« 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

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda draws back in surprise as Darin suddenly explodes at her. Why in the world is he so upset about her acknowledging that he saved her life? Usually people respond by either boasting about their own heroism or downplaying it in an attempt at humility. Lashing out in anger is not the reaction she expected and she's too startled to say anything in response.

Her eyes follow his down to his arms. She can't help but wince sympathetically as she watches him bend his elbows, an expression which hides her amazement that he's able to do that at all without screaming in pain. Is it possible that his arms weren't as badly broken as Zelda thought?

A question which she thinks to ask him before she abruptly receives the brunt end of his frustration again. But this time, Zelda's surprise at his outburst is momentary and her countenance slips immediately into shame as he reprimands her actions. He's right-- she wasn't thinking. She acted rashly out of concern for his life with no thought to her own. The princess has tried to be better about that over the years, ever since her impulsiveness nearly resulted in her capture by the Yiga clan. ]

You... you're right. I did not stop to think that it might come back after it finished with you. That was foolish of me.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Ngh...!

[He huffs in feigned annoyance. No, don't feel bad! You're right! She could have gotten hurt! She shouldn't be so damn reckless!]

[Says the man with two broken arms from trying to fight a giant harpy lady using powers he's scarcely used in his life.]

I...It's fine. If you hadn't been here I probably would have drowned anyway so...

At least you managed to pull me out of the water after being dunked over and over again by nothing...

Damn, that was freaky...

[multidisciplinary]

[ Darin may be the pot calling the kettle black, but he accidentally stumbled upon a sore spot left behind from Zelda's adolescence. The last years before the Calamity that destroyed Hyrule were filled with reprimands, criticisms, and lectures over the princess's many shortcomings. And no small number of these admonishments came from her own father. Wounds that will never fully heal.

Thankfully, Darin steers the conversation in a different direction, which encourages Zelda to peek out from behind the wall of guilt she erected around herself. Though she also feels bad for needlessly hurting him with her magic, it doesn't fill her with the same all-encompassing shame. ]

Ah, I do apologize for that. When I arrived here, I thought you were drifting away from the shoreline, rather than to it. I meant to use my magic to bring you back, but it had the opposite effect. I should have dismissed it right away, but I panicked. [ She shakes her head. Although there's remorse in her visage, it's not to the extent as a minute ago. ] I am truly sorry for hurting you further.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin blinks and slowly turns his head to face her. That was magic? That's not like any magic he'd ever heard of. Already the gears in his mind are spinning because he wants to ask about it but no, he can't, this girl already knows too damn much and getting friendly with her will just complicate things!]

[Nevermind the fact that there's already a few other people who have seen his strength but this woman seems pretty hellbent on thanking him for being something he's not.]

Wait so...your magic...did that? It's like the whole fight replayed without the monster. Or...at least the part where my ass got kicked did.

...Which isn't something I'd prefer to highlight but...

[Dammit, no...she's gonna elaborate and he's probably gonna find it interesting.]

[At least she's not asking about him.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ (Maybe it's Darin who's hellbent on being something he's not.)

Yes, she is going to elaborate and it is going to be interesting. ]

Had I allowed it to continue, it would drawn you back through more of the fight, possibly all the way back to the shop.

But yes, it was my magic that did that. [ Apologetically, she looks down at her hands in her lap. ] I am... still learning how to use it properly. It is a power I have only come into very recently and I have never tried to use it on a living being before. [ Excluding the time she accidentally used it on herself and time traveled to the distant past. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin's mind is already racing through the potential applications of magic that powerful.]

...From the sound of it, you can return items and people to their previous states in terms of location but it doesn't reset physical wounds. Otherwise, it'd heal my wounds to.

[If his arms weren't broken, he'd take out his notebook.]

[...Which is probably waterlogged now. Dammit, he's going to have to invest in a waterproof pouch or something.]

...Can you repair broken items with it? Like...if a stick were broken in half, could you mend it?

