Helo

Avalia

Time: Morning
Location: Forests outside Roshmi City
Interactions: Cora @Potter

Cade stared deep into the crackling fire as he thought about Cora’s question on what had made him join the rebellion. From the moment he lost his brother becoming a part of the rebellion had felt less like a choice and more like the only path he could imagine being on, the only thing that felt right. It wasn’t something he’d ever had to put into words, those in Avalia that felt the same never needed such a thing explained. He wondered what his world must look like to Cora, to see so immediately all the darkest parts of Avalia, all the evil the lich brought so up front and to experience the apathy of so many in Roshmi to it all. To think that doing the right thing seemed an extraordinary thing when to Cade it was the only thing when faced with true evil.

“For a long time I did not give much thought to rebellion, it has, of course always been whispered about here and there, but I was young and selfish. The lich and his evil never really seemed to have a big effect on my life but my brother saw things differently. Shadow was always the brave one, the one who stood up for the right thing, and that got him killed. It wasn’t until the lich’s rule really affected me that I was able to see it clearly for how evil it is. Avalia is my home, the evil that reigns here, it touches and corrupts everything. I have to fight, both to honor what my brother stood for, and died for, and because to know what is happening and to do nothing would make me no better than those who serve the lich. I have seen the pain his rule has caused so many people, sometimes I think I can even feel it in the ground beneath my feet. So, even when faced with sights as terrifying as a dracolich or the demon from last night I feel it in my blood that this fight is worth it, this is something that is even worth my life.” Cade spoke in a tone much softer than usual, taking great care in his choice of words, and trusting the human with his complete honesty.

After he spoke Cade realized just how little thought he had given to the likelihood that this rebellion truly could result in his death. He wondered if it was strange that the possibility of death held no sway on how he felt. Even the thought that it might be for naught, that they could very well fail didn’t hold any weight to pull him for this path, there was only the sense that if he can do something to make this world better than he must. He thought about this as he removed the cooked meat from the fire for him and the two humans to eat. Cade wondered if something was wrong with him, fear of death was natural, but it wasn’t as if he had ever lived with great thought towards the future.

“Do you think it makes me sound crazy? That I’m not even afraid to die for this? I mean I don’t want to but thinking about it, that I might, I just feel strangely like that would be alright.” Cade asked Cora. He realized his question was probably too morbid, it wasn’t like he was the one with a large bounty on his head, and bringing up the subject of death with the human was not the best way to start the morning. Cade fidgeted uncomfortably and shook his head. He spoke again before Cora had any time to answer his question. "Nevermind, that is poor breakfast conversation, my apologies. Tell me more about Earth, the other human I met shared marvelous stories from her tribe. Earth sounds like a fascinating place. Cade smiled as he changed the subject quickly, hoping to turn the conversation towards a lighter topic. They had a long journey after breakfast and he didn’t want to put the group into a somber mood.

Ember Grove - Reboot

Time: Late Afternoon
Location: Ember Grove Pawn
Interaction with: Mac (pawn shop owner)

Eli used his break time to head over to the small pawn shop which sat conveniently right near both Axelei’s and the local bowling alley. A bright red sign read Ember Grove Pawn, while numerous smaller signs promised ‘fast cash’ and ‘we buy gold.’ The windows were lined with bars, and the sturdy door chimed as he entered. The shop's owner was a large bearded man with an expression that told you he did not tolerate nonsense. Camera’s tracked his movement through the shop, though Eli knew that the security measures one could see were not the full extent of the measures that the owner, Mac, took to prevent any sort of theft in his place of business. Like most things in Ember Grove there was more than meets the eye to the pawn shop as well. For those who knew how to ask there was more than just the second hand jewelry and collection of pawned goods that could be bought here.

“I’m looking for something a bit more peculiar.” Eli said as he approached Mac who gave a single nod before leading him to the back room.

The back room of Ember Grove Pawn held a collection of goods that would only confuse the local authorities but held things that many of the supernatural creatures of Ember Grove would find dangerous and even deadly. A dusty locked cabinet contained a variety of potions, many of which were likely outright banned by various covens. Other displays held a variety of cursed and enchanted objects, most of which were beyond what he could recognize and held little interest to Eli. A pair of werewolf pelts were hung on the wall, and Eli noted that the last time he’d been back here he was almost certain he’d seen three. Eli briefly wondered who’d bought one, and for what purpose but like many things involving shady dealings, he figured it was probably better not to know. He certainly knew better than to ask.

