Jaela waits and rests. There's much to do but after all of that, her mind is focused on what needs to be done as fast as possible. In due time Sylvie returns, nodding to you once you meet her at Aurora's gates. "I have it. Costs Aurora 30,000 gold to get it fast and I burned some favors, but we have it. We owe a few celestial archmages a favor, but fortunately Alicia's name carries weight in Dweomerheart."
Go post the 30k expense to the Aurora fund and update it.
"Even without the emergency, it wouldn't be too bad to burn this sort of cash and get a hold of this spell," Jaela responds with a shrug, gesturing towards Aurora proper as she starts to walk slowly enough for Sylvie to catch up at her side. "Thanks for doing this. We owe anyone who fights with us-- well, you know all that. Let's go find Tepen or Vul'lath?"
"Both are really busy right now," Elena says, "If it's only casting a spell, Tepen said Gold or Ebony could do it."
You're in the vault, the dogai's sword sitting on a stone bier. Celestial runes are drawn around it, as if to cage in the sword forever. They shimmer constantly, light that vanishes around the blade to leave it cloaked in shadow. Elena scratches the back of her head, "Just tell me who you want and I'll get them."
"I think Ebony will be able to put in an extra holy touch here, which might be what we need," Jaela responds.
Around you other biers sit with various unholy arms and artifacts you've liberated from Hell. You have a little time to study, to see them pulse and contained. But not long, Ebony's fast. She comes in and pushes her hood back, "You need my services, General?"
Jaela nods, gesturing at the dogai's sword. "While either of us could make the spell in question work, we want a specialist for this. As you can see, that assassin managed to trap two of our own in his sword before we killed him." She can provide more information if it's needed, but otherwise waits for Sylvie to provide Ebony with the fruits of her labor.
Ebony nods and gets to it. She kneels before the bier and prays, weaving Words of Creation and arcane phrases into it. Before you a glowing blue magic circle against evil appears, followed by words that make the entire room vibrate. She then takes the scroll and reads from it. The blade is still as the rest of the room shakes-
-Screamingcryinghurtingregretpainhurtinglossdespairhurtinghatemalicehurting-
- and a moment later you feel a vast feeling of relief, a moment where you feel Hanna and Canderella around you, then they are gone.
"It is done," Ebony whispers, "They are free to reform in their home planes."
Jaela breathes a sigh of relief, clapping Sylvie and Ebony's shoulders. "Once more, my thanks."
She looks up briefly, saying, "Elena, please arrange for Sendings to them asking if they need help getting back and their locations, if so. I'll be available to personally pick either up in the next few hours if so."
It's not long. Barely ten minutes of waiting before Elena appears before you, "Jaela, you need to get to Hanna," she says, "Her answer to my sending was agonized screaming."
She can't say she hadn't expected that, she really can't. "Get my brother and Mirajane to meet me by the gates," she tells Elena. "Also, a trip to the Court of Stars might take some time. Ask Mirima for me to take charge over finding Candy. Sylvie and Ebony will be delighted to assist her with that, I'm sure."
"It'll be done," Elena says.
Mirajane's tense, though your brother's talking to her in a low tone. "Oh there you are!" he calls, "I go take care of some business and I miss an apocalypse."
"That's what you get for taking care of business," she says, not missing a beat. "Let's go rescue Mom, shall we?"
Jaela steps out of the gates, focusing her mind on the desire to find Hanna quickly, and offers a prayer to Queen Morwel to show them the way before shifting the three of them over.
So how exactly are you getting over?
Greater Plane Shift, letting the plane guide me.
Basically a luck check but a highly reasonable one. Roll 1d100-30. Low's good here.
[21:56] <@Annerose> roll 1d100-30
[21:56] <Rei-chan> Annerose rolled : 1d100-30 --> [ 1d100=88 ]{58}
You appear in the forests of Arborea. It's peaceful and quiet here, no sign of discord. Only the peace of nature, at least for the moment.
Luck and prayer has brought them this far. Now it's time for magic to supplement that, and Jaela calls upon Find the Path while focusing on the place her mother would have materialized at.
