Donovan Leads the Way [hr] Donovan let out a heavy sigh as his shield fell to his side; he’d curbed the Kyrnith’s anger away from the town, but he’d far from calmed the ancient beast. If he wasn’t careful, even those completely uninvolved from the slaughter that had occurred in the Kyrnith’s territory would get caught up in this mess. [color=lightgreen]"Right then."[/color] the man huffed as he tucked his warhammer into his belt, [color=lightgreen]"This way."[/color] Rather than rush toward the hideout, Don opted to walk at a pace that was almost leisurely. Hopefully he could bide his time long enough for the Kyrnith to actually listen to what he was saying, rather than just parts of it. After trekking a quarter of the way to the grove in complete silence, he’d pause for a moment; glancing back at Akando and the Kyrnith. [color=lightgreen]"Aye ever tell yah bout what things are like back home fer meh?"[/color] “We’ve not had a chance to speak.” Akando replied to Donovan. The Kyrnith was silent, the still wind heavy with tension despite the Reincarnator attempting to speak with the Beast. Still, from the way the beast would subtly tilt its head towards Donovan, would show that it was still listening at least. [color=lightgreen]"Well, where aye come from-- is a place far away from ere’. Ya could walk the land and sea fereva an’ still never reach et… And Akando, aye’d ask ya not share this, but aye ain’t of this world. Where aye come from there ain’t no magic, no eternal winter, no elder beasts, no other races, hell-- most folk back home ain’t even sure there’s a god."[/color] Don would let a soft sigh escape his lips, [color=lightgreen]"Back home, we got machines tha likes ya never seen before-- great flying machines, massive boats capable of carryin’ thousands, an’ buildin’s so tall they look like they touch th’ sky itself. Between th’ medicine an’ technology it ain't uncommon fer folks to live damn near a century. An yet, even with all that-- over two thousan’ an twenteh years ah progress an countin… An yet, weh still got our own problems. "[/color] Don held his words for a moment, allowing them to sink in-- or for his listeners to ask questions, if any needed answering at the moment. Akando would take in Donovan’s words, furrowing his brow as if trying to wrap his head around whatever the older looking man was saying. “Flying...machines?” Akando would inquire. “What is a ‘Machine’?” This, at least, seemed to properly catch the Kyrnith’s attention. While the anger and fury was still there, it would focus its gaze on Donovan more clearly now. “...Go on. Hunter, focus on making sure there are no traps for us.” The deer would ask Akando. Was that understanding in the Beast’s tone? “You speak of such a far away world, one that even the wind can not reach? Preposterous. I can hear whispers from the otherside of the world, things that will never matter here, and small things that could potentially shape the far sides of the world.” Don turned his head to Akando, offering a brief answer before moving onto addressing the Kyrnith, [color=lightgreen]"Right, aye fergot how rare they must be ere. Simpleh put, a machine is ahn assembleh o’ parts; often made ah metal, made tah act as ah large tool or tah perform specific tasks. Remind meh later an’ aye’ll draw what some look like fer yah."[/color] Returning his attention to the Kyrnith, he would address the Elder Beast’s question next. [color=lightgreen]"Aye, yah can hear whispers from tha other side of th’ world… But at the end o’ tha day-- that’s [i]this[/i] world. Not me own world. Hell, tah be honest th’ fact aye’m even ere’ tah tell yah this is damn preposterous. Like aye said, me homeworld ain’t got no magic er Elder Beasts, er nuthin like any ah that. It’s entireleh separate from this one… Aye ain’t even sure aye could get back even if aye wanted to. Remember when yah first met meh Kyrnith? Yah said yeh could smell the presence of th’ moon on meh. Back home aye died at th’ ripe old age ah eighteh-five, and rather than passin ontah th’ afterlife with me wife, somehow this world’s moon Goddess snatched meh soul from th’ jaws ah death an put meh in ah brand new bodeh she’d made just fer meh. Why? Yer guess is as good as mine. But that’s not th’ reason aye’m tellin yah bout meh home."[/color] Donovan’s tone took a far more serious turn as he recounted the troubles of his own world. [color=lightgreen]"Even with all o’ man’s achievements, all ah the science an’ knowledge we’d gathered. Weh still had murder. Still had crime. Still fought wars over tha same spot of land that’s been disputed fer centuries. Kyrnith, where aye come from there were still wars goin from minor blood feuds that occured hundreds ah years ago. Despite our differences, yer a lot more like humans than yeh might think. Yer self aware, yah can make yer own choices, yeh can communicate intelligentleh, yeh can be reasoned with, and-- ye love yer kin..."