Based on the few times he’d seen Mac handle silver bullets he was confident the man was not a werewolf, but beyond that whether he was a supernatural creature or just a human with connections remained a mystery. It didn’t seem to matter anyhow, Mac held no allegiance to any faction within Ember Grove, other than to himself and to money. He knew of Mac and his backroom from years ago, Holy Saviors often bought guns from him. None of the guns sold at the front of the store, or course, for those were all legal and traceable, but for the right price Mac was always able to get just about anything a customer requested.

“What’ll it be, kid?” Mac asked with his usual gruff tone.

“UV rounds.” Eli replied doing his best not to let his gaze wander the collection of oddities any longer.

“Again? You know with all those vampires you’ve been hunting you could make a nice bit of cash if you bring me back a few teeth.” Mac said as he slid over the box of ammunition. Eli picked up the box, taking a second to slide it open and glance at the soft blue glow the UV rounds emitted before closing the box. He took the money from his pocket and handed it to Mac.

“Thanks for the tip, but I’m not one for taking trophies.” He said, refusing the offer, not for the first time. Much like the werewolf pelts that hung on the walls, Eli also never asked what one would even want vampire fangs for. There were only so many glimpses into the darker side of the supernatural world that he could process at a time for the sake of his own sanity.

“You know some of Xavier’s boys were in here asking about you not too long ago. Seemed a bit upset that you’ve been in town for so long without stopping by to see ‘em. Told ‘em I’d pass that along if I happened to run into you.” Mac added.

“What’d you tell them?” Eli asked, the box of ammunition clanked slightly as it gave away the slight tremor in his hand as he fumbled to slide it into his pocket.

“You know I don’t discuss my customers. But, if you decide you need anything a bit stronger than those UV rounds, I’ve got a few things I’d be willing to part with. Maybe for some fangs, or a nice wolf pelt, or something more valuable. Just something to think about, next time you’re out hunting.” Mac said, a further extension on a long standing offer.

“Thanks for the tip, but I’m not sure I’m up for the extra work.” Eli said before heading out, declining the offer as amicably as possible.

What Mac really wanted was another hunter willing to help him add to his connection in the backroom. It was an offer Mac had made to Eli when he’d first came back into town stocking up on hunter gear. Mac wanted trophies from supernatural creatures, and if Eli should ever find himself back in the witch hunting business, Mac wanted mystical items as well. The offer was easy to turn down, at first, but the longer he stayed in Ember Grove the more it felt like unseen threats were constantly looming, and the more it seemed like just a gun and a handful of special bullets wasn’t anywhere close to enough. The longer he stayed in Ember Grove the more tempting the offer became, the more obvious it became that Mac certainly had things that could prove more useful than glowing bullets. Even as the temptation grew the fear of what agreeing to such an offer would cost him kept him from accepting. How much more of his humanity could he afford to lose?

Eli kept his mind focused on all reasons why Mac’s offer was out of the question as he walked back to Alexei’s. He stopped about halfway there to smoke a cigarette near the bowling alley to calm his nerves. It wasn’t the money that made the offer more tempting this time, it was the thought that there might be some way to either stop Father Xavier or at the very least keep him and The Holy Saviors far from him that made such a disturbing offer more appealing. There was also the fear that he was powerless to stop something he had once helped grow into the horrible thing it now was, or even worse that he would fall back in with The Holy Saviors, and the knowledge that if he did he certainly didn’t have the strength to leave twice.

Avalia

Time: Morning
Location: Forests outside Roshmi City
Interactions: Cora @Potter

Cade found Cora’s request a bit strange; did she not know how to hunt at all or did she wish to learn how to hunt like a cat did? It seemed unlikely that a human could hunt like a cat, they lacked the teeth or claws for it, but he could always give her pointers on how to stalk one's prey. “I could try and give you some pointers, how do you normally hunt?” Cade asked nodding as he thought on the subject. “But it’s certainly not a burden, in case you haven’t noticed, I am built for it after all.” Cade said grinning as he flexed his claws for her to see. Even as he tried to lighten the mood, he could sense that she shared the same anxious energy he also felt. He watched the human as she tried to warm herself with fire, noticing how unlike few the humans he had met so far differed from the old stories he had heard of past humans in Avalia. These were not the grizzled heroes from stories who always knew exactly what to do to win, who could easily conquer any foe set before them. Instead they seemed so much more real, more like him, just trying to do what they could when facing impossible tasks.

