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Entry tags:
- -event,
- alfyn greengrass,
- alhaitham,
- benedikta harman,
- cidolfus telamon,
- clive rosfield,
- darin altway,
- dehya,
- dion lesage,
- dongfang qingcang,
- faris scherwiz,
- gale dekarios,
- graha tia,
- izuku midoriya,
- jill warrick,
- joshua rosfield,
- kaveh,
- midadol telamon,
- miriam,
- rem tokimiya,
- roxas,
- sherlock holmes,
- therion,
- zack fair,
- zelda
« player event » 🌪️ the eye of the storm
Who: Garuda & YOU.
Status: Open log.
Where: Eltrut, Nogard.
What: Benedikta Harman has primed into Garuda, and is wreaking havoc on the Leviathans.
Warnings: Violence, Final Fantasy XVI spoilers.
"The Warden of the Wind. She takes the form of a fearful harpy, summoning storms and tearing into the flesh of her prey with hawklike talons. Such is the Eikon's frenzy for destruction that even allies of the Dominant of the day are wont to begin fleeing the battlefield when dark clouds gather overhead."
Status: Open log.
Where: Eltrut, Nogard.
What: Benedikta Harman has primed into Garuda, and is wreaking havoc on the Leviathans.
Warnings: Violence, Final Fantasy XVI spoilers.
The morning of May the 4th starts out like any other: calm waters, clear blue skies, ships coming and going from their ports. However, all of that is about to change—and abruptly—as Benedikta Harman soars over the ocean after learning the painful truth about the fate of Cidolfus, and of herself. Her wrath now unbound and unmatched, all coming to a head as her aether bursts at the seams, a storm gathers on the horizon. With every angry beat of her wings, the skies turn a dark, eerie green, the winds grow stronger, and Garuda's voice is louder as laughter rings clearer for the first time since that one fateful dawn...
Her wings are tired, her face stings with the burn of sharp tears and sharper winds that follow after her, but she does not stop. She cannot. Any other day, she would never make it this far, but her body and the air are dense with her aether that she can fly farther and faster than she has ever managed—in no particular direction, so long as it is a direction away from him. Away from the place where she thought home could be. How naive she was to think that anywhere could be; how ignorant of her to have lit even the smallest spark of hope that things could be any different than before.
Reckless to think that trusting anyone, especially after a whole life of never affording to, would end in anything but deceit.
They all leave. They always leave.
Just like they had then, six years ago on that fateful night in Stonhyrr, those claws of betrayal coil tight around her throat and sink deep into flesh. Only this time, who is there to catch her?
The thought of that wide, open freedom that always followed Cidolfus wheresoever he went frightened her to no end. To her, it meant the unknown that came with running away, being whisked on the back of the winds, to a place where she would not know if, when next she landed, there would be a ground beneath her feet. His betrayal left her on her back once before, and she had been fool enough to take that risk again. Six years in an empty pursuit in his absence, chasing what she thought to be stability, power, and even love in another—her king, touch-starved and hunting any warmth that she could find, is what had her listening to the promises he whispered into her ear again. It is what made her take that plunge into that vast unknown, made her lean into his easy-going benevolence...
And look at where it has led her.
Back then, she had King Barnabas to pull her back on her feet. He would show her a better world, through what they both knew to be empty platitudes, and hearts that did not belong to the other, but she would be loyal. She would be good. She would be everything that Cid could not be. She would do his bidding to prove to him—and most importantly, to the rest of the world, and to herself—that she could be valuable. Powerful. Yet, what she thought was love, she realised in hindsight, was nothing more than a passion for his insurmountable power. A stable place above all the rest who thought they could cut her down. And it was his power that gripped her like a vise—she feared him, and yet, she was still loyal.
Look at what trust and loyalty have wrought.
Destined to loneliness and desperation.
Falling, falling...
Alone and afraid, a wrath now unbound as she soars over the bone dragon's head. Fumbling in the dark, she is trying to catch the pieces of herself that have shattered and are now being scattered into the wind—how the fuck is she supposed to put herself back together now?
A tool for love. A way to atone for his past sins. A way to "save her" where he could not before, and to fulfill a promise he could not uphold the first time. To make up for past mistakes so that he may now live with himself. Because that was all she was, wasn't she? A remnant, a ghost of a broken past that haunted him.
A tool for war. Even in death, she was nothing more than that. The king that she pledged her utmost fealty to then saw fit to use her however he wanted. Her body was desecrated and turned into an instrument to fuel the war between cruel men and crueler gods. Nothing more than a vessel for power. Nothing more than Garuda.
Falling...
So why does she refuse her? Why has she been so afraid of her? She should embrace her Eikon again. Become one with her once more, all fangs and no mercy, because that was all she was ever seen as: a source of power, of redemption, but they were not her own. They were never to be her own.
Tighter, the claws squeeze, and Benedikta screams and screams until she can no longer breathe. Until it is no longer her own screams, but Garuda's.
This wretched world... With wretched people...
Liars. Maggots. All of them. They all knew, and they lied.
She is afraid, but she is angry, and she has learned that it is easier to let in the rage than it is the fear. It was at Garuda's hand that she had died before, but that would not happen this time, that voice promises her. Garuda will protect her, swathe her in her comforting winds and rip apart everything that has and could hurt her.