Ahead. Straight ahead and soon enough you can hear it - the sound of a woman crying. It's from ahead, past a grove of trees.
Jaela breaks into a run, though she's careful to keep her situation awareness up. She's not about to lose the rest of her family while dashing carelessly through the woods.
"Mom?" Your brother calls as he races forward, Mirajane right behind her.
Hanna lies inside the grove. She's nude and shaking all over, curled up into the fetal position. She's sniffling and hugging her knees. From the unpleasantness around her, you can see she's thrown up several times.
Despite all this she looks up as you approach, "Jaela...did you get him?" Her voice is raw, weak.
"Got him," Jaela says, projecting amused confidence even as she cleans up her mother and her immediate surroundings. "Did you have any doubt?"
She's not sure physical contact is the right move just yet, and instead swaps her armor for the Robe of the Lifebringer, which she immediately afterwards shrugs off. Remaining in a simple white shirt and breeches of a darker brown shade, Jaela offers the robe to her mother, kneeling at her side.
Hanna manages to stand and dress. It's much shorter and tighter on her, but it does the job. Yet you see she's wobbling on her feet, Mirajane rushing in to offer her a shoulder. "Not right yet. Need time," Hanna says, "Where's Aurora?"
"Elysium, of sorts," Jaela says, reaching over to channel a Heal into her mother's body. It is followed by Sublime Revelry as she shrugs helplessly. "Even if it's a crutch of sorts, lean on it for now."
"Won't help. Only time'll fix this," Hanna says, "Remember when it happened to Kascha? Thanks though."
"Didn't she ask someone to set her on fire like a giant chicken?" Jaela muses, standing at her other side. "So how about it? Want to go back and see the world we've saved?"
"Wish I could," Hanna says, leaning heavily on Mirajane and you. "You know I can't, not for a long time now."
"I'm not so sure about that. The situation's weird." Your brother says, "Jaela, you know what exactly happened?"
"The Maiden of the Gate granted Alicia and Syala a miracle, and pulled Benfal into Elysium," Jaela elaborates, tackling the problem from another angle. Perhaps legitimate distraction would work, where magic has largely failed. "Now Benfal is a world within Elysium, more an island than a layer if I got the facts right. So you could visit if you liked, or we could make a stop at the Court and bug Queen Morwell for some anathemic knowledge. Your call."
Hanna sags, "Just somewhere I can rest. A bed. Somewhere with a bed."
"That's easy enough," Jaela muses, placing her hand on her mother's shoulder. She gestures for the rest of the family to group over, plane shifting them a short distance from Aurora's gates as she says, "As a bonus, you'll get to deepen your friendship with Candy!"
Perhaps to your surprise, the teleport works and Hanna is there. She manages to make a sound something akin to, "Blorgmohrph," before falling forward and out cold. Fortunately, as both yourself and Mirajane have a hold of her, Hanna doesn't faceplant onto the ground.
"Damn," Jaela mutters quietly, turning to her brother. "Can you look after her with Mirajane at the infirmary? I need to check up on Candy and put out any fires before I join you guys there."
"Yeah, I got her," he says, "C'mon Mom," he takes your place in helping her, "You can sleep it off for a week or two."
Jaela switches back to her favorite armor and follows them in, calling for Elena upon arrival.
Elena appears, her outfit disheveled. It's a set of armor sans helmet. "Yes? Busy busy busy today, Jaela!"
"Give me the run-down on Candy. Did Mirima find her? If not, did she report she's okay? Finally, did Ellese send word back?"
"They have her, she's resting before coming back," Elena reports, "They'll be back in a few hours. Ellese hasn't sent word back, let me check with a few people."
Elena's gone for perhaps a minute before, "No, no word."
Jaela nods. "Once things calm down a bit, arrange for a Sending asking her if everything's alright and alerting her that we've moved." She smiles at Elena, adding, "That's all for now, catch me at the infirmary if you need me for anything."
Next move?
Offscreen, I'll spend time around Hanna and help her recover along with the rest of my family. IC, I'd like to step outside Aurora and summon the djinni from the ring for a chat.
