Cradle of Gods

Captain Holloway

As Nasira moved beside her, and gently touched her, Caitlin seemed to shiver in response; though whether it was from the realisation of the cold or something else was uncertain. Either way, she gave a tentative smile to Nasira, placing her hand over the djinn's and nodding slightly.

“I'm missing my warm furs, now. I shouldn't have left them behind...” she admitted, seeming to subconsciously lean into the djinn a little. “If you have any blankets, or some other means... I'd be happy to be warmed. Thank you for offering.”

She was a tad more relaxed, at least. The simple kindness demonstrated seemed to have eased her mind of stress all at once, like it'd been all she'd needed to calm down from all that'd occurred.

Poppy Blake

A slight bout of coughing off to the side indicated Poppy disembarking from the ship, having done her best to dust herself off and collect edible plants and mushrooms from the living bowels of the Lervondas. She gave a small, timid wave to the Ember Knight sitting by the edge of the fire before setting up some pots and pans so they could at least have a proper meal after all the prior excitement. Soon their little camp was a bit livelier than before, with Poppy bustling about preparing a meal with some of the leftover fish.

"Excuse me, sir, but I'm Poppy, Poppy Blake," she said to the Ember Knight, before coughing again into the crook of her arm as the ash from the fire tickled her throat. "Are you from Kamelotte, like me, or thereabouts in Arcada? Your armor looks like that of a knight's, but it's got no coat of arms or sigil that I can recognize."

Edited by JumpingFruit on Oct 2nd 2022 at 8:29:15 AM

Feeling Caitlin's hand fold over her own, Nasira stiffened for just a moment then relaxed, unsure of her own sudden reaction. Taking a moment to think, Nasira took her hand off Caitlin's arm, spreading her arms with one over Caitlin's shoulder before summoning a quilted cloth behind the both of them, draping over the two of them and wrapping them together to shield them from the nightly breeze.

Nasira wondered why felt a touch of melancholy, even loneliness, despite the creation of her daughters for larger company. Maybe it was because things had moved so quickly up until then, and with this respite her mind wandered to the starless sky bordering the vast, unfathomable nothingness. Or, perhaps more likely, it was because the group had lost a companion so suddenly, one she had hopes for, under circumstances only the dead would know. Whatever it was, Nasira was thankful to have everyone's, and Caitlin's especially, company at that moment.

Especially?

"Better?" Nasira asked with a soft smile, leaning into Caitlin as Caitlin leaned into her, shoulder to shoulder. Addressing the others present, she quickly added, "I have a few more quilts for anyone who needs them."

Sword had hidden up on the ship's deck in a crouch, ready to spring at the Ember Knight the second he tried something. He proceeded to... not try anything. He was fine? Well, fine in the presence of the saints down below. Even Valentin had these greater aspirations, unlike Sword's deranged decision to dig ungrateful scumbags out of the dirt from her throne. The Throne of Greed—Ambition—Hunger? Was Justice going to really be there for all the scum that didn't get a fair shake? On the other hand: if she was Urzael Sword would absolutely ingratiate herself with people she knew she could drive a wedge between. Inaction could only make it worse.

"Am I fine to spend the night on the beach, or are the Nesiree going to have to keep me company?" Sword called out as she vaulted over the railing and descended to the beach. She held her arms at her side, but with clenched fists all the same. "Nice seeing you again, ashtray."

Captain Holloway

"Ah-" Caitlin visibly paled as the blanket was summoned and placed around her and Nasira both, before that paleness quickly turned into a deep vibrance as she found her face to be heating up significantly at the proximity. Oh dear. Well, at least she wasn't one to squander opportunity, so even if Nasira's intentions were innocent, Caitlin wouldn't project her own onto her unwillfully. So she just... cuddled back beneath the blanket, both inwardly and outwardly smiling as she let herself just forget the world for a moment.

She'd like to have forgotten it permanently, and perhaps live somewhere else, but reality was persistent, and so she settled for just an in-between state of relaxation and careful awareness of her surroundings.

"Much better. Thank you," she remembered to say, before turning her head very slightly to call out to Sword. "Come along! If Urzael's one to start something, it's on his own head...!"

Her point made, she turned again to Nasira, an amused smile on her face as she lowered her voice significantly to address her.

"Are all djinn this warm to embrace...?"

Lonely Shore

Urzael gave off a slightly amused huff, as Kimiko introduced herself. He didn't relax fully, his eyes briefly flickering over to her bladed tail and the vast assortium of knifes she wielded. But he nonetheless didn't seem to be bothered by her.

"I appreciate your free tongue, Kimiko. But I would advise caution sharing so freely your ambition and divine nature.", he stated, locking his intense gaze with her. "We may have peace for now, but you never know what one might do with the knowledge you give him."

For a moment he let this words settle and returned to carressing his blade. Then he sighed a bit and shook his head. "But courtesy demands, I respond in kind. Alas, my purpose is not quite as noble as yours, I fear. I travel the path of Judgement and Vengeance, with all that entails." As he said this, the bonfire rose up for a brief moment and the flames greedily licked the cold air, before settling down again.

