« player event » 🌪️ the eye of the storm

[seaboards]

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."

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...

Benedikta & Garuda's Wrath (Final Fantasy XVI spoilers)

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...

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.

🏝️ 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.

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.)

🐦 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.

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 ♫ )

This is the designated log for a player-run (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.

Comments

[yuezun]

Daqiang slowed to a stop and when he had done so, turned to look back over his shoulder at the voice calling for him. The crowd being as it was, and his strength being so low, it was difficult for him to tell the various spiritual presences apart. The usual background 'noise' to his senses were now something of a cacophony that the was mostly trying to ignore.

With Rem's voice being hoarse, he also did not immediately recognize that she was the one calling for him. A weary blink and a long scan of the crowd before his eyes settled on her belied his exhaustion far more than even his appearance. But when he did see her, he turned fully, swaying a little as someone knocked into his shoulder, but otherwise managing to stay stable on his feet.

"Rem," he greeted simply with a nod, eyes looking her over when she was close enough. "Are you injured?"

[vermilloci]

She frowns as someone bumps into him, noting how he sways. A panicking, fearful crowd can’t be helped, but her concern for him spikes. “I’m not,” she tells him. While she appears disheveled due to the gale and rain, she bears no physical injury.

She’s also not the one teetering where she stands. “But— what about you? You don’t look okay.”

[yuezun]

"This venerable one is fine," he responds - not quite immediately, but certainly reflexively. He wasn't so exhausted and weakened that he was at any risk of real injury. Not yet. His hair hadn't started to turn white, after all. His appearance was not fully maintained, but it wasn't entirely ignored to channel his power elsewhere.

And then he reaches out to put his hands on her elbows, hesitating a for a moment because he knew she liked to be asked before he touched her. But he wasn't going to use his powers on her or take her anywhere. And she could certainly see what his intentions were as his hands hovered there long enough to be almost awkward.

Then they settled on her elbows and he stepped forward rather than pull her towards him as he looked her over a little more closely. Just to be sure. She was...

was...

She was his friend. Showing concern was appropriate. Being concerned was appropriate.

"You have been missed."

[vermilloci]

She doesn’t step away from his touch, but there’s a moment where the concerned expression shifts to visible puzzlement, before that, too, eventually is replaced by a smile.

Rem shifts one of her arms, moving her hand to fold her fingers over the top of his at her elbow, giving his fingers a squeeze.

“Then let’s stick together, okay? To help others. Someone has to keep an eye on you when you’ve been working too much.”

[yuezun]

"This venerable one is fine," he insisted, though there was no real conviction in his words despite trying to stress them. He was not at risk of passing out and needing a week to recover as he had been following the fight with the monstrously large, eight-headed goose.

After she had squeezed his fingers, he allowed his hands to drop and he turned his body to indicate she could lead the way. He had no specific direction he was going. His shoulder was jostled again and he ignored it as he had been ignoring the intrusions into his space.

"You may lead."

[vermilloci]

When he insists that he's fine, her head tilts slightly to the side, and when yet another person shoves into him and he does nothing, her smile fades.

"Right... This way." Rem's eyes dart away from him as she pivots. Lead, he says, and she does-- to a side alley first, where it's considerably less crowded, and then through its winding pathways downhill. Puddles of stormwater soon rise to a centimeter, then two, then three, murky and full of slough from the flooding streets. Anything that's not secured shifts in the runoff with each passing gale.

If it's not evident by now, she's bringing them closer to the harbor, where most are running from. Why? Because she's also stopping whenever she sees someone collapsed or face down in the water. For those not yet lost, she heals either by clasping her hands over theirs or placing her hands directly over their wounds. When they're able to walk, she directs them toward the shelter. As for those who are too late to help-- Rem also pauses by them, brow furrowed with concentration, but only for a few moments before quickly moving on. Time is ticking for the freshly dead.

"We have to turn over any body we find," she tells him, keeping her focus on the path ahead. "It might not be too late."

[yuezun]

Dongfang follows and watches her work. It is interesting that she stops at both those who have no spiritual presence (and are fully dead) and those that still have some clinging to them. The bodies of the dead will eventually be carried away for whatever burial rights the mortals of this world feel are appropriate, of course. But he had thought she had a better sense for what life may or may not still linger. Though, given how little she liked to speak of her power, he supposed he may have made broader assumptions than he should have.