The sky above Nogard falls dark, almost black. The waters rage as the wind abruptly picks up, lightning cracks, and a violent, swirling gale descends, only growing.
Let me help you. Let us show them what happens when they hurt you. Again and again...
If only Barnabas could see her now in all her strength. All power coursing through her pulsing aether, not an ounce of humanity left. This is what he wanted, isn't it?
She can at least take solace in the fact that Cidolfus is here. He could not keep his promise, could not save her, and instead, he lied to her, deceived her. In return, she will hate and hurt with all her love. She will let the fury take her. She will tear it all apart, and he will have to watch, knowing that he did this.
So much for your fucking redemption now.
DIE, DIE... DIE...
And from that whirling gale, she emerges. No longer is it Benedikta at the eye of the storm, but the true Warden of the Wind, the Eikon, Garuda, a reckless harpy with four wings wider than any bird's, claws that could split a man open in a single swipe, and fangs that could rip flesh from bone. With them all bared, her laughter echoes across the sea and sky.
Freedom. She is untethered, let out of the cage that Benedikta chained her in for so long.
And she will ravage this world in her name. Now fall...
Benedikta & Garuda's Wrath (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)
Reckless to think that trusting anyone, especially after a whole life of never affording to, would end in anything but deceit.
They all leave. They always leave.
Just like they had then, six years ago on that fateful night in Stonhyrr, those claws of betrayal coil tight around her throat and sink deep into flesh. Only this time, who is there to catch her?
The thought of that wide, open freedom that always followed Cidolfus wheresoever he went frightened her to no end. To her, it meant the unknown that came with running away, being whisked on the back of the winds, to a place where she would not know if, when next she landed, there would be a ground beneath her feet. His betrayal left her on her back once before, and she had been fool enough to take that risk again. Six years in an empty pursuit in his absence, chasing what she thought to be stability, power, and even love in another—her king, touch-starved and hunting any warmth that she could find, is what had her listening to the promises he whispered into her ear again. It is what made her take that plunge into that vast unknown, made her lean into his easy-going benevolence...
And look at where it has led her.
Look at what trust and loyalty have wrought.
Destined to loneliness and desperation.
Falling, falling...
Alone and afraid, a wrath now unbound as she soars over the bone dragon's head. Fumbling in the dark, she is trying to catch the pieces of herself that have shattered and are now being scattered into the wind—how the fuck is she supposed to put herself back together now?
A tool for war. Even in death, she was nothing more than that. The king that she pledged her utmost fealty to then saw fit to use her however he wanted. Her body was desecrated and turned into an instrument to fuel the war between cruel men and crueler gods. Nothing more than a vessel for power. Nothing more than Garuda.
Falling...
So why does she refuse her? Why has she been so afraid of her? She should embrace her Eikon again. Become one with her once more, all fangs and no mercy, because that was all she was ever seen as: a source of power, of redemption, but they were not her own. They were never to be her own.
Tighter, the claws squeeze, and Benedikta screams and screams until she can no longer breathe. Until it is no longer her own screams, but Garuda's.
This wretched world... With wretched people...
The sky above Nogard falls dark, almost black. The waters rage as the wind abruptly picks up, lightning cracks, and a violent, swirling gale descends, only growing.
If only Barnabas could see her now in all her strength. All power coursing through her pulsing aether, not an ounce of humanity left. This is what he wanted, isn't it?
She can at least take solace in the fact that Cidolfus is here. He could not keep his promise, could not save her, and instead, he lied to her, deceived her. In return, she will hate and hurt with all her love. She will let the fury take her. She will tear it all apart, and he will have to watch, knowing that he did this.
So much for your fucking redemption now.
DIE, DIE... DIE...
Freedom. She is untethered, let out of the cage that Benedikta chained her in for so long.
And she will ravage this world in her name. Now fall...
WEATHERING THE STORMS
The moment that Nogard senses that something is amiss, its flesh will reform to protect itself and the villages within from the worst of the storms. While the Leviathan does get battered and the winds persist even after its body takes shape, Fang and its docks will be saved from the tidal surges that are bound to come and, upon seeing Garuda take off in the direction of Eltrut, the dragon will follow after her, roaring across the seas to send a signal of warning to the others to either flee or shield.
Heeding its call, the Naughtilust and Norhpip will retreat while Elah comes to their aid. Paladins will be encouraged by Elah to assist with rescue efforts—brave the storms and head out to sea to help. Those who do not wish to face the harpy's wrath can take refuge on the whale's back. But it will be Eltrut that will receive the brunt of Garuda's attacks, and where her magic will be most potent, the build-up of her aether coming to a head when she lands on the turtle's back.
Harsh, hurricane-like winds will assault Eltrut, and with them, a sense of dread and trickles of sadness fall upon the Leviathan. With Eltrut docked at an island, it's easier to see what is about to happen: the tide recedes, and on the horizon, the shadow of a giant tsunami wave guided by the wind approaches. While Eltrut can shield itself with its bubble, it will still need some help!
Using whatever magic is available—and necessary—everyone will have to work together to help Eltrut withstand the worst of it and, when the tide hits, it's best to be holding onto something, or someone, as Eltrut will be knocked around a bit before stabilising. Unfortunately, with the water's far too choppy to swim in, everyone will have to wait it out and work together to reduce the magic, and hope that someone comes along soon to take care of the harpy that keeps tearing through its shields.