Then Caitlin sat down next to Kimiko, warming herself at the fire. Urzael glared at her, but said nothing. His attention was drawn away soon anyway, when Nasira joined them. For a second, the Ember Knights expression was lit up by faint surprise, as he saw the djinn come closer. He raised his blade immediately, but the blade remained almost completely inert. Only two or three faint embers spilled forth and vanished soon after. Seeing this, Urzael looked up at Nasira and then briefly rose up.

"Greetings, Lady Nasira. I welcome you to my humble fire. Please, take a seat and partake in whatever meager supplies I can offer.", he said, surprisingly sincere and for once his voice was missing its underlying tension. He then touched a point underneath his throat and slightly bowed his head. A very old, very formal greeting, once used by djinn.

When he sat down again, he reached behind him and pulled up waterskins and a package with stale bread and dried meat. A truly elysian meal, sparse and mostly flavourless. He put it between him and the Pilgrims, largely as a gesture. And while he seemed disappointed by Nasira's choice of company, he nonetheless raised his hand towards the fire and raised it higher, so its warmth could spread more easily to her and Caitlin.

Seeing that things did not break out in a fight, the others now left the ship and stepped up to the fire, as well. The only exception were Willam, who had decided to rest under deck when night had approached, and Masaru who stayed behind on the Lervondas and did not take his eyes off Urzael for even a moment. He seemed content to let the other handle it, judging that his presence would not help matters.

Urzael, like before, raised his blade at Sword, but with her almost casually. When he saw the blade burst into embers, his seemed almost validated. He graced the Oni with a nod that danced at the limit of politeness, but did not refuse her a seat. "Greetings, Oni. My body aches from your blows, but for now let our past grievances be set aside. The laws of hospitality apply even to your lowly kind." It seemed to be as close as Urzael would get to a genuine quip.

Instead, his eyes traveled over to Poppy. Unlike the others, he did not raise his blade at her. Instead, his features visibly softened and for a moment it almost seemed like he was...regretful? It didn't last, but he nonetheless gave her a gentle smile. Something that seemed almost alien on his face.

"Greetings, little Poppy. Take a seat." He patted the warm sand beside him and waited for her to sit down. For a moment, he waited for everyone to partake in the meal Poppy had prepared, even sharing the waterskins he had. Then he turned to young girl. "My home are the sands of Kshathra, praised be her name. But my order traced its foundation back to lone, honorable knights of Arcada, who were dismayed at the savagery of their brethren. With time they adopted the Desert Realm as their home. I suppose, some designs retained their arcadan heritage.", he explained. Looking at the clawed, iron gauntlet he continued: "Although I may perhaps be a poor representative of the Order. Merely a imprint left behind on the ash of their long-gone history. Still, I learned what I could from what was left and filled what was lost with my own ideas and skills."

A finger traced along the burnmarks on his body. Unspoken tales of failure and trials. "Even my name is but a legacy. It once belonged to an old man, too stubborn to die and too heartless to be given mercy. Nevertheless, he was a decent enough teacher, I suppose."

Urzael looked at Poppy. "I must confess, though, that seeing one as young as you suffer through these trials in the Shards is...not something I would approve. Divinity should not be a burden placed on such young, innocent shoulders." He looked back at the fire and for a moment his fist clenched. The fire cackled a bit violently, before it calmed once more.

"Still, I believe you are not here to just chat with one who just mere days ago wounded some of your...companions. You desire an alliance against the Orphan? Or perhaps sharing of tales or rumors, that were discovered since I resided here?" He looked at each of them one by one. "It begs the question for me, however, why I should assist you there? At the danger of sounding like a bartering merchant, but I see little reason to aid those that may prove to be unfit for further power."

He threw a meaningful look at Caitlin and Sword there.

Edited by TheNohen on Oct 4th 2022 at 5:12:35 PM

Because we outnumber you? Because I'll finish your initiation from last time if you don't shut your whore mouth? Sword had all sorts of pithy shots to throw at Urzael but this one time she could keep quiet. Soldiers and adventurers that started shit like this would be strung up at home. That was the other thing—this motherfucker was some kind of foreigner, thinking they were his subjects!

"I dunno Val's rates, but a hit from him or me does actually have a proven pricetag and market value we could weigh here." Sword piped up, meeting Urzael's stare with a smirk and a blown kiss at him. She remembered how she'd managed to overpower Urzael and had a brief image in her head of hitting him with a classic Onogoro kabedon. "While we're passing it around, I've sorta thought up my throne as Greed—Want—Hunger. I wanna patronize the hungry bastards dissatisfied by their places in the world, just like me, just like my gang. Shows just how messed up things are that it's a crime to act on your hunger." She made a brushing motion on her shoulders. "I'm gonna sit the throne and make that shit right for everyone. But I figure future favors won't cut it on payment, and you've got plenty of murder power yourself." Sword wasn't about to offer her Clinger. "What're the odds we can bring the ship through with us to the next zone? If not, it'll need a captain after us." She raised her eyebrows and tilted her head to Urzael. "Stiff-neck psychobitch murderers make great sea captains, no joke."