“I imagine you have sacrificed a great deal to be here, to be taken from your own home, and to be in a strange place during its darkest time. The way I see it, Avalia herself chose the very best warriors of earth to come to her aid, and you, and those like you, answered that call. So to me, that makes you one of Avalia’s most honored guests, and any assistance I can provide is no burden, but an honor and a privilege. I am grateful that you are here, that you are willing to stand with us even while so many who call Avalia their home would rather turn a blind eye to everything that is wrong here. You showed great bravery last night, you should be very proud.” Cade spoke earnestly, doing his best to make sure that Cora knew that he could be trusted, that she was welcomed company, and to say the sort of things he would want to hear if their roles were reversed.

---

Time: Morning
Location: Forest outside of Roshmi
Interactions: Darius@FunnyGuy, Elthrael@Dezuel, Zephyrin@Howlsofwinter

Bowyn, startled by the stumbling fairy who approached, jumped up from his spot near the campfire where he had been crotched as he tended to the cooking fish. Darius spoke first, though Bowyn would hardly agree that he had caught the stranger. It would seem picking up strays was becoming a habit of his, though he had to admit that thus far it hadn’t really turned out poorly for him. ”Sorry, I guess I should’ve been paying more attention, didn’t realize I was being followed.” He said to Darius. Bowyn made note of this, it was careless of him to not take extra steps to ensure he was alone before heading to the shared camp, and he was admittedly lucky that he’d been followed by a fairy and not some dark elf or demon.

He eyed the stranger with suspicion, although she did not seem outwardly threatening. Something about her was eerily familiar but it wasn’t until Elthrael spoke, referring to her as a ‘wintery rose’ did it click with him, what an odd twist to run into one of his own kind this far south. To say Bowyn had conflicted feelings in regards to his own people was an understatement but while he had no intention of ever setting foot in his home village seeing one of his own kind here was different. Even so far south of his village, he still felt that slight hint of shame as he stood before another winter fae. Shame that out of dozens who had made a small stand against the dark elves he had been the one to return home when all of them deserved that more than he did. But he also felt the sting of nostalgia for the good parts of his home, the better memories, and the parts of his village that he rarely allowed himself to miss.

“Well, since you were right about the demi-human last night, got any thoughts on this fairy?” Bowyn asked, turning towards Boreas.

“Kinda looks like you, smells a bit like you, so probably nothing but trouble.” Boreas answered as he noted the disheveled appearance of the winter fairy. He left the picked over remains of his breakfast and flew to Bowyn’s shoulder, and the merlin’s watchful eyes studied Zephyrin.

“Excellent news, the bird here approves of you, though he has a history of taking to mud covered fairies wandering around forests.” Bowyn said, now addressing Zephyrin, while also teasing Boreas. Bowyn glanced at the fish and back at Zephyrin, recalling his childhood, when sharing everything he had was second nature, even when what he had fell short of enough. “Feel free to join us for breakfast.” Bowyn said, extending a similar offer of hospitality as Eltheral had, and he gestured towards the fish and the campfire. He didn’t regard his own people as a threat, and it didn’t seem right to disregard the type of hospitality that was so common amongst his people.

Avalia

Time: Evening/Morning
Location: A summary of his time leading up to the present and into the woods near Roshmi
Interactions: Alone

Being lost was a strange and completely unfamiliar experience for Valok. He had never been truly alone, never had the terrifying uncertainty of having to decide things for himself. The entirety of his life up until now had always been decided for him; he always had orders to rely on, someone to tell him what he should do and what he should think. Now there was only him, left alone with his thoughts. At first he thought he liked being alone, he could stare at the stars and there was no one around to bother him or think it strange. But he quickly ran out of pleasant things to think about, and spent hours thinking about what a terrible mistake he had made. He had left his post, he was a deserter. They would never let him back into the army now, once he was caught his life would be over. He knew this was exactly why he wasn’t offered choices, why he just followed orders because the first time he did make a choice, it was to betray everything he’d been taught.

But then at night there was the dream; the torture of the human and of the rebels that Valok had witnessed at Chism, vividly repeating inside his mind whenever he slept. He would stand, watching as he was ordered to, keeping anyone from interfering with what was happening. Occasionally glancing into cold eyes and at the sadistic smile on the face of his commander who inflicted the slow torture. All around him he heard the deafening screams and cries for mercy. Then he watched as his commander's cruel face and empty eyes slowly morphed into his own face, and then his face mimicked the same cold expression. Every night since he deserted he watched himself commit the acts that haunted both his sleeping and his waking mind.