Regardless of that, he had told her to lead. Because he had no specific direction or place to be now that the God-Beast had weathered most of the storm. So he knelt down next to bodies of both the dead and the not-dead and turned each over so their faces could be seen. Those that were still alive enough that a spiritual presence lingered, he fed a small stream of energy to try and tether them. He could not heal, but sometimes just having a little more energy was enough for a body to keep going when it otherwise couldn't.

And when he noticed Rem starting to breath heavily as she did when pushing herself too much, he stood and settled a hand between her shoulders and gave her a small trickle of energy so she could also keep going.

[vermilloci]

It becomes evident that nothing of which she's trying to do with those who have expired is working, but she's quick to move on. Healing has always been a talent of hers-- the best in her class-- but it's never been her focus. Of course, it would take a catastrophe for her to truly use the healing arts again.

But when she feels him feeding her energy--

"Did you just--" her head snaps up, and she withdraws her hand from a stranger's forearm. The laceration upon the man's skin approximates, zipping up as if sutured. Quick healing jobs are messy jobs, but it's a numbers game. Better to have a scar than to bleed out, and perfection is the enemy of good when there are so many others to help.

"You know you should save that for yourself," she admonishes gently, knowing full well he won't take it back. Rem stands up, helping the victim to his feet, and sends him on his way.

[yuezun]

She said that as if his personal well of power wasn't a blinding sun compared to her own. So what if he'd used so much of it already? He still had more than enough to share what he had.

Frowning at her and all but rolling his eyes as he looked away, he crossed his arms and began walking slowly to towards the next body. "This venerable one has said before that he has no talent for the healing arts. But this venerable one has been tasked with aiding those who need healing." Technically, he tasked himself with that since it was obviously what the God-Beast Eltrut wanted for those it allowed to reside upon it's back. "You are a healer. Sharing energy to bolster your own will be more effective."

A perfectly logical argument that gave him a reasonable position to also fuss over her, nothing more.

[vermilloci]

Rem watches him as he walks towards the next body, puffing out a cheek. "Not if you're the next victim. "How many times have you been bumped into?"

A quick check reveals he's still breathing, although it's not readily apparent where his injury lies. When in doubt, directing revitalizing magic towards the heart or head is best practice, and so she places her hand against the side of his neck, her palm to his thready pulse. A pale glow graces her fingertips before she imbues the healing magic into the victim.

Her smile fades as the man doesn't move. Something's wrong.

[yuezun]

Daqiang doesn't dignify that question with an answer. He didn't know how many times. Instead, waiting while Rem did her work on the body.

The man is still breathing, but he wasn't reacting to the healing in any way. His spiritual presence could still be felt. Though... it was quite weak.

Kneeling down, Daqiang reaches out and settles his hand over Rem's. He holds her hand there while he pushes a small stream of energy through her and into him, shutting his eyes as he uses that to explore the man's meridians - trying to drag her own senses along with his. He didn't know how well she'd be able to tell what it meant, but tracing the paths of energy in the man's body with his own eventually brought them to an obstruction in the lower abdomen. A 'tangle' where paths met and energy got 'stuck', becoming slow and sludge-like rather than flowing properly. The sluggishness went up the spine and down the legs. Something that wouldn't interfere with breathing, but would indicate something more severely wrong.

Opening his eyes, he asked, "Could you feel that?" He needed to know if she had felt what he did. If she understood what it meant before he confirmed it.

[vermilloci]

As he guides her through the wounded man’s energy (flow of energy?), her brow furrows with concentration when the highways tangle. She doesn’t quite know what it means, however. Perhaps if she had been properly trained as a healer, she’d be able to diagnose the exact problem. But although she can mend with magic, becoming a dedicated professional had never been the priority of Class Zero.

“Mm,” she affirms with a concerned nod, and she chews softly on her bottom lip as her gaze sweeps over the man’s chest and abdomen, as if it would help. It doesn’t, of course. “Some sort of internal injury, I think. And at least we have a general idea of where, so, let’s see…”

Her hand returns to the man’s chest, and this time she closes her eyes, visualizing the prior path Dongfang had revealed. She quickly finds that “knot” again, and then she gets to work, using that as a metaphysical map to more precisely guide her next set of healing power.