Poppy Blake

"I understand why my age might be troubling, Sir," Poppy said tactfully before sipping some of the stew she had ladled into her own bowl after she had served everyone else. "But I am a Scion Sorcerer, the get of Grandfather Vector, and the magic he passed on to me was a blight to my village. You may even call it a curse, because it devours life to fuel my own. In a land where magic is outlawed, you can see why I would not be missed. Reaching the Throne of Hope is my final bid for life, before it overtakes me too. Before the consequences of the gods dying causes widespread famine. Before a yet deeper blight overtakes everything."

"I often liked to comfort myself by thinking that Grandfather Vector passed on some capacity for perserverance and wisdom to me, but that just sounds childish to say out loud now," she admitted. "But I have done a lot of thinking on the road to the Cradle, and I don't think that all gods are supposed to be perfect. If they were all as ideal as one would like to imagine, there would be no need to select new ones every Cycle. And too many gods wouldn't seem human anymore then—or, I mean, be relatable or seem sympathetic to mortals. And then there's the matter of the demons. I've only heard of them in bedtime stories, but they sound terrifying. I'm willing to try, and I don't know if I'll be able to face them if I become a goddess..."

"...But that's not important. What's important is that Sword won't let go of what's hers. Caitlin won't give up on the seas. So they won't let whatever's beyond the veil in to take what's theirs, and believe me, those horrors want to end all of it—all the dancing, and the drinking, and the eating. And there'll be no song, no laughter, no life ever after. Everyone will seem terribly selfish and greedy in the face of the end, then, when we refuse to give them any inch over the land, or any fat morsels to feed their gnashing mouths. It won't matter overmuch who's standing next to you against the demons when we get there," she finished. "All that will matter is that we want to keep what gives us the most hope alive, all the beauty and ugliness included, and we will need a quite a bit of conniving cunning with us then."

"You have judged all the others, Ashen Knight," Poppy then spoke up again, swallowing the last of her soup like it was her last meal. Her voice quavered, then held strong. "I won't let myself be counted lesser than anyone else here, and if you are to stand for Justice, then you must apply your standards equally, or if you cannot bear it, adjust them. I am ready. Judge me too, if you so please, should you want further proof of my sincerity."

Edited by JumpingFruit on Oct 9th 2022 at 5:25:25 AM

Lonely Shore

Urzael's gaze towards Sword grew hard and one could see the glimmer behind his eyes grow stronger once more, as the Oni joked about restarting their previous feud. "The weak and foolish respond well to threats of pain and violence. Unfortunately for you, Oni, I am neither.", he stated with that familiar tension behind his words.

He did listen to her desire to claim the Throne of Greed. His silence was deafening, as he gazed back into the fire and absentmindedly ran a finger over his blade. Finally, when she was finished, he shook his head. "I have little interest in your ship, even if I were to know how to sail it. Besides, like you I do not intend to remain in this place."

Thankfully, Poppy then started talking and this drew the knights attention away from Sword. Turning to the young girl his stance relaxed once more, as he carefully listened to her words. His eyes watching her closely, the heat emanating from them slowly receding into an almost soft warmth.

For a moment he stayed silent, letting Poppy's final words hang in the air, with only the crackling fire providing any ambience. Then he sighed, almost whistfully.

"Hope...quite an appropriate goal for one such as yourself, little Poppy.", he finally said. "Full of ideals, want and...perhaps a bit naiveté. In better times, I would have wholeheartedly approved of your designs and even now, bitter as life has made me, I confess that your honesty is a refreshing balm for my soul."

"However, your claim of the Gods not needing to be perfect is steeped in your inexperience. I've studied the past cycles and claimed my fair share of lore about those that came before the Twelve. And I have realized something..." His grip around his sword briefly grew tight. "We have satisfied ourselves for too long with inadequate Contenders for divine power. So desperate was mortalkind for someone to deliver them, ever so shortly, from the plight of the Void, they were willing to leave the protection of the Realms to those unsuited for it."

"The Four Hundred, The Gilded, The Celestials, The Roaming...they all were not worthy, nor the best that could have been. So many Cycles and only one or two were more than just tyranny and plight by different means. In the face of destruction, we satisfied ourselves with oppression!" With every word, the bonfire grew hotter and brighter and Urzaels speech became distressingly intense, as he was spitting his words by the end of it.

He seemed to realize it, though, and took a moment to take a breath and collect himself. "My word merely is...that perhaps now is the time we ought not just to seek the fastest solution...but the best." He looked at everyone, one by one. "That is, at least, what I seek."

Finally, he turned back to Poppy and gave her a sympathetic smile. "As for judging you, little Poppy, you have not to worry. If I had any doubt about your sincerity, I would have followed up on it, such is my cynical nature." He patted his blade, before putting it beside him in the sand, away from her. "Whatever sins you carry cannot be as severe as some of your chosen companions. I would feel it."