Valok understood the truth within his dream; this was what the army wished to make of him, a twisted and cruel monster. It was not a question of if, but of how long it would take, just how easy would it be before all humanity left him and he was no different from those who tortured for fun? How many times would it take for him to witness such horror before it became another thing he grew numb to, and how long after that before he too was a willing participant? The visceral feeling of being horrified by acts that could only be described as evil was one of the few things that truly cut through the constant numbness he’d always felt. It had made him feel real in a way he hadn’t for a long time. Impulsively he made the choice to hold on to that feeling, searching for where it would lead him. Every time he woke from the nightmare he was left assured that he had made the right choice, but his resolve would slowly ebb away throughout the day until he faced the nightmare once again.

He kept choosing to travel south, further and further from his home and everything he had known. The first town he found himself in was small, composed of mainly light elves and demihumans. It was there that he first noticed how the townsfolk watched him, with looks of fear, distrust, and occasionally anger. It was a disconcerting experience, to know that strangers already saw him as something he feared he might become, something already evil. Was he evil? Was that what being a dark elf meant, should he revel in another’s pain like so many of his people did? The townsfolk were afraid of him, he could see it, sensed it like a palpable aura. That feeling, and those glances, remained even after he traded away anything that marked him as having come from the army. He had no answers for the questions he was just beginning to form and only hoped that more clarity would be found if he kept moving south.

Eventually he found himself in one of Avalia’s largest cities, Roshmi. Val found himself struck by the beauty of the city, even at night it felt bright and warm. Even the air had a welcoming smell and freshness to it, and he caught whiffs of unfamiliar foods and spices. The southern races that called Roshmi home walked with a spark in their eyes that was unfamiliar to him, though when their eyes met him, he found the same gilmore of fear. At least in a city as large as Roshmi it was easier to hide. Valok had always found it easy to blend in with shadows, to remain unseen and unnoticed. All it took from him was to remember that he came from nothing, he felt nothing, he was nothing. Then through his dark magic he could become nothing; at least to the average and untrained eye. It was more comfortable to be someone unnoticed, more like how he felt back home, and this was how he travelled through the city until he came upon a strange sight in a town square.

A bright orb, glowing just as a moon did, broadcasting a message through magic to all the towns folks that gathered close around it. It was as if Halastra, the goddess he was taught to worship above all Elven gods, had guided him here, to this moon like orb. Valok watched, entranced, as a young fairy gave an impassioned message of rebellion. He found himself mesmerized with curiosity; it was not the sort of message he expected, not the words of someone who wanted to see peace end but someone who wanted the world to be better. Her words against the dark elves, spoke to him in a way that eerily reflected his own thoughts and fears about his people and himself.

She had also called dark elves slaves to Aklenroth, and the king himself a mad one. It was jarring to hear someone say such things with such strong conviction when everything he knew told him the opposite. No dark elf he knew was forced to serve Aklenroth, he and all he knew did so willingly, out of loyalty for the only leader that had ever shown his race kindness. While he couldn’t agree with every word she spoke, the whole of her speech resonated with him. This was someone who could help him understand; why the rebels wanted a war in a land that had known peace for so long. This fairy, Risa, was someone who spoke as if dark elf was not synonymous with evil, and as someone who wanted an Avalia that was better for all who inhabited it. Was that what he wanted as well?

He had been taught that it was right to hate the light elves, and all the races who flourished south of Daka, but the why had always been hazy. It had been the light elves alone who had banished his people, and that had been centuries ago. How many light elves still existed old enough to have been responsible? How long should old wounds be allowed to fester before rot set in and nothing remained salvageable? Unlike so many of his kind Valok only felt apathy in place of anger and hate when he thought of light elves, fairies, and demihumans. Perhaps in this his hollowness had been a gift, preventing him from falling into the trap so many of his kind had. He felt no reason to cling to the past, no reason to seek vengeance against creatures he’d never met, at least not without someone telling him that it was what he was supposed to do. He had seen first hand the pain his kind brought to others, and he knew enough to know that was not the kind of elf he wished to be.

He wondered if Risa’a words were just words, or if they held truth. If he might find the sort of answers he was seeking or a new purpose if he found these rebels. Would the articulate fairy accept a dark elf into her band of rebels? Did he even want to be welcomed amongst rebels? He could see clearly where the dark elves were wrong, where he had been wrong, and the flaws in so many of the things he had been taught, but was that enough to betray his king? It seemed the only way to really know was to try and see.

Risa’s message ended with a grizzly sight; another fairy, this one dead and covered in thorny vines. A strange way to end a message but it did not seem to be Risa’s doing, and with the energy of the crowd beginning to rise; soon heated words became heated actions. Now would be a poor time for him to get caught by guards. As the city descended into chaos, Val knew it was time to move elsewhere. Though this had once been the ideal place to run into the rebels it was no longer safe for them either. He knew exactly how his kind would likely lock down Roshmi and Valok made his way out of the city before the worst of it happened.

