The freezing cold is what hit her first, then the blustering wind. The woman's hair tossed about her in the harsh gale and she raised her hands to pull her stormy-colored hair back and properly see where she was. The climate was a jarring opposite of what she'd come from; a warm summer day with a gentle breeze, in the clearing of a temperate forest. There was no garden, no house behind her, only the glimpse of a portal as it suddenly collapsed in on itself and disappeared.
Nera immediately assumed this was Vincent's doing and wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. Her son was known to open portals for his own personal use, but this time he'd done it unannounced and it sucked her in before she'd had any chance to react. Snow tumbled about her as she sighed, her breath clouding in front of her. It was cold. Too cold for what she was wearing; a yellow summer dress and little else. She was lucky that she'd decided to wear her shoes that morning, as she usually gardened barefoot, or else her feet would start to burn from the chill.
Unsure of what to do, the woman waited, hoping that Vinny would reopen the portal to retrieve her shortly. Minutes passed and Nera started to understand that he was not in any hurry to do so. She began to shiver, rubbing her hands over her arms as she glanced around at her surroundings, realizing there was an unusual sound amid the howling wind; a sort of crackling like electricity popping in the socket of her kitchen when she turned the toaster on. Raising her gaze to the skies, she found a remarkable sight and wondered in awe at the colors she saw there. It was like an aurora, but much more vibrant and almost playful as the colors danced around each other like stained glass.
There was another sound in the distance and Nera returned her attention to the forest, knowing the call of a wolf's howl when she heard one. She waited still, hoping to hear the response of the others that would surely follow. When no sound came but the crackle of the storm, she groaned and focused on where the portal had disappeared.
"C'mon Vinny, hurry up," the woman whispered to herself, starting to become impatient for her return.
Nera immediately assumed this was Vincent's doing and wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. Her son was known to open portals for his own personal use, but this time he'd done it unannounced and it sucked her in before she'd had any chance to react. Snow tumbled about her as she sighed, her breath clouding in front of her. It was cold. Too cold for what she was wearing; a yellow summer dress and little else. She was lucky that she'd decided to wear her shoes that morning, as she usually gardened barefoot, or else her feet would start to burn from the chill.
Unsure of what to do, the woman waited, hoping that Vinny would reopen the portal to retrieve her shortly. Minutes passed and Nera started to understand that he was not in any hurry to do so. She began to shiver, rubbing her hands over her arms as she glanced around at her surroundings, realizing there was an unusual sound amid the howling wind; a sort of crackling like electricity popping in the socket of her kitchen when she turned the toaster on. Raising her gaze to the skies, she found a remarkable sight and wondered in awe at the colors she saw there. It was like an aurora, but much more vibrant and almost playful as the colors danced around each other like stained glass.
There was another sound in the distance and Nera returned her attention to the forest, knowing the call of a wolf's howl when she heard one. She waited still, hoping to hear the response of the others that would surely follow. When no sound came but the crackle of the storm, she groaned and focused on where the portal had disappeared.
"C'mon Vinny, hurry up," the woman whispered to herself, starting to become impatient for her return.
"Are you sure this will work?" a rather worried and apprehensive voice asked.
"Absolutely positive!" a young excitable elven woman said. "I've calculated the harmonic frequencies of the inter-dimensional peculiarities, and synchronized them with the ambient magic of the dagger--"
"It was a simple yes or no question, Bellara," Rook sighed, pinching the bridge of their nose.
The elf woman, Bellara, winced. "I mean--yes! It will work! Sorry!"
"Alright, let's settle down, I know we're all excited," a third voice broke over the chatter. This one was older, male, with a light airy grace and refinement but underlaid with a chilled, deathly echo. Emmrich Volkarin, newly ascended Lich Lord, strode into the room, head held high and staff firmly clasped in hand. "I admit, I'm rather excited, myself. What this could mean for traversal beyond what any of us can comprehend! The Circle Mages back in Tevinter will have a field day with our findings!"
"I know, right?!" Bellara said as her entire body vibrated with barely-contained glee.
"Please focus," a beleaguered Rook reminded them. They adored their companions, they really did, but putting Bellara and Emmrich together to research new magic was like putting together two very excitable puppies; their energy just bounced off one another endlessly.
"Right! Sorry!" Bellara said, turning her attention back to an intricate blue dagger. She stretched out her hands, her own arcane energy humming as she weaved an intricate spell array around the enchantments of the dagger, brows creased in furious concentration. The dagger hummed, glowing a bright cyan as Bellara worked her magic, and after a moment, the light faded and the dagger went still.
"There!" Bellara said, letting out a breath. "The dagger has now been attuned to open a rift to where you detected that anomaly, Professor!"
"Well done, Bellara! I knew I could count on you!" he said, beaming with pride, and Bellara positively glowed with his praise. Really, no one was more brilliant with magical enchantments than Bellara, and how glad he was to have her as a friend and confidant! He straightened, tapping his staff importantly on the ground. "Right. This could be very dangerous. I have no earthly idea where this rift could take me, or what waits for me beyond!"
"No better person to make this death-defying trip than someone who's already been on one death-defying trip and returned," Rook smirked.
"Indeed," Emmrich said, though he did not share Rook's humor. "Proceed with all caution, take no unnecessary risks. Get in, find the source of the anomaly, neutralize it, and return. Easy enough."
"Maybe best to make sure you're blending in before you go," Rook reminded, glancing pointedly at him.
"Oh, right," Emmrich said, somewhat sheepishly. With anther tap of his staff, green flames enveloped his form, and now his appearance shifted to that of a polite, well-dressed older gentleman. "Don't wish to cause any unnecessary alarm."
"You've got this. We'll be waiting right here to make sure you get back in one piece," Rook said.
"Good luck, Professor!" Bellara said.
With that, Rook took the dagger, and piercing the blade into the air, a shimmer of light appeared. Dragging the dagger through the space in front of them, the shimmer lengthened and brightened, creating a rift as the dagger cut a very tear in the fabric of reality itself. What lied beyond was total darkness, a complete mystery.
Emmrich gathered his courage, and charged through.
There was an indescribable sensation as he was flung somewhere far away, a sense not unlike being torn apart and dropping and flying all at once. His vision swam with a flurry of colors, and he found himself face-down in something white and powdery.
Snow.
Emmrich pushed himself to his feet, dusting himself off with a grunt. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was in a snowy forest, the wind blowing something fiercely as it kicked up the snow and dead leaves all around him, though Emmrich did not feel the cold himself. He knew it was cold, but senses such as temperature no longer affected him like it did when he had been mortal. Another blessing of his lichdom.
But his current glamour was conspicuously under-dressed for these conditions, and would instantly cause suspicion should anyone see him. He took a moment to adjust his glamour spell so he appeared to be wearing clothing more suited for a wintery climate: a thick winter coat, sturdy fur boots, a scarlet scarf wrapped around his neck and face, and heavy woolen mittens over his hands. Even his signature staff he disguised to appear as nothing more than a simple walking stick.
Satisfied with his disguise, he began his trek through the woods. The sky above him flashed so brilliantly with colors Emmrich intuited this must be the Aurora Borealis he's heard tale of. How spectacular!
Focus, Volkarin, you can sight-see later.
He trudged on, stepping through the snow and charging forward. Through the lights of the cosmos above, Emmrich's sight sensed something else, something crackling and static like lightning. This must be what he was searching for.
He followed it.
"Absolutely positive!" a young excitable elven woman said. "I've calculated the harmonic frequencies of the inter-dimensional peculiarities, and synchronized them with the ambient magic of the dagger--"
"It was a simple yes or no question, Bellara," Rook sighed, pinching the bridge of their nose.
The elf woman, Bellara, winced. "I mean--yes! It will work! Sorry!"
"Alright, let's settle down, I know we're all excited," a third voice broke over the chatter. This one was older, male, with a light airy grace and refinement but underlaid with a chilled, deathly echo. Emmrich Volkarin, newly ascended Lich Lord, strode into the room, head held high and staff firmly clasped in hand. "I admit, I'm rather excited, myself. What this could mean for traversal beyond what any of us can comprehend! The Circle Mages back in Tevinter will have a field day with our findings!"
"I know, right?!" Bellara said as her entire body vibrated with barely-contained glee.
"Please focus," a beleaguered Rook reminded them. They adored their companions, they really did, but putting Bellara and Emmrich together to research new magic was like putting together two very excitable puppies; their energy just bounced off one another endlessly.