He then turned to continue his discussion about any cooperation with the others. As they talked, littel Periwinkle poked its head out of Poppy's dress, its little nose twitching. A tiny yawn crept out of its little mouth, as it had finished its nap, and now it began to sniff around for pats and snacks. Looking up to Poppy it squeaked enthusiastically to get her attention.

Edited by TheNohen on Oct 12th 2022 at 5:31:27 PM

Val

"Respectfully disagree."

Val, who had been quiet for the past few minutes, chimed back into the conversation, looking at Urzael. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing to want, because the idea of completely perfect gods is a neat one. I just don't think it's possible."

He leaned back a bit, spreading his hands. "Think about it—every god starts out as a hapless mortal who learns the last gods died and decides 'oh I should probably do something about that'. When have you ever met a person who's perfect? No flaws, no failings?"

A silence hung over the bonfire.

"Yeah, didn't think so. Now—" His hands dropped to his sides. "—I'm not saying you're wrong in wanting it, this is just my reasoning as to why it's an impossible ideal. Perfection can't be achieved unless you're the god of it and I don't think that's a Throne."

More silence.

"Also, if you're going to talk about tyranny and oppression by the gods, why didn't you bring up...y'know...him?"

Lonely Shore

"Oh, I'm well aware of the futility of seeking perfection. But one can nonetheless strive to reach for the best possible outcome. And so far, that has not been the case.", countered Urzael. "It is not so much that we haven't had perfect Gods...its that we had too many bad ones."

He turned to Valentin there and gave him a nod. "And of course, like you said, the best argument for my quest is him. Given what he has done to the Realms, I don't think any of you can argue that preventing such a calamity to occur once again is a ignoble task."

Kimiko

She quirked an eyebrow at Urzael's chosen throne. Then she watched the back and forth between him and Val with interest. She leaned back on her arms, soaking in the warmth of the fire. Her tail snaked out to grab one of the offered waterskins, and she gulped it down.

"I kinda get where you're coming from, actually. Some people probably shouldn't get Thrones." Kimiko finds herself agreeing with him. "But the difference between you and me is that I don't judge people for their pasts. I'm a criminal myself, y'know?"

Her tail swished through the air lazily, the blades on it glinting in the firelight. "If any of these guys turn out to be unfit for god duty, I'll be the first to stop them. And I'm sure most of them feel the same way. We're all on this little journey because we think we can fix things. We might have different ideas on how to do that, but that's why we should work together."

She spread her arms wide, an all-encompassing gesture. "The problem was never the bad gods themselves. It was that the gods couldn't work together. That they fought each other. That's why I'm joining up with this lot. And why, if you really care about fixing everything, you'd put aside your holier-than-thou attitude and do the same. Otherwise, we'll probably end up fighting at some point, and I'd prefer not to kill anyone I don't have to."

Val

Val shrugged. "Fair, fair." Though I'd argue that the Celestial Troupe did a perfectly fine job given their circumstances. "But it's not as if the Thrones themselves can vet all the possible gods. There's not much we personally can do in terms of quality control, I'm afraid."

Then Kimiko spoke up, and he found himself nodding along. Made sense. "If we're all going to be the same pantheon, fighting would probably be the worst thing we could do right now," he put in. "An' either way, even if you don't agree, we're all stuck in the same Shard. Might as well form an alliance just because we won't be able to avoid each other."

He would've said no more, but then a thought suddenly struck him. "Actually, we were talking about this earlier, but..." He grinned, getting to his feet with a flourish. "Introducing Valentin, claimant of the Throne of Joy! My goal is to spread cheer through all the Realms, and create a future where all will be happy. I'm aware that is an impossible ideal, but it certainly won't stop me from reaching for it."

With that done, Val plopped back onto the log and rested his chin on his hand. "So, Urzael, what do you plan on doing when you're the god of judgment and/or vengenace?"

Nasira lightly shook her head at Urzael's greeting. "I am no lady... but thank you, nonetheless."

Nasira gave a nod of acknowledgement and thanks as the food was passed around, quietly observing Urzael's interactions with her comrades, noting the rise and fall of tension between him and others, taking his words and reactions in carefully. She considered jumping in to counter the Ember Knight's ideas with her own, but tempered that urge with the knowledge that pressed too heavily, he wouldn't aid them against the Pretender - or worst case scenario, break the precarious peace the gathering had settled into.

Judgment... vengeance... two concepts not necessarily opposed to one another, but not necessarily aligned either. Why those two thrones together...? "An imprint..." were there members of the Ember Knights still active at present, sight unseen? How long has he traversed the Shards? And what are the ideals he strives to "perfect"...?

The djinn's usual string of observations and conjecture was cut short by a warm touch and a soft voice from beside her, pulling her from the bubble of her thoughts back to the blanket and the pirate captain beneath. Suddenly caught off guard, Nasira's face flushed and for perhaps the first time there was a slight hesitance to her voice.

"I-I suppose so. Though you're warm as well, Cait..."

With a jubilant shout from Val, Nasira felt a whiplash of moving from one sphere of focus to another, clearing her throat as she hastily gathered her thoughts.