With their homes partially destroyed by the massive wave, some of the merfolk have come to aid not only their own that have been washed up onto land, but those who hope to alleviate the stress on the Leviathans, whether it be rescue efforts or fighting off the birds and winged sharks. They have offered their herd of seahorses for people to ride on, but they are a bit temperamental, especially with all the chaos, so they will need to be calmed first before they can be ridden.
All threads will be worth 4 points.
( Bonus ♫ )
Heeding its call, the Naughtilust and Norhpip will retreat while Elah comes to their aid. Paladins will be encouraged by Elah to assist with rescue efforts—brave the storms and head out to sea to help. Those who do not wish to face the harpy's wrath can take refuge on the whale's back. But it will be Eltrut that will receive the brunt of Garuda's attacks, and where her magic will be most potent, the build-up of her aether coming to a head when she lands on the turtle's back.
Harsh, hurricane-like winds will assault Eltrut, and with them, a sense of dread and trickles of sadness fall upon the Leviathan. With Eltrut docked at an island, it's easier to see what is about to happen: the tide recedes, and on the horizon, the shadow of a giant tsunami wave guided by the wind approaches. While Eltrut can shield itself with its bubble, it will still need some help!
Using whatever magic is available—and necessary—everyone will have to work together to help Eltrut withstand the worst of it and, when the tide hits, it's best to be holding onto something, or someone, as Eltrut will be knocked around a bit before stabilising. Unfortunately, with the water's far too choppy to swim in, everyone will have to wait it out and work together to reduce the magic, and hope that someone comes along soon to take care of the harpy that keeps tearing through its shields.
🏝️ On Land. For those stuck on Eltrut or Nogard, the storms are just as fierce. With winds strong enough to rip the trees from their roots, shatter glass, and throw large objects around, it is imperative that people help each other find shelter and safety, and those with shielding magic use it, especially around the docks. Help the locals, assist the merfolk that have been washed up back into the water. There are weaponsmiths asking anyone with a set of hands to help craft things like harpoons and arrows that will be useful against the creatures that now roam the Leviathans.
🌊 Out at Sea. Crews will need to batten down the hatches and work together to weather the storms as well as rescue anyone else, including locals, who might be out there. Though, it is recommended that people try to outrun them as that is one big wave that is heading for Eltrut. Thanks to Garuda's magic, some of the wildlife have grown wings, and sharks are chomping down on boats and even leaping onto decks in search of a good meal.
☁️ In the Air. Male gryphons from The Hideaway's island will arrive to aid those who wish to take to the skies for search and rescue efforts. They are still wary and a bit erratic from being attacked earlier on the island, so working together to earn their trust will be imperative. Offering them food or small gifts such as feathers or beads will appease them, as well as protecting them from oncoming attacks from their fellow birdkin. Once in the air, riding on gryphon-back will take some getting used to, as they will always travel in pairs, and will employ tactical maneuvers to dodge the debris and any creatures that attack.
🌊 Out at Sea. Crews will need to batten down the hatches and work together to weather the storms as well as rescue anyone else, including locals, who might be out there. Though, it is recommended that people try to outrun them as that is one big wave that is heading for Eltrut. Thanks to Garuda's magic, some of the wildlife have grown wings, and sharks are chomping down on boats and even leaping onto decks in search of a good meal.
☁️ In the Air. Male gryphons from The Hideaway's island will arrive to aid those who wish to take to the skies for search and rescue efforts. They are still wary and a bit erratic from being attacked earlier on the island, so working together to earn their trust will be imperative. Offering them food or small gifts such as feathers or beads will appease them, as well as protecting them from oncoming attacks from their fellow birdkin. Once in the air, riding on gryphon-back will take some getting used to, as they will always travel in pairs, and will employ tactical maneuvers to dodge the debris and any creatures that attack.
With their homes partially destroyed by the massive wave, some of the merfolk have come to aid not only their own that have been washed up onto land, but those who hope to alleviate the stress on the Leviathans, whether it be rescue efforts or fighting off the birds and winged sharks. They have offered their herd of seahorses for people to ride on, but they are a bit temperamental, especially with all the chaos, so they will need to be calmed first before they can be ridden.
All threads will be worth 4 points.
( Bonus ♫ )
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
It isn't just the violent skies and seas that pose a problem. Garuda's magic has somehow affected all of the birdkin and bird folk alike across Nogard and Eltrut. What once were peaceful, friendly creatures have now turned on others, as well as each other, and will be attacking and fighting on the streets.
More than that, while some birds have transformed into menacing beasts large enough to pick up a whole person—sometimes two—there are also dozens and dozens of Wind Elementals that have spawned all around the Leviathans, all of them under the command of Benedikta's sisters, Chirada and Suparna, the strongest of them. They hardly ever leave one another's side, but when they are provoked, they will not hesitate to attack. To make matters worse, when threatened, they will tether their aether to each other to make themselves more immune and to regenerate. They are fast, agile, with wide wingspans and talons that will rip anyone apart if they manage to catch them. They are weak to lightning magic and can be held off by the plumes found throughout the forest, and destroying them will buy time for those fighting the smaller Egis to defeat them... However, be warned, they will only respawn again elsewhere, and will keep doing so until Garuda is chased away. (Note: this video of their boss fight can be referred to if needed.)