[yuezun]

Daqiang moves his hand away and leans back, watching. Senses focused on the spiritual presence of the man and only somewhat on the other presences around them. It was still weak, but it wasn't weakening as Rem tried to heal the injury that could not be seen.

"He is still here," he murmured, "do not take his lack of reaction as meaning he is gone."

It was just uncertain at the moment when he might wake up.

[vermilloci]

“We move on, then,” she determines, but her tone betrays that she’s not entirely reassured to simply leave him here, either.

Unfortunately, catastrophe means they must triage, move quickly, urgently, and do what they can. There are others that need help. While it is exhausting work, it has to be done.

Rem stands up and turns, facing Dongfang. “Thank you… I’m not sure what you did, but it helped.” A pause, and she asks again:

“You’re still okay, though, right?”

[yuezun]

"This venerable one is fine," he answered reflexively. It was true (this time), but it was definitely more on reflex than actual consideration before he moved on to explain, "This venerable one moved our energy down his meridians to find the injury. Meridians can be blocked or... 'tangled' when one is ill and are easiest to trace to the problem with physical injuries."

He began walking again, arms crossed and eyes scanning for more people. They were getting closer to the docks and though there were people running from the area, there was also an increase in people stopping to check on those who had fallen. It seemed the larger rescue efforts were beginning to make their way through the area. Though they were certainly not yet organized.

However...

"There is a large gathering of people just to the... east... of us," he said, having to look up to orientate himself with Eltrut's current facing. "Port-side of the God-Beast."

[vermilloci]

He's fine, he says, and in the midst of a storm, there's no time to assess further. (But he's a god-- he should be fine, right?) The same goes for his explanation about meridians. As much as she would like to inquire more about them, or rather how best to utilize them as a guide for healing magic, they have other priorities.

"Eastward," she repeats with a nod.


They move through more alleyways and across streets littered with the debris of anything that was not secured to the ground. Surprisingly, there are fewer casualties on their path and more volunteers helping others, some even carrying victims on stretchers. Rem asks one of them where they're going, and they mention a relief clinic within the older, stone building, one that's weathered typhoons before.

"A clinic...?" Her lips purse, and she chances a glance at Dongfang. For a moment, she appears conflicted. "Let's head there."

[yuezun]

Daqiang followed at an easy pace, eyes scanning the alleyways they passed and finding they were either empty or being emptied by more of those volunteers. While Daqiang had not witnessed much in the way of organization prior to the tsunami hitting, in it's aftermath there seemed to be an understanding in the way the mortals moved to help each other.

"They move like they're soldiers in a war," he murmured as they drew closer to the clinic and the sound of people shouting orders and directing others could now be heard more clearly. "After the battlefield has gone silent and breath is being held in waiting to see if the enemy will break the truce while wounds are bound and the injured counted."

[vermilloci]

Rem glances his way as he speaks, recalling how he once told her of the conflict between his immortal tribe and yet another... immortal tribe. In a war between immortals, no doubt their medical cots would be filled more frequently than actual graves. (If graves exist at all in the realm he rules.)

The mortals here are not so lucky. They bleed quickly, they heal slowly, they suffer, and they die. Rem did not bring herself and Dongfang here to try to help all, though-- that would be foolish. She only hopes that they can both help the injured by doing what they can.

"And we're here for them, just like soldiers. Let's try to help them, before anything worse happens," she says, stepping into the clinic, where the scent of iron from blood is so thick that it can be tasted on the tongue. Rem moves past a few cots, gaining the attention of one of the triaging, struggling physicians. Grateful for more volunteers from off-worlders, the physician directs them to attend to those in the ward furthest to the back. Surely as off-worlders, of whom he's heard have great powers, can help the most critical patients.

Rem moves quickly, going towards a man whose skin appears no different in color from granite. There is scant time left.


Her time searching for those injured and on the brink of death is rooted in a deep desire to save them...But that is not her only reason. Honing her healing magic is all well and good, but it can only do so much.

She wants to practice bringing back the dead.

[yuezun]

He follows Rem more out of habit than because he was directed the same way she was. When they reach a man in severe condition, Daqiang almost tells Rem not to bother. He can't sense a distinct spiritual presence. But there were so many people around that sensing something which might be excessively faint might simply be a failure of his senses being overwhelmed.