"...Ahem. Kimiko speaks the truth. Beyond holding back the void, we all have our ideals we wish to realize for the Realms. But the ideals of one person, one god, can never be complete with the limits of their experience. It takes the perspective and knowledge of others, the things which you cannot see for yourself that others can, to hone and perfect one's ideals. ...and speaking practically, the trials for the Thrones can't be contested alone.

"As we are sharing our aims, I will state that I wish to claim the Throne of Liberation. As for talks of tyranny and oppression, I have seen it. I was born under it, served under it, and was freed from under it. I seek to break the chains of the djinn held by the hands of the Sufat and the chains of others so too enslaved. Rest assured, I will not abide by tyrants or oppressors."

Poppy Blake

"...I do hope you're right about me, Sir," Poppy said, trying to bring (back?) the same levity that Kimiko had brought to the conversation, and failing somewhat in that. "But I think the others are right. Every courthouse needs a jury of one's peers—or at least, those were the words read out to me at each and every one of my trials." She smiled sardonically at this, an expression that should not have been on a child's face.

"But really, Judgement does need the perspective of others in order to be nuanced," she added carefully, rubbing the edge of her apron in one of her hands nervously and holding Periwinkle in the other. "Whether through testimony or other evidence. What's acceptable in one city, or culture, may be sacrilege in another. It won't be simple to discern differing customs regarding sin with a burning sword. Which is why other points of view must be important too, and you need to talk to other folk for that."

"For example, in Kamelotte, magic is regarded as dangerous. It is a fact of life. Ask any peasant and they will tell you how a wild magic surge can be destructive. Witches, Scion Sorcerers, and the like all have magic. Therefore, they are dangerous, and can cause much destruction. If not pressed into the service of the crown, they're burnt at the stake." Here, Poppy lifted the hem of her dress by several inches, showing Urzael both the burn scars that she had received, both old and new. "That's how things are. It's not entirely unjustified. Mages have cast devastating curses on the land before, and the land has been permanently ravaged and scoured by magic. The scars run deep. Who would you say is in the right, and who would you say is in the wrong? How do you plan to balance the scales without falling into the same trap as he did?"

Poppy hoped that she had guessed right about who he was. Enough of the town elders' stories had been pared down for children's ears, but she had paid ample attention whenever she could sneak into storytelling sessions.

"And consider that people will always hope for prosperity, by good means or ill. Criminals will forever hope for freedom, to see their families again. Not all of them, but enough, because hope already belongs to everyone. If and when I ascend, their cries will reach my ears, make no mistake," she finished. "By then, you will need to have a codex of laws, and perhaps a court to judge others in, to make your Judgement fairer. It would be difficult to do alone, even for a god. I fear that our Domains may be at odds, but I would still like to have a moment of cooperation to remember you by while we are still relatively mortal Contenders. Even if we may part ways later. Though it may lay the groundwork for more...and so on..."

"By the way, Periwinkle says hello," murmured Poppy, offering the little sea bunny to Urzael. "If you pet them, it might help you feel calmer while continuing this conversation, if you'd like to...?"

Edited by JumpingFruit on Oct 12th 2022 at 11:09:00 AM

Captain Holloway

Ah, good. So she could get a rise out of the djinn after all. Caitlin grinned to herself in satisfaction, leaning slightly against Nasira as she listened to the others conversing. She hadn't much to add in regards to their philosophy, since she'd never known justice or righteousness—though she found herself speaking her own goals as the others did, if only to remind herself as well.

“I seek the Throne of Oceans, myself. At first, I thought I'd obtain it to have dominion over my realm. Twist things around, to suit those like me. But after some time, I've changed my mind...” she admitted, glancing at the others before fixing her gaze on Urzael. “I'm going to pay attention. Perhaps I'll start to learn useful lessons. If I'm going to be a god, after all, my range of influence will be great... so why should I waste that power on just my own ideas...?”

She shrugged slightly, gently pulling away from Nasira yet keeping the blanket over them, unaware of the symbolism she had accidentally created in her feeling unable to separate fully. She took her sword, and began to etch into the sand, seeming to be sketching some kind of vaguely humanoid creature bursting out from the sea.

“I've had thoughts. Thoughts and dreams, of becoming a god of terror. One that... would give out blessings and curses; who'd deliver vast quantities of fish to one city, and sink another in a heartbeat...” she explained as she finished the rather rough sketch, before drawing a series of circles in the 'sky' around the head of the sea monster. “But I was thinking alone. I won't be alone, will I...? Perhaps... there's room for practicality here...”

She sheathed her sword, moving back to embracing Nasira again as she considered the drawing in the sand, before looking up at Urzael once more.

“I've cemented myself as a monster and a killer through my life as a woman of Panthalassa, because I'd found no insight or reason to be anything more than a criminal. As my crew could testify, and themselves embody. Panthalassa is a broken realm, which takes effort and genius to find hope in. So, perhaps once I am a god, after all myself and my fellows have been through... I'll have learned to be something more, something which I could never hope to be as just a woman of that fractured realm.”

She let her gaze drift, slightly upwards now, considering whatever counted as a sky in this Shard.