[multidisciplinary]

[ His evident interest in her power helps to further assuage the remorseful air that clings to the princess. She lifts her head, rather surprised to hear that he seems to already understand her power. (Further proof that he's not suffering from head trauma but actively hiding something from her.)

Zelda nods at several points in affirmation of his assessments and questions. ] I can, yes.

[ A shame he can't take out that waterlogged notebook, because she could've used it as a demonstration. Instead, Zelda selects a stick halfway buried in the sand nearby. With both hands, she snaps it in half and drops it back into the sand. Then, she extends her right hand towards it. Once again, a heavy -thunk- sounds from nowhere and little waves of gray and gold magic ripple off the stick. ]

I cannot change the flow of time or anything of that sort; all I do is turn back time for an object. [ She makes a motion with her wrist and an unseen clock begins ticking backwards, second by second. ] My relative, who was my teacher back home, likened it to recalling memories. I don't so much fix the object as I do guide it back to a previous point in time, to the form it remembers taking before it was broken. [ The two broken pieces of the stick lift themselves up into the air, align their fractured ends, and then fit themselves neatly together. ] Simply that.

[ Zelda snaps her fingers and the stick drops out of the air and onto her lap, perfectly whole, as though it had never been broken. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin can't even begin to hide his wonder and, for the moment, completely forgets that he's trying to drive this woman away. His eyes light up at the relatively simple feat.]

That's...so you're not simply turning back the clock you're causing the item to recall what it previously was. It's got nothing to do with time and instead relies on the inherent form of the object...it's like...

Like muscle memory but for physical objects...! That's....!

[Incredible. He was about to say 'incredible.' But he remembers that he's trying to be standoffish and pulls back, clearing his throat.]

That's...useful. I bet a lot of people here are gonna be glad you can do that considering the damage.

[Reel it in, Darin. You can't act like that might be the coolest thing you've ever seen.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ His excitement is infectious and Zelda brightens as a result. She opens her mouth to clarify that no, it isn't solely the inherent form of the object. She could rewind a repaired item back to its broken state if she chose. Her magic allows her to move an object (or, apparently, a person) backwards through their own lived time without effecting time or anyone else around them.

But then he pulls another personality 180° and he's back to being prickly.

The princess is starting to get suspicious.

She sets that to the side for a moment, but resolves to watch Darin more closely as a result. ]

From the storm? Oh no, reversing so much damage is far beyond my skills. My command of this power is quite limited. [ But it does make her wonder if Sonia would be able to Recall damage on the scale the harpy caused. ] Nor can I reverse your wounds in order to heal them. [ And she's honestly scared to try. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

No. [Darin shakes his head.]

Not that.

Storms like this are devastating but not for the reasons you might think. Buildings and shops can be rebuilt but...people lose things to the water and to the winds. That magic...you can use it to bring lost items back to people. Sometimes one trinket can mean the difference between giving up or finding the will to get back up. Or, hell, you physically sent me back. Maybe you find a lost child or something who got separated from their folks. You can recall them back and help reunite people.

Point is, I think you could help a lot of people with magic like that beyond just the superficial.

...Little things add up.

[multidisciplinary]

[ At first, she's surprised when he says he wasn't talking about damage to the town itself. But as she listens and begins to understand what he means, her expression softens into something thoughtful and warm. Those are really good suggestions-- and ones Zelda never would have thought of on her own. As a princess, she has always focused on the big picture. It's a sovereign's job to take into account the needs of the kingdom and its people as a whole. She has never really put much thought into offering her help on a small scale. (Which is not to say she's never done so; only that she's never thought of it from this angle.)

But that's the kind of thing Link would do--has done, even, during the years since the Calamity as Zelda has sought to rebuild Hyrule. No ask is ever too small to receive his assistance. ]

You are right. I had not thought about it like that. [ She nods to him. ] I shall sure to keep an eye out for such things when I am able to return.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin blinks.]

[Huh. He wasn’t expecting her to agree like that. Honestly, he didn’t know what he expected. He’s used to people only taking his advice when he’s working because at least then the quality of his work spoke for itself.]