Okay, ring time.
It's a warm day on Benfal when you step out, everything wondrous and perfect, just as Elysium is.
When you invoke the ring, a djinn appears. A humanoid figure with an impressively muscled bare chest and flowing blue pants, a scimitar hanging at his side. He is decorated in jewelry of all kinds, glittering with wealth, "As the pact commands, I -" The djinn's neatly trimmed black goatee and hair are immaculate, a mismatch to the sheer surprise on his face. "You're not Hiwa or Hiya. You're a celestial!"
"I killed them," Jaela responds from where she is sitting down in a folding chair. She gestures at the empty one in front of her, continuing. "They deserved it very much. I am Jaela, general of Aurora." Aurora itself is serving as a suitable background behind her.
He doesn't take the seat. Instead he rushes forward and sweeps you into a hug, lifting you up like you weigh nothing. "Oh! You're telling the truth! You killed them! You did it!" He laughs, "Wonderful! Beautiful!" He spins you around and around.
"Few needed killing as much," Jaela manages to say, wondering if this is how pixies normally feel like.
"Oh yes! Now you can destroy this cursed thing. The way to do so is simple, because it is completely against the twin's nature. Wish for me to be freed." The djinn says.
"Sure. Um." Jaela coughs, trying to regain her equilibrium. "That was in the cards, but can we talk first? I haven't even gotten your name yet, and I wanted to hear the legend behind the ring. You'll return home as soon as I wish you free, right? So I was hoping to satisfy my curiosity before that."
"In your language it roughly translates to Prince Westwind," he says, smiling and letting you go.
"So what happened? I'm sure you just want to go home and all, but you're actually the first djinn that I've met so I'm pretty excited! Where are you from? How did you cross their path?"
Prince Westwind sits down and snaps his fingers. Several smaller, humbly dressed djinn appear, bringing trays of fruit and cups of wine. "I ran afoul of the two and to get to the point of it, they subdued me in battle. They forced me into agreeing to that damn ring, little did I know they had one of that quality. The twin's Earth-cursed mother made it for them, all it needed was a noble djinn to submit to it." He grabs a goblet and has a drink, then snaps his fingers again. A comely female djinn appears, taking a tray of grapes and starting to feed them to him.
"She ran away before we had a chance to fight," Jaela tells him. "Plus, you know, immortals being pretty hard to kill for good. Any chance that terrible family will go after you again?"
"If they do, I'm ready," Prince Westwind boasts, "I doubt the twins are dead for good, either. I hope they try, I owe them a reckoning." A few more grapes and then a gulp of wine follow. "Of course, I owe you greatly for all you've done. What do you desire? Treasure? Magic? Power? Ask and it will be granted by the Whirlwind Throne."
Jaela rubs the back of her head, just underneath her helmet. "I'm actually pretty strong. Obviously." She gestures vaguely about herself. "I also didn't try to keep you hostage here or anything."
She supposes that offers to repay the goodness of Aurora's heart might be expected in this situation, though she should just treat it as any regular donation to the cause.
"Aurora is what we renamed Medicant, and we've got a Crusade going against Hell ever since it occupied our Prime of origin, Lifasa," she decides to educate the noble djinn who was trapped who knows how long by the devil twins. "For me, your friendship is enough. If you'd like to support our Crusade, however, we're always on the lookout for those who wish to stand against Hell."
And to show that there are no strings attached, Jaela follows that up with, "I wish you were freed, Prince Westwind."
The ring on your finger grows hot as it crumbles away to ash.
"Free! Free at last!" Prince Westwind laughs, standing up. "I shall return soon. The Whirlwind Throne will hear of your mercy and wisdom, Aurora." Then he's gone, everything he summoned vanishing with him.
Easy come, easy go? Jaela waves, grinning at the disappearing djinni, before heading back inside. If she freed Annalise, there's really very few she wouldn't give the gift of freedom to-- nevermind that now, she switches gears and fills Elena in on their possible future guests.