“It's certainly worth considering. A Throne of Oceans has no requirement of personality in the way that Judgement or Justice would. So I think I'll... aim skywards, not straight ahead. There's no harm in it.”

She found herself leaning against the djinn again, less for pleasure now, and more for comfort. As it always should've been, but only now could she finally appreciate it for what it was.

”Who knows? I might become someone new...”

Lonely Shore

Urzael listened to Kimiko, but shook his head. "And they fought each other, because they were unsuited. Their failing caused the outcome, not the other way around.", he argued. "And do not misunderstand my morality. I do not think myself higher than most and hold no delusion over what I have done and will do in order to achieve my goal. Vengeance is rarely a path devoid of darkness."

He wanted to add more, but at this stage the others started to chime in. Urzael leaned back and instead of arguing directly, decided to only quietly listen, as each brought forth their own ideas and arguments, as well as announcing the Thrones they were aiming for. Valentin's playful reveal even made the knight raise an eyebrow over the fact that this young man aimed to gain the Throne of Joy.

He then nodded at Nasira approvingly. "Liberation is a worthy cause and one all too often denounced by those who have grown fat on power and riches. Your intention of ending the depravity of the Sufat is a noble one.", he promised, bowing his head slightly.

"Their cities will burn and their prosperity turn to ash, as the fires of their oppression will consume them and the sins so long ignored claim their price once more. And once their armies have been laid to waste, those that languished under the lash shall claim their revenge." He sounded disturbingly intense as he said this and a dangerous, grim smile played on his lips.

His attention then turned to Poppy, who brought up the point that justice wasn't always the same for everybody. Urzael scoffed and reached into the fire, letting the flames dance over his fingers harmlessly. "Sins are universal not in their design, but in their scale. Someone stealing a loaf of bread out of hunger is not depraved, wether his lord says so or not, for he hurt more the pride than the pocket. One stealing a holy sword from his local temple out of a misguided desire for glory, causing devastation he did not intent, however carries with him grave curses."

He pulled out his hand and stared as the fire flowed over his fingers and up his arm, like it was alive. Its tongue lashing at his face, invoking the idea of a hateful animal. He waved it off and the fire died. "In the end, it is not fallible mortal minds and ideals that determine the guilt, but the very real, indisputable blood that flowed from these actions. Good intention counts for little, when all that remains of them is a burning village and the laughter of a mad God."

He then looked down at Periwinkle and his features softened once more. "What a strange creature...I have not seen its kind before.", he admitted and reached out. Periwinkle sniffed briefly at his fingertips, but when it sensed the fire it squeaked in fear and quickly dove back into Poppy's pockets.

Urzael stared briefly at his fingers, a strange expression on his face. A mixture of disappointment and resignation, before a sense of of anger mixed in. He shook his head and focused back on the bonfire.

"The judgement has already been cast, little Poppy. All that remains is the sentence. To satisfy the cry of vengeance by those that perished for those so-called good intentions. If all were to fear this, the world would perhaps finally know proper peace.", he stated ominously. "Sometimes...all you can do is burn it all and leave nothing but ash, so something better can rise in its place."

The Ember Knight looked at Caitlin, as he said this. And while she spoke of her realization, of her desire to do more with her quest for power than just self-satisfaction, his eyes did not leave her for a second, as his hands held his blade once more. He said no word, only listening to her and letting shadows flicker over his face, courtesy of the fire.

Masaru had watched and listened to all this from afar. But now, he had seen enough. For a brief moment, he leaned against the railing and thought of what to do next. The others continued to argue, their words slowly drifting into meaningless babble, as the general brooded.

Then he turned about and walked under deck. Knocking on the door, he stepped into the large room, where the hammocks had been put up, he was greeted with Willam leaning against the wall. The former sailor had evidently not found any sleep and a nearby candle threw long shadows over his gaunt face. He and Masaru exchanged a look and Willam face grew even more grim, when he saw the Shibito's expression.

"I need your help with something.", said Masaru and closed the door behind him.

Back at the bonfire, the discussion had largely died down and everyone now looked at Urzael. The Ember Knight stared back into the fire, silent and thinking over everything that had been said. His eyes wandered over everyone, from Sword and Caitlin over to Nasira and Valentin, before traveling over Poppy and ending at Kimiko.

For a few tense moments there was nothing but silence.

"Very well. I shall aid you in the fight against the Orphan.", said Urzael finally. With that statement it was as if a sigh of relief washed over the group. Nonetheless he held up his hand. "I do not agree with everything that has been said, but I am not foolish enough to deny that some of your words hold sincerity, if not wisdom. The latter will or will not show itself given time, I am sure."

Leaning back and reaching out for his knapsack and blade. "Given this decision, I also agree on sharing all I know about our shared enemy. I had the luxury of exploring this wretched place at my leisure, before trying to sneak my way towards the Orphan. The latter part unfortunately went awry, when the Oni and the Nenmo showed up, although I won't deny my own hand in the altercation.", he said, looking over at Sword, before she could protest.