"Right! Sorry!" Bellara said, turning her attention back to an intricate blue dagger. She stretched out her hands, her own arcane energy humming as she weaved an intricate spell array around the enchantments of the dagger, brows creased in furious concentration. The dagger hummed, glowing a bright cyan as Bellara worked her magic, and after a moment, the light faded and the dagger went still.
"There!" Bellara said, letting out a breath. "The dagger has now been attuned to open a rift to where you detected that anomaly, Professor!"
"Well done, Bellara! I knew I could count on you!" he said, beaming with pride, and Bellara positively glowed with his praise. Really, no one was more brilliant with magical enchantments than Bellara, and how glad he was to have her as a friend and confidant! He straightened, tapping his staff importantly on the ground. "Right. This could be very dangerous. I have no earthly idea where this rift could take me, or what waits for me beyond!"
"No better person to make this death-defying trip than someone who's already been on one death-defying trip and returned," Rook smirked.
"Indeed," Emmrich said, though he did not share Rook's humor. "Proceed with all caution, take no unnecessary risks. Get in, find the source of the anomaly, neutralize it, and return. Easy enough."
"Maybe best to make sure you're blending in before you go," Rook reminded, glancing pointedly at him.
"Oh, right," Emmrich said, somewhat sheepishly. With anther tap of his staff, green flames enveloped his form, and now his appearance shifted to that of a polite, well-dressed older gentleman. "Don't wish to cause any unnecessary alarm."
"You've got this. We'll be waiting right here to make sure you get back in one piece," Rook said.
"Good luck, Professor!" Bellara said.
With that, Rook took the dagger, and piercing the blade into the air, a shimmer of light appeared. Dragging the dagger through the space in front of them, the shimmer lengthened and brightened, creating a rift as the dagger cut a very tear in the fabric of reality itself. What lied beyond was total darkness, a complete mystery.
Emmrich gathered his courage, and charged through.
There was an indescribable sensation as he was flung somewhere far away, a sense not unlike being torn apart and dropping and flying all at once. His vision swam with a flurry of colors, and he found himself face-down in something white and powdery.
Snow.
Emmrich pushed himself to his feet, dusting himself off with a grunt. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was in a snowy forest, the wind blowing something fiercely as it kicked up the snow and dead leaves all around him, though Emmrich did not feel the cold himself. He knew it was cold, but senses such as temperature no longer affected him like it did when he had been mortal. Another blessing of his lichdom.
But his current glamour was conspicuously under-dressed for these conditions, and would instantly cause suspicion should anyone see him. He took a moment to adjust his glamour spell so he appeared to be wearing clothing more suited for a wintery climate: a thick winter coat, sturdy fur boots, a scarlet scarf wrapped around his neck and face, and heavy woolen mittens over his hands. Even his signature staff he disguised to appear as nothing more than a simple walking stick.
Satisfied with his disguise, he began his trek through the woods. The sky above him flashed so brilliantly with colors Emmrich intuited this must be the Aurora Borealis he's heard tale of. How spectacular!
Focus, Volkarin, you can sight-see later.
He trudged on, stepping through the snow and charging forward. Through the lights of the cosmos above, Emmrich's sight sensed something else, something crackling and static like lightning. This must be what he was searching for.
He followed it.
Time passed and Nera had gone from impatient to worried. She had been so certain that Vinny would come to her rescue, but as the minutes flew by and the chill began to make her teeth chatter, it became apparent that she was mistaken. Had something happened to him? What if he needed her help? Not that she could help him much if he really was in trouble. He was a very powerful wizard after all, capable of extraordinary magic, so what could she do in this situation?
Nothing.
Crestfallen at the realization, she quickly turned her attention to survival. She wouldn't last long in this cold. Searching between the trees of the forest, Nera hoped to see signs of humanity; a light in the distance, a sign, a trail, or even some tracks in the snow. What she saw was a figure trekking through the blizzard with purpose. With hope reignited in her heart, she closed the distance between them and called out to the retreating figure with desperation.
"Excuse me! W-wait, please! I need help," she admitted, yelling over the gale of the wind. Thunder cracked above them. Whatever storm this was, it was strengthening all about them. Hopefully this person was a local that knew where to take shelter. Perhaps they had a home nearby?
"Can you s-show me where I can sit out this b-blizzard? I'm lost out here and could use some g-guidance."
A nudge in the back of her mind reminded her of the possibility of warmth, wrapped in thick fur that could keep out the cold with ease. She pushed the idea away, repulsed. Nera would rather freeze than rely on her other half for help. Especially now that she was near someone else. Though this person smelled a bit like not-quite-spoiled meat, she was sure that they would help her. What kind of person wouldn't in their shoes?
Hopefully they spoke the same language...
Nothing.
Crestfallen at the realization, she quickly turned her attention to survival. She wouldn't last long in this cold. Searching between the trees of the forest, Nera hoped to see signs of humanity; a light in the distance, a sign, a trail, or even some tracks in the snow. What she saw was a figure trekking through the blizzard with purpose. With hope reignited in her heart, she closed the distance between them and called out to the retreating figure with desperation.
"Excuse me! W-wait, please! I need help," she admitted, yelling over the gale of the wind. Thunder cracked above them. Whatever storm this was, it was strengthening all about them. Hopefully this person was a local that knew where to take shelter. Perhaps they had a home nearby?
"Can you s-show me where I can sit out this b-blizzard? I'm lost out here and could use some g-guidance."
A nudge in the back of her mind reminded her of the possibility of warmth, wrapped in thick fur that could keep out the cold with ease. She pushed the idea away, repulsed. Nera would rather freeze than rely on her other half for help. Especially now that she was near someone else. Though this person smelled a bit like not-quite-spoiled meat, she was sure that they would help her. What kind of person wouldn't in their shoes?
Hopefully they spoke the same language...
Emmrich's feet pounded through the snow, having to kick his knees up high to wade through the drifts. He was glad this immortal form could not fatigue as quickly as a mortal body could, but good heavens above, was this still exhausting!
He persevered. He wasn't about to let a little bit of frozen condensation impede his dire mission! His eyes kept scanning the skies above him, narrowing in on that strange aura he saw permeating through the air.
He had no idea what he was looking at, but it was strange, and it was dangerous. The very sight of it set his teeth on edge and filled his bones with an odd thrum. The nature of this anomaly still eluded him. Was it an ethereal threat? Physical? Arcane? He had no idea, but that was exactly why he was here! To find it and root it out!
"Excuse me!"
Emmrich stopped dead. He froze, his head whipping around with his eyes wide in shock. So absorbed in his own thoughts he almost missed that voice! Though the blustering wind and blowing snow made it difficult to see, his sight extended far beyond that, and he could detect a flash of silver light through the gloom.
It was a woman, roughly in her sixties, with greyish-black hair and heterochromia. But of far more import to Emmrich was the thread of life he saw fill her being. There was something . . . feral about it? He couldn't put his finger on it, but she was unlike any other mortal he met before, but there was something odd about her.
Ah! It hit him. He was in an entirely different world! Of course the native denizens here would have different souls! How fascinating! He must investigate this! He gave a cheery wave, smiling pleasantly.
"Oh! Hello, there! You gave me quite the start! I wasn't expecting--!" And then his voice died in his throat as he got a proper look at the woman, and he lurched in alarm.
"GOOD HEAVENS!!! WHERE ARE YOUR CLOTHES?!" he cried out. All sense and thoughts of his mission went right out the window as he rushed towards the woman, the dread and worry clear on his face. "What are you doing in a BLIZZARD with such scant clothing?! You're going to catch your death out here!"
He rushed up to the woman, frantically looking her over. She wouldn't last much longer in such conditions! Oh, this was terrible! Absolutely terrible! He must find shelter! Quickly!
"I'm afraid I'm a stranger to these lands myself," he regretfully informed her as he put an arm around the woman and urged her gently forward. Oh, if only he actually had a coat! He'd gladly hand it over to her in a heartbeat! "I'm unfamiliar with this place--on here on business, you see! But no matter! I shall help you get to safety! Quickly now!"
But this poor woman needed warmth, and she needed it now. Without thinking, he held out his hand and green flames burst in his palm, dancing in the wind. It gave off an acidic, ghostly glow, but it was warm, and it gave off a pleasant heat that would, hopefully, help abate the worst of the cold.