As she reaches out to touch the man, Daqiang reaches out and presses his hand against one shoulder and starts feeding a small trickle of energy into her. If there is a possibility of saving what looks to be a dead man, she would certainly need the help.

[vermilloci]

As she takes a seat next to the injured man, reaching for his hand, and turning it over to place two fingers upon the pulse at the wrist. Like a song coming to an end, the beats begin to slow. Whatever happened to this man, it seems that most of his injuries, too, are internal where no tourniquet can help, and too much blood has been lost already.

It's then that she feels the hand upon her shoulder, as well as the fine trickle of power coming from a god. She lifts and turns her head, looking at Dongfang... and shaking her head.

Silently, Rem attempts to blocks herself from absorbing this power. Not this time. Not for this. Being granted his power to heal is all well and good, and, truly, she's grateful for it. But she also doesn't know how his world views the often stark line between life and death. Accepting his power to do so would be no different than using him for something potentially taboo in his world. There is is not enough time to confer-- because she has to count the heartbeats one by one.

Three seconds between beats. Four seconds. Rem cups the man's hand between both of hers as if in prayer, gathering her power and quickly imbuing it into him. Briefly, his body glows white. Five seconds.

Six seconds, and then, nothing. Rem's eyes open, and she looks at the hand she holds in brief confusion, having forgotten that she'd interacted with the victim at all.

One final second later, though, the man's chest rises and falls, and Rem's expression lights up. Sighing out tiredly, she places the man's hand back over his chest. "Good... This is good."

[yuezun]

She fights him. She barely knew how to channel energy and already she had learned how to block him. Why she does it, he can't tell for certain. Was she really intending to be that stubborn about insisting he stop sharing his energy. He was fine.

He was.

He let his hand drop away, crossing his arms to wait for signs of the man recovering. He moves to stand on the other side and watch Rem. Ensure she isn't pushing herself too hard. It takes a long moment and Rem seems confused just before the man begins breathing again. Perhaps his recovery had taken too long for her expectations? His senses were dulled and muddied with so much going on.

"There are more like him," he said, turning his head to softly jerk his chin in the direction of more cots where people were clearly on their last legs and breaths. "Will you be staying to help them?"

If she wouldn't take his energy, would continue to outright refuse it, he would better serve providing energy to someone else. Or searching for more people who may be in danger and could not be helped in the traditional ways.

[vermilloci]

"This is how I'm useful," she replies, and Rem stands up, smoothing out her skirt as if it isn't soaked from all the floodwater. "If there's something else you want to do, that only you can do-- you should focus on that."

On the one hand, it seems like a waste to have someone so capable and powerful lends his energy to the dying. On the other...

"I'm grateful for your help. If you want to come back around to lend me your power, I'll take it." Rem brings a hand up to her chest, wrapping her fingers around the golden clasp on her cloak. "Just not all the time, okay? We can talk later about it. Besides..." She smiles at him. "I noticed that Orchid isn't with you. Shouldn't you make sure she's okay, first?"

[yuezun]

"Orchid is fine," he answered with confidence. More even than his assurances that he, himself, was fine. As if he knew innately how she was doing (he did). A fact for which he was grateful. Orchid would certainly be out to help those she could in the aftermath. But she was not harmed during the tsunami and thus far had yet to put herself in danger.

"This venerable one... is better elsewhere." His ability to share energy could only do so much for those that needed healing. It was true that his strength and senses would be more useful in finding survivors to be sent to the clinic. Or others like it. To shield those who might be at risk of injury from a building at risk of collapse. To pull people from the sea.

He didn't really want to leave his friend, however. But even if he ignored those he could help, he had a responsibility to find his crew and check on those he did not share a physical connection with.

"Do not push yourself too hard."

[vermilloci]

It's probably a bad habit to be so concerned about immortals. By the nature of their being, they are far more resilient and capable, and they will survive. Not that she regrets asking about Orchid. Rem is glad to hear that she is fine.

"Shouldn't I be telling you that?" she quips gently, turning to look down the row of medical cots. This will indeed test her limits. But she needs practice, and she needs this practice to survive, herself.

Besides, every soldier she knows makes exceptions in terms of pushing themselves for a catastrophe, as if that's not the expectation entirely. "But... thank you," Rem tells him anyway, and she ends this with a promise:

"I'll see you when it's sunny out."