"Now, I'm sure you already know that our enemy is able to affect life itself and holds sway over the power of creation. In his maddened state, he is obsessed with rebirth and making himself perfect, destroying what lived here once in his repeated attempts to achieve it and being sealed away by the last survivors before their own end."

"A conundrum, as without being able to die and without anybody able to reach him and with his aimless creations guarding him, his isolation proved a greater challenge than actually fighting him. Thankfully, that challenge has now been bested."

Urzael took his blade and etched a crude image of the orphan into the sand. "I confess, I intended to meet him and the forces he undoubtedly created with his black ichor by myself. With you this will now be admittedly more challenging, but with a proper plan I am sure victory can be achieved."

He looked around. "I am capable of flight and am skilled in creating and directing fire. The latter is not without its drawbacks, as larger flames desire to burn me almost as much as my enemy. Should I grow too hot, I am in danger of losing consciousness."

"The Orphan himself is maddened, which will even the odds. He will have nonetheless grown a substantial force, thanks to time given to him now. What these forces entail, I cannot say." With that Urzael gestured towards the group. An unspoken proposal for them to contribute.

Val

Val's brow furrowed a bit. Urzael hadn't answered his question. In fact, he'd outright avoided it, having instead addressed Nasira (in a rather freaky manner, Val would add). Had he just missed it? Or was there something else, something he wasn't willing to admit?

But regardless, he'd now joined the party! Val did absolutely nothing to hide his grin, pumping his fists in the air. They'd done it! And no one had died! This was what in Rousson would be called "completely impossible" and in places not Rousson would probably be called a "rousing success".

"Could try sneaking up on him," Val offered. "We tried that with Ilna and it...didn't really work, but the Orphan might not have super senses, so it might work on him. Plus, I'm real good at sneaking around and clubbing folks over the head." He twirled his staff around a bit.

As he spoke, he scooted over on the logs until he was right next to Urzael, almost pressing against him. "You didn't answer my question earlier," he murmured, voice low so no one else could hear him. "I'm not accusing you, or anything. It's okay if you don't know the answer. Or if you don't want to tell us. But believe me, whatever it is, I won't judge. Lost the right back when I was seven."

Val looked back at the fire, resting his chin on his hand. "And my apologies for speculating, but something tells me that whatever the answer is, it's connected to your reason for coming here. If you want me to drop it, I promise to never speak of any of this again, but..."

He looked up at Urzael, silver eyes as serious as anyone had ever seen him. "Are you traveling as penance, too?"

Poppy Blake

Seeing as Periwinkle had rejected the Ashen Knight, Poppy hummed, trying to calm down the frightened little thing in her pockets. She stared at Urzael's hand for a little while, seemingly considering something quietly, before reaching out and taking it in her own. She squeezed gently, though she didn't know if he could feel it through his armor. Perhaps it would offer the man some small measure of comfort.

"I have the power of reminding anything alive that it will die, and rot, and putrefy," she said, in a halting, almost rhyming tone. "And the power I won from the last Contender is nearly the reverse, allowing me to infuse life into the barren. I also helped the ship come to life, and can heal her if she gets damaged. Her name is the Lervondas."

Edited by JumpingFruit on Oct 16th 2022 at 2:19:24 AM

Captain Holloway

Alas, Urzael had agreed to help them. Caitlin wasn't sure if she liked this or not after all, but one more fighter on their side wouldn't hurt objectively speaking. So, she decided to voice her own abilities, waiting her turn patiently before raising her arm and letting her tattoos glow brightly with Panthalassan dark magic.

"I have some select abilities, channeling black sorceries. I can call my sword to me from a distance, track an opponent through touch, release a gust of force from my arm, and most recently summon some kind of ghastly tendril so as to extend my reach a long distance," she explained, before frowning slightly and nursing her throat as she thought of the other recently obtained power of hers. "Ah, yes. I can summon a duplicate of myself, from... black bile. Which I... suppose is fitting. I'm rather sharp with my blade, and know my footwork besides. Though I can't take a strike. Not in these clothes..."

It was hardly armour, after all, and for heavens' sakes she had to be beneath a blanket in order to stop the chill of the air from overwhelming her. Nevermind stopping a blow from a creature such as The Orphan. But her magic was a boon, at least. Hopefully. Perhaps with some clever application, she could live up to her claimed title as a witch.

"I'll warn, however. I've mentioned my... lust for bloodshed. Like how your fire can overwhelm you, Urzael, that bloodlust can overwhelm me. Likely it'll make me reckless, if I'm not in my right mind. That, and my magic can drain my body of its vigour, though that's more due to its potency and place on my flesh."

She shrugged a little.

"My crew kept insisting that I let the artifacts these spells come from be mere accessories on me. I refused, and crushed the objects up to make them tattoos instead. A mistake, looking back... but it is as it is."

Lonely Shore

Urzael raised his eyebrow, as Val got up close to him. He briefly listened to what the young man whispered to him, before pointedly glaring with a hand on his blade. He waited, until Valentin got the message and gave him some space again.