Elena nods, "Oh, that was nice of you. I'm sure the Triune approves," she says, "So did they say how long they'll be beyond soon?"
Jaela shrugs, grinning. "It's immortals. Soon might well be next decade. I'm hoping for the next couple of days, though, so if they show up try to save them from braving the entrance and getting exploded?"
"Sure, sure," Elena says, "I'll let you know."
Next move?
Let's give it a couple days while things settle down and Hanna and Candy get healed. If the djinni don't come by then, I'll invite Afina for an outing to beat up an ultraloth.
You're all curled up and warm. You're resting against Mirima and blankets are over you. It's not quite sleep or a trance, but your mind is resting and you're recovering from your mental fatigue of the past few days. Besides the occasional snippet of elven song from Mirima, it's quiet in your bedroom.
"Jaela!"
Elena's voice ruins that entirely, "The djinn are here!"
Jaela can't help herself, she laughs. "I'll be there in ten," she tells Elena, opting for a quick shower as she slips out of bed.
Mirima sits up, blankets held to her, "These djinn are thoughtless men," she growls low, "The timing and the nerve!" She nonetheless gets up and cleanses herself with magic, following you.
By the time you reach the gates, it's a parade. A parade of djinns walk in groups of three, waving to the assembled onlookers. Several hundred onlookers, no less. Marching music plays from all around, no sign of people playing so likely the works of magic. With them march animals - tigers, elephants, dire bears and so forth. There dozens and dozens of djinn and many animals, and in the back a curtained palanquin is carried by many djinn servants. Beautiful dancing female djinn surround it, clad in gauzy silks and with long hair tied back into ponytails. All of the djinn wear flashy jewelry and the palanquin is sparkling with gold and gems.
Elena pops in next to you, "They're making a heck of a show, but I confirmed Prince Westwind's in the palanquin."
Not just thoughtless men, then! "Thanks," Jaela tells Elena, heading out to meet the procession.
As they come in, the djinn and animals - who obey a mere glance from a djinn - take formation. As you approach the palanquin, the curtain is thrown open. Prince Westwind sits on a throne within, smiling widely.
"Jaela!" he calls, "You magnificent woman, I am in your debt! So I invited some friends who dislike devils to come along with me."
"The best guests one can have!" Jaela calls back, grinning back at him. "Would you like to come in and take a proper look at the Aurora?"
"Yes!" He stands up and hops off his palanquin, "First escort me in, because there's something I must do."
"That's easy enough," she says, gesturing towards the gates. "Our friends are welcome." Spotting their adorable blue ghost from where she's keeping by the gates, Jaela says, "And here is our very own spirit of Aurora, Elena! Elena, Prince Westwind."
"Hi!" Elena appears and smiles, waving. She's dressed up like Hanna today, minus the axe.
"Friends and allies," Prince Westwind calls, his voice projecting across the courtyard, "Let me show Aurora my gratitude!" He takes off a small pouch and tosses it ahead. It splits open and before you are over a dozen treasure chests, each one overflowing with gold and gems.
"You don't do things by halves, do you?" Jaela asks in amusement. "Prince Westwind, on behalf of Aurora and the Crusade, let me express my gratitude."
"Accepted," he says, "I trust you have room for all of us here?"
"Oh yes! Aurora doesn't lack in space. Elena! Let the Prince's entourage and friends in, will you?" After the instructions, Jaela gestures at Mirima, saying, "And now, Prince Westwind, I'd like to introduce my partner and an officer of Aurora in her own right, Mirima."
Mirima comes forth and bows elaborately to him.
"Ah, Lady Mirima! A celadrin if I don't miss my mark." He leans in and grabs her hand, leaning it up to brush his lips against the top of her hand. "Your beautiful hair and perfect grace are dead giveaways, I'm afraid."
Mirima doesn't smile, but a slight frown smooths out. "Prince," she says, "Welcome to Aurora."
"Grace is even in the name of the school she practices," Jaela can't resist the chance to boast, "and seeing her dismantle a Nessian pit fiend was a truly remarkable experience!"
"Fantastic," Prince Westwind says, "Now, my friends, let us celebrate!"