"I'm afraid I don't have many trick to assist you in this moment! But once we find shelter, I . . . well, I'll think of something! Come, now, let's find somewhere to hunker down and wait out this wretched weather!"
He persevered. He wasn't about to let a little bit of frozen condensation impede his dire mission! His eyes kept scanning the skies above him, narrowing in on that strange aura he saw permeating through the air.
He had no idea what he was looking at, but it was strange, and it was dangerous. The very sight of it set his teeth on edge and filled his bones with an odd thrum. The nature of this anomaly still eluded him. Was it an ethereal threat? Physical? Arcane? He had no idea, but that was exactly why he was here! To find it and root it out!
"Excuse me!"
Emmrich stopped dead. He froze, his head whipping around with his eyes wide in shock. So absorbed in his own thoughts he almost missed that voice! Though the blustering wind and blowing snow made it difficult to see, his sight extended far beyond that, and he could detect a flash of silver light through the gloom.
It was a woman, roughly in her sixties, with greyish-black hair and heterochromia. But of far more import to Emmrich was the thread of life he saw fill her being. There was something . . . feral about it? He couldn't put his finger on it, but she was unlike any other mortal he met before, but there was something odd about her.
Ah! It hit him. He was in an entirely different world! Of course the native denizens here would have different souls! How fascinating! He must investigate this! He gave a cheery wave, smiling pleasantly.
"Oh! Hello, there! You gave me quite the start! I wasn't expecting--!" And then his voice died in his throat as he got a proper look at the woman, and he lurched in alarm.
"GOOD HEAVENS!!! WHERE ARE YOUR CLOTHES?!" he cried out. All sense and thoughts of his mission went right out the window as he rushed towards the woman, the dread and worry clear on his face. "What are you doing in a BLIZZARD with such scant clothing?! You're going to catch your death out here!"
He rushed up to the woman, frantically looking her over. She wouldn't last much longer in such conditions! Oh, this was terrible! Absolutely terrible! He must find shelter! Quickly!
"I'm afraid I'm a stranger to these lands myself," he regretfully informed her as he put an arm around the woman and urged her gently forward. Oh, if only he actually had a coat! He'd gladly hand it over to her in a heartbeat! "I'm unfamiliar with this place--on here on business, you see! But no matter! I shall help you get to safety! Quickly now!"
But this poor woman needed warmth, and she needed it now. Without thinking, he held out his hand and green flames burst in his palm, dancing in the wind. It gave off an acidic, ghostly glow, but it was warm, and it gave off a pleasant heat that would, hopefully, help abate the worst of the cold.
"I'm afraid I don't have many trick to assist you in this moment! But once we find shelter, I . . . well, I'll think of something! Come, now, let's find somewhere to hunker down and wait out this wretched weather!"
Nera gave the man a sheepish sort of grin when he'd asked about her clothes, feeling rather embarrassed about her current predicament. Of course she'd rather be in a nice warm coat like he was, but she preferred not to state the obvious. "I've only just arrived, m-myself. A rather rude p-portal dropped me here without warning," the woman explained, grateful for his kind concern. She leaned into him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, though it didn't help with the cold as much as she'd liked.
That is, until the gentleman procured a flame from his hands! Though it was green and rather mysterious, it was really rather warm. Nera's brows lifted in surprise and delight. "Y-you're a wizard," she exclaimed, lifting her hands to surround the flame at a careful distance. It offered much needed relief to her icy fingers and she rubbed her hands together to help spread the sensation.
It was then that a thought occurred to her and she looked up into his face. He was rather tall wasn't he? "C-can you send me back home," Nera asked hopefully, thinking that, being a wizard, he could simply open a portal to her house and send her on her way. Then there wouldn't be such a dire need to find shelter and he could do as he pleased.
Though, maybe he couldn't help her in the way she'd hoped. He did just say he didn't have many tricks, but she had to ask.
That is, until the gentleman procured a flame from his hands! Though it was green and rather mysterious, it was really rather warm. Nera's brows lifted in surprise and delight. "Y-you're a wizard," she exclaimed, lifting her hands to surround the flame at a careful distance. It offered much needed relief to her icy fingers and she rubbed her hands together to help spread the sensation.
It was then that a thought occurred to her and she looked up into his face. He was rather tall wasn't he? "C-can you send me back home," Nera asked hopefully, thinking that, being a wizard, he could simply open a portal to her house and send her on her way. Then there wouldn't be such a dire need to find shelter and he could do as he pleased.
Though, maybe he couldn't help her in the way she'd hoped. He did just say he didn't have many tricks, but she had to ask.
Krepta had been fishing when the sky had sparked with the tell tale signs of a Crackler. As beautiful as it was, she knew not to linger, and had already begun packing up by the time the technicolor ribbons of light were stretching their fingers over her head. From the looks of the clouds chasing behind the display, they were going to be in for some nasty weather too. Not really a surprise, though. Spring weather in Sanctuary was often unpredictable, and they sometimes got freak snow storms all the way up to the cusp of summer. Crackle Storms doubled those chances.
Fat flakes of snow were already beginning to fall, and the churned up spring mud would be frozen before long, making footing treacherous. Krepta figured she'd better head back double time if she didn't want to wind up tripping blind over her feet the whole way.
But a sight at the edge of the woods stopped her.
Two, luminous amber eyes stared back at her, set in the face of a huge black wolf. For a moment, Krepta stared, her brain trying to make sense of what it was looking at.
Kargo?!
Her heart nearly stopped dead when the psi-wolf responded.
No. Kargo is dead. Others will soon be too if you do not come.
Krepta flinched slightly at the thread of accusation in the wolf's mind voice. No, of course it wasn't Kargo. Kargo had died in a cave in almost two years ago now, and the psi-wolves still blamed her for it on some level-- still suspected her of having some sort of involvement with his soul not returning to them.
"What... hey-- what do you mean?" Krepta yelped, but the massive canine was already turning and padding away through the trees, its footsteps surprisingly silent for a creature nearly the size of a horse.
Come! he demanded.
Krepta grimaced faintly, raising a hand up to press against her forehead. The wolf's voice reverberated unpleasantly against the insides of her skull. That was intentional, she thought sourly. They knew how sensitive she was to psychic stuff...
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," Krepta growled, setting off after him. "You don't gotta shout."
By the time they reached the clearing, the wind was howling around her ears and biting painfully at any bit of exposed skin she had been foolish enough to forget to cover. Krepta leaned her shoulder into the gale, squinting against it in order to follow the faint, dark outline of the psi-wolf ahead of her. Even he was struggling with the wind now, but she was relieved to see that two or three other wolves had joined them.
Whatever they found, it must be important, Krepta thought grimly. They said others could die... Cripes-- Someone's not seriously out in this mess, are they? That Crackler's going to hit any moment! A rift maybe?
She had her answer a moment later-- two figures huddling against each other for warmth, lit by a flickering green flame that threatened to be extinguished with each renewed gust. They both looked on the older side too. They wouldn't stand a chance out here on their own...
"Hey! HEY!" Krepta shouted over the storm, cupping her hands around her mouth. "We're here to help! The--" shit, how would they even react to the wolves? If they were newcomers...
No wonder the wolves had come and fetched her. Of course, she couldn't help but wonder why one of them couldn't just shapeshift back into their human form and--
You have better rapport, a quiet, feminine voice whispered in the back of her mind. Krepta didn't recognize this one.
"Bull shi---"
AWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
The call went up all around them, cutting her off. The storm was getting close.
"The--- big dogs--" a deliberate jab, "-- won't hurt you!" Krepta called. "They're here to help! Follow us, okay? They know the way!"
Fat flakes of snow were already beginning to fall, and the churned up spring mud would be frozen before long, making footing treacherous. Krepta figured she'd better head back double time if she didn't want to wind up tripping blind over her feet the whole way.
But a sight at the edge of the woods stopped her.
Two, luminous amber eyes stared back at her, set in the face of a huge black wolf. For a moment, Krepta stared, her brain trying to make sense of what it was looking at.
Kargo?!
Her heart nearly stopped dead when the psi-wolf responded.
No. Kargo is dead. Others will soon be too if you do not come.
Krepta flinched slightly at the thread of accusation in the wolf's mind voice. No, of course it wasn't Kargo. Kargo had died in a cave in almost two years ago now, and the psi-wolves still blamed her for it on some level-- still suspected her of having some sort of involvement with his soul not returning to them.