Another night spent alone in the woods faded into another morning where he awoke cold with sweat from the repeating nightmare. He again set off with nothing but a vague destination in mind, but he figured any rebels who had left Roshmi would be somewhere nearby. Their leader, Risa, had claimed heritage from the River Kingdom and he was sure the dark elves would have that area locked down tight as well, making that location not the ideal direction to head. A more likely option would be for them to head towards the Flower Kingdom, a terrain with plenty of areas to hide rebel camps. If this was the case he might be able to run into rebels near the coast or one of the port towns. The other option was that might head towards the Sun Elves or the smaller demi-human towns even further on, but that was much further and a larger area. So, Valok headed in the direction of the cost, hoping his guess was correct, and if not, well he was a deserter, all his time was borrowed anyhow what did it really matter how he spent it.

Avalia

Time: Morning
Location: Forests outside Roshmi City
Interactions: Elsea @Tae, Cora @Potter

Cade led the way out of Roshmi, staying far from any lights or traces of others and sticking to the far outskirts of the city as they left. He stuck close enough to the humans that they could easily see him, and as a cat, his vision at night made it easy to navigate in almost total darkness. Once deep enough into the forest they took shelter inside a cave for the night, and though Cade would’ve much preferred to spend the night high up in a tree, it occurred to him that humans seemed much less equipped to sleep there without falling and likely injuring their more fragile looking limbs. His dreams that night were plagued by images of the demon from the ballroom that had destroyed and consumed all around it. The haunting presence of a beast that could not be fought, at least not by him, and the feeling of being powerless to help protect those around him, prevailed throughout his dreams. In his sleep he occasionally emitted a low growl and there was a continuous nervous twitching of his tail.

He awoke before dawn with a restless feeling of needing to do something to make up for the things he was not able to do the previous night. He headed out from the cave, silently moving through the foliage as he did what a cat does best, hunting. It wasn’t long before he came upon one of the very large rodents that were common in the area, and with stealth and grace he pounced on the unsuspecting creature. Cade stopped on the way back to the cave’s entrance to grab a few pieces of the fruit that grew nearby knowing that humans often liked to eat more than just meat. Once he made his way back to the mouth of the cave he set to work building a fire to cook the meat over. He would have to wait for one of the humans to light it though, thus far any attempt to light a fire using only what the forest provided had only left him with piles of broken sticks.

---

Time: Morning
Location: Forest outside of Roshmi
Interactions: Kenia@Tae, Darius@FunnyGuy, Elthrael@Dezuel, Vaeril@Alivefalling

The rest of the night had been uneventful, and Bowyn spent the majority of his turn on watch pacing along the perimeter of the campsite and indulging in the stolen mead. The constant movement allowed him to burn off his anxious energy, he was fully involved in the rebellion now and that was all he could think about. It began to occur to him that as much as he despised the choice made by Risa and the rest who had summoned humans to Avalia, that he, and those like him, also carried some of the responsibility for that choice. Everyone in Avalia that could clearly see the evil of the Lich King and did nothing to stop him only added to the circumstances that made those who activated the DROMs feel that their action was justified. His compliance with evil was something that needed to be rectified, but beyond seeing the things that needed to be destroyed, he held little hope that Avalia would ever be anything better than what it had always been. Avalia was a place that had allowed an entire race to be banished and did nothing while the dark elves became twisted by evil, it had allowed a lich to take power and to use the dead as pawns, and now it had had stolen a race from another world to correct its own problems. Other than the obvious goals of ending Aklenroth, laying to rest the undead, returning the humans and destroying all traces of DROMs, what would come after that, if he even survived what came next. Did he even have the will to fight for something better when he didn’t even believe it possible, because now it was clear to him that to continue his apathy to the world around him was what allowed evil to thrive, and it would allow it to all happen again.

When it was time for him to sleep he passed out drunk and exhausted. His sleep was empty and if he did dream he did not remember it. Bowyn was awoken by Boreas returning from his hunt with a shrill cry as the merlin proudly announced his success at having caught a meal. His hangover robbed him of any feeling of restfulness he might have gotten from the few hours of sleep, and he sat up with a headache and full bodied heaviness. The night had left him with the understanding that what he needed to do was make the effort to connect more to both this group he now traveled with and to Avalia in general if he wished to avoid falling back into apathy. As he watched his bird eat the much smaller bird Boreas had caught during his hunt, Bowyn decided that the rest of them should also eat before continuing their travels. He forced himself up from this spot on the ground, heading to a nearby stream to catch fish. He later returned with a few fish on wooden spears that he placed around the fire to cook. A small effort to contribute, he could handle that, it seemed like a step in the right direction.

