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THE EDGE OF AEPHIX - YZZAYT'S ABYSS - NOON
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Narrator: The exterior of Yzzayt's Abyss has seen better days. In the wake of Emmeline and Lianne's escape, the outer wall has been crudely patched up with a combination of spare wood and a rubble pile of stone, minus two guard towers. Inside the walls, the buildings set alight by the explosions have been saved, though repairs are taking time. A note delivered by one of Usid's runners to Dvyrisse. The note in and of itself is weird. Written communication? Weirder still is that it wasn't one of Nyzai's flyers who delivered it. Slowly, Dvyrisse unfolds the note, reading it. "Hmph." Dvyrisse gruffly hums, looking down to the runner. "I don't know why you have this, little one. But you tell them that I agree on the condition that they come here." Dvyrisse replies. The runner nods, and sets off. Dvyrisse takes the time to hail her guard, talking to them briefly about the situation and what to do should something happen. She steps outside the gate, awaiting the Respite crew roughly fifty meters away from the wall.
Xochi approaches alongside Emmeline, with Kira and Nesseth flanking the two of them. Once word was received from the runner, they set out to meet with Dyvrisse, and she dropped her illusion. Without her magic enfolding her, Xochi's scales are the same brilliant jade, striped with amber, but along her side are folded two brilliantly colorful wings, feathers colored like a rainbow, almost glittering in the afternoon sun as they hang loosely, free of restraints. Unlike Louma, whose wings spread down her back from her shoulder blades, Xochi's wings hang from where her hips would be if she had them, the long feathers folded over her tail like the tails of a coat. The tip of her tail is feathered as well like a fluke or fin, and she wears the plumage upon her head like a crown. Behind the group, some fifty meters away as well, Usid's riders and Respite's army wait as well, both in respect for this meeting, and in preparation if it fails.
Emmeline can't hope to match Xochi's finery, but she's at least more presentable then when Dyvrisse saw her last. She has managed to dress up basic unbleached robe with a sash of green ribbon and some borrowed jewelry. She is also, of course, clean and well groomed and carrying herself with the dignity of a free woman. She stays a few steps back of Xochi for now, letting her take the lead at first.
Narrator: The guards atop Dyvrisse's few remaining guard towers wall begin to murmur on sight of both the army, as well as Xochi herself.
Dyvrisse herself hardly seems phased by the sight, narrowing her eyes some at both Xochi and the army of combined Respite crew and Usid's forces. Upon first contact, Dyvrisse speaks when she has the opportunity, "Hm. So there are traitors in the mix." She muses openly.
Xochi dips her head respectfully to Dyvrisse, making no response to the comment if she hears it. "Dyvrisse, the Keeper. I am Xochi. I claim no titles, but I have offered to attempt negotiations between our peoples." She motions an arm towards Emmeline, "Emmeline has asked to accompany me in these talks, for she knows better than any amongst us what has occured within the Abyss. Thank you, at the very least, for agreeing to speak with us."
Emmeline dips her head in a gesture of true respect. Even if Dyvrisse was her jailer, she was still the kindest of the saurs present. There is deep resentment there, but not a total lack of warm feelings.
Dyvrisse crosses her arms halfway through Xochi's greeting. She returns a simple nod to Emmeline. "Hm. Xochi. You are winged." Dyvrisse replies, perhaps slowly forming an idea as to why Usid's forces might have turned coat. Nyzai should've seen such a force approaching and warned her, but. . .She sees no flyers present. "What have you done with Nyzai?" Dyvrisse asks, dryly.
Xochi has her arms folded in front her and sighs, "I am of the Coatl, yes. Nyzai the Clever, I am sorry, fell in battle. Her forces launched ambush against our forces, and were defeated... Nyzai took her own life afterwards. Usid the Swift came to us to negotiate for the safety of his clan, and he has agreed to fight alongside us to free those taken to the Abyss. For all of our sakes, we wish no further bloodshed. But we will not shy away from it if it is our only choice."
Kira brandishes her blade with a flourish at the mention of Nyzai's death before sheathing it again.
Emmeline speaks up, though her voice is quiet. "Please, Keeper. You know how they suffer below. We only wish peace, to take them back home..."
Dyvrisse: "Hmph. A coward." Dyvrisse replies coldly to Xochi. She looks to Emmeline, assessing her briefly, then looks to back to Xochi. "Be clear about your intent, Sister. This is the negotiation for my surrender." Dyvrisse affirms.