"What... hey-- what do you mean?" Krepta yelped, but the massive canine was already turning and padding away through the trees, its footsteps surprisingly silent for a creature nearly the size of a horse.
Come! he demanded.
Krepta grimaced faintly, raising a hand up to press against her forehead. The wolf's voice reverberated unpleasantly against the insides of her skull. That was intentional, she thought sourly. They knew how sensitive she was to psychic stuff...
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," Krepta growled, setting off after him. "You don't gotta shout."
By the time they reached the clearing, the wind was howling around her ears and biting painfully at any bit of exposed skin she had been foolish enough to forget to cover. Krepta leaned her shoulder into the gale, squinting against it in order to follow the faint, dark outline of the psi-wolf ahead of her. Even he was struggling with the wind now, but she was relieved to see that two or three other wolves had joined them.
Whatever they found, it must be important, Krepta thought grimly. They said others could die... Cripes-- Someone's not seriously out in this mess, are they? That Crackler's going to hit any moment! A rift maybe?
She had her answer a moment later-- two figures huddling against each other for warmth, lit by a flickering green flame that threatened to be extinguished with each renewed gust. They both looked on the older side too. They wouldn't stand a chance out here on their own...
"Hey! HEY!" Krepta shouted over the storm, cupping her hands around her mouth. "We're here to help! The--" shit, how would they even react to the wolves? If they were newcomers...
No wonder the wolves had come and fetched her. Of course, she couldn't help but wonder why one of them couldn't just shapeshift back into their human form and--
You have better rapport, a quiet, feminine voice whispered in the back of her mind. Krepta didn't recognize this one.
"Bull shi---"
AWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
The call went up all around them, cutting her off. The storm was getting close.
"The--- big dogs--" a deliberate jab, "-- won't hurt you!" Krepta called. "They're here to help! Follow us, okay? They know the way!"
Emmrich looked worriedly to the woman, helping push her along through the weather, which was getting worse and worse with every passing moment. Not to mention the storm raging above them. Lightning flashed, and he winced. No, this was no ordinary lightning, there was something far more dangerous crackling through the air.
All the more reason to move faster, then. He increased the mana flow to his hands, creating a fiercer flame to combat the storm that threatened to snuff it out.
"Y-you're a wizard," the woman remarked with a small note of awe. She held up her hands around his veilfire, desperate for its warmth.
Emmrich frowned. Wizard? Must be this world's word for "mage." Well, it was good to know magic wasn't unusual here. "Erm, mage, to be more precise, but yes, I am a practitioner of the arcane. You may call me Emmrich. I'd say it's a delight to meet you, but these are hardly pleasant circumstances for introduction."
"C-can you send me back home?" she asked.
Now Emmrich halted entirely, snapping his head around and giving the woman such an incredulous look she might as well have said that she had lobsters crawling out of her ears!
"Send you home?" he echoed, his voice aghast. "You ask that as if that were nothing more than conjuring a simple flame! I fear, dear madame, I have no earthly idea where your home even is! Do you have any idea how dangerous it would be for me to open a rift in the matrices of the arcane weave with no idea where my destination is? Not to mention the innate danger of tampering with forces I have yet to properly study and analyze to ensure my spellcraft is even compatible with this world's mana flow--!"
A beastly howl echoed through the air, and Emmrich turned his head towards the sound. He let out a frustrated groan. Wolves. Of all the things! As if their trek needed to be even more dangerous!
He tightened his grip on his staff. He wasn't worried about the wolves, he could easily fend them off. He fought dragons, for the love of the Abyss! He could handle a pack of mangy dogs! But he feared for the safety of his new companion; any delay would only result in this poor woman ensuring she'd be a victim to frostbite!
And then--another figure on the horizon! Another person! Oh, he hoped this individual wasn't also in trouble--but they called out to them.
It was a woman, much younger than either himself or his new companion, pointed wildly into the storm where Emmrich just barely caught glimpses of large hulking lupine shapes lingering in his periphery. And . . . oh, this was very odd, these creatures had souls.
The wolf-creatures were sentient beings!
"The--- big dogs--They're here to help! Follow us, okay? They know the way!" the woman was saying.
Alright, so at least they were friendly. That was a great relief. At least . . . Emmrich hoped so. Call it hopeful naivety but Emmrich chose to believe this younger woman truly meant them no harm.
He was sure his companion Lucanis would chastise him for being so easily trusting, but Emmrich always chose to give strangers the benefit of the doubt.
Also, he didn't exactly have any better choice other than to trust her.
"Erm, right!" Emmrich called back. "We'll follow you! Lead the way!"
Encouraged that they had help and shelter was close at hand, he kept pushing forward, keeping his veilfire lit to keep his companion warm.
All the more reason to move faster, then. He increased the mana flow to his hands, creating a fiercer flame to combat the storm that threatened to snuff it out.
"Y-you're a wizard," the woman remarked with a small note of awe. She held up her hands around his veilfire, desperate for its warmth.
Emmrich frowned. Wizard? Must be this world's word for "mage." Well, it was good to know magic wasn't unusual here. "Erm, mage, to be more precise, but yes, I am a practitioner of the arcane. You may call me Emmrich. I'd say it's a delight to meet you, but these are hardly pleasant circumstances for introduction."
"C-can you send me back home?" she asked.
Now Emmrich halted entirely, snapping his head around and giving the woman such an incredulous look she might as well have said that she had lobsters crawling out of her ears!
"Send you home?" he echoed, his voice aghast. "You ask that as if that were nothing more than conjuring a simple flame! I fear, dear madame, I have no earthly idea where your home even is! Do you have any idea how dangerous it would be for me to open a rift in the matrices of the arcane weave with no idea where my destination is? Not to mention the innate danger of tampering with forces I have yet to properly study and analyze to ensure my spellcraft is even compatible with this world's mana flow--!"
A beastly howl echoed through the air, and Emmrich turned his head towards the sound. He let out a frustrated groan. Wolves. Of all the things! As if their trek needed to be even more dangerous!
He tightened his grip on his staff. He wasn't worried about the wolves, he could easily fend them off. He fought dragons, for the love of the Abyss! He could handle a pack of mangy dogs! But he feared for the safety of his new companion; any delay would only result in this poor woman ensuring she'd be a victim to frostbite!
And then--another figure on the horizon! Another person! Oh, he hoped this individual wasn't also in trouble--but they called out to them.
It was a woman, much younger than either himself or his new companion, pointed wildly into the storm where Emmrich just barely caught glimpses of large hulking lupine shapes lingering in his periphery. And . . . oh, this was very odd, these creatures had souls.
The wolf-creatures were sentient beings!
"The--- big dogs--They're here to help! Follow us, okay? They know the way!" the woman was saying.
Alright, so at least they were friendly. That was a great relief. At least . . . Emmrich hoped so. Call it hopeful naivety but Emmrich chose to believe this younger woman truly meant them no harm.
He was sure his companion Lucanis would chastise him for being so easily trusting, but Emmrich always chose to give strangers the benefit of the doubt.
Also, he didn't exactly have any better choice other than to trust her.
"Erm, right!" Emmrich called back. "We'll follow you! Lead the way!"
Encouraged that they had help and shelter was close at hand, he kept pushing forward, keeping his veilfire lit to keep his companion warm.
Nera began to feel crestfallen again at the wizar- err, mage's response. She'd figured as much. Of course it wouldn't be as easy as that. "You s-sound like my son," she offered with a chuckle, thinking that these two would probably get along just fine if they ever met. They'd likely at least be on the same wavelength as far as magic goes. "My n-name is Nera," she replied, introducing herself in kind.
The sound of wolves made her stiffen. They were close. Too close. She could take on the beasts if she had to, but hopefully it wouldn't come to that. Not in front of pleasant company...
Especially since these were much bigger than she was used to. Werewolves? Her eyes narrowed through the gale, trying to get a better look at the creatures. Some werewolves looked different than herself, this was true, though the thought didn't give her much comfort knowing that they were around. While most werewolves were pleasant enough, some could be quite nasty to deal with.
Taking her eyes off the worrisome wolves, she heard the call of someone new and perked up immediately. A rescue party! Nera felt some relief knowing these wolves were the helpful kind. "T-thank you," she yelled out, eager to follow the newcomer to wherever they were taking them. Hopefully a nice warm house with a cozy fire... Maybe even tea! Did they have tea in this place?