He can get a more conventional tour later, and meeting Baleruk should shake even a djinni prince. But for now, Jaela is more than happy to be drawn into celebration!
Want to skip along a bit or do you want to get into the celebration in further depth?
It's cool to skip, just give us the highlights!
Celebrations ensue. Most everyone shows up - Canderella and Hanna don't for obvious reasons. Mirajane passes to spend time with Hanna, and Ebony to do the same for Canderella. Baleruk's also a no show for whatever reason.
Soon enough that's all wound down, and with a buzz going from good wine and finer spirits, you see Prince Westwind walk up. The courtyard's mostly cleared and cleaned up now as he says, "Splendid party," he says, "Absolutely splendid."
"It was a great time for one," Jaela agrees.
"It's always a great time for a party," Prince Westwind declares, "We'll have a wonderful one when we're back on...Lifasa, isn't it? Your stolen homeland."
Jaela nods, drawing more solemn. "Seeing Benfal freed was inspiring." She's silent for a few moments, before musing, "Once we're on Lifasa, huh? I bet the party would go for a year."
"I'll hold you to that," Prince Westwind says, still smiling. "So you have some skill with arms, do you?"
Jaela snorts at the question. "You might say I'm in that rare situation where I have few equals. The regular opponents don't stop me even if they swarm, but I'm still not a match for the big names across the planes. Still, throw in magic and I can hold my own in most situations."
"Good enough! I know, it's maddening. There's such a gulf between this level and the level of the true powers. Bah, I think they all collude sometimes to keep us down," Westwind says.
"Probably," Jaela muses. "I think I heard something like that, an actual barrier in place, similar to temporal magic. Then again, the stronger you get the more limitations you receive. There's that, too. For example, I can't even set foot on a Prime now, and deities have even more rules about what they can be involved with. Then, there's the powers who can't even leave their posts. I ask you, what's the point of being strong enough to make Glasya quake in her boots if you can't take a step away from the mountain path you're guarding in Celestia?"
"You tell me, because I don't know," Westwind agrees as he says, "Every so often a rising djinn breaks away from djinn society entirely. If they don't end up dead, they usually end up serving one power or another. You get strong enough and you're unaffiliated, people will be trying hard to get you on board with them."
Jaela snorts all of a sudden. "Can't say I don't understand the feeling, though! I've got a really scary fighting style and no one wants to learn it from it. I swear, there are times I really understand what it's like to want followers to blaze down your trail."
"What's your fighting style?" Westwind asks, chuckling, "If no one wants to learn from it, you're merely asking the wrong people!"
"It relies on my winning personality! You invite attacks, drawing the enemies to yourself as you enrage them beyond conscious thought while dancing around their blows and striking back!" She grins at him. "Weaponized arrogance, with a dash of really sweet armor!"
"Ahahahahahaha!" Prince Westwind throws his head back and laughs, "I knew a mortal who fought like that! He followed Ilmater and saw it as his duty to be the one suffering rather than his comrades. Quite the style, but a difficult sell for most."
"Yeah, I was suffering, alright. See, that's where the armor comes in!" Jaela tells him excitedly. She taps her breastplate with her knuckles. "The more audacious you are, the better it works until the entire thing with painting yourself with a target is actually keeping you safer!"
"I like it," Westwind agrees, "Though I do believe it's time to see how my household is settling in. I'll have to test you sooner or later."
"Any time you like! Just call on Elena and she'll help you out!"
Next move?
Afina~
Who is currently busy for the moment. Anything you wanna do on the side while you wait on that?
Okay! Let's do this quest (http://www.soulriders.net/forum/index.php/topic,101729.msg1036528.html#msg1036528), then. I figure newborn eternal life is going to be easy in a Miracle'd uplifted Benfal, we'll see from there. Who's available for coming along?
Most everyone except PCs who are doing things. Hanna and Canderella are still on the disabled list, while 27's lingering by Hanna around the lock. I don't believe anyone else is tied up right now besides Gold, who is currently talking to Surru. Baleruk's also being grumpy and non-cooperative.