Xochi shakes her head, "I have no mind for combat, Keeper. This is perhaps the intent of those in control, yes. My only desire is for peace. We are willing to hear out any needs or desires you may have, we will do our best to accomodate. When I speak of peace, I mean a lasting peace between our peoples. Respite and the Saur can only benefit from learning from one another, opening trade and knowledge with one another. I hear voices from both sides of this combat praying for such an ending... and you may call Usid the Swift a coward, but he was brave enough to come to his enemies for aid, rather then walk mindlessly along a path to ruin. That is the path Nyzai the Clever walked... perhaps there is honor there... but I cannot see it." She shakes her head sadly.
Dyvrisse: "Mm. But it hardly leaves me room to talk about peace when I will be killed for non-compliance." Dyvrisse notes. "With that in mind, before I truly consider this a negotiation, the equation must be balanced." Dyvrisse ominously alludes, continuing, "You are obviously aware that I hold your prisoners. Your goal is that of release. If there are to be hostilities, know that my men will kill them all before you can possibly reach them."
Emmeline visibly flinches at Dyvrisse's words, though does her best to regain her composure quickly. Of course that would be the case, but to hear it spoken aloud so matter-of-factly hurts.
Nesseth scoffs, finding himself unable to stay quiet for that particular comment. "Any that we didn't immediately restrain during the fight wound up killing themselves the moment they knew they'd lost. We don't summarily execute any that surrender." He narrows his eyes a bit, "And, unlike you, apparently, we don't kill unarmed non-combatants, nor hold them under threat of death."
Xochi sighs, glancing back at Nesseth and raising a hand to beg patience. "He speaks truth. Death is not our goal. Even the towers to reach you were silenced without deaths. Usid respected our desires in this matter. If there is no way to resolve this through negotation, and we must fight, then leave the prisoners out of it, and battle will bring what it may. We will do not kill without reason. But if you seek annihilation, I fear that executing all of your prisoners in this fashion would be the only way to ensure it."
Dyvrisse looks to all present, eyes lingering on Nesseth in particular. "You misunderstand. I am the only reason the people here are alive to begin with." Dyvrisse speaks. "No doubt Usid has already spoken to you about The Whisperer. Where he wanted nothing but death, I argued for prisoners. For life." Dyvrisse pauses, looking to Emmeline. "My men, Emmeline. You have seen them, lived around them for some time. You know what they are like. Do you know why I picked them, Emmeline?"
Nesseth is about to answer in kind about Dyvrisse being the only reason the kidnapped folks are alive, when he bites his tongue from Xochi's gesture. He clearly doesn't buy her explanation after she'd just got through threatening killing them, but he stays quiet.
Emmeline cocks her head. "No? At least..." She frowns, thinking. "Many of them are cruel... but they never directly harmed us..."
Xochi nods to Nesseth and lowers her hand, listening to Dyvrisse and Emmeline.
Dyvrisse: "Precisely, Emmeline. I picked them because they are the cruellest of my people." Dyvrisse replies. "By choosing them, they were forced away from the front lines. Away from fighting your people, where they could inflict the most harm. Here, they are tempered by the wrath both of mine and that of The Whisperers. So they do nothing. After what you and your red-dressed friend did, they wish for blood. I have barely kept them from harming the prisoners in revenge, though they try when I am not looking. Do you think, that with this army knocking at this door, that they will simply choose not to execute the prisoners first?" Dyvrisse questions, still squarely looking at Emmeline.
Emmeline shrinks under Dyvrisse's gaze, unable to do anything but agree with the Keeper's words. "Y-yes... of course..." She looks to Xochi and Nesseth before facing the imposing saur again. "But... you don't want them to do that... otherwise you would have let them punish the other prisoners for my escape..."
Xochi tilts her head slightly. "This is... a difficult situation, then. More complicated than it first appeared. What... could we do? You must understand that we cannot simply leave our fellows there either. Usid has told us you had argued for him to take prisoners, rather than executing them. He has also spoken of this Whisperer. He told us you might listen to negotiations. He does not believe the Whisperer will listen to anyone."
Dyvrisse nods in turn to both Emmeline and Xochi, then turns to face Nesseth once more. "My actions have saved the lives of your people. Whether you believe the means justify them is irrelevant to me." She turns to Xochi, "I have kept up a good charade with these men. They believe me to be protecting the prisoners purely due to the will of The Whisperer himself. But if I demand that they are to be released, that illusion will break. Chaos will erupt. But you have one option." Dyvrisse pauses. "There is one, who took the lives of many of these Saur when she escaped, with both blade and explosives. They want revenge on her above all else. I am certain that, in trade, they will let the others go for that opportunity. The life of one, for the life of many."