[/color] Donovan would pause here, taking careful note of the Kyrnith’s reaction to these words before proceeding. Akando would merely furrow his brow more at Donovan’s words, uncertain what to make of them. Other worlds? “...are you some sort of spirit?” He would ask, the only thing he could think of to fathom what a ‘different world’ would mean in context. “He is no less spirit than you are.” The Deer would respond as it would turn to Donovan. It was clear the dear at least, had believed his words, or already had some guesses himself about Donovan’s origins as he continued. “You think I do not know of the folly of humans, Donovan? The wind tells me tales day after day of how they brutalize their own kin, stealing, plundering, and taking from those both like them and unlike them.” The deer would pause for only a moment, allowing a small gust of wind to stir the path they walked. “They care not for the cries of the forest, as they cut trees. They care not for the screams of those they murder as the wind carries their final breaths.” He would continue walking, regardless of whether Donovan would. “No Beast, truly value’s human lives, Donovan, I among them. We protect our own, our kin. For that is how we were created.” The large man scowled at the beast’s words as he continued his forward march toward the sealing grounds, [color=lightgreen]"If yah know man’s folly, then yah know damn well what yeh intend tah do es no different."[/color] Don replied sharply, [color=lightgreen]"Folk’ll use one slaughter tah justify tha next. Over an’ over, an endless blood-soaked cycle ah sufferin’ an death. Aye, man can be cruel. Ehts ah cruel fuckin world. Man can beh hateful, prideful, greedeh, or any number ah sins… But if yah listen close, beneath all th’ din an ruckus ah all the world’s sufferin-- you’ll hear somethin’ else. Yeh’ll hear song, dance, and laughter. Yeh’ll hear tha joy of ah Man an Wife seein’ their newborn babe smile fer tha very first time. Yeh’ll hear the gasps ah wonder from a man at tha summit of ah mountain an’ marvelin at tha raw beauteh of tha land before im’. Yeh’ll hear the doors of ah humble cottage creak open tah offer shelter to ah stranger, dyin in th’ cold… Yah may even hear the sound of a human treatin’ tha wounds of a beast for no other reason than goodwill… There’s a helluva lot more tah man than dehstruction."[/color] Donovan stepped directly in front of the Kyrnith’s path just before the group could enter the fog-covered clearing of the old sealing grounds, [color=lightgreen]"Yah say no beast trueleh cares about th’ lives of man. But I can tell yah now, mankind es tha sentimental type. Weh get attached tah all manner ah things, regardless ah how they feel about us; like th’ little lass yah told me likes tah visit yah…"[/color] [color=lightgreen]"Yer world has somethin’ ere that my world never did. Ah clear definition ah evil; regardless ah perspective--"[/color] Donovan’s voice would raise as he shoved the branches aside, thrusting an accusatory finger into the depths of the thick, swirling fog. [color=lightgreen]"[b]That[/b]! [b]That[/b] right there, es true evil! Nearleh evereh follower ah the illuminator aye seen aint had any ah his influence as part of em! There ain’t no way most of em’ would knowingleh aid somethin’ like that! Not when their own homes an’ familehs are at stake! Those lot are bein’ led ahstray, yer plannin’ on killin ah hell of ah lot ah people, all the while [b]THAT[/b]; which threatens tha’ both ah yer groups AND tha’ village becomes ah bigger threat by th’ day!"[/color] Don stood firm, staring directly into the Kyrnith’s eyes as he made his declaration, [color=lightgreen]"Death begets death… Es that what yah want? Fer that damnable cycle ah violence tah whittle ahway at tha village, tha misguided hunters, and yer kin till whatever tha fuck is down there consumes tha lot of yah? Es that what this village deserves? Es that what yer kin deserve? Either yah continyah on destroyin’ each other as slaves tah the cycle until tha sea swallows tha’ land-- or yah can come together and drive back against th’ darkness, an’ build a better future… Fer the village, and yer kin."[/color] [color=lightgreen]"What's yer choice? Will tha cycle continyah? Even in tha face ah total destruction? Or will yah build somethin' better here, an' thrive through this crisis?"