"I'm sure your talents in the dark arts of murder have its uses. I question however how you will put them into practice on the rising waves of a dark and cold sea.", noted Urzael. That was all he said to Val, as he then focused back on the others, giving the Rouen quite a cold shoulder.

He looked at Poppy strangely, as she took his hand. For a brief moment, he allowed her to hold it, before very gently pulling away. His expression was unreadeable, before he gave her a slight, apologetic nod. "Quite a fitting duality. I hope you will prove yourself worthy, dealing out death and life in equal measure."

"It is best for you, however, if you stay back in this fight. Battle is no place for a child, even one seeking divinity.", added Urzael, with a stern voice.

Turning to Caitlin, he stroked his chin in contemplation. "I suppose having an experienced seafarer present is quite a fortunate turn of events, given the nature of this shard and your ship. How you've have survived so far with your odious decisions...to etch dark artifacts into your own flesh..." He shook his head at Caitlin, but there was almost a crooked smile on his lips. "But I suppose admonishing you for that would be quite hypocritical of me. It is not like I myself are known for making wise decisions."

He then held up a finger and reached for his baggage. Rummaging around for a moment, he pulled out the same armored, clawed metal glove that laid beside him. This one was meant for the left arm and was quite skillfully designed, with metal plates protecting as high as the shoulder.

"After I obtained my skills at controlling flame and fire, I had to shed this to make proper use of my new power. When I got it forged, it was meant to control and subdue wild magic from without and within. For me, it has become more of a burden by now, but you may find it useful. ", he stated to Caitlin. "I am willing to part with it, for the sake of the upcoming battle. I may however one day call in a favour, in exchange."

The Ember Knight then adressed the entire group. "Our foe will engage us with superior numbers. Perhaps even with weapons we may not anticipate now. He will likely hold the key to his hordes protected. If we want to see victory, we need to isolate him, scatter his servants and break his hold over life, in whatever mockery he forges it.", he explained. "Now, does any one of you have ideas on how to approach this menace? I myself am more skilled in driving steel through flesh, rather than drawing lines in the sand."

Captain Holloway

"So long as this favour isn't one of betrayal, that gift of yours will surely be a boon..." Caitlin hummed, nodding as she looked at the gauntlet in Urzael's current possession. "Although... I doubt I myself will find much use, as I'd likely be hindering my sword-arm, and I need my free hand unobstructed to channel my dark magic through. So, if anyone else could make use of it... go ahead if you'd like."

She smiled a little at Urzael. Sure, he was a prick, but he was mature enough to be generous when it came to professionalism. So she nodded at him, and then pondered a moment, before lightly shrugging her shoulders at the quandary that was planning ahead.

"Though I wouldn't call myself thoroughly reckless, this kind of foe is normally beyond my understanding. Usually, when facing down an opponent so wild and brutal, my direction to my crew would be: 'Avoid it!'" she chuckled to herself. "But that is of little help here. I turn to Masaru and Nasira myself, for intelligent ideas...~"

She winked at the latter. She pointedly did not wink at the former, but she gave him a look of respect regardless.

Poppy Blake

Poppy nodded grimly and stared into the fire, clenching her fists before releasing them. "Alright, I'll be on the backlines, then, if that's where everyone wants me," she said. "If it's another naval battle, I can help steer the Lervondas and repair any damage done to it. I can also grow obstacles to block enemies onboard and control the foliage to fling smaller attackers overboard."

"I might be safer in the crow's nest, or the rigging, some place high up," she suggested. "It's not the best option, but I'll be away from the fighting on deck, and being below deck stops me from knowing what's going on. I can tie myself up there with vines and act as a kind of ranged support, I think. At any rate, I'll have a good view of the situation."

Edited by JumpingFruit on Nov 6th 2022 at 11:31:38 AM

Kimiko

"Someone unsuited for power can learn to wield it, if they are willing to learn. The flaw with the old gods was that that chance to learn was never given. Vengeance only leads to more vengeance, never to growth or acceptance. Love, not fear, is the only way a world knows peace." Kimiko countered, her whiskers twitching a little. Urzael's talk of vengeance was starting to grate on her nerves, a little. "But I doubt we'll ever convince each other. I'll still accept your help, in any case."

As the others started going over what they could do, Kimiko considered how much to tell them. They were being honest, so she supposed she should as well.

"I'm more of a melee fighter, though my kyoketsu-shoge gives me a bit of range. Not to toot my own horn, but I like to think I'm top notch in claw-to-hand. Or tail-to-hand, as the case may be." She swished her tail again for emphasis. "I can be pretty sneaky, too, so I might be able to help with a stealth attack. Magicwise, I have a power that grants me strength when I'm faced with injustice, and I can see and hear through bugs and rodents."

She'd actually heard what Val was murmuring, and found Urzael's subsequent lack of response to be quite telling. Not that she'd say anything, of course.

Val

Yeah, Val got the message. He suppressed a sigh and scooted away with a muttered "sorry".

"I dunno if I can," he admitted, staring into the fire. "Ever heard of sea legs? I don't have them. I have land legs, and whenever I'm not on solid ground they quit on me."

He then shrugged. "But hey, no points for not trying."