There will occasionally be white plumes that will flutter down from the skies. These feathers are from Garuda's wings, and gathering them will provide a ward to protect one from harm for a short period of time. They can shield against one hit or act as a repellent to the birds and the Egis before they are destroyed. Search for them in the treetops and the vines, gather them, and they should be shared so that everyone can make it out of the forest safely. If anyone is able to collect enough of them, they will have healing wind properties that can mend small wounds and cuts.
For those at The Roost (the Hideaway crew's island), the gryphons will be up in arms, not only because one of their nests has been destroyed, but because Benedikta's uncontrollable magic has bled into them, too. The female gryphons, led by the Matriarch, will attack the males, and a fight will break out among them. The males will flee down into the Roost to seek help, but the females will surely soon follow. Killing the gryphons is not an option, and anyone who threatens the lives of the females will have to get through the males in spite of this war, so they will need to be chased off for now. In return, the males will allow anyone to ride on their backs and carry them to Eltrut should they wish to help there.
All threads will be worth 4 points.
( Bonus ♫ )
More than that, while some birds have transformed into menacing beasts large enough to pick up a whole person—sometimes two—there are also dozens and dozens of Wind Elementals that have spawned all around the Leviathans, all of them under the command of Benedikta's sisters, Chirada and Suparna, the strongest of them. They hardly ever leave one another's side, but when they are provoked, they will not hesitate to attack. To make matters worse, when threatened, they will tether their aether to each other to make themselves more immune and to regenerate. They are fast, agile, with wide wingspans and talons that will rip anyone apart if they manage to catch them. They are weak to lightning magic and can be held off by the plumes found throughout the forest, and destroying them will buy time for those fighting the smaller Egis to defeat them... However, be warned, they will only respawn again elsewhere, and will keep doing so until Garuda is chased away. (Note: this video of their boss fight can be referred to if needed.)
🐦 Birds and Birdfolk. Beware of feathered friends! Garuda's magic has made both the birds of the islands and the bird folk particularly aggressive. Bird folk will be quick to anger, and those caught up in the worst of the effects will attack anyone unprovoked for so much as looking at them. The only cure for this is taking out the Wind Elementals that have spawned, as they are what sustains Garuda's magic. In the meantime, until they can be destroyed, luring them further away and outside of town or finding a humane way to knock them out for the time being will work to help alleviate the threats at the eye of the storm. Cats will also be effective against them. Be careful, however—the birds are capable of stealing the breath of anyone who wanders too close, strangling them through lack of air.
🌪️ Wind Elementals. Minions of Garuda herself, these Wind Egis will indiscriminately pick out anyone they find to assault with their large wings, sharpened talons, and powerful wind magic. Men will be carried out to sea where they will attempt to drown them, while women will be carried to "safety" in the nests that the birds have built within the forests. Defeating them is the key to weakening Garuda's magic, so take them out by any means necessary. Note: Players are free to use and control the Egis however they want.
🪹 Within the Nest. For those caught in the nest, escaping on the ground will be the only way out as horrific winged beasts and Egis guard the skies. Beneath the trees, people will need to carve out a path through the messy vines and thorns. It will be safer with a partner, as all sorts of horrors lurk. Eldritch hummingbirds, cassowary, magpies, human-sized hawkmoths, guineafowl, pelicans, and a strange breed of geese that are prepared to feed on or tear apart anyone who might threaten their nest.
🌪️ Wind Elementals. Minions of Garuda herself, these Wind Egis will indiscriminately pick out anyone they find to assault with their large wings, sharpened talons, and powerful wind magic. Men will be carried out to sea where they will attempt to drown them, while women will be carried to "safety" in the nests that the birds have built within the forests. Defeating them is the key to weakening Garuda's magic, so take them out by any means necessary. Note: Players are free to use and control the Egis however they want.
🪹 Within the Nest. For those caught in the nest, escaping on the ground will be the only way out as horrific winged beasts and Egis guard the skies. Beneath the trees, people will need to carve out a path through the messy vines and thorns. It will be safer with a partner, as all sorts of horrors lurk. Eldritch hummingbirds, cassowary, magpies, human-sized hawkmoths, guineafowl, pelicans, and a strange breed of geese that are prepared to feed on or tear apart anyone who might threaten their nest.
There will occasionally be white plumes that will flutter down from the skies. These feathers are from Garuda's wings, and gathering them will provide a ward to protect one from harm for a short period of time. They can shield against one hit or act as a repellent to the birds and the Egis before they are destroyed. Search for them in the treetops and the vines, gather them, and they should be shared so that everyone can make it out of the forest safely. If anyone is able to collect enough of them, they will have healing wind properties that can mend small wounds and cuts.
For those at The Roost (the Hideaway crew's island), the gryphons will be up in arms, not only because one of their nests has been destroyed, but because Benedikta's uncontrollable magic has bled into them, too. The female gryphons, led by the Matriarch, will attack the males, and a fight will break out among them. The males will flee down into the Roost to seek help, but the females will surely soon follow. Killing the gryphons is not an option, and anyone who threatens the lives of the females will have to get through the males in spite of this war, so they will need to be chased off for now. In return, the males will allow anyone to ride on their backs and carry them to Eltrut should they wish to help there.
All threads will be worth 4 points.
