“So while the Blue is lovely, there’s something about being here down on actual ground covered by regular normal grass that... I don’t know, it just makes this feel so much more real? Makes me really realize I’m not dead anymore and that this isn't some bizarre dream or vision of heaven I’ve been living in for years.” Ossian said to Cerule as the expeditionary force rode slowly down through the footholds of the southernmost mountain range found on Atokhekwoi. Behind them the floating island they had travel here on loomed over a landscape of twilight, while before them stretched an endless untouched sea of green.

“You like? I planted some of that!” came a squawk from atop the standard the reborn void soul was carrying. It was a bronze pole with a cross stand, down from which a banner hung. It had a sky blue background upon which a depiction of a stylized representation of an Alma snatching a soul crystal from a dying flame was sown with verse. Atop this heraldry sat several Gemstone Gardeners, living and reborn, who had decided the divine artifact made an excellent perch.

“You did? When was that?” Ossian asked the Amber Macaw.

“Long ago. Place was new. Just dirt and rocks. And some big lizards. We make better.” the bird chirped.

“Huh. Well you did a fine job.” Ossian replied, her brief moment of near normality ended by the interjection of the fantastical.

“I know” the bird said, puffing up its feathers proudly.

Cerule laughed lighthearted at the birds display of ego, “Modesty not something Azura ever taught you lot huh?” she asked and then was left softly giggling when the bird clocked its head in confusion and asked her what modesty was.

“Well you're certainly in a jolly mood today” Ossian noted as her friend got a hold of herself

[color=007fff]“How could I not?”[/color] Cerule replied, before spreading her arms wide to indicate to the landscape around them [color=007fff]“Because your right. Being here, seeing this real actual normal ground, I feel more alive than I have in… eons? More? Whatever. It’s great.”[/color] 

“Normal except for the fact that it was planted by a thousand year old parrot you mean” Ossian retorted

[color=007fff]“And we’re a bunch of dead people wearing around in rock suits animated by music riding walking/flying sharks hunting soul destroying monsters. What's your point?”[/color] she replied jovial. Indeed the entire 3 dozen strong party where in fact dead and most rode on the back of [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/divinus-iii/images/f/f2/Hammer_drake.png/revision/latest?cb=20190601223437]hammerhead drakes[/url], hulking predatory sharks they had brought with them down from the Blue. Those that did not ride had no need to do so, as the small cadre of towering Jotundar and one Ihokhetlani easily kept stride with their smaller mounted comrades.

“You say hunting, but mainly we don’t even know where to start looking” Ossian pointed out

[color=007fff]“They’re massive black scaled demons with half a dozen horns grown out of their heads. How card could they be to find?”[/color] Cruel replied with a shrug.

“You wanna find reapers?” the Bird exclaimed upon hearing.

“Wait... how do you know what they are?”

“They live here…” 

“Ok. and.?”

“... I live here. I wasn't with these ones at first. Saw big rock rive, then your comfy looking stick and joined in. Didn’t you notice?“ the bird replied, a touch offended. The other birds on the stand echoed its sentiment with cries of “yeah yeah didn't you notice?” “Looks nothing like us” and one “you very rude”

[color=007fff]“Ok ok sorry sorry. But the Reapers? Tell us about them.”[/color]  Cerule demanded, before adding a belated [color=007fff]“Please?”[/color]

The bird considered it for a moment and then gave in to its urge to keep chattering “Scary Things. Hated us. To slow mostly, but when they do catch, it nasty. We kept away from them when could. Very dangerous. Or were.” 

“Wait. Were?” Ossian asked with confusion

“Yeh. They dead now.” the Bird told the two, much to their shock. “Wanna see?”

[hr]

There wasn't much left of the area where the thunderbird had made her final stand. Fire had scorched much of the terrain in a wide radius, but around the fringes a few carcass, or pieces of carcasses, still remained, slowly cooking under the sun.

[color=007fff]“So”[/color] Cerule asked as she kicked at the skull of one of the monsters they’d only ever seen alive through the eyes of the dead “What happened?”

“Big old zappy lady and burny guy lived here. Very big birds. The biggest. Except Azura of course. Also Azura great. These two were bad.” The bird who had lead them their explained

“Bad how” Ossia asked

“Their stupid babies try to eat us”

“Ah.”

[color=007fff]“So these giant birds, they killed the reapers?”[/color] Cerule asked, trying to keep them on track

“Probably. They go to mountain. Then big storm come. Then creepy people come. Then big bird come make big fire. We look later. Find this. Plant a bit. Is nice when enemies kill each other”

“Creepy people?”

“Creepy. Didn’t look more. Far away. Why go closer. They creepy.”

“Right. Well then…” Ossian replied before taking a slow look around the area before airing the awkward question “Now what?”

There was a but of aimless muttering from the others that had spread themselves out across the hill before Cerule exclaimed that [color=007fff]“It’s one down two more to go!”[/color]

[hider=summary]
Cerule, Ossian and some Windweavers set out from their new south-lands base to hunt reapers. Then they find them all dead thanks to the help of a local parrot guide. They resolve to seek out the other two remaining on their hit list.
[/hider]

[hider=The Windweavers]
[i]Start:[/i] 15 Prestige
From last post: 
(last post) 1 for post, 1 for starring role, 1 for following a quest (abraxas end times)
1 for post, 1 for starring role, 1 for following a quest (abraxas end times)
[i]End:[/i] 21 Prestige
[/hider]

[hider=mp summary]
Start: 11 FP 1 MP

5 FP (empowered by Soul Crystal port): Standard of Second Chances: Anyone who is killed nearby is able to rapidly crystallize their souls and raise again as Armonia bodied undead. The bodies formed are poor quality compared to those made by monuments. Also able to repair/replace damaged Armonia with parts of the same lower quality construction.

End: 6 FP 1 MP
Portfolio progress:

Birds: (9/10)
The Verse: (6/10)
Rebirth: (10/10)
[/hider]