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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - YZZAYT'S ABYSS - OUTSIDE THE MAW - DUSK
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Lianne Sparr and Emmeline are pulling their next cart of mined material out from Yzzayt's Abyss up to the surface of the cave, with Lianne significantly struggling compared to Emmeline. Her body, with little left in it, continues to be fuelled by nothing but her sheer force of will, heavily huffing and puffing. Once she reaches the surface and has finished the task, she drags herself and the stone anchored to her over to the water barrels, collapsing there and getting herself a drink.
Emmeline hefts up her own stone from atop her wheelbarrow and heads over to the barrel to sit next to Lianne, waiting for the ray to slake her thirst before the cow does the same. "Hey, you all right? You seem a bit off today..."
Dyvrisse: Dyvrisse paces around the camp, eyes quickly drawn to the Cow and the Ray. With a sixth sense, or perhaps just expecting it, she turns to the guards on the perimeter wall, glaring at them.
Narrator: The guards on the perimeter wall snicker and jeer at the pair of slaves, though quickly stop and look away when Dyvrisse glares back at them with her cold, stern gaze.
Lianne Sparr, still catching her breath after she partially quells her undying thirst, replies to Emmeline. "I'm fine. . ." She notices Dyvrisse, nodding her head slightly towards her to direct Emmeline's attention, "Our opportunity is here. 10 o'clock."
Emmeline turns her head and nods to Lianne. After taking a moment to realize that a distraction for the Keeper is wanted, she stands and walks over to the large saur, carrying her rock. "Good evening, Keeper Dyvrisse," she intones with some true modicum of respect.
Dyvrisse: Dyvrisse turns back to face the polite voice. "Dyvrisse is fine, young Emmeline." She gruffly, though politely, replies. "Your friend. She does not look well." Dyvrisse solemnly states, looking to Lianne.
Narrator: With Lianne in direct eyesight of Dyvrisse, she can't do much to disappear right now. She bides her time, drinking more water.
Emmeline nods, keeping her eyes low for the moment. "Yes. I'm worried for her. I don't think she's meant for such hard labor." She shakes her head. "Many down below aren't."
Dyvrisse: Dyvrisse takes in a deeper breath, sighing it out quietly. "I am sorry, Emmeline. Though I understand it may not mean much coming from your enemy, know that I have done what I can to keep them alive for as long as I can."
Emmeline just gives a little nod. "Yes, of course... it's just... for some that might not be better?" She turns and walks past Dyvrisse to lean against a large rock. "There are so many suffering down below. Me and others spend time in the evenings trying to make them comfortable, but I fear many are on the edge of collapse."
Dyvrisse: "I am aware that my perception to your people will not be positive no matter how this ends. I do not care. What matters is I have preserved life. In this, I take solace that Yzzayt will be my final arbiter." Dyvrisse turns to continue facing Emmeline. "I cannot do more, or I risk being replaced by someone as cruel as the guards around you, with future prisoners taken by my brothers and sisters simply executed."
Narrator: With Dyvrisse's attention gone, Lianne springs into action with renewed vigor, the goal of escape powering her body. She picks up her rock and gets to work, starting with finally removing her useless and tattered red dress and opting to go naked instead. She'll be far harder to spot without it. She stuffs it underneath one of the barrels. She hugs her wings close around her chest, shrouding her white frontal half with her black back half and gets to work on positioning the explosive minerals.
Emmeline squats down on her haunches and drags a finger through the dust and sand on the ground. "Yes, you did that. Still..." She shakes her head, watching Lianne get to work out of the corner of her eyes. "I don't envy your position, of course..."
Emmeline looks up at the large saur, an idea for further distraction coming to her mind. "Please, if you would... I hear so many speak of Yzzayt, but I know nothing of them. I would like to understand more..."