[/color] The deer would only pause long enough to listen to Donovan’s words, its hooves pressing against the snowy forest ground. Wind that had once danced around its antlers in a frenzy of fury would calm, though not entirely cease as the human before it would plead his case. The emotional tone, appealing to human emotions. It was...something to be seen, to be sure. It’d have likely at least given any other human a pause at least long enough to rethink their action. Unfortunately, Donovan was not dealing with a human. “Ignorance.” The beast would begin, airy voice having once again seemingly taking a quality of aloof indifference. “You speak as if you know this world. You do not - your own words just now have cemented my own assumptions about you and those other travelers. You know not of us Beasts, nor the Divine. If you did, then you would realize your words will be lost upon a breeze.” It would start walking once more, the winds around its antlers picking up as it would do so. “I am tasked with the protection of not just the forest. Willingly or not, they consort with Divinity to bring harm to the earth, so I will become that which I was born as. I will not harm the village, but those that still reside within the walls of their temple that protect them - they will be ground to dust as stone upon a furious wind. Be grateful that I do not seek to exact judgement for their folly upon the rest of them.” It would pass Donovan, sparing him no further glance. “...Donovan. Do you wish to stop him? Or…?” Akando would glance between the other man and the beast. It seemed like Donovan’s words had cooled its fury, but it seemed as though it was still on a warpath...but at least the village would likely be ultimately spared. Donovan looked to Akando with a frown, shaking his head as a deep sigh passed his lips. [color=lightgreen]" Don't think aye could stop 'im even if aye wanted tah."[/color] Stepping forward just ahead of the beast, Donovan pointed due northwest of their current position for Kyrnith to see. [color=lightgreen]"Just keep headin' that way. Look fer ah shallow cave with a tree growin' on th' entrance… Aye'm well aware there ain't any chance you'll hear meh out further, an' I refuse to be there fer whatever slaughter ensues. This is as far as aye go with ya."[/color] “...Donovan.” The Deer would say, as it would move past. “Your heart is far too human for most beasts to understand. If you seek to understand the Beasts and prevent the slow journey of the winds bringing more of such tragedy you wish to avoid...then seek understanding.” The Beast would bound off, leaving nothing but a trail of slowly moving wind in its wake before it was gone entirely out of sight. The large man sighed as the Kyrnith bounded away, silently watching the beast disappear into the trees before turning to Akando, [color=lightgreen]"Arright, behtween tha distance, an' tha time et takes im' tah bust down that door, weh might be able tah get intah th' temple through tha one that's closer and drag out as many ah tha hunters as weh can; kickin' an screamin' if need be. If yah don't got ah way tah make it safe through tha fog, I can protect tha both of us but you'll need tah stay close."[/color] Don would flash the younger fellow a hopeful smile. [color=lightgreen]"Can't talk the Kyrnith down no further, but if weh hurreh you an' me can save as many ah those damned fools as possible… Whaddya say lad? You readeh tah race against an Elder Beast?"[/color] “Never thought I’d be racing against the wind in my life,” Akando would shake his head, a small smile. “I don’t see the point in keeping these traitors alive, but we could get some information out of them if nothing else.” Seemed for now at least, Donovan had Akando’s help, even if he wasn’t entirely on board with saving everyone. Don gave the man a light clap on the shoulder as he led the way to the mist's edge. [color=lightgreen]"Aye doubt eht's that simple lad. It ain't normal fer folk tah turn their backs on they own people… Soyala is th' onleh one of em' aye sensed any blessin' on. Fer all weh know th' Illuminator coulda messed with their heads lad. Even if they're servin' of their own free will, aye doubt much of em' would be keen on harmin' tha village if they had a choice… But that's enuff ah meh ramblin' fer now. Now keep close, aye dunno how much range this has."[/color] Standing at the edge of the thick fog, Donovan placed his left hand on Akando's shoulder, and grasped his emblem firmly in his right as he prayed to his patron god. [color=lightgreen]"Oh Suthainn, may yer eternal grace protect us from tha evil ah that which es sealed here. An' by yer hand may weh be swift to tah realize our goal. Amen."[/color] Akando would frown at Donovan’s prayer...but the hunter would merely pass it off as some foreign God he hadn’t heard of before. The fog itself would seem to still at Donovan’s passage, whatever harmful effects of it would be staved off. For now, Akando would follow Donovan into the mist, traversing the enveloped land, heading to perhaps, if nothing else - save a life.