[If only Zelda— if only anyone truly knew how much Darin paid attention to people. To the little things. He’s spent his entire life watching people. Watching for shifts in moods or subtle body language. It came with the territory of being called a monster or a curse. He learned to dodge rocks because of the subtle motion people made when they went to throw them. The slight twitch at the wrist, the tightening of the tendon that runs along the forearm. He watched to survive. To learn what was “normal” so he could hide who he was and what he could do.]

[This woman saw the whole thing. Or at least as much as could be seen from the ground. She wasn’t running away or calling for anyone else to try and clap him in irons. She was just…sitting with him.]

[As genuine and earnest as Darin is, when the same earnestness is paid in kind to him, he has no idea how to react. He prefers sarcasm and cynicism to play off of. This woman exudes kindness.]

[Kindness he honestly doesn’t think he deserves. If she knew what he was it’d be different. But if he told her, told anyone…any chance at a peaceful life here would be up in smoke.]

[He clears his throat and turns his attention away. He really needed to figure out a way to leave before too many of his wounds healed. Already the open wounds were slightly smaller.]

Good. There are people here who need way more help than I do. You should focus on them.

[…Maybe there is a way to get out of this. He just needs to distract her.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ Privy to none of this internal struggle, Zelda is once more taken aback (albeit less so than previous times) when the pendulum that seems to be Darin's personality swings in the opposite direction again.

At this point, it's become pretty apparent that he's both hiding something and trying to get her to leave. And Zelda wouldn't normally try to pry into a stranger's secrets. (She typically waits until she gets to know someone better before she pries.) But unfortunately for Darin, his current state of being extremely injured makes Zelda hesitant to leave him alone. ]

I should find a doctor. But I can hardly leave you alone in this state. [ Even though he's in weirdly stable condition for someone who should currently be bleeding out all over the sand. ] Nor can I carry you on my own.

[ It seems we are at an impasse, sir. And further argument is likely to do the opposite of deter her.

She tilts her head, studying him. ] Why are you so intent on refusing my help?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Yeah, there it is. He winces at the question, even though he knew it was coming.]

[The urge to snap at her rises but...he can't do it. She just wants to help. Help him. And that's just...it's foreign for sure but at the same time...it's not like he's never been on the receiving end of kindness.]

[His old man, for one. His mentor and his adopted father. Then there was Kessler, the man who taught him to use a blade. They knew what he was to an extent...]

[Well...guess there's only one real way to find out if she's the real deal.]

...Because even though I look like this, I recover faster than most. It's...call it an 'ability.' I'm resilient. And when I do get injured, my body heals at an accelerated rate.

[He suspects that Zelda might have trouble taking his word for it considering he's been so desperate to chase her off. So he merely lifts an arm (already doing better than it was) and hikes up his shirt and coat to show that the garish wounds all over his muscular frame were already smaller. Not considerably but...he's certainly not in danger of bleeding out.]

[He averts his gaze, fully expecting her to get freaked out.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ Shockingly, Zelda does not freak out.

In fact, if he hadn't pulled up his shirt, she would've barely reacted at all, beyond the thoughtful noise she makes at his explanation. Though she doesn't know of any race in Hyrule with this particular characteristic, it's not so inconceivable that it completely blows her mind.

But he does lift his shirt and seeing what he's talking about makes her eyes widen in amazement. She braces her hands in the sand and leans over him, eyes skimming over his body. Compared to the size of the slashes through his clothing, the wounds left behind by the harpies' talons are significantly smaller. The majority are already scabbed over and some of the scabs are already starting to flake. ]

Incredible... I've never seen anything like it. Not in a human, that is. There are a few species of amphibians that can regenerate from injuries and even regrow lost limbs, but--

[ Oh wait, she's rambling. And staring. Zelda immediately plops back down in the sand and returns her hands to her lap.

