh well, let's do this thing"

Eldar Gods
Release those you have trapped
Free them from bondage
Allow them to walk free once more

The soul moved slowly, languidly, upwards.

M -- "He has to sleep, otherwise he'll do her no good. Aside from that...I don't think she'd like to see him like this."
**************************************************************
Vedt snatched the soul.

"Go on, Cougar...and get some rest, in the intervening days."

E -- "That's just the point, Mith. She won't see him like this... I guarantee you, I know what will happen.
*************************************************************

C -- "I'll do what I can."

M & V (diff locations) -- "Go. These souls don't purify themselves."

OOC: Okay, not that exactly...but I'm tired.

Cougar and Eldrad left, and found the others. Cougar briefly explained Rendelmar, making it clear that Eldrad and Watt stick together if not with himself or leviathan. Himself, because he lived there, and Leviathan because he was a god. He conjured up three beds, and told them this was where they were to sleep. He would be sleeping elsewhere. If he slept at all.

Over the next few days, everyone rested. To some degree. Cougar hadn't been able to go back to see the body... he couldn't face it again. He was ashamed of himself for it, but he just couldn't face it.

Over the next two days, the fashka levels of Rendelmar shifted unpredictably as the souls were purified.

As soon as Mith and Vedt had finished, they put the stones containing the purified souls with Rhenna...one at her head, and one at her feet.

They then went to get four hours of sleep for themselves.

Everyone else was well rested. Cougar was merely rested. He knew it was foolish... but this was him. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her calling to him, screaming for help. And he couldn't help. Then he would wake in a cold sweat, and not want to close his eyes again.

Cougar was left pretty much alone. While the grief for Rhenna's death was public, they sensed that his pain was very much private.

After Mith and Vedt had rested, they regrouped with the others.

As soon as they all were together, Death reappeared before them.

"I forgot an item the last time. You will need a vial of blood from a blood relative to her. This item is perhaps third in its importance to the goal."

Gypsy was busy with the tapestry, weaving as much favor as she could, without disturbing the course of fate.

Arianna was concerned for Warfare, his attitude was not good. She went to see someone she knew stood a good chance of getting through to him. His Mother.

She went to the Valshanth, and waited patiently for The Queen to have a free moment to talk privately.

That happened when her husband was almost forcibly thrown out of her office.

She happened to see Arianna as she stepped forward to take Aris from a servant.

"Arianna...what are you doing here?" She smiled. "Come in, come in...how's Aldur? Warfare, I feel, has not been well, and is the cause of this visit. Would you like something to drink?"

Kaymiril VII guestured to a seat for Arianna before seating Aris with a toy and sitting herself.

Arianna takes a seat.

"Oh, strawberry juice if you have any." Arianna said.

"Pleasant things first. Aldur is fine and dandy, and we're very carefully trying to get him to at least master Basick space and time magick, though the little buggers learning how to teleport the bathwater away. I never knew Bathwater could go beyond stagnant until Aldur first attempted to teleport it away." Arianna said with a smile.

Then she got serious.

"Warfare has pretty much lost his powers. He can still do basic mortal magick that first year students learn, but even that is fading. over the past few years, he has become a bitter, foul tempered old man. I've tried to help him, Gypsy's tried to help him, but he seems to refuse our help. I've reached my wits end." Arianna said a bit dispondently.

"And you want me, as his latest mother, to go and knock some sense into him in any way that I might possibly be able to. Correct or incorrect?"

"Yes, Please, he sits in The Crystal World, staring into six crystals. The strangest thing about them crystals, as he grew weaker, they began to glow brighter. It may or may not be unrelated, I honestly don't know, and I have knowledge as a domain.

Anyways, If you can, I'll send you there right now." Arianna said.

She prepared to open a gateway to The Crystal World.

"I can go there right now, Arianna...but only if you can watch Aris for me until I finish speaking with him."

Cougar was left pretty much alone. While the grief for Rhenna's death was public, they sensed that his pain was very much private.

After Mith and Vedt had rested, they regrouped with the others.

As soon as they all were together, Death reappeared before them.

"I forgot an item the last time. You will need a vial of blood from a blood relative to her. This item is perhaps third in its importance to the goal."

Cougar didn't miss the company. He was torn between wanting someone to talk to, and wanting to be alone to deal with his feelings. He knew that the others were also grieving, but he could only grieve in his own way.

When Death reappeared, and told them the latest item, he perked up slightly... he knew the answer to this,"A cousin close enough for you?"

"A cousin would do, yes."

"Then I know where to get it... everyone else, stay here"

W -- "Iliyakim?"

C -- "Bingo. I'll be back in ten minutes"

W -- "Isn't Gamma Team out?"

C -- "No. Came in yesterday... debrief today."

With that, he teleported to where he knew Iliyakim would be, and motioned over to him,"A brief word, Captain"

Cougar's sudden appearance had attracted the Drow's attention, and he moved over to join him as the human guestured to him.

"Yes, Colonel?"

"I need a blood sample from you. Nothing to worry about. Just do it, please"

There was a pleading quality in Cougar's voice, one that Iliyakim had never heard before. That alone would have been enough to set alarms ringing in the Drow's head

"Of course. Is something the matter, James?"

There was concern in the Drow's voice...something was wrong, definitely...but what?

Cougar shook his head,"Nothing you can really help with, aside from this one thing."

The Drow tilted his head toward Medical, unbuttoning his sleeve cuff and rolling the sleeve up to his elbow.

"Am I right in guessing that this is a spell component?"

He nodded,"One that is of great importance to me... it's alright, I'll do it."

He took a hypospray out of his belt, and pressed it to Iliyakim's arm. Having taken the sample, he tucked it into his belt once more, and bid Iliyakim roll his sleeve down,"Many thanks... you have done me a greater service than you know"

He rolled his sleeve down, nodding.

"No service is too great for a friend. Good luck in your endeavor."

"You have no idea how much of it I'm going to need"

He teleported back to Rendelmar, and handed the vial to Vedt,"A vial of blood, her cousins."

Mith goes to put the vial with the corpse. While Vedt looks at Cougar, slightly confused.

"She has a living cousin?"

"Complicated to explain right now. I'll tell you on the way to wherever we're off to next"

M -- *Returning* "Hell, most likely."

L -- "I expected as much"

W -- "Great... as if this couldn't get any weirder"

E -- "I shall have to guide us... the souls of the dead will tell me the way"

C - "..."

V -- "Then lead on. I couldn't tell you how to get to Hell on a good day...and this is not one of those days."

E -- "Indeed... we must travel through space for two days before we reach a point where the boundry is weak enough to penetrate."

C -- "Then let's go"

He teleported all of them to the Dauntless, setting the course Eldrad told him to, and dropping into the Warp. Two days of travel to go... and he had to explain Iliyakim to Vedt at some stage.

Before they left, Renor handed Vedt a book.

"Some idiot decided to study Hellish Botany for a year or so," he explained at his Chosen's confusion.

Cougar remained at the flight controls even when he didn't need to. He stared out the view screen. He hadn't said a word since they'd left, and that had been about twelve hours ago now. Silent as the grave.

Vedt had finally found the Death's Hand, which came with an illustration.

He gave it to Leviathan. "Everyone needs to be familiar with this by the time we get there."

He then goes over to Cougar.

"What are you thinking about?"