Xochi starts in surprise at this request, "You ask for a sacrifice then...? To appease their bloodlust." She sighs. "I... I cannot say if she would accept this. I would offer myself in her place, to free the others, this I can offer now." She raises a hand again, hoping to stop any argument from the others. "If that is the price the Ancestors ask of me, I will not hesitate. But I cannot speak for the other prisoner who escaped with Emmeline. That is not my place."
Nesseth continues to bite his tongue as best as he can, but the fact that Dyvrisse is directing some of the commentary straight at him is making it difficult. "You say they want revenge for lives lost, and yet try to bargain to stop us when we could very well want the same for those that have already died by the hands of your people, both by violence and through the work forced upon them in the mines." He's not even speculating, just stating the apparent irony as flatly as possible.
Dyvrisse: "If they wanted someone unrelated to murder, they've got a camp full of them. Crudely, I am trying to say that you would not be a suitable substitute for the one that murdered their brothers. Apologies, Sister." Dyvrisse replies to Xochi. She turns to Nesseth, "My goal is preservation of lives, not philosophy, logic, morals, or ethics. Though you are welcome to try to reason with them directly." Dyvrisse, equally as stoic, responds.
Emmeline looks to Nesseth and Xochi. "From what I know of Lianne, she wouldn't agree..."
Nesseth sets his jaw for a moment. "So if you want to save lives, figure out a way to preserve all of the ones that remain instead of posturing. We all want an end to this, that much is obvious."
Xochi takes a deep breath, gathering up her courage, "If that is the only way, then I will try, Keeper. Preservation of lives is my goal as well, as one who lost everything to war before she was born." She lifts a hand to her breast, placing it over her heart, "It is the penance of my bloodline. I cannot in good concious surrender one life to save others. It is not mine to give. And so I fear it shall be war, Dyvrisse. I am sorry... but thank you for doing all you have."
Dyvrisse looks between the members of the group. "Very well. Though I do not believe that you truly appreciate Dyvrisse's efforts. Again, irrelevant." Dyvrisse takes in a slightly deeper breath, sighing it out. "I will not stand in your way. I will even aid you as best I can, for it will prevent further loss of life. But know that this decision costs more than the one life."
Nesseth hums thoughtfully. "Then, one last question before we draw arms and issue the order. Your followers wish for blood, and they also listen to you. Would they stand down if you lost a duel?"
Xochi turns to blink at Nesseth's proposal. "...a duel?"
Dyvrisse considers this. "Information from Usid, no doubt. My men revere me, and I am known for my prowess in single combat. It is why I am one of the Chosen. You bring up an interesting proposal, armoured one. To answer your question, most would."
Emmeline cocks her head. "Shouldn't Lianne choose who will fight in her place, then?"
Nesseth glances towards Xochi, giving her the tiniest of nods. "Single combat, first to surrender." He looks towards Dyvrisse, "Most, but not all. What about those that won't?"
Xochi relaxes slightly at Nesseth's proposal, fearing it would be 'to the death'.
Dyvrisse: "It is hard to say. Back home, such dishonour would be beaten out by other brothers and sisters. In the presence of the enemy? Unknown."
Nesseth looks over at Emmeline for a moment. "If Lianne wants to suggest someone, that would work, sure." He sighs as he turns back to Dyvrisse, "Is there any way to ensure the ones that don't stand down don't cause problems?"
Dyvrisse: "No." Dyvrisse, very simply, responds. "But they will far easier dealt with than choosing to fight them all."
Xochi glances between Dyvrisse and Nesseth and nods, "Then... we shall speak with our leaders, speak to Lianne. And return within the hour with your prisoner... or with a challenger. Is this acceptable?"
Dyvrisse nods in response. "Have this Lianne ready. Dyvrisse will fight to win, and I will make her my condition for winning. One life for the many. My brothers and sisters know how I fight well. They will know if I am pulling my blows."
Xochi bows her head, a bit uncomfortable still in having Lianne dragged into this as a betting chip, but it's the best chance they've got to resolve this with minimum bloodshed now. "Thank you, Keeper Dyvrisse. I shall pray this ends best for All of us." She completes her formal bow, and as she and Dyvrisse exchange their final moment of eye contact before the Coatl turns to lead the others back towards Respite's camp... truly hoping for the best.
Dyvrisse offers a small nod back to the group, though no further words. She too, turns back to her group, being let inside the walls. She tells her people of their upcoming duel, as well as their conditions. Word quickly spreads, and the Saur camp is soon bustling with excitement. All wish to watch Dyvrisse fight, to crush The Ignorant Ones' most Ignorant One.