She clears her throat in a definitely not awkward way. ] Well, that certainly explains why you're so calm about this- [ Gesturing at all of him. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin is used to people moving away not towards him. And while he's far from shy and usually the first person to get all up in someone's personal space, having Zelda lean in for a closer look at his bare chest and abs makes him flinch. There's that godsdamned heat in his cheeks again.]

[But she settles back and...did she just liken him to a frog?]

[He snorts, unable to help laughing at that. Darin's been compared to a lot of things but never a frog.]

Can't say I've ever been hurt this bad before. The arms are mostly my fault.

[No use beating around the bush. She knows how strong he is. At least, somewhat. Not even he knows his own limitations and he'd prefer to keep it that way.]

I'm human. [As far as he knows.] So while I'm resilient, I'm not immortal. I still feel pain I just recover quicker. But my strength...has limitations.

There's a recoil when I go above a certain threshold of power. I was trying to ground that giant harpy and put too much strength behind my punches. [Even though he has a perfectly serviceable dao strapped to his back.]

I'll be feeling this for a few weeks. Last time I broke my arm I was a kid and I fell out of a tree. I was only laid up for a little over a week so...

Believe me, I'll be fine. [A beat.]

This...doesn't freak you out? Bother you?

[He has to ask.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ Oh thank goodness he laughs, because Zelda's just realizing she started comparing him to a frog. Not what she meant to do! But at least he seems to be taking it in stride, which gets a little laugh out of her as well.

As he explains, she makes mental note of things here and there as they jump out at her. Despite his strength and regenerative power, his is still human and mortal-- factors which affect how he uses those powers. Strange, because it sounds as though the strength available to him is greater than his own body can handle.

Zelda was initially of the impression that these heightened abilities might be characteristic of humans of his world, differentiating them from humans of other worlds. But in such a scenario, humans of his particular race would have adapted to these abilities over time. Either they haven't yet adapted because these genetic traits are fairly new or, more likely, they are not racial characteristics but ones unique to Darin.

A theory which he unintentionally confirms, completely to her surprise. ]

Bother me? [ Zelda pulls herself back from her scientific hypothesizing and looks at him with genuine confusion. ] Of course not. Why should it bother me?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Uh...I caught a tree and then threw it like a javelin? I tried to fistfight a giant bird monster and broke my arms, not from any damage from it, but from my own destructive force?

Now I'm slowly healing in front of your eyes.

Hell, I have blue hair. Do humans have blue hair where you come from?

[His own confusion is obvious, even to him and he stifles anymore incredulity.]

I...look, there's a lot of...riftfarers is it? They've all got powers and can do amazing things and I'm sure that's normal here but...

Where I come from people...treat me differently.

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda's just kind of nodding along as he lists all these things, counterpoints popping effortlessly into her head. Yes, he caught and threw a tree, but Yunobo could do that if he wanted to. Maybe even Sidon, if the tree was smaller. No, she's never seen someone slowly heal themselves but she often saw Mipha heal others (and sometimes the princess too). She's seen blue hair on a few Hylians, but it isn't a naturally occurring color like it is for Rito and Zora.

She considers sharing these examples, but as he goes on, she stops herself and her expression turns introspective. People treat him differently; by his tone, she can tell what he actually means is people treat him badly.

And while Hyrule is a diverse world of many different peoples with many different abilities, those who are different are not always necessarily treated well. Link is an example of that; a gifted child with the uncanny ability to master just about any skill taught to him, who was chosen at a young age to wield the Master Sword. Although people heralded Link as a prodigy and a hero, their praise and high expectations of him caused the boy no small amount of misery. Misery which he coped with by closing himself off from the world until he was simply a vessel for the sword. ]

I see. [ A thoughtful pause. ] I suspect that my homeland is... quite different from your own. It is quite different from many other worlds I've heard riftfarers talk about.