She looked back where she'd come from, giving one last glance to see if the portal had opened again. But, alas, there was nothing but the snow and the wind. Thunder cracked overhead and she hunkered down against the blizzard and continued onward.
The sound of wolves made her stiffen. They were close. Too close. She could take on the beasts if she had to, but hopefully it wouldn't come to that. Not in front of pleasant company...
Especially since these were much bigger than she was used to. Werewolves? Her eyes narrowed through the gale, trying to get a better look at the creatures. Some werewolves looked different than herself, this was true, though the thought didn't give her much comfort knowing that they were around. While most werewolves were pleasant enough, some could be quite nasty to deal with.
Taking her eyes off the worrisome wolves, she heard the call of someone new and perked up immediately. A rescue party! Nera felt some relief knowing these wolves were the helpful kind. "T-thank you," she yelled out, eager to follow the newcomer to wherever they were taking them. Hopefully a nice warm house with a cozy fire... Maybe even tea! Did they have tea in this place?
She looked back where she'd come from, giving one last glance to see if the portal had opened again. But, alas, there was nothing but the snow and the wind. Thunder cracked overhead and she hunkered down against the blizzard and continued onward.
Well, at least they hadn't argued-- or freaked out. That made Krepta's job a lot easier. Now it was just a matter of getting them all to... wherever it was the psi-wolves were taking them.The large black male continued to lead the way, but Krepta felt some of the other wolves close in at the sides of their little group, taking some of the worst of the wind off them. It made sense, Krepta figured. They had fur, and were probably a lot warmer than they all were right now. Krepta couldn't image what the poor woman they had stumbled upon must be feeling right now... She was the least well dressed for the weather out of all of them. Even with her heavy jacket and the layers beneath, Krepta herself was beginning to feel sluggish. They needed to get them all somewhere warm fast, or the cold would kill them long before the Crackler could even touch them.
Krepta didn't bother to talk as they went along. There was no point in wasting the precious energy they'd all need to get out of this alive and unmutated. The storm hummed above them, as if acknowledging their collective vulnerability, and Krepta felt the hairs on the back of her neck prick up.
At last, they reached what looked like a cluster of snow covered hills. But Krepta realized as they neared that they were buildings-- rounded and built low to the ground. Probably partially underneath it too. Smart. She supposed that explained how the psi-wolves had been protecting themselves from the Crackle Storms all this time.
Good. They were all going to need it.
The lead wolf led them to the door, which swung open before he had even reached it. There was an older woman there, her brow furrowed in concern. Some silent exchange passed between them before the wolf pushed inside. His jet black fur melted away as he did so, until there was a man standing there instead, with the same amber eyes and a shaggy shock of midnight hair. He was also very much naked.
Krepta coughed and turned her head, giving him the privacy he didn't seem to care to take.
Right. She had forgotten that most shapeshifters didn't do the whole... clothing comes back thing. That... was probably also why they had come to get her instead of taking care of the problem themselves. Naked in a blizzard was an embarrassing way to die.
The man padded away from them into the depths of the house, which was a cozy structure of cob and stone, with high wooden beams running overhead. Several furry faces peered at them through the railings of the loft area above.
"You must all be very cold," the woman said, stepping forward. "Please, come in. Down the stairs to the left, please. It's not safe to be above ground during these storms." Her eyes flickered to Krepta briefly, assessing. Krepta couldn't bring herself to meet that piercing gaze.
The other wolves flowed in after them. There were three of them. Two about the size of normal wolves-- one ginger, the other a deep brown color, and a somewhat smaller, tawny pelted wolf who circled the trio excitedly a few times, gave Nera a hearty sniff, then bounded away, open mouthed grinning the entire way.
The wolves from the loft were trotting down now too. There were a few humanoids with them. Krepta wasn't sure if they were psi-wolves, or humans, or maybe just people who looked like humans, but they all made their way down the stairs that led beneath the house. Krepta took another glance over her shoulder at the flickering lights outside of the window, shuddered, then followed them.
They passed what Krepta assumed were bedrooms, and exited out into a wider space. There was a stone fireplace built into the far wall, already crackling with warmth, and Krepta settled by it with a shiver, hunkering against the side of an old sofa, which was already chock full of psi-wolves and their kin, some piled on top of one another. They made room for Nera and Emmrich happily, though it would certainly be a tight fit if they chose to join the furry pile.
"Are you two okay?" Krepta asked. She pulled off her muddy boots to put them near the fireplace as she spoke. Krepta was sure that she had already tracked some mud in, unfortunately, but with everything going on, it couldn't be avoided. "What were you doing out in that storm?"
Emmrich followed the younger woman, picking up the pace to close the gap between them. As they walked, Emmrich saw more of those wolves emerge from the thicket--but they were unlike the wolves Emmrich knew. These were monstrous in size, nearly the size of a horse, and there was something so intense about the eyes. Not to mention that these wolves clearly had souls! How strange! These strange creatures pressed close around them. Emmrich instinctively tensed, bu visibly relaxed when he saw the wolves were not acting hostile in the slightest. They seemed to be escorting them, as their large bulk helped block some of that fierce, stinging wind.
What exactly were they? These could not be ordinary wolves, surely? Emmrich stifled his more academic mind from wandering too far. Focus on survival first, then once you and your companions are safe, you may ask questions.
Soon enough, they reached what Emmrich supposed was a house, albeit a very large and wide one that looked to be halfway buried into the ground. The wolf leading the charge led them to the door, where they all stumbled inside and out of the cold--thank goodness!
And then things took a turn.
Without so much as breaking stride, the wolf seamlessly shifted forms into a man! Emmrich gasped, jumping backwards and whipping his staff forward, eyes flashing with a ghostly green glow. His expression was a mix of shock and bewilderment. A werewolf?! No, it couldn't be--these were not the werewolves Emmrich knew. Werewolves were feral beasts transformed into a monstrous shape by a rage demon, which clearly this man wasn't. And it clearly was not hostile or else the thing would have ripped them to pieces!
Sense came back to him. You're on another world. Perhaps even werewolves are different here. He forced himself to calm and lowered his staff--and then realized he had been staring most rudely at a very naked man.
A fierce blush crossed his face as he diverted his eyes. "My word--!" he muttered. "Goodness, where on earth have I found myself?"
Nevertheless, he followed the women--both their guide and the apparent owner of the house?--down the stairs, along with a whole pack of more wolves. There a warm, roaring hearth was waiting for them, which Emmrich assisted Nera in getting as close to the fire as she could, for that poor woman certainly needed it the most. Finally he turned to Krepta, standing tall and primly.
"I'm alright, all things considered, thank you," he said kindly. "It is very fortunate you found us when you did--I must thank you, all of you, for finding us and bringing us into your abode. We are in your debt." He looked towards the surrounding wolves, though there was still a bit of wariness about him. Yes, these creatures helped save him from a terrible storm, but it was still a difficult thing to accept that the creatures back home that were nothing more than ravenous monsters were in full possession of their faculties here--wherever here was.
Now, to get to the heart of the matter . . .
He cleared his throat. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Emmrich Volkarin, of the Mourn Watch." He gave a polite bow, and then remembered the people here likely have no idea what the Mourn Watch was. He gave a sheepish smile and went on. "That is to say--I am a mage, researching a rather dangerous anomaly I have detected through the Fade--erm, rather, through the weave of the arcane. My findings led me here, wherever here may be. Suffice to say, I'm not entirely sure where I am right now, if you'd be so kind as to inform me where I have found myself?"
What exactly were they? These could not be ordinary wolves, surely? Emmrich stifled his more academic mind from wandering too far. Focus on survival first, then once you and your companions are safe, you may ask questions.
Soon enough, they reached what Emmrich supposed was a house, albeit a very large and wide one that looked to be halfway buried into the ground. The wolf leading the charge led them to the door, where they all stumbled inside and out of the cold--thank goodness!
And then things took a turn.
Without so much as breaking stride, the wolf seamlessly shifted forms into a man! Emmrich gasped, jumping backwards and whipping his staff forward, eyes flashing with a ghostly green glow. His expression was a mix of shock and bewilderment. A werewolf?! No, it couldn't be--these were not the werewolves Emmrich knew. Werewolves were feral beasts transformed into a monstrous shape by a rage demon, which clearly this man wasn't. And it clearly was not hostile or else the thing would have ripped them to pieces!
Sense came back to him. You're on another world. Perhaps even werewolves are different here. He forced himself to calm and lowered his staff--and then realized he had been staring most rudely at a very naked man.
