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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.
🌪️ Faris Scherwiz
no subject
Right. You. Off home, now.
[Faris' loyal warrior cat looks at her with obvious sadness, unhappy at being denied the chance to fight, but he's got no choice--as soon as he's on the ground, Faris is in the air, leaping into the vaults of Nogard's skeleton as the dragon shoves off into the waves, following the tempest. Faris can see the cause now: a massive demon of the air, four wings and vicious talons he can spot even at this distance. It's shepherded by birds of all sorts. Faris glances down, but there's no time to waste searching for allies. All the heroic sorts that see this thing are going to flock to it no matter what. It miffs her that she won't be facing this down with the people she knows in a fight--even that ornery old man'd be a welcome sight--but there's nothing for it.
And then, as Nogard draws closer, two of the harpy's attendants break off and make a beeline for Faris, an exposed target riding right on the top of an enemy that's challenging their master.]
Right, you putrid pair of petrels--[The nice thing about a dragoon's spear is that it's a great weapon for keeping things at bay. And for a while, it works. With the agility of someone who's spent a lifetime on a pitching ship, Faris spins, jabs, and dodges the beating wings and sharp claws. But she's one person and that won't last forever, and when she's jabbing at one of the beasts, there's a sharp tear down her side from the other.
He roars in pain, retreating, but there's nowhere to retreat to but the other harpy's claws. But instead of piercing through, they are simply--holding. And then with a swoop, Faris is in the air, being swept away to the gods only know where.]
HEY! Put me DOWN! I'M NOT THROUGH FIGHTING YOU MALEFACTORS YET!
no subject
That is no mere wave, but a tsunami, and Faris will get a front row seat as it comes crashing into Eltrut's shield, making the Leviathan teeter on its feet. He may catch a glimpse of the city down below the surface before it is buried, but the harpies do not stop. They fly faster, and faster, until suddenly—
A shriek bellows out from somewhere among the mist and wind, and suddenly, not long before the sisters reach the forests atop the turtle's shell, much larger claws swipe at Faris, wrapping around him as tight to steal him from Chirada.
Fangs bared, she laughs, lifting him up to eye's height as she spins, carrying them up and up...]
no subject
Even with fifteen years before the mast and flight on airship, dragonback, and chocobo, the chaotic swoops and dives of the egi are testing Faris' otherwise ironclad stomach.
Well. That's part of it. The other part is the surefire knowledge that there is no Lenna. There is no Bartz. And there's definitely no Krile. The only person here is... Faris.
She hasn't felt this alone in a very long time.
The awful feeling is busy sinking into Faris' heart when she sees the shadow of the forest and then feels another set of claws--bigger. Nastier.
And yet the face is... familiar.]
Well, you got me. [Faris grips the claws around her. The impulse to scream put me down is checked by the fact that this creature is not going to politely return to the ground before it does so--no--not it.
It can't be, right?
But first...]
STOP SPINNING LIKE A KID TRYING TO MAKE HIMSELF SICK AND TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT!
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Faris will feel only air under him then as she drops him, sending him plummeting to the ground—
It's definitely like an animal playing with its food first...]
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And then just as he's starting to work out how he'd even get at his knife in this position, he's got his wish. Bad wish. The ground is getting closer, faster, but as his spinning brains rattle back into place, a couple of instincts do too.
Like a cat from a tree, the tumbling pirate somehow manages to right herself in midair--thank you very much, ancient Dragoon spirit--to land with both feet on the ground. It's from a lot farther up than she usually lands. It hurts, and it's going to hurt more, but it's not broken. Faris grabs a sheared-off branch on the ground as an improvised spear and launches herself right back up.]
You?!
[Benedikta.]
What turned you into this clapperclaw!
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Right into Garuda's clawed hand—
She snatches Faris and carries her over and even through several more prickly treetops before they land at a large nest settled within one of the pine trees, guarded by several smaller wind egis that all turn to stare at her when she arrives...]
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Also, that ornery old man will never, EVER, let Faris hear the end of it....