( Bonus ♫ )
THE LADY OF THE WIND
For those few who are brave enough to encounter Garuda and live to tell the tale, and those fewer who are daring enough to chase her down seeking to clip the vengeful harpy's wings, they will likely not have to look very far. Garuda is a mischievous and wicked Eikon, chaotic, as if she were made of the winds and storms herself, and through all of the destruction she brings, she also finds enjoyment in taunting others, sometimes swooping down or over one's head just to toy with those on the ground before flying off again.
If she is feeling particularly naughty, she may even kidnap a few, scooping them up in her claws and flying them off someplace else... just for fun. Whether it is the nest, into the sky, out to sea, who knows, but one thing is for certain... one does not want to be engaged with her for long, lest they wish to feel just how sharp her claws and fangs truly are...
Try as they might, however, it will take the might of another full Eikon to take her down, and the battles will end as Ramuh, the Warden of Thunder, makes his appearance and chases her away from Eltrut, and they will face off against one another over the ocean.
Note: This portion of the log is closed to those who signed up for an encounter with Garuda. Please leave a starter at your designated top level down below! They will be worth 6 points.
( Bonus ♫ )
If she is feeling particularly naughty, she may even kidnap a few, scooping them up in her claws and flying them off someplace else... just for fun. Whether it is the nest, into the sky, out to sea, who knows, but one thing is for certain... one does not want to be engaged with her for long, lest they wish to feel just how sharp her claws and fangs truly are...
Try as they might, however, it will take the might of another full Eikon to take her down, and the battles will end as Ramuh, the Warden of Thunder, makes his appearance and chases her away from Eltrut, and they will face off against one another over the ocean.
Note: This portion of the log is closed to those who signed up for an encounter with Garuda. Please leave a starter at your designated top level down below! They will be worth 6 points.
( Bonus ♫ )
This is the designated log for a player-run (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
garudas) mini-event. After revelations came about surrounding her fate, Benedikta Harman primed into her full Eikon, Garuda, and she is now ravaging the seas, skies, and land.
Players are free to make their own top levels and tag around, and those who have signed up to face Garuda can leave their starters beneath their designated top levels. Information can be found on the OOC post and please direct any questions here. New players/characters are free to tag into this as well, as this is all occurring after their arrival.
The event and its effects will last less than one day ICly and will have a resolution, so there will be no bearing on anything afterward. Any post-Garuda events will be on the main monthly log that will be going up, including Leviathan clean-up and helping the mermaids after parts of their underwater dwelling were ruined by the wave that hit Eltrut.
garudas) mini-event. After revelations came about surrounding her fate, Benedikta Harman primed into her full Eikon, Garuda, and she is now ravaging the seas, skies, and land.Players are free to make their own top levels and tag around, and those who have signed up to face Garuda can leave their starters beneath their designated top levels. Information can be found on the OOC post and please direct any questions here. New players/characters are free to tag into this as well, as this is all occurring after their arrival.
The event and its effects will last less than one day ICly and will have a resolution, so there will be no bearing on anything afterward. Any post-Garuda events will be on the main monthly log that will be going up, including Leviathan clean-up and helping the mermaids after parts of their underwater dwelling were ruined by the wave that hit Eltrut.
🌪️ Kaveh & Alhaitham
I HOPE THIS IS FINE
But then the storm hits. There's a scramble to protect the glass, made for the sanctuary, and hustle the artisans back inside. Wind like this sends an ominous feeling down his bones. Something's wrong. Something is wrong. His hair is ripped of it's bindings, long and golden, and the fairy silk sticks to him in the wetness. Something's wrong.
He is watching the water in his anxiety. Kaveh never thinks to watch the sky. So he never sees her coming.]
SQUISHES UR CHEEKS
With Benedikta barely conscious beneath it all, Garuda thinks nothing of it besides another victim of her mischief. Even still, she is linked to her Dominant, which is perhaps the only reason that Kaveh survives this at all. A miracle, in and of itself... though whether it is because Benedikta, somewhere, has managed to stop her or if the harpy is just saving the fun for later... who is to say. For now.
But regardless, just as quickly as she appeared, she wraps her giant claws around him and picks him off the ground, already squeezing. As the harpy's maniacal laughter shatters through the wind, she beats her wings to carry him off elsewhere—]
>w<
He doesn't know. He can't no. The secrets the crew have kept, likely unintentionally, and his limited dealings with Benedikta's true form leave Kaveh with nothing but straws to grasp at. But still, even so, he has to true and reason with her.]
Put me down--what are you doing?
[Really, he's kind of an odd choice of victim to begin with. he hasn't beefed with ANY birds recently, madam, stop it!]
no subject
She takes him up, higher and higher, over the uppermost part of the turtle's shell and away from the town proper. Far, far away from it. Over the vast forests that span across Eltrut, she finally makes a fast descent down to the trees, and it's anything but a soft landing as she comes crashing through the pines and the branches, shattering them upon their impact. Her talons grip the tree tight, and it teeters, but she very gently places him down into what appears to be a giant nest tucked away in the canopies.
Not very safe considering she's broken most of the tree away and the winds can still reach them, but—
However. They quiet just enough that among Garuda's cackles and chirps, he'll hear a voice that seems to be everywhere and nowhere all at once, invading his head as if she were right there.
Run.]
no subject
[He doesn't understand. Can't understand. What has become of Benedikta, what Garuda truly is, what must have happened, but...
Kaveh's greatest strength is also his greatest weakness: a gentle heart. So he hesitates, and almost reaches out towards the great harpy, concern evident in his face and voice. What could have happened? What does this to a person? ]
What happened to you?
no subject
...