A fierce blush crossed his face as he diverted his eyes. "My word--!" he muttered. "Goodness, where on earth have I found myself?"
Nevertheless, he followed the women--both their guide and the apparent owner of the house?--down the stairs, along with a whole pack of more wolves. There a warm, roaring hearth was waiting for them, which Emmrich assisted Nera in getting as close to the fire as she could, for that poor woman certainly needed it the most. Finally he turned to Krepta, standing tall and primly.
"I'm alright, all things considered, thank you," he said kindly. "It is very fortunate you found us when you did--I must thank you, all of you, for finding us and bringing us into your abode. We are in your debt." He looked towards the surrounding wolves, though there was still a bit of wariness about him. Yes, these creatures helped save him from a terrible storm, but it was still a difficult thing to accept that the creatures back home that were nothing more than ravenous monsters were in full possession of their faculties here--wherever here was.
Now, to get to the heart of the matter . . .
He cleared his throat. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Emmrich Volkarin, of the Mourn Watch." He gave a polite bow, and then remembered the people here likely have no idea what the Mourn Watch was. He gave a sheepish smile and went on. "That is to say--I am a mage, researching a rather dangerous anomaly I have detected through the Fade--erm, rather, through the weave of the arcane. My findings led me here, wherever here may be. Suffice to say, I'm not entirely sure where I am right now, if you'd be so kind as to inform me where I have found myself?"
The houses were a delight to see. Even though Nera's hands and feet were burning from cold, she could recognize that this architecture had purpose, and was charming to boot! Her teeth were chattering too much for her to notice the naked man at first, though once she had noticed, she didn't really mind. Nudity hadn't really been very taboo in her lifetime, so she shrugged it off accordingly. She was much more interested in settling down in front of the fire.
Nera did, however, offer a smile and a hand to the youngster that had come in for a sniff, knowing how important smell was for canines like themselves. She was surprised to see just how many werewolves there were in this abode and wondered how it all came to be. People like her were usually solitary, though she did remember a few instances where a couple or two would travel together and support one another. It must've been nice to have that kind of family.
Happy to be in the warm again, she gave out a sigh of relief and rubbed her hands together to get the feeling back in them. Seeing the other woman take off her shoes, she followed suit and put hers with the muddy boots, thinking that maybe it was customary to do so. After all, most people kept their shoes off in the home. Didn't they? It only made sense to do so here as well.
"Yes, thank you everyone for your help," she echoed as Emmrich shared his gratitude and she smiled at them all as they began to gather round. Her attention bounced between the woman and her new gentleman friend, listening in to see what was being said. "I wasn't out there by choice," Nera replied to the woman's question. "A portal displaced me from my home. It's summer there, where I'm from" she said with a shake of her head. "I happened to see Emmrich in the distance. Otherwise I may have frozen to death."
A nagging feeling in the back of her mind reminded her, again, that all she needed to do was will herself to shift and everything would've been fine. There was a note of resentment there, but Nera ignored the sensation, determined to keep her attention on present company than what her other half had to say.
Nera did, however, offer a smile and a hand to the youngster that had come in for a sniff, knowing how important smell was for canines like themselves. She was surprised to see just how many werewolves there were in this abode and wondered how it all came to be. People like her were usually solitary, though she did remember a few instances where a couple or two would travel together and support one another. It must've been nice to have that kind of family.
Happy to be in the warm again, she gave out a sigh of relief and rubbed her hands together to get the feeling back in them. Seeing the other woman take off her shoes, she followed suit and put hers with the muddy boots, thinking that maybe it was customary to do so. After all, most people kept their shoes off in the home. Didn't they? It only made sense to do so here as well.
"Yes, thank you everyone for your help," she echoed as Emmrich shared his gratitude and she smiled at them all as they began to gather round. Her attention bounced between the woman and her new gentleman friend, listening in to see what was being said. "I wasn't out there by choice," Nera replied to the woman's question. "A portal displaced me from my home. It's summer there, where I'm from" she said with a shake of her head. "I happened to see Emmrich in the distance. Otherwise I may have frozen to death."
A nagging feeling in the back of her mind reminded her, again, that all she needed to do was will herself to shift and everything would've been fine. There was a note of resentment there, but Nera ignored the sensation, determined to keep her attention on present company than what her other half had to say.
Krepta grunted, flicking a bit of stray mud off the cuff of her pants. A couple of Rift newbies then. Great. Well... she supposed they were lucky that the psi-wolves had come upon them when they had, and that the wolves had found Krepta in turn. Krepta didn't doubt that the wolves would have found a way to lead the pair to back to safety eventually, but with it not being safe enough to shapeshift, and the storm bearing down on them, it might have gotten messy.
"You're in Sanctuary," Krepta said, looking up. Her tone was grim. Krepta's eyes slid away for a moment, and she hesitated. It was never easy breaking this news. Some people got angry. Some people cried. Some even tried to beg. It had to be done anyway-- there was nothing for it, and no real way that she could help them back most of the time.
She sensed the eyes of the pack on her, weighing.
"It sounds like you both came through a Rift," Krepta told them. "You... might be here for a while."
A 'while'. Sure. If a while was 'maybe forever'.
Krepta lifted her head, watching some of the wolves out of the corner of her eyes. Most of them had come through when she and Kargo had found them in other worlds and brought them to Sanctuary, bit by bit. They were rescues, the vast majority, and most of them were here because they wanted to be. Not all, but most. Did they understand what these people must be going through? Could they? Krepta supposed they were telepaths...
It was a reminder she tried not to dwell too long on, less her scalp begin to prickle.
"When the storm passes--" Above them, the storm in question shrieked, whining around the outside of the house upstairs, sniffing at cracks like a hungry animal. A charged, hissing, crackling sound followed on its tail, like the beginnings of a firecracker being set off. Except there was no boom at the end-- not one that could be heard anyway. You felt Cracklers in your bones instead, deep in the marrow where the deepest instincts of your ancestors lived.
Wrong, wrong, wrong! Run!
Krepta ignored it. She'd been through many a Crackler before. They were more intense out here in the wilds than the city, where the protection of the field the Hearthstones generated muted them, but the feeling wasn't so disruptive that she couldn't push it to the back of her mind. She kept one eye on the newbies, though. The last thing they needed was one of them bolting out into the storm.
"When the storm passes," Krepta said, trying again, "We'll get you to town, explain things better. There'll be somewhere you can stay. Food and shelter. You're... not in your world anymore. This is somewhere else. But you're also not alone. ...I'm Krepta, by the way."
As she spoke, Krepta became slowly aware that the wolves weren't listening to their conversation anymore. Over half of them were focused on the older woman who had yet to introduce herself instead. Various eyes were trained her way, some of them human, some canine, all of them possessing that strange, piercing quality that seemed to reach past skin and into the very soul before they ever even spoke.
You could stay! a young voice piped up. Krepta recognized it as one of the younger psi-wolves. Sofi. She hung around Sanctuary a lot more than the others, sometimes even the Omphalos. Krepta wasn't entirely familiar with her story, but she was a friendly little thing-- a lot less standoffish than the others.
Sofi was open broadcasting so that they all could hear her, and Krepta could hear the strain in her mental 'voice'. It sounded stronger than their last encounter, though. Clearly she had been practicing.
The other wolves glanced at Sofi, almost as one-- the tawny little wolf from before, Krepta noted. She sensed something being exchanged between them out of the range of their mental ears.
Erm... well... Sofi spoke up again a moment later, sounding chastened. Maybe just Nera. She's like us! Sort of? I like her... She's reminds me of my grandma... Then, more to her fellow shapeshifters than the rest of them, Pleeeeeaaase??
Krepta followed Sofi's gaze to Nera, and one brow crept up before she could think to stop it. She couldn't help but be curious about the woman's reaction, and a little apprehensive. Krepta didn't have a problem with werewolves, or whatever 'like us' the woman was (psychics were another kettle of worms, of course), but Sofi, however well intending, had just outed this one in front of a room full of strangers in a strange world. That sort of thing didn't always end well.
"You're in Sanctuary," Krepta said, looking up. Her tone was grim. Krepta's eyes slid away for a moment, and she hesitated. It was never easy breaking this news. Some people got angry. Some people cried. Some even tried to beg. It had to be done anyway-- there was nothing for it, and no real way that she could help them back most of the time.
She sensed the eyes of the pack on her, weighing.