Dyvrisse: "Very well, Emmeline." Dyvrisse replies. "Yzzayt is the father of our people. Long ago, Yzzayt and his siblings created this world and the skies above, though they were not always harmonious. Each had their own vision, and Yzzayt was no different." Dyvrisse starts. "They fought over the creation of the earth and sky. Stars were ignited by one, only to be extinguished by another. Mountains rose, only to be submerged by floods, or eroded by Yzzayt's winds. But eventually, Yzzayt grew tired of his siblings. Using his spark of life, he created our ancestors. His siblings however, did not agree with Yzzayt's vision and used their powers to try and destroy Yzzayt's creation. Yzzayt defended us and nurtured us. Eventually, the siblings grew jealous of Yzzayt's power. During their final encounter, Yzzayt scarified himself for us, imbuing his children with some of his own power, such that we may defend ourselves, though most of his power was scattered and hidden away by his other siblings, some of which are in the very rocks you and your Walled brethren are mining. Yzzayt is in a deep slumber now. By collecting his essence, we hope to awaken him."
Lianne Sparr, in the meantime, has been around, planting explosives, though she finds a guard on the ground obstructing her progress. In full view of Emmeline, behind Dyvrisse's back, she uses the chain attached to her rock to choke and drag the unsuspecting Saur down to the ground. While she can't hold the Saur for long, she uses the moment of surprise and panic to grab the Saur's knife and sink it deep into his neck. Then, she drags the body out of sight.
Emmeline listens with genuine interest, thinking that this infomation could be of use to the guard, if she were able to escape and get back home. "I see... Do the siblings have children as well or was Yzzayt fully victorious?" She continues to watch Lianne's movements but makes no reaction to them.
Dyvrisse: "It is reasonable to assume one of the others was capable of creating life, as Yzzayt did not make all of them." Dyvrisse replies. "That is why there is such hostility to you and your 'Respite' being on our lands. You are seen as a threat to Yzzayt, and it is our duty to respond as his children. But none know Yzzayt's true thoughts other than The Whisperer."
Emmeline ponders this. "I assure you, we mean your people no harm. We only want to exist here in peace. Make lives for ourselves, and yet you attack us without provocation..." She stands again and sighs.
Dyvrisse: "I too wish peace, Emmeline. But our people also require unity." Dvyrisse sighs. "I can only hope-" Dyvirrse is cut off...
Narrator: ...By a loud and resounding series of explosions that resonate throughout the camp, spreading dirty black smoke into the air and starting a few fires on the wooden structures. A few guard towers to the east start to crumble and fall under their own weight, thanks to key supports suddenly being missing, and a hole is present in the eastern wall.
Lianne Sparr, with rock shrouded in her wings and a knife in hand, begins to sprint through the smoke clouds and out the hole, off into the darkness of the desert.
Emmeline doesn't hesitate, rising from her crouching position and setting off in a dead run after Lianne, hoping the path she took isn't too hard to find and follow, at least until she can catch up. One hapless guard in her way gets Emmeline's rock bounced off their head before the cow continues by.
Narrator: After the initial shock passes, the camp quickly stirs into action, flooding out the hole and throwing their spears at the escapees, to little to no avail. "Great Keeper! Aid us!" Calls out one of the guards.
Dyvrisse: Dyvrisse joins them out the hole, looking at the pair in the distance, able to make out Emmeline's silhouette, but can't see Lianne's dark one at all. With the shout of the Saur beside her, Dyvrisse knows that to maintain her position, she'll have to put on a show. She begins taking in a deep breath, a pulsating white light reddened by her flesh beginning to grow in her throat.
Narrator: The Saurs around Dyvrisse begin to cheer for her, coming to a standstill to observe her work. "Do it, Keeper!" "Smash the Ignorants!" "For the glory of Yzzayt!"
Narrator: After several seconds of charging, Dyvrisse intentionally aims to miss the Emmeline. She leans forward and opens her mouth at the same time, unleashing the energy within her. A crack of thunder defeans the land, the flash of lightning illuminating the world. Dyvrisse's expression drains as little as her stoic demeanour allows it to. What has she done?
Lianne Sparr screams out in pain as the lightning sears through her body and grounds to the earth below, making her spasm and fall to the ground, dropping her rock as well. Her willpower makes her immediately try to get back up, but her body is well and truly cooked. She is physically unable to.