[ She considers her next words. ] In Hyrule, I have known two people who could handle a tree with the same ease as you did. One was a Champion of our kingdom and the other is a young entrepreneur. Both were dear friends of mine. Another Champion possessed the power to heal others of their wounds, an ability unseen outside her family. And yet another Champion was predominantly blue in coloration. [ She chuckles softly. ] I have no doubt that Revali took great pride in the striking hue of his plumage.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin listens to Zelda speak with no small amount of interest. Wherever Hyrule was...it sounded fascinating. A world that, maybe, he'd love to see. Any place was better than Anmaral, honestly. Though he'd only known his own Kingdom of Alvale, he'd spent much of his life wondering if he'd find acceptance in its neighboring kingdoms. There was always the Eastern Continent, close off due to beast and demonkin but...since people thought he had tainted blood anyway, he always thought maybe he could find a place there.]

[It's the talk of "Champions" that causes his chest to tighten. It causes some of the color to wash from his face and immediately, he's on the defensive.]

"Champion?" [Darin echoes somewhat incredulously.]

L...Lady, look. I know I've got powers and abilities but I'm just a blacksmith. I'm just some guy who was cursed being born with powers he never wanted. That's all there is to it. I hate using my powers. I hate everything about them.

[multidisciplinary]

[ Oop, there goes that pendulum, swinging the other way.

Zelda holds up her hands in concession. (Noteably, she doesn't look quite so taken aback as she has previously.) ]

Please accept my apologies, I meant no offense. I sought simply to contextualize why I am unbothered by your powers.

[ And it seems she's alone in that.

Cursed to be born with powers he never wanted... Powers he hates. What terrible feelings to be burdened with. As a girl, she felt the same way about her own innate powers, the ones she was incapable of awakening until it was too late. How she used to hate the power of the Goddess.

She looks down at him with no small amount of sympathy in her expression. ] For whatever it may be worth, I am deeply grateful that you chose to use them today. I doubt that I, or anyone who sought refuge in that shop, would still be alive if you had not.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin sighs and...calms down a bit. At the very least, she's not talking about how he should use his powers for others or waxing poetic about him being something more than he is. Any dream of being a great knight or hero died when his brother did.]

[A brother who has only recently come back and revealed to him what they actually are meant to be.]

[He's not a hero and he was never born to be one. He was born with the express intent of being the opposite.]

[Still...it was nice. Someone actually being grateful to him for a change and not because he made them amazing gear. It was nice being thanked even if it meant being thanked for being a freak of nature.]

I...yeah. It's fine just. Setting the record straight. I did what I did out of impulse not...altruism. And...hey, it worked out. If I hadn't saved you, then you wouldn't have found and saved me. Even if you sent me back out to sea at first.

[He smirks at her; winsome and snarky.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ It's abundantly clear to Zelda that Darin's relationship with his abilities is far more complicated than simply trying to keep them a secret. Something she'll need to tread lightly around, it seems. She's not entirely sure what it is she said about the Champions that set him off, but she'd rather avoid doing so in the future.

(She's also not entirely sure she believes him when he says he just "impulsively" decided to catch a giant tree and nearly get himself killed fighting three harpies.)

But at least he's calmed down-- and enough to take a jab at her. That gets a laugh out of Zelda. ] They say no good deed goes unrewarded, accidental or not.

[ She can be witty too. ]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Oh. Oh no.]

[Darin looks taken aback for a moment before he starts laughing. He walked right into that and honestly? As much as laughing hurt given everything they just talked about...he'd rather a joke at his expense than outright revulsion.]

[It felt nice. He still wasn't sure if this would blow up in his face but...]

[Maybe he'll luck out. Maybe he'll be wrong this time.]

If it's all the same, I'll take a better reward next time.

[Why did you say that??? 'Next time' implies you'd do it again, idiot!]

[multidisciplinary]

[ She's glad when he takes her little tease for what it is and the pendulum that is his personality doesn't swing back to another outburst.

Up goes one eyebrow as he tosses out a joke about "next time." Next time he goes throwing himself "impulsively" into battle with a foe way above his weight class and needs a rescue? Hmm. ]

I shall be certain to use the time to devise a better strategy for assisting drowning men.

[ But also try not to get in over your head like that again, okay? ]