And then it lifts and instead of a hand around her throat, Faris feels claws scraping over her side before she's brought into a nest. Full of those damn wind birds that had gotten him into this mess.]
What? I'm bird food? [She kicks and squirms, trying to free herself from the harpy's grip.] Not likely, Benedikta!
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Taunting, Garuda laughs and brings her face close to Faris, snapping her jaw as if to say yes, bird food indeed and backs off before Faris can try to get a hit in.
And it will be then that there is a flash of another memory, although this time, it will not be of cold, dark eyes that stare into her soul. Rather, it is of a hooded woman and a man in a dark corridor aboard a ship, made obvious by the crashing waves outside.
And as the image fades, a loud screech will echo overhead, and this one is not from Garuda or the harpies that guard the nests. This one is from a gryphon that swoops in, its talons latching onto the back of Garuda's head, its wings beating furiously to try and offer a distraction for Faris to either hop on or make a break for it.]
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The flash of the harpy's memory confirms it--this is Benedikta. It seems she stepped up her magic from when she and Faris were dealing with that cursed island.
But shouting her name hasn't gotten through to her. Whatever's going on in Benedikta's head now, it doesn't look like reason forms any part of it. Faris pushes herself up onto her hands and knees in the nest, ignoring the scrapes and pokes from the rough twigs and thorns. She's going to have to kill Benedikta here. And that's bad, because she can't do that on her own.
But another screech cuts through--not like the cries of the egi or Benedikta's demon form. Faris' head snaps up to see the gryphon grabbing Benedikta.
There's no time to hesitate. Scrambling up the walls of the nest, Faris only takes a moment to brace before leaping aboard the gryphon's back.]
Let's put a dent in her together, matey! Go for the neck!
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There is another attempt at subversion, though Garuda does not quite realize that it is happening. Perhaps it's Benedikta sending a message, or an attempt to put some distance between them... A process that no one will come to know, yet it happens anyway, as there is a third memory that passes between them.
The trees splinter and crack, tearing them both free from the memory as Garuda climbs atop them and takes to the skies fully, and while she could flee, she's feeling just a touch petty now, and she banks around, albeit clumsily, her claw outstretched to grab them both... and hopefully Faris is conscious by the time she comes—]
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It was too horrible to even cry, but crying was all she could do... that must have been how the pirate and his son knew where to look as they picked over the beach for anything valuable. And they found a princess. But with her dress all stained and torn and her voice too hoarse and parched to even say her own name right, all they knew was that it was a little girl tossed up by the sea.
Faris has considered, many many times, how lucky he was that he was found by a decent sort. Not exactly a father; he'd seen to it that she knew how to be a boy and left her to the hurly-burly of a pirate's childhood, but he didn't look at her and see a tool, a payday. It seems that Benedikta may not have been so lucky.
But whatever Benedikta's past may be, the present reality is that she is no longer someone to be talked to but an experience to be survived. So when she wheels back around, Faris grips the gryphon's feathers with one hand, watching her come closer, closer--
--and when that claw stretches out to grab, Faris thrusts her sword out to pierce it.]
I can't let you kill me here. [Home, the word that a younger Benedikta didn't understand, has a complicated meaning for Faris... but she'll be damned if she dies before figuring out what that meaning is.] Be off with you, you befeathered blackguard!
oh btw! this thread was worth 6 pts :D
One moment, Garuda will be spinning through the air, that claw clasped around the sword to draw it out, and she finally does manage by some miracle given all the chaotic winds that churn around them, and in the next, Faris is thrust into another memory—the last one, another distraction at the cost of her Dominant.
It is one that feeds nothing but pure rage and resentment, one that will give Faris a surge of her own power for but a moment.
In a flurry, Garuda's other claw comes sweeping around from behind, walloping and scratching at Faris one last time, hoping to knock her and the gryphon out of the air and down into the forest and the winds below them. She whips the sword away, hearing it land somewhere among in the trees, and with one last menacing look at Faris, she turns around and takes to the skies, disappearing into the whirlwinds with a single beat of her wings.]