Avalia

Time: Night
Location: Campsite
Interactions: Kenia@Tae, Darius@FunnyGuy, Elthrael@Dezuel, Vaeril@Alivefalling

Bowyn appreciated the silence during the walk and the few moments where it lingered as they sat around a campfire. Everything about this day had been exhausting but he was grateful that Kenia had the foresight to grab mead for the journey. He drank from the bottle of warm mead he’d grabbed waiting for the alcohol to wash down the bitter memories of the night, and didn’t even bother with frosting the bottle. He had used a great deal of energy during the fight with Jack, way more magic and on a larger scale than he was used to. Worse than the exhaustion he now felt, even worse than the sight of that poor human with his head severed, was the feeling of having killed others with magic. Magic was a gift fairies had to better connect them to nature, to creation, and to use it to kill, felt like a perversion of that. The awful feeling in his stomach was neither caused by or helped from the warm mead but he drank it anyway, waiting for a content numbness that just wouldn’t come.

Elthreal broke the silence, the other fairy certainly had a skill for knowing just what to say to get under another’s skin. While Bowyn merely nodded in agreement with the majority of what Elthreal said, Kenia voiced a different view. Bowyn wondered why so many seemed to simply take Risa at her word, from a prepared speech made safely away from the danger it had caused everyone else there. It seemed to him that if Kenia truly cared for her now dead human friend she should know who helped cause that death. Rei would never have been in Avalia if it had not been for Risa’s actions, and the deaths of him and those who died after her speech at the ball could not be made right by words. This, however, was a point he kept to himself, Rei’s death had clearly been painful for Kenia and he wouldn’t throw that at her simply to make a point.

“Her birthright?” Bowyn repeated with a scoff and shake of his head. Bowyn continued to speak with a more detached tone, finding the discussion a welcomed break from his previous thoughts. “Should being born into power mean you get to inherit it? We’re talking about a fairy who admitted to abducting another race to fight a war for her. Someone just as willing as Aklenroth to use others as pawns. Why trade one heartless royal for another? Don’t get me wrong, I want nothing more than to see the lich finally meet his end but I must agree with Elthreal, Risa does not strike me as one suitable for any thorne. At least Elthreal has actually met Risa. While the rest of us have only heard a prepared speech she gave safely away from its disastrous consequences. Actions say a great deal more than words, and hers certainly fall in line with Elthreal’s description. Since the humans have already been brought here, without a say in the matter, perhaps they should lead us, both in this rebellion and in what follows. Give them some sort of choice in it all, our collective races have only made a mess of this world anyhow. But what do I know? I’m just a half drunk fairy who talks to a bird.” Bowyn ended his words with a slight grin and another drink from the bottle.

Avalia

Time: Evening
Location: Roshmi City
Interactions: Elsea @Tae, Cora @Potter

The human who called herself Elsea asked if he knew a way out of the city and Cade nodded. He hesitated for a moment, not wanting to leave Roshmi without his possessions, all of which he had left behind before attending the ball. While most of his things were easily replaceable his halberd was more than a possession, it was the only thing he had to connect him with his brother. But Shadow would not have led humans deeper into a dangerous city just to retrieve a weapon, and Cade knew that he couldn’t either. The other halberd he now held, the one Ayita had tossed to him from a guard, was neither well crafted nor did it hold any significance, but it would have to do for now. He could not be selfish enough to try and risk their lives for a sentimental weapon. It was strange to think of creatures as powerful as humans would look to him when deciding where to go, what to do next, but he knew the city well enough, and he knew how to survive in the forests. Cade could also still remember what it had been like in Lora after rebellious talk had been uncovered, and he suspected the retaliation against Roshmi would likely be far worse.

“I’m Cadence of a Thunderstorm, but most call me Cade, and it would be my honor to lead you both to the port town. I think we should stick to the perimeter of the city, make our way as quickly as possible to the forest before we encounter any further trouble.” Cade said, removing the mask from the ball and tossing it aside. He headed towards the northwest, waiting for the two humans to follow as well, leaving Roshmi’s Grand Hall as sounds of destruction still bellowed from within. “I had hoped tonight would show Avalia in a better light to the human I first met, but this night has shown me the darkest side of this world. I hope that even after tonight your kind can still see Avalia as a place worth fighting for.” Cade added.