Tannin and Kascha! Let's go!
When you get to the front gates, you find Tannin and Kascha are already there. Good.
"....so then I said, well hell, if you have that, why did you need the dragon?"
Kascha titters politely, laughing into her hand. "Jaela," she says, "What is our mission out here?"
"Fairly simple," Jaela says, producing a ring and hammer that burn the eye from merely looking at them. She raises the hammer first. "This one needs to be quenched into the first cries of a newborn saint, while that one," she goes on to say, waving the ring next, "needs to be doused in the joyous cries of newborn eternal life."
She gestures at Benfal all around them. "Where else but a world elevated to the heavens? When, if not during such an auspicious and happy event?" To Tannin, she stage-whispers, "In laymen terms, let's find pregnant women and enlist their help."
"Damn," Tannin grins and shakes his head, "That might not be a bad idea, 'specially if any of them have half devils inside of them. We could help."
Jaela sincerely doubts a true Miracle would've let such a problem exist, and refuses to let Tannin bring her down by thinking about that. But he does have a point, and she voices her agreement. "It's not all selfish, yeah. And as for the hammer, I'm hoping Mom will get better quicker if she sees it after I bring it back to her. It's symbolic and all that."
"Then let's get going," Kascha says.
Plan here in more detail/actions taken?
Let's rely on divine guidance, luck and GI. Ask about women in advanced stages of pregnancy, offer to help, spend time with each. If by chance one is close to birth explain that I'm on a holy quest and ask for her blessing with it.
Sure thing. Who's leading the GI and who is aiding?
It's +30 for me. If I'm the highest, I'll take 10 on it for 40. 44 with successful aid.
Tannin has a whopping +56, so he'll lead. Going to boost him at all?
Our aid for +4 is enough. Let's take ten!
> roll 1d20+60 Tannin like sto roll, blame his chaotic nature
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 66 > [d20=6]
Ominous. Glad it's not a 99 at least.
It's not terribly hard. Tannin moves about like an old hand at it, talking to a few people and buying a few drinks. After a half hour, "So, got leads on half a dozen pregnant women ready to give birth," he says as the three of you stroll out of a tavern. "Preferences?"
"We'll stop by to help with each one," Jaela responds. "Did any of their stories grab your attention? We'll go with your gut, since it's your area of expertise."
And since Benfal is a heaven, now, if her guess about newborns is off they can look into the elderly on the brink of death as those can transform into happy courre in these parts.
"Yeah, got a lead on one. Name's Milly, she's down this way," Tannin leads you along. As you turn the corner and go along, you see a park to the side of the street. Here hundreds are gathered, listening to an astral deva speak. It's a bit far away to pick up, but you probably could if you tried.
"Anything of note going on over there?" Jaela asks, relying on those with better ears.
Tannin and Kascha can't fail this roll, so they'll take 1 and we move on.
"Preaching for Alicia and Syala," Kascha says, "The people seem interested in it."
Jaela nods, not too surprised given their circumstances. "Lead on?" she asks of Tannin.
You are soon lead to a house deep in Liber. A small but unremarkable house - save for you can hear screams from within. Screams of pain.
"Push! Push harder!" A woman's voice travels out from the open window.
Suggesting to Tannin that perhaps he should stay outside, Jaela heads in with Kascha to do what they can to help!
"This one's all on you," Tannin agrees. Within is a simple one room house. Lying on a bed in the back is a woman giving birth. A midwife is there, as you can see the baby's coming out.
"You're almost there," The midwife encourages, "Keep pushing!"
The woman giving brith - perhaps in her twenties, sweaty faced and dazed, looks up. "The fuck are you fuckers doing here...aaaah! I'm pushing!"
The midwife steals a glance back - she's older, gray haired and sharp eyed - and says, "If you're here to help, please help. It's a hard birth."
"Please, be at peace," Jaela tells the woman, crossing the distance to grasp her hand as she chants the spell to take away all pain, past and present. "We're here to help."
Meanwhile, her touch conveys healing through their contact and she remains ready to assist with the baby as well, should her expertise be needed.