"It sounds like you both came through a Rift," Krepta told them. "You... might be here for a while."
A 'while'. Sure. If a while was 'maybe forever'.
Krepta lifted her head, watching some of the wolves out of the corner of her eyes. Most of them had come through when she and Kargo had found them in other worlds and brought them to Sanctuary, bit by bit. They were rescues, the vast majority, and most of them were here because they wanted to be. Not all, but most. Did they understand what these people must be going through? Could they? Krepta supposed they were telepaths...
It was a reminder she tried not to dwell too long on, less her scalp begin to prickle.
"When the storm passes--" Above them, the storm in question shrieked, whining around the outside of the house upstairs, sniffing at cracks like a hungry animal. A charged, hissing, crackling sound followed on its tail, like the beginnings of a firecracker being set off. Except there was no boom at the end-- not one that could be heard anyway. You felt Cracklers in your bones instead, deep in the marrow where the deepest instincts of your ancestors lived.
Wrong, wrong, wrong! Run!
Krepta ignored it. She'd been through many a Crackler before. They were more intense out here in the wilds than the city, where the protection of the field the Hearthstones generated muted them, but the feeling wasn't so disruptive that she couldn't push it to the back of her mind. She kept one eye on the newbies, though. The last thing they needed was one of them bolting out into the storm.
"When the storm passes," Krepta said, trying again, "We'll get you to town, explain things better. There'll be somewhere you can stay. Food and shelter. You're... not in your world anymore. This is somewhere else. But you're also not alone. ...I'm Krepta, by the way."
As she spoke, Krepta became slowly aware that the wolves weren't listening to their conversation anymore. Over half of them were focused on the older woman who had yet to introduce herself instead. Various eyes were trained her way, some of them human, some canine, all of them possessing that strange, piercing quality that seemed to reach past skin and into the very soul before they ever even spoke.
You could stay! a young voice piped up. Krepta recognized it as one of the younger psi-wolves. Sofi. She hung around Sanctuary a lot more than the others, sometimes even the Omphalos. Krepta wasn't entirely familiar with her story, but she was a friendly little thing-- a lot less standoffish than the others.
Sofi was open broadcasting so that they all could hear her, and Krepta could hear the strain in her mental 'voice'. It sounded stronger than their last encounter, though. Clearly she had been practicing.
The other wolves glanced at Sofi, almost as one-- the tawny little wolf from before, Krepta noted. She sensed something being exchanged between them out of the range of their mental ears.
Erm... well... Sofi spoke up again a moment later, sounding chastened. Maybe just Nera. She's like us! Sort of? I like her... She's reminds me of my grandma... Then, more to her fellow shapeshifters than the rest of them, Pleeeeeaaase??
Krepta followed Sofi's gaze to Nera, and one brow crept up before she could think to stop it. She couldn't help but be curious about the woman's reaction, and a little apprehensive. Krepta didn't have a problem with werewolves, or whatever 'like us' the woman was (psychics were another kettle of worms, of course), but Sofi, however well intending, had just outed this one in front of a room full of strangers in a strange world. That sort of thing didn't always end well.
Emmrich listened to both Nera and Krepta intently, his face a muted note of shock as he digested everything they were telling him.
"You speak as if people popping in from Rifts is a common occurrence--or at least, frequent enough that is not unusual for you," he noted matter-of-factly to Krepta. "Let me assure you, my arrival here was entirely intentional--and I am so dreadfully sorry you came here against your will, Nera, and dropped in such hostile conditions most unexpectedly! How awful! I am happy I found you when I did, who knows what could have happened otherwise!"
Emmrich shook his head. He needed to focus and stop getting so distracted. He was on a dire mission, after all. "As I said, I came here intentionally--I used my own brand of magic to craft a portal between my world and yours, with the help of an absolutely brilliant artificer friend of mine--to investigate a very disturbing presence I detected. It was far beyond my own world, yet so potent I could see it through the very weave of the Fade! I determined I must investigate this anomaly at once, and my findings led me here--to Sanctuary, as you have called it. And I am determined to find this terrible anomaly and route it out. However--"
There was the loud crackling shriek of wind, so jarring Emmrich flinched, and he even hissed in pain as he felt something hot and stinging flare against his psyche. His eyes flashed emerald and he pressed a hand to his head. "And what on earth is that storm outside?!" he asked in barely-contained outrage. "It's like--it's like a whole maelstrom of wild magic! It's scrambling my senses so badly I can barely sense the presence of this anomaly! But it's here--no, it's not here anymore? I don't think? Did it move-- Agh, it's so hard for me to tell! I suppose when the storm dies, I'll be able to pinpoint it far more accurately."
But then he noted their company--both lupine and human--were staring quite intensely (rudely) at Nera. Emmrich was about to chastise them for that, when he heard a voice inside his own head.
You can stay! Erm . . . well . . . Maybe just Nera. She's like us!
Now Emmrich turned to Nera, eyes wide. Nera? Like them? So . . . she was also a werewolf? Well, that would explain the feral note he sensed in her soul. But he was also very keenly aware this young pup inadvertently divulged extraordinarily private information Emmrich should not have been privy to.
And how would he feel if someone went about shouting about what he was without his permission?
"I do not hold that against you in the slightest, if that is your fear. You are among friends," Emmrich assured Nera comfortingly. He then turned to Sofi, his face hardening. "But that was a very rude thing you just did, outing Nera like that in front of strangers! For shame! Please respect our privacy and do not invade our minds in the future. Mind your manners and respect personal boundaries, if you would be so kind," he said in a scolding voice.
"You speak as if people popping in from Rifts is a common occurrence--or at least, frequent enough that is not unusual for you," he noted matter-of-factly to Krepta. "Let me assure you, my arrival here was entirely intentional--and I am so dreadfully sorry you came here against your will, Nera, and dropped in such hostile conditions most unexpectedly! How awful! I am happy I found you when I did, who knows what could have happened otherwise!"
Emmrich shook his head. He needed to focus and stop getting so distracted. He was on a dire mission, after all. "As I said, I came here intentionally--I used my own brand of magic to craft a portal between my world and yours, with the help of an absolutely brilliant artificer friend of mine--to investigate a very disturbing presence I detected. It was far beyond my own world, yet so potent I could see it through the very weave of the Fade! I determined I must investigate this anomaly at once, and my findings led me here--to Sanctuary, as you have called it. And I am determined to find this terrible anomaly and route it out. However--"
There was the loud crackling shriek of wind, so jarring Emmrich flinched, and he even hissed in pain as he felt something hot and stinging flare against his psyche. His eyes flashed emerald and he pressed a hand to his head. "And what on earth is that storm outside?!" he asked in barely-contained outrage. "It's like--it's like a whole maelstrom of wild magic! It's scrambling my senses so badly I can barely sense the presence of this anomaly! But it's here--no, it's not here anymore? I don't think? Did it move-- Agh, it's so hard for me to tell! I suppose when the storm dies, I'll be able to pinpoint it far more accurately."
But then he noted their company--both lupine and human--were staring quite intensely (rudely) at Nera. Emmrich was about to chastise them for that, when he heard a voice inside his own head.
You can stay! Erm . . . well . . . Maybe just Nera. She's like us!
Now Emmrich turned to Nera, eyes wide. Nera? Like them? So . . . she was also a werewolf? Well, that would explain the feral note he sensed in her soul. But he was also very keenly aware this young pup inadvertently divulged extraordinarily private information Emmrich should not have been privy to.
And how would he feel if someone went about shouting about what he was without his permission?
"I do not hold that against you in the slightest, if that is your fear. You are among friends," Emmrich assured Nera comfortingly. He then turned to Sofi, his face hardening. "But that was a very rude thing you just did, outing Nera like that in front of strangers! For shame! Please respect our privacy and do not invade our minds in the future. Mind your manners and respect personal boundaries, if you would be so kind," he said in a scolding voice.
Nera got the sense that 'a while' meant a rather lengthy stay and her heart sank. Would she ever see her son again? Her friends? The thought saddened her indeed and she could feel the lump in her throat starting to form. Though this wasn't the first time she'd been displaced like this, that didn't make the experience any easier. When she felt the other's eyes upon her, she simply nodded in response, unwilling to speak for fear that she'd start to cry.
That is, until she realized that it was more than a few pairs of eyes staring at her. As she looked around, she noted that everyone was staring at her rather intently. Intensely even. Nera sat upright in response, feeling as if they were about to chastise her, or accuse her of something dire. While she had been rubbing her hands together for warmth, the motion quickly turned to wringing.