Ember Grove - Reboot

Time: Afternoon
Location: Alexei’s
Interaction with: Niko @Potter, Alexander@FunnyGuy

Eli tried and failed to cover his laughter as Niko downed the shot of peppermint schnapps. He was pleased at having pulled one over on someone with such a keen sense of detail. Before Niko was finished coughing he already had a shot of actual vodka sitting next to him. He noticed Alexander seemed to be just about ready to leave, and that he had also yet to cash out his tab. Who would’ve thought his work day would be so exciting; getting to both prank Niko and annoy a vampire all on the same day.

“Leaving already Mr. Drake? Jimmy can cash you out.” He said gesturing to their newest hire, who was still in training and would be aggravatingly slow at the task.

He turned his attention back to Niko who was clearly annoyed with his phone. Niko asked for the nacho’s to go, and Eli could tell from the way he eyed the door he was trying to leave in a hurry, suspiciously at the exact same time as Alexander was about to leave. “Hey what’s going on? Last time I was in the same room as that guy, right after he left, there was a whole big “terrorist attack,” and now you're both fixing to leave. You know something I don’t?” Eli whispered to Niko who had been keeping a close eye on Alexander since he walked in. Eli did not want a repeat of last night, and part of his job was to make sure Alexei’s maintained its safe haven reputation with its supernatural patrons. He couldn’t have Niko stalking vampires in the bar, no matter how much he didn’t like said vampire, or any surprise vampire attacks going down either.

Avalia

Time: Evening
Location: Roshmi City
Interactions: Elsea @Tae, Cora @Potter, Ayita @13org

Those around him all told Cade that it was time to flee, even though there were still a small handful of people still inside, and Sakura still battled with Ahzmorath. The thought of leaving Sakura behind while she battled the demon did not sit well with him. He knew there was nothing he could do to help her, but she was his friend and she was in danger. Although a part of him knew that a war would mean losses, that it would mean actions that did not always seem honorable and right, Cade had never had to leave an alley behind while they still fought. He also knew that the coming war mattered more than his life or sense of honor, and that humans were their best chance at winning. Ayita was right, they could not let Sakura’s heroic actions go to waste. He had to make sure these human’s stayed safe and got to the port town to continue the fight. As some sort of portal emerged from the demon’s chest and began pulling things in, it was clear that to remain here any longer would only be a loss, but to keep the humans alive would be a small victory. He followed after Elsea as she led the other human out of the ballroom, staying on the opposite side of the very exhausted looking human.

“Any creature that stands against the lich will always be a friend of mine.” Cade said to reassure Cora who had seemed wary of him. As they made their way towards the exit he could still hear Ayita’s voice above the commotion, she spoke not only like a warrior, but as someone who he would be proud to follow into battle, she spoke like a leader. He wondered if she shared his reservations in leaving a fight unfinished, in leaving anyone behind. Just as she had implored him to leave, to assure him that was time to retreat and regroup, he felt the need to echo the same advice to her. “Ayita led those who will follow you from here, to the port, and ready them for a war. Leave this demon to be his own undoing.” He turned his head and shouted in her direction. He could only hope that as the demon continued to destroy the building around him, drawing wreckage and furniture into a portal within its own chest, that such destruction would undo Ahzmorath as well. But he could not worry about Roshmi’s safety, he had to focus on the humans, and on the war to come.

---

Time: Evening
Location: Outside Roshmi Hall
Interactions: Kenia@Tae, Darius @FunnyGuy, Vaeril[@Avlivefalling]

Bowyn knew he had to leave, there was very little chance of him being able to find Torvi or Belle amongst the panicked masses that had fled Roshmi Hall. All he could do was assume they had gotten out, he had told them about the port town, and he’d just have to hope he’d find them there in a few days. He wasn’t going to consider the other possibility until then, if he wanted to stay focused and to keep his head clear, he couldn’t afford to think of them as lost. What he could think about was how much easier it had been to travel with people he could trust, now he no longer had that luxury. Although Kenia had claimed she needed to go retrieve another human, who was to say that wasn’t another trap? Going back into Roshmi seemed like a bad idea, he wanted to get as far away from the city as quickly as possible and he wasn’t sure if looking for another human was worth risking the one already with them.