The cries of pain stop as with healing and relief, birth proceeds. It's not long as Kascha kneels and offers supporting words. The baby's coming out, alright.
Chance to do anything or set up here.
Both ring and hammer are out and ready to hear joyous cries of newborns, but that would be a happy bonus. Jaela focuses on keeping mother and child alive, healthy and as pain-free as ultimate mortal magic can manage!
For my own reference, past the info + requirements on those items here.
Ferrum Incendia
This ring grants the wearer's natural attacks a +5 enhancement bonus, as well as an additional 2d6 points of hellfire damage. This ring radiates overwhelming evil.
Ferrum Incendia must be doused in the joyous cries of newborn eternal life, then used to bring peace between great enemies.
---
Blackguard's Hammer: Greathammer+1, unholy. Grants a +3 profane bonus to the save DCs of the wielder's spell like abilities or blackguard/paladin of tyranny spellcasting. 50,000 gold, assuming you're willing to sell an evil object of this power.
The Blackguard's Hammer must be used to to forge a blade crafted from the hand of a virgin and quenched into the first cries of a newborn saint.
I already had it used to craft a blade by a pretty nice elemental smith in Brightwater.
Ferrum Incdentia cracks. The sense of vile evil from it lessens, still there but softened.
Before your eyes, the blackguard's hammer shifts. The greathammer becomes made of gleaming steel, smooth and pristine. Golden runes cover it and a sense of serenity comes from it.
Loot post incoming for you.
Jaela smiles down at the new mother before directing her attention to the midwife, to see if there's anything she could help with.
"It's done," The midwife rises, cleansing her hands in water and wiping them with a towel. The baby's in the mother's arms, "Thank you, honored one."
"Being given the opportunity to help in some small way is its own reward," Jaela responds with a smile, and heads out with Kascha. There are still plenty of women near childbirth to help, according to Tannin's information, and she'll do it to the best of her ability.
Just going to help out? I assume this is a reason to skip along unless you have something in mind.
Yep. After we're done with this, I'll give the hammer to Hanna with the whole story about how the joy of a newborn soul caused it to be reborn and cleansed of evil!
Hanna's resting in bed. She's curled up and with her eyes closed, though she opens them when you come in. Mirajane's sitting at her bedside, a book open in her lap. On the other side of the bed a simple bed of blankets has been laid down - 27's place, though he's not there right this moment.
"Jaela," Hanna says, voice sounding fuzzy. Dazed, far away, but at least not in pain.
"Comfy?" Jaela asks, sitting down on the floor close to the bed as her armor melts away into robes. "It's surreal, what's going on outside. You have a world that doesn't know if it wants to keep going, or go back to its roots, or become heaven."
"Yeah," Hanna's voice is just a bit raspy still. She coughs thrice before groaning. "How do you think it's going to go?"
"It's headed the right way. I think Alicia and Syala will try to reshape that society entirely, but after what Benfal went through it might not be a bad thing. I still remember what happened to Lifasa in a few short years, so...."
Jaela shrugs helplessly, before forcing a smile upon her face. "So I got you a gift!" She produces the hammer, launching into a glorious story of traveling across the planes to reforge it in righteousness, only to discover that the final ingredient was the transformation of a tortured world into the heavens through what can only be seen as childbirth on a planar scale!
Hanna takes the hammer with a smile, resting it on her chest and with a hand around it. She listens to your story but soon dozes, slipping into sleep's embrace. As you finish Mirajane smiles, "She's been sleeping a lot today," she says, "I think it's a good sign, it means she's not in enough discomfort to be forced awake."
Also, you note 27 got back when you weren't looking. He's curled up on his bedding, his chaos diamond clutched close to his chest.
Jaela smiles at Mirajane, before waving at 27. She glances over at her mother's bed, before raising an eyebrow in question.
27 nods and sits up. He shudders and then begins to hack and cough loudly. Several of them, before he spits out an identical chaos diamond. He wipes it clean on his bedding before placing it against Hanna's hand.