Dyvrisse:'s lightning illuminates her incredible accuracy in hitting the near-invisible Lianne, which in turn makes the Saurs erupt into even more cheers. "The Keeper is best!" "Yeah!" "Glory to Yzzayt!" They begin to charge out into the desert, to secure the downed Lianne. They'll be on her within a few moments.
Emmeline is startled by the sudden lightning, diving out of the way just in time to look up as it hits Lianne. As she scrambles back to her hooves, she watches the ray to see if she still lives. Seeing her... friend?... struggle, she pauses momentarily, considering if she should just keep going alone. In a split second, though, she does the only thing that seems right to her and scoops up the ray and drapes her over her broad shoulders in a fireman's carry before continuing on at a slowed pace, though still making enough speed to keep ahead of the pursuing guards.
Lianne Sparr coughs and splutters, gritting her teeth at the pain of being moved, "You. . .You fool. . .Leave me. . ." Lianne speaks, "Don't get caught. . .Tell Respite where we are. ." Lianne falls unconscious.
Narrator: The guards pick up their missed spears as they roll out upon Emmeline, though are indeed finding it hard to keep up. They're not like Usid's riders or Nyzai's flyers. They're big, strong guards, not sprinters.
Emmeline doesn't have the energy to keep her balance and pace up while also responding, so she doesn't reply to Lianne verbally, only tightening her hold on the ray and quickening her pace as much as she can. Luckily, the ground is rocky enough near the mountains that her hooves aren't as useless as they would be in a sandy desert and she manages to keep going, somehow managing to evade the guards and re-capture for the moment.
Dyvrisse lets out a small sigh of relief, and perhaps a prayer for the Ray's life. "Back!" Dyvrisse calls. "You're too slow. Aid the camp!" Dyvrisse orders, to ensure at least Emmeline's safety. She turns back to the hole in the wall, the debris and fire raging within the camp.
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THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - THE SPINE OF YZZAYT - DUSK
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Narrator: Usid's Camp, after making initial contact with the army from Respite, has now slowly and cautiously merged with the outsiders, a very careful alliance with the two forces riding side by side, and camping close together, with both forces posting guards, and some co-mingling of warriors and scouts and even medics, as both sides try to learn from one another, some more willing to try than others. The camp itself is made up of rough leather tents with campfires, the large raptor mounts ridden by the mostly small predator species that make up Usid's clan are mostly fed and getting rest for the night, as they travel along the trail known as 'Yzzayt's spine', a rocky canyon leading to the Abyss...
Usid sits in his tent, crosslegged, still studying the blood-dried knife as he tries to determine the future for his clan, and of himself. He is lacking his armor, the bone plating and helmet set aside in the tent for now.
Nesseth makes his way through the camp, having been directed towards Usid's tent by one of the clan's guards. He looks around as he walks, openly curious about how similar, yet different the Saur camp is to that of the Respite guards. He nods in greeting to the Saurs that look his way as he walks, trying to be friendly, despite his own trepidation at being in the middle of what used to be, up until just a few days ago, hostile territory. He keeps his nerves in check, though, as he reaches Usid's tent and gently knocks on a wooden post outside to catch his attention. "Usid, are you here? It's me, Nesseth."
Usid glances up, uncertain of visitors, but recognizing the name at least... "Nesseth... enter, yes."
Nesseth nods and bends over a bit as he carefully opens the tent flap and steps in. He takes a moment to glance around, then opts to just take a seat on the ground near the entrance, his tail curling to his side as he settles down. "Thank you, Usid. I'm mostly just dropping by to make sure things are going well. None of our folks have been causing any problems, I hope?"
Usid slowly rises up from his sitting position, sheathing the knife as he looks up at Nesseth, the strange lizard bearing some familiarity in appearance, if not in form. The 'lizard' certainly being no Saur, no feathers or plating. "No. My Clan have behaved similarly? Some were still uncertain of peace, of... treason."