And the sound of her claw rushing forward to grab his arm when he reaches out to her, and she lunges forward and snaps her fangs at him, and though she doesn't bite, she comes as close as she can without doing so before pulling back in mocking laughter.
But while the voice may be gone... Kaveh will feel a small prick in the back of his mind. A tickle of something sharp, but warm... Like a consciousness reaching out from one person to another in a silent plea. He will see an image then—it's of himself, from another person's point of view, and for the brief moment that it lasts, he will smell not the scent of destruction, but of fresh flowers.
He will feel it all, too.
It's a nostalgic feeling—one that will wash over Kaveh before it and the image disappears, shattered by the sound of Garuda cackling in his ear.]
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Her memories are so bright. And yet there is sorrow there, sorrow he knows well. The kind that makes happiness measured out, because it does not last and never will. The kind that follows behind an open wound that can't heal. The kind of sorrow that becomes your shadow.
Kaveh's heart aches. He takes a breath, trying to steady himself, and tries again, looking Garuda in the eye. He is not fearless--he's never been fearless--but he has to keep trying anyway.]
Benedikta, [he calls again, a little more softly.] Who--who hurt you? I know I can't help but--can't I at least listen...?
[She doesn't have to do--whatever this is. Doesn't have to swallow that pain like knives. Is that what made this of her?]
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Whether the next flicker of a memory in response to him will answer anything, or nothing at all, she has no control over it, but she wishes that she could reel it back in and anchor it down the moment that she sees it flash before her own eyes... An image of her and Cid in the moonlight, but it is anything but a happy memory.
But the image is cut short yet again when Garuda senses a shift in the wind. Something that should not be here is here, and she jerks Kaveh's arm away from her to look around—]
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Kaveh!
[The call of the architect's name from a familiar enough voice can be heard clearly despite the howling winds raging all around, and the reason for that quickly becomes evident: Alhaitham, who'd all but raced after the monster that'd plucked Kaveh up into the sky. As if the time with the dragons weren't bad enough, but this one is far less amusing and light-hearted. The raging winds which are strong enough to cut, and the cackling that echoes in his ears as he'd chased after them... none of those bode well, and the anxiety that festers at the pit of his stomach doesn't help things one bit.
But such emotions are not going to help when his senior is clearly in danger, and so he ruthlessly squashes them down to focus on the now, teeth clenched tight as he urges for the gryphon he'd managed to get help from to go faster. He's so close now, after all the time he'd spent chasing after them... Now he just needs to take Kaveh back from whatever manner of creature that has decided to take him this time.]
Let him go!
[It's a roar that's less of a warning and more of an active threat. Alhaitham has no idea what this... creature is and how dangerous it is but it doesn't matter because all that matters is the fact that it has Kaveh. He could face down Celestia herself for all he cares if that's what it takes to ensure that Kaveh is safe and sound in the place where he wants to be—which he knows for a fact is not in the clutches of this beast.
One hand clutching tightly at the gryphon's scruff, Alhaitham uses the other to summon out another one of his Dendro projectiles that he tosses straight at the giant winged monster. He knows better than to think that he can actively take down whatever this thing is in any kind of fight, but a bout for victory isn't what he's aiming for here. He just needs to pull its attention away from Kaveh so that the architect can get himself in a position for Alhaitham to sweep him up and get the both of them away.]
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[It's not that he's surprised the man came for him. Of course not. He can even mostly work out what the man might be thinking. But there's a horrible, sick twist of fear in his gut. Alhaitham doesn't know who she is. Alhaitham doesn't know, and attacked her, while her memories linger on rage...rage and protection.
He struggles a bit, raising his voice, panicking, trying to prevent the inevitable escalation.]
Wait, wait, she's not---[It's too late. Those dendro blades...it's not like he blames Alhaitham for fighting her, but he cannot bear for the truth to come too late.] Benedikta, don't--!
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She must keep them safe.
It takes no time at all for Garuda to reach him on the gryphon's back, and her claw reaches out to snatch him by whatever limb that she can reach to wrench him from the winged creature and into her grasp.]
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The name, which somehow manages to get to him in spite of the howling winds (or perhaps, because of them), catches Alhaitham off guard. Given their present circumstances its not hard at all to put two and two together, and the clarity that the truth presents to him is unexpected enough to leave him momentarily stunned. The creature that has Kaveh—this strange, near monstrous being—is Benedikta? Sure, he has seen her with a similar pair of wings that this creature has now, but—
—the memory of Cid talking about the nature of Eikons and Dominants comes back to him, at this point; the concept of these god-like forces of nature that exist in his world, used as tools for war and battle. Back then Alhaitham had pictured it as something similar to the Archons in Teyvat, where they were beings of immense understanding and untold knowledge. But it seems now that his assumptions were wrong; these beings are far more primal in their nature, perhaps resembling something to what they are meant to be in their rawest form, much like the alleged dragons of myth.
For better or worse Alhaitham sees now, what Cid means with the things that he'd said. On how they were used for war, and more important how the 'vessels' that housed these beings were very likely to die early. How can any human be expected to hold such power within him and except nothing to come from it? Something like this... it is impossible to imagine it to not come without a price.