As if one elf was not enough a second elf approached, limping, and asking to join them. A wounded elf would only slow them down but it seemed cruel to point that out right away, even if he was an elf. Bowyn would keep his opinion on the second elf to himself for now so long as the limping elf was able to keep up with them. He wasn’t sure what Kenia’s intentions, or the other light elf that joined them, were but he knew his own intentions. If the human was going to be traveling with these elves, then he should go with them as well. Darius seemed to have little sense of caution and if either elf tried anything he would be there to help the human. He removed both the mask and the vest he had worn to the ball and tossed them aside. As he did so Boreas glared at him, annoyed to still be wearing a bow tie.

“No more fancy parties.” Boreas said.

”Definitely.” Bowyn agreed as he whispered to his bird and removed the bow tie from the bird and tossed it away as well. ”And no more fancy clothes.” He promised his winged companion, then discreetly nodded his head towards the male elf and Boreas understood that Bowyn wished for him to keep an eye on the elf.

”I will watch him.” Boreas said. Bowyn kept his attention on the other elf, Kenia. He was more than happy to let the elf walk in front rather than have to give his back to someone he didn’t trust.

”I’m Bowyn.” He said, specifically introducing himself to Darius. ”The first human I met calls herself a viking, are you one as well? I’m told they are the fiercest warriors of Earth.” He asked trying to determine if humans' seemingly fearless demeanor was from bravery or a lack of comprehension of the danger they were all in.

Avalia

Time: Evening
Location: Roshmi Hall
Interactions: Darius @FunnyGuy, Kenia@Tae

Bowyn was left incredibly confused, had he really just attacked a demon and Azriel and suffered no retaliation? Sure, neither weapon had landed, he hadn’t really expected them too, but he thought something more would have happened, but instead here he was neither dead nor maimed and both threats had fled of their own accord. It was certainly not him that was intimidating enough to cause a demon to retreat. It must be the human, clearly he had incredible power, enough so that even a demon did not want to face him. With the demon gone Azriel left as well, and he would be more than happy to never meet the so-called Angel again. Before he had a chance to address the human a light elf approached, asking if they were okay. Though many of the humans had torn off the fake ears that disguised them as elves so he couldn’t be sure that she was not one still in disguise.

“I’m fine.” Bowyn replied as his wings beat slower until he floated to the ground. He studied the woman, not worried about the human due to his assumption that humans were trustworthy creatures. “And what are you another human? Or actually an elf, and if so what sort of elf do you claim to be?” He asked and his annoyance with elves as a whole was clear in the way he said the word elf. He could still hear the commotion from inside, and while he and the human both seemed fine he still had no idea where Torvi or Belle had ended up. He couldn’t ask if either had seen them, not until he could be sure that the elf wasn’t some sort of loyalist to Aklenroth, or possibly even worse one who followed Terneus like he was the second coming of some elven deity.

He stared at the human, who introduced himself as Darius, and apparently thought it was a good idea to announce himself as a human to the elf. Though the human certainly had power, restraint and common sense might not exactly be his strong suit, this had after all been the human to first publicly announce his support for Risa and start the whole ordeal. Darius mentioned another demon, a pale skinned demon girl, that Bowyn had not seen, and he shook his head and wondered just how many demons were loose and wreaking havoc inside. He knew that Torvi would prioritize getting out, she had made that clear early on and he was confident that she had a chance against lesser demons. He was less sure about Belle, who had stood making bold declarations on the table, who was not some trained warrior of earth like Torvi was, and who had only had the most basic of training in the days leading up to the ball. Even with magic he doubted either of them would fair well against the massive demon that had been summoned. But the barriers were down, if they were still alive they should be getting out now with the rest of those who flooded through the exits.

“I’m sure you mean well, but perhaps telling everyone you are a human in a world where humans are actively hunted and killed is not the greatest of plans. Speaking of plans that are not so great, you might want to rethink pledging allegiance to a defunct princess who summons others to do her dirty work.” Bowyn added with obvious bitterness. While he did believe Aklenroth needed dealt with, the lich was an Avalian problem, this was their world to fix, and to abduct humans to use as pawns was an action so selfish and cruel that Bowyn could only see Risa in the same light as Aklenroth. She used humans the way the lich used the dead, and that was unforgivable.

“Do you have companions here Darius? If so we should find them soon and get out of here. I’m sure Roshmi will have more than just demons to worry about after this.” He added. There had been a very public declaration of rebellion here, and one could be sure that the lich would retaliate against all of Roshmi for it. It was also a fair bet that officials of Roshmi would try and round up as many suspected rebels to offer up in the hopes of being spared the fates that had been dealt to the more northern cities suspected of harbouring both humans and rebels. If he did not find his own companions soon he would have to simply hope that they would make it the port town as they had failed to discuss any other meeting points should they be separated.