Nesseth hums and nods, taking note of Usid not being in his armor, which is... probably expected since the two armies are settled in for the evening. "No problems on our end with your clan, I'm glad to say. Some folks were nervous at first, but things seem to be going smoothly after a few days' travel." He nods a bit again, "Uncertain of turning against your leaders, but you're doing what you think is best for your own."
Usid watches Nesseth for a moment, then nods towards the flap of the tent. "We can talk while walking, yes? Usid should not make you duck so. This is for the unworthy to do. Stupid Nyzai... is dead now." He pauses, then shakes his head, walking towards Nesseth and out into the camp. "Yes. We are no committed. We have turned against the other Clans, the Chosen and the Whisperer. Our only hope is that Yzzayt Himself remains with us."
Nesseth smiles a bit and chuckles, but does slowly get up and make his way out of the tent, holding the flap for Usid. "I don't mind, really. I got used to sitting on the ground a long time ago when I first started as a hunter." He waits for Usid to come out, "So... from what I heard from Louma, this Whisperer speaks for all the clans as a leader?"
Usid nods to Nesseth with a bit of respect. "Hunter. Good. Usid was hunter too. Hunt for Clan... before the Whisperer arrived." He sighs. "The Whisperer does not speak for all clans, no. Elders said Whisperers very rare. Clans all have their own leaders. Revill was leader of this Clan. Now Usid is leader. Zayzzes is leader of Zayzzes' clan. But all obey the word of Yzzayt." He pauses. "The Whisperer Is the Word of Yzzayt. Word of our God. Yzzayt speaks through the Whisperer's mouth. All clans must recognize this. And then all clans obey."
Nesseth rubs his chin with a hand, thinking as Usid joins him outside. "Hm... right, so... I think I'm understanding, now. I remember Louma mentioning how the Whisperer was something of an absolute power for you and the others." He tilts his head a bit, "But since you're with us, now, I'm guessing you've reason to believe the current one might not be who they say they are?"
Usid walks alongside Nesseth towards the cam perimeter, "'With you'... strange still. Already some doubted. Usid was Chosen, given strength. Made blind. Elders say Whisperers of old spoke of peace, unity, isolation. We wait for Yzzayt to awaken from his long slumber to usher in a new age of prosperity. But the new Whisperer came with words of war, and conquest... and genocide. To wipe our land clean of Ignorant Ones. This, he says, is Yzzayt's will. Sister Louma's words were as a warm shower upon fertile ground. One of our clan died for her freedom."
Nesseth stays silent for a few moments, not wanting to speak too flippantly. "I'm... sorry to hear about that, Usid. Louma told us about her escape and how it came about." He sighs quietly, "Whoever it was that helped her, they gave her enough time to make it back mostly unharmed. Still... I know what you're feeling about your fallen clanmate, because many of the families in Respite are feeling the same for their own."
Usid grows silent as well, lowering his head to stare at the stones and rocks upon the ground. "Saiza. Yes. He freed Sister Louma. Gave her his knife. Then the Whisperer found him. And Usid cut his throat. Just as Usid killed those in the caravans... and took the rest to the Abyss. Make no mistakes, Nesseth. Usid... is a monster. But Usid's clan deserves the peace it prays for. Usid will accept whatever justice you Outsiders deem he deserves."
Nesseth hums quietly. "It's not my call to make, Usid. I may be one of the town's guards, but it's not up to any one person to mete out punishment. Respite Falls is a place of second chances, though, for everyone." He looks over at Usid, his expression somewhere between sympathetic and carefully neutral, "It won't bring back Saiza, and it won't bring back any of the others that have died in all this, so adding one more to the list of senseless deaths doesn't seem right, especially when your clan clearly trusts your guidance."
Usid takes a deep breath. "Usid... is trying. The thrill of the hunt is strong... Usid is strong. Usid could be stronger still. Not strong enough to protect his Clan... to save Saiza. Or Revill. Could not save Usid... so Usid is trying things Tizza's way. Tizza said that perhaps, Yzzayt... desires peace. Unity. We learn from you Outsiders, and grow stronger that way. Not the slaughter that the Whisperer seems intent to lead us all into."