With all of that in mind, he has no idea what has happened to cause this—if this is some result of Benedikta losing control of herself or something else entirely. But there is no time to ponder, and even less time to question, for the creature that she is has come to swoop right towards him. The gryphon that he's on immediately attempts to dodge, but its relative youth puts them at a clear disadvantage against one who can command the winds herself. Alhaitham, though, has never allowed to depend on any one thing especially when there are things he can do himself, such as how he leans as much as he can sideways in a bid to avoid those sharp, dangerous talons.
For better or worse, he manages to do so—but he doesn't come out of it wholly unscathed, as he flinches at the way those claws graze over his skin, the armguards that he wears little more than flimsy paper. Still, its better than any other alternative that he can think of, and Alhaitham tries to make the most of what he has right now, forming another Dendro projectile to throw at her but this time aiming at her wing instead, hoping that it'll be enough to keep her distracted as he attempts to hurry towards Kaveh. Whatever his questions about Benedikta and the situation in general can come later; for how, his senior's safety is his top priority.]
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And just as he'll hear her screech and the loud beat of her wings from that projectile that singes some of the feathers on her wings will be when every sound and sight around him dissolves into that of a docked ship on a sunny day, and it will be his face that he sees... through the eyes of another. Those feelings of urgency will be pushed aside for... ire?
An impatient tap, tap, tap that is broken by something far more gut-wrenching, as Garuda swoops in behind him suddenly, her eyes, taunting, more on Kaveh than on Alhaitham, as she catches her claw around the latter's arm and twists—]
tagging first before Kaveh~
By all accounts the memory itself is nothing special at all, with Alhaitham having recognized where this had transpired and knowing what had occurred. But despite being aware of that fact he finds himself unable to pull away; its almost as if he'd been glued into place somehow, rooted in this one spot by the strange swirl of emotions that he knows are not his. This foreign sense of ire that turns into the faintest hint of amusement, the stray, passing thought about the unique juxtaposition of doomed love poems being read out under a bright and sunny day.
The fact that all of it is so different is more than enough to catch Alhaitham off-guard, especially when he'd been unprepared for it, and so there is no way for him to have noticed how this distraction would be to his detriment until the moment Alhaitham feels the ice-cold touch of something that has wrapped around his arm.
Adrenaline surges through him at once then; a deep, primal fear that he has only felt a few times in his life. At once Alhaitham tries to get away, but that attempt only lasts for about a second before the creature that'd once been Benedikta twists—
—there is no name or effective descriptor for the sheer, raw pain that comes next, the searing agony that burns through his arm all at once, and while Alhaitham has never been the kind of person to scream or shout there is no feasible way for him to hold back the loud strangled, choked cry that escapes him as that pain becomes the only thing that he knows.]
for the DRAMA
[In truth, there's not much Kaveh can do. Mehrak and his claymore are on the ground somewhere in Eltrut's streets. Even if they weren't, he's an architect before he's a warrior, and certainly not one with the strength to stand up to the Primal. Even so, there is a desperate, panicked urge to do something, and the magic the tattoo granted him responds, plant tendrils erupting. Not to attack or harm Garuda, but to grab Alhaitham, pull him free, pull him away, trying to get him away from her before she does anymore harm.
Kaveh himself has grabbed for the man, trying to pry Garuda's grip free. He is terrified but even so--]
Let him go! He's just trying to help me!
[He doesn't know what else to do. But he has to try and protect Alhaitham, even if he has to do it with his own body.]
we love DRAMA, so have some more!
And in her struggle, there will be a brief reprieve for both men—even the pain in Alhaitham's arm will disappear in those few seconds as another memory comes.
This time, however, it will not be the coldness of Garuda's consciousness that reaches them, but it will be like a warmer caress of wind... Benedikta is not aware, but these are not the Eikon's memories... but the Dominant's.
And they will be vaulted onto a balcony on the continent of Ash, in the dead of night. Why? ... Who is to say what it is that provoked this memory? These feelings that they are now feeling... Perhaps they could be the ones to figure that out.
Garuda screams, shattering the illusion for only a moment before they are assaulted with another—
Garuda untangles herself from the tree, breaking it, and just as they are freed from the memories, they'll feel the tree that they are in bending under both the wind and her weight as she climbs over them, half-shrieking, half laughing, and this tree is on its last legs—]
\o/ all the drama
With how all-encompassing the pain is, Alhaitham barely notices the fact that he'd been released from Garuda's hold, some distant part of him registering the warmth that he'd all but crashed into. Even through the pain its still there, and Alhaitham grits his teeth as he tries to focus on that. Not the pain, but the warmth, that familiar presence which is right there—
—and then suddenly the pain is gone, replaced by a regret so intense and nearly unbearable by the unfamiliar memory that engulfs him this time round. It takes a second for him to recognize Cid with how much younger he seems to look, followed by the voice of Benedikta herself as she chokes on the words that he hears in his head. Those three words that seem so simple in concept, yet have been the subject of much thorough scrutiny for him this last month. The words that Kaveh has been forced to say in Norhpip, so entrenched within himself that it'd become his greatest secret, and Alhaitham hadn't known just how uncertain it'd left the architect until much later.
But that's not all, as there's only a moment's reprieve—if it can even be called that—before another one comes rushing in. It's much shorter this time, almost a flash, but the sight that fills his eyes and the emotion that boils in it is so poignant that only the most cold hearted would not feel it—and despite what people think Alhaitham is far from that. All of these emotions are so intense, just as encompassing as the physical nature of his pain, and perhaps it is from that angle that makes it easy enough to understand. The nature of that hurt, and the pain it elects—it's just as bad as what he'd been experiencing earlier, if not worse.