Mirajane stares. "I didn't see that coming at all."
"Then having him around is good for you," Jaela says, patting 27 lightly on the head with a smile and heading off to check up on Canderella.
Canderella's laid up in bed. She's propped up with pillows, a blanket wrapped around her. She has her eyes closed, playing a flute. Ebony sits nearby, quietly strumming her harp.
> roll 1d20+52 Ebony
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 54 > [d20=2]
> roll 1d20+43 Canderella
<Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 62 > [d20=19]
The melody is pure and beautiful, Jaela drawn to simply listen instead of going in.
Jaela listens for Ebony's song, before getting inspiration and leaving as quietly for her quarters as she can. There, it is a matter of moments for her to find Warmth, and it is with the plush that she returns to Canderella's bedside, seeking to leave it there quietly for her.
That's the sleep good plushie, right?
Oh yes! It's name even has an exclamation mark!
When you return, the song has finished. Canderella's waiting for you, "I hope I wasn't so out of practice that it drove you away," she says.
Jaela waves Warmth in lieu of greeting, claiming a seat on Canderella's bed while placing the plush in her arms. "Just realized I forgot something, is all. Say, did you end up meeting my brother while he's here? It seems like he keeps on missing all my friends!"
"Yeah, he dropped in." Canderella hugs Warmth and smiles.
"He mentioned he was going out to round up some supplies for Aurora. He has friends that owe him," Ebony says, "He should be back later today or tomorrow."
"I've been taking care of old promises lately, so that's another met. Glad to hear it! So, was he everything you imagined?"
"I think we'll get married," Canderella says, matter of fact. She then smiles, "He's fine, Jaela. Your mother's sexier, though, but he has a charm all his own."
Jaela snorts. "I liked him, but I'm biased! You'll have to fight 27 for Mom's heart, though."
Ebony frowns. "Is that slaad bothering her again?"
Canderella just smiles, "It'll work out," she says, "How's the world beyond these four walls?"
Jaela gives Ebony a half-shrug, saying out loud, "Much as you'd expect, Candy. Got pulled by force into Elysium but doesn't quite fit it. The parties are a decent effort, though, and I figure it'll turn out alright in the end."
"Yes, it will. Alicia and Syala did well," Ebony flashes a ghost of a smile as she bows her head.
"Praying them again already?" Canderella remarks as she lies there, "Never seen what happens to a world when the good side takes it. Is it all happiness and sunshine?"
"It's still in the honeymoon phase, but yeah, I figure it'll keep on being reasonably sunshiny. Maybe it wouldn't have been on its own, but the world wasn't abandoned after its rescue, so here we are."
"Yeah," Canderella closes here eyes, "Hate to be a poor guest, but I'm still exhausted."
"I'm just here for the sappy stuff, I'll leave you alone now," Jaela rather cheerfully says, heading off to find Mirima.
"...wait." Ebony's voice is soft as can be, but carried nonetheless.
"Yeah?"
"Are you well?" Ebony asks, "Your struggles were as great as anyone's, even if you do not suffer like Canderella and Hanna do."
"I was upset and then I got over it," Jaela admits. "Did you know? My death was prophecized with that assault, but Benfal's here and so am I. No sign of the Duke of Destiny, either."
"Our deeds further defy destiny," Ebony murmurs, keeping her voice down. She bows her head as she pulls her hood up, "I only pray we defeat the Duke of Destiny and do not disrupt the greater plans of Good in the process. Please use the power you have wisely, Jaela. Our mistakes costs lives and souls now."
"There are wiser people, and certainly more talented ones," Jaela feels no shame in admitting. "I'll keep on doing what I feel is right. About all I can promise here is to listen to those who think differently."
She looks a bit piqued as she adds, "Also fuck that Duke, I was on edge the entire time and he only stalked Afina!"
Ebony starts to say say something, but you get a startled laugh instead. Once she recovers, "I am here if you need my wisdom to aid you, Jaela."
"Sure thing! Let's do something once I'm back from beating up a 'loth!"
Ready to move on to Afina now?
Please!
New topic time. This one's done.