Nesseth hums, nodding along as he keeps stride with Usid. "There are plenty of ways to be strong aside from just physically. Resilience, persistence, doing what you think is right even if it's not easy..." He trails off as he thinks of another moment from some time ago, involving himself and a couple of certain coatls, "...knowing when to admit you're wrong and trying to change for the better."
Usid listens to Nesseth in silence, uncertainty playing across his face. His feathered arms folded in front of him. "...Better for Usid's clan, this is all Usid seeks now." A notable lack of admission, but the conflict in him is likely clear to Nesseth. Unlike his pained lack of emotion in dealing with Nesseth, he's at the very least unafraid of expressing his emotions.
Nesseth nods, easily taking note of Usid's expression, though he's not fully certain if he's reading the raptor right. Regardless, he decides to forge on. "It's a hard path, but all the previous Whisperers wanted peace, right? Yzzayt, your god, would want all of his children to live safely and prosper, not just a few. Maybe joining up with us like this is a test, to see if you've got a different kind of strength inside?"
Usid growls at that thought, snapping at Nesseth, "Don't presume you know Yzzayt's will!" He turns away after Nesseth and sighs, "Nyzai prayed for the storm upon the night of her ambush. It was granted, yet did little to prevent her fate. Usid saw her corpse. Usid knows Nyzai was the most devout of the Chosen... Usid cannot say what the old Whisperers wanted. But if Nyzai's fate is what the current Whisperer desires... then Usid sees no strength there. No future. No safety, no prosperity. No mercy. Cannot believe Yzzayt has abandoned us... so now Usid shall try Nesseth's hard path. If Yzzayt disapproves... then Usid shall die as well. But unlike Nyzai, Usid will die Fighting for his clan's survival."
Nesseth doesn't seem fazed by Usid's outburst, but his reply is pretty mild indeed. "I wasn't presuming, so much as just suggesting. I am one of the Ignorant Ones, after all. Luckily, our idea of justice is a bit more forgiving. Yes, you may have taken lives, but we're not going to make your whole clan pay for it. As I've said, Respite Falls is a place of second chances."
Usid slumps slightly in place, "I am sorry, Nesseth. 'Ignorant Ones'... Usid has been avoiding that sentiment. You outsiders know much that we are Ignorant of as well. Sister Louma and Wolf Gareth have proved this."
Nesseth offers Usid a smile, the frost clearing from his voice pretty quickly. "It's fine, Usid. I've worked through similar in the past with some... history between my own kind and Snakes. Long story, but I know the feeling." He nods, "And, well... if we're both a bit ignorant of things the others are wise in, it's just an opportunity to learn, right? We're both hunters, so I'm thinking we both learned from folks that came before us."
Usid nods slowly, glancing back at Nesseth. "Hunting is clan tradition, yes. Handed down from elders to hatchlings."
Nesseth nods again. "And I come from a family of archers and markslizards. We both learned from folks who knew stuff we didn't. We can do the same with each other, your clan learning from us, and us learning from your clan."
Usid chuckles, flashing his teeth in a bit of a smile, a first for the thus-far dour and violent raptor, "I would vow to do this, yes. Knowledge for knowledge, strength for strength. I believe you in the Walled City can share much with my Clan to make us stronger. And not just in fighting and war, perhaps."
Nesseth smiles in turn, a bit brighter than before. "We've a lot of folks from all over that have a lot of knowledge that could help your clan grow in all kinds of ways. Likewise, I'm sure we can learn a lot from your clan once we all get back to Respite Falls."
Usid gives Nesseth a slightly hopeful look, "They shall grow stronger, and survive, with Yzzayt's grace. They shall no longer be treated as bunny-eaters and vermin. Good."
Nesseth hums, nodding again. "They'll be treated like everyone else, in Respite: an equal."
Usid straightens up slightly. "That is what Usid has always wished for, for his clan. Your words bring Usid some comfort, Nesseth. "
Nesseth dips his head a bit, smiling. "I'm glad to help put some of your worries at ease, Usid."
Usid nods. "Usid will do his best to help you take the Abyss, and free those which Usid helped to imprison there. You are worthy allies. I hope your deeds shall match your words, even if Usid does not deserve such."