Of course, that's when he's thrown right back into reality as he knows it, and the pain that he'd been relieved from during those memories come back to him in full force. It's bad enough that he can barely make out or register anything else but he can tell that he's pressed against a warmth that he knows like the back of his hand even through the pain. There is that, and then there is the monstrous figure that looms over the both of them, ready to pick them apart just like before—
No. He can't let it happen. He won't let it happen. Not again, and not like this.
It's hard to say then if its due to the pain having slid him over to the side of delirious, or the howling winds that prompt him, or the understanding that he needs to do something more to defend his senior, but whatever it is, it is enough to draw out a crackling, surge of energy that is very much not Dendro in nature. It manifests in the same way his Light-Chisel Mirrors would, except they are now purple instead of green and the surface of them sparks with the tell-tale signs of electricity.
There's only a second between their formation to them being shooting outwards from where they'd formed, firing out much like a bullet that might've been shot from the Fatui Pyroslinger. There's no aiming or sense of direction to them whatsoever, but the intent behind them is clear; to drive away the beast that threatens to separate them—or worse, to hurt Kaveh.]
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...He cannot hate Benedikta. Not now. Not for this. He cannot even see her as a monster. If anything, Kaveh feels strangely calm.
Vines erupt from the ground, once more not attacking or even glancing over Garuda's feathers, but wrapping around the two of them, a net, a shield, a dome that weaves between the breaking tree and it's steadier neighbors, protecting them from the fall as well as from from Garuda. He drags Alhaitham's body closer, covers it as much as he can with his own, protecting the man's head and heart.
Kaveh stares up at Garuda, even as lightning crackles and flashes, tears still in his eyes, with a single whisper on his lips.
Please.]
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The tree continues to sway and bend, the only thing saving them from falling are the vines that Kaveh summons, but Garuda finally lets go, unable to hold on any longer through the prickling pain that courses through her wings. That pain from the lightning is too much for her, and so she lashes out in one last attempt to fight back, summoning twisters that descend around where Kaveh and Alhaitham stand together, trapping them.
With another pained shriek, Kaveh's plea stirs one final memory from deep within—one that Benedikta holds closely to herself, and one that will strike fear among both of them.
All it takes is one strong beat of Garuda's wings for her to take off, but not before her claw comes down to strike them. The sharpened ends swipe through the vines—and even them if they are not careful—to leave them vulnerable. Her bright, malevolent, yellow eyes fix on them for a moment...
...
Before she takes off, disappearing in no time into the clouds, and leaving them to deal with the winds on their own. Though, she is not laughing this time. That is a cry of pain.]
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There's the sound of more snapping branches as the winds continue to howl and rage; Alhaitham distantly feels them whipping around him violently but its getting harder and harder to stay focused as pain blurs through his entire world. What he can register are the sensations that he has immediate contact with—the dampness of his own clothes sticking onto him, the scratch of broken wood at his legs, and then the warmth of a body that has pulled him close; a warmth that he knows, a warmth that he's always cherished every time when he can have it...
This time he feels more than sees the memory that plays, the warmth of being cradled in there translating right over to the present that he has right now. But where there had been smoke it is instead the smell of flowers, and the hands that cradle him are slimmer than what the memory tells him. But what is the same is that feeling of agony and pain, grief and self-loathing so potent that it has his own eyes watering just from how intense these emotions are.
There is more movement above him, but everything is too jumbled for him to turn and look, much less figure out what it might be. But between the danger he still knows that they are in and those intense emotions he'd felt just now, its enough for him to move his good arm just enough to grasp onto the first thing he can reach of that familiar warmth and clutch onto it with all the strength that he can muster.
No matter what happens, he won't ever let this go. Never again.]
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It's only once they're set down on solid down, Kaveh exhausted by overuse of his magic, that he tries to even speak.]
She's gone...hey. Alhaitham, talk to me, come on...
[Speak. Say anything. Give some sign Kaveh won't lose him now. Dimly he recalls broken arms are hardly fatal, and yet...]
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He attempts to move his lips then, trying to say the words that he's finally found, the answer he'd been searching from all these weeks now coming in full clarity to him through the memories that he'd just been made to watch. That despite all the regret and pain and heartache that'd been felt, it doesn't change what has been felt and experienced—that singular emotion that ties them all together. The same emotion that he must be feeling now, because there is no other reason why he can still feel at ease despite the pain.
Alhaitham wants nothing more than to say it, to given Kaveh the answer he's been waiting to hear, but everything is getting further and further away from him, slipping between his fingers like smoke and dust no matter how hard he tries to hold onto it. He tries, one more time, and he can feel the faint vibrations of his throat as some sort of noise or half-formed world gurgles out of him—but that takes the last bit of strength that he can muster, and Alhaitham feels the darkness rush in to overtake everything right after.
Later. He'll tell Kaveh... later.]
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[There is panic in his voice, and he was already crying, anyway, but Kaveh's cries don't mean anything to a man unconscious. All he can do is bend, keeping Alhaitham's body shielded as he can, and wait, too tired to move, unable to lift him.
He does not know how long he sits there, before the other kidnapees jostle him out of his vigil.]