Nesseth grins as he takes a moment to tug at the strap holding his crossbow in place. "Heh, trust me, Usid. We're ready to do everything we can to get those folks back home."
Usid glances at the crossbow, his own bow still in his tent. "You shall need every weapon at your disposal, Nesseth. Dyvrisse is the first and strongest of the Chosen. Stronger than all others. You have defeated Zayzzes and Nyzai, but she will be a much greater challenge."
Nesseth hums and nods. "That's assuming we have to fight at all. The Snake that you spoke to the other day, Xochi, is going to try and negotiate with Dyvrisse first. I'm hoping we can resolve it without bloodshed, but we'll be ready for a battle if need be."
Usid tilts his head at Nesseth, "Mmm. Perhaps. Dyvrisse is... strong. But..." He ponders. "She is The Keeper. It is because of her that Usid's clan took prisoners, when the Whisperer wanted... extermination. Dyvrisse argued for slaves instead."
Nesseth blinks, surprised at that bit of news. It takes him a moment or two to actually respond. "...Then there might be a serious chance that we could work things out with Dyvrisse. I'll have to let Xochi know before we arrive at the Abyss, so she can prepare as much as possible..."
Usid: "Usid cannot say... Dyvrisse is quiet. Cannot say what she thinks. She is more like Zayzzes than like Usid, or Nyzai."
Nesseth nods. "Then... I'll have to hope she sees reason, then. Too many folks have already died in this, on both sides." He tilts his head at Usid, "By the way, you've mentioned this Zayzzes a couple of times, now. Is he another one of Yzzayt's Chosen?"
Usid tilts his head in confusion once again, "Zayzzes was the first. Oldest living of the Saur, who touches the very life lines of Yzzayt. Dead, now. The Whisperer sent him alone to soften the city to our strikes. To wither your crops and turn the very ground against you. Usid saw the farmlands during the raids... you must have found him, yes? Killed him? Or he has died on his own. 'The Blighted', he was named."
Nesseth shakes his head, also confused. "I've not heard of anyone being linked to the crops failing. It all started to recover not too long before we left, though." He pauses, thinking, for a short moment, "Do you know where he might have set up to do his job of tainting the land?"
Usid shakes his head, "Close to the crops, close to your city. Crops sick, then Usid and Nyzai were to stop caravans. Take prisoners to Dyvrisse to work the mines. In the Good mines, they seek gems to awaken Yzzayt, and in the Bad mines, th-"
Narrator: In the distance, a faint thud echoes from the mouth of Yzzayt's Abyss. It echoes like thunder through the canyon.
Usid turns his head in the direction of Yzzayt's Abyss before continuing his thought, "They mine Yzzayt's Spark... rocks filled with Yzzayt's power. Usid uses it for arrows. Makes big boom. ...Like that one."
Nesseth looks around towards the sound of the explosion, then quietly hums. "Does the Abyss... normally do that? Or was there an accident or something just now?"
Usid shakes his head, "Accidents deep in the mines, yes. But never heard them before..."
Nesseth frowns as he continues to gaze out towards the Abyss. "...Might not be a bad idea for us to put out some scouts to make sure nothing is going to sneak up on either of our camps if that's out of the ordinary..." He looks towards Usid, now looking like he's fired up again, "Sorry to cut our talk short, Usid, but I think I need to go and get some scouts set up. If you're going to do the same, I'll have our scouts meet up with yours at the usual spots on patrol before they break off."
Usid nods, "Usid's scouts will meet them, yes. I think... Usid will ride with them."
Nesseth nods in turn. "Then good luck if you do, Usid. I'll have to help plan the defenses if there's an attack coming, or else I'd be out helping you all scout." He gives Usid a salute on reflex, then turns to take his leave, "Stay safe out there."
Usid gives his own salute, "Yzzayt watch over you... good luck, Nesseth." He quickly turns, giving a few whistles as he goes to quickly gather up scouts and have his mount prepared as he returns to his tent to don his armor and arm himself.