Something was wrong.
Her heart began to thump in her chest as the storm raged, making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Every fiber of her being told her then that she was in danger, yet the others seemed so calm. Too calm in the midst of the crackling in her very bones. She very desperately didn't want to be there anymore.
Standing from the floor, she licked her lips and jumped at the sudden voice in her head, unused to such psychic abilities. The sensation was jarring in that moment and even though it was a youngster's voice, she found no comfort in it. [i"She's like us."[/i] The crackling worsened and Nera began to panic as the stares intensified, accusing, suspiciously assessing her reaction as she desperately began to search for a way out.
Fur prickled on her forearms, standing on end as if she were a frightened cat. Her heart continued to pound, the thrum resounding in her skull as the beast took advantage of her moment of weakness. No. Nonono, not here. Not now! She struggled to contain what was happening, hugging herself and rubbing her arms as if she were vigorously trying to wipe away the fur.
Calm, calm, she thought to herself, checking her breathing as she closed her eyes, trying to steady each breath as it came. The beast continued to pound in time with her heart and she could feel control of the situation waning. It wanted to be freed.
Steady...
After a minute or two, her breathing eventually slowed and she pressed her hands over her heart, as if to calm it, soothing it into submission. She would not, could not let her emotions get away with her. Not now. Not in front of everyone . Her very livelihood depended on it. The blackness on her arms dissipated and the woman seemed to calm at last. What seemed like forever to her was only a few moments to the others, though it was an alarming few moments.
Nera opened her eyes as she calmed, though what relief she felt was overshadowed by those stares.
"You're among friends," came a reassuring voice, though she swallowed hard as she looked to Emmrich, hoping beyond hope that this man was true to his word. She went back to wringing her hands as he scolded the youngster, pleased to see that the others had also returned their attention elsewhere. Though the crackling still put her on edge, she felt that the worst of the panic was over. Thank goodness.
"I-I'm so sorry about that," Nera offered with a shake of her head. She pulled her hair away from her face. "This storm truly is awful," she said, her face reddening a little in embarrassment and shame. What were the others thinking? Would she have to leave? Maybe it was best.
That is, until she realized that it was more than a few pairs of eyes staring at her. As she looked around, she noted that everyone was staring at her rather intently. Intensely even. Nera sat upright in response, feeling as if they were about to chastise her, or accuse her of something dire. While she had been rubbing her hands together for warmth, the motion quickly turned to wringing.
Something was wrong.
Her heart began to thump in her chest as the storm raged, making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Every fiber of her being told her then that she was in danger, yet the others seemed so calm. Too calm in the midst of the crackling in her very bones. She very desperately didn't want to be there anymore.
Standing from the floor, she licked her lips and jumped at the sudden voice in her head, unused to such psychic abilities. The sensation was jarring in that moment and even though it was a youngster's voice, she found no comfort in it. [i"She's like us."[/i] The crackling worsened and Nera began to panic as the stares intensified, accusing, suspiciously assessing her reaction as she desperately began to search for a way out.
Fur prickled on her forearms, standing on end as if she were a frightened cat. Her heart continued to pound, the thrum resounding in her skull as the beast took advantage of her moment of weakness. No. Nonono, not here. Not now! She struggled to contain what was happening, hugging herself and rubbing her arms as if she were vigorously trying to wipe away the fur.
Calm, calm, she thought to herself, checking her breathing as she closed her eyes, trying to steady each breath as it came. The beast continued to pound in time with her heart and she could feel control of the situation waning. It wanted to be freed.
Steady...
After a minute or two, her breathing eventually slowed and she pressed her hands over her heart, as if to calm it, soothing it into submission. She would not, could not let her emotions get away with her. Not now. Not in front of everyone . Her very livelihood depended on it. The blackness on her arms dissipated and the woman seemed to calm at last. What seemed like forever to her was only a few moments to the others, though it was an alarming few moments.
Nera opened her eyes as she calmed, though what relief she felt was overshadowed by those stares.
"You're among friends," came a reassuring voice, though she swallowed hard as she looked to Emmrich, hoping beyond hope that this man was true to his word. She went back to wringing her hands as he scolded the youngster, pleased to see that the others had also returned their attention elsewhere. Though the crackling still put her on edge, she felt that the worst of the panic was over. Thank goodness.
"I-I'm so sorry about that," Nera offered with a shake of her head. She pulled her hair away from her face. "This storm truly is awful," she said, her face reddening a little in embarrassment and shame. What were the others thinking? Would she have to leave? Maybe it was best.
Krepta felt the hairs on the back of her neck prick up as a chorus of growls rose from the gathered psi-wolves.
I... I didn't... she... she just was thinking loud, about-- and I heard--- I thought-- The tawny little wolf had curled up into itself, tail tucked. ...I'm... I'm sorry... Sofi's mental voice fizzed, then faded away like a radio being tuned the wrong way, and she retreated, tucking her head up under the chin of one of the larger wolves, eyes squeezed shut.
Krepta's eyes slid to Emmrich, widening in silent warning. Psi-wolves were notoriously finicky about strangers, and extremely protective of their 'pups'. The fact that that the three of them-- Krepta especially-- were currently in their den at all was a testament to how dire the situation with the storm had been.
"Sofi is still young." It was the older woman who had let them in earlier who spoke up, out loud this time. Her tone was mild, but there was a hint of steel in her pale blue eyes that hadn't been there before. "She has not learned to shield from ambient thoughts entirely. Not yet. You are 'loud' to her when your emotions are strong. She cannot help but overhear you if you are not shielding yourself."
The woman reached out, weathered fingers carding through the fur bunched at the small wolf's nape, a soothing gesture.
"We will discuss boundaries with her later, but we are fully capable of raising our own young." The older woman inclined her head, watching them through hooded eyes. "If you would be so kind."
Meanwhile, Krepta was watching Nera with growing alarm. It looked like she might shift, and while those gathered were likely more than enough to handle it, if she breached their shelter somehow during the Crackler, they'd all risk coming home with an extra arm or two, or seeing ghosts for a week. If they were lucky.
The wolves seemed unconcerned, though. Watchful, but not worried-- at least those who were watching Nera rather than glowering at Emmrich.
"We might be able to teach you to control it." A redhead near the door had piped up, leaning forward to rest his arms against his knees. There was the slight lilt of a faded accent to his voice, and he was wearing slacks and a pale brown vest. "Or barring that, we can make sure you don't hurt no one else if we can't. It's up to you, lovely. None of us are mad that you're strugglin' with something you can't control. We're just worried for you, that's all. Wolves aren't meant to be alone."
I... I didn't... she... she just was thinking loud, about-- and I heard--- I thought-- The tawny little wolf had curled up into itself, tail tucked. ...I'm... I'm sorry... Sofi's mental voice fizzed, then faded away like a radio being tuned the wrong way, and she retreated, tucking her head up under the chin of one of the larger wolves, eyes squeezed shut.
Krepta's eyes slid to Emmrich, widening in silent warning. Psi-wolves were notoriously finicky about strangers, and extremely protective of their 'pups'. The fact that that the three of them-- Krepta especially-- were currently in their den at all was a testament to how dire the situation with the storm had been.
"Sofi is still young." It was the older woman who had let them in earlier who spoke up, out loud this time. Her tone was mild, but there was a hint of steel in her pale blue eyes that hadn't been there before. "She has not learned to shield from ambient thoughts entirely. Not yet. You are 'loud' to her when your emotions are strong. She cannot help but overhear you if you are not shielding yourself."
The woman reached out, weathered fingers carding through the fur bunched at the small wolf's nape, a soothing gesture.
"We will discuss boundaries with her later, but we are fully capable of raising our own young." The older woman inclined her head, watching them through hooded eyes. "If you would be so kind."
Meanwhile, Krepta was watching Nera with growing alarm. It looked like she might shift, and while those gathered were likely more than enough to handle it, if she breached their shelter somehow during the Crackler, they'd all risk coming home with an extra arm or two, or seeing ghosts for a week. If they were lucky.
The wolves seemed unconcerned, though. Watchful, but not worried-- at least those who were watching Nera rather than glowering at Emmrich.
"We might be able to teach you to control it." A redhead near the door had piped up, leaning forward to rest his arms against his knees. There was the slight lilt of a faded accent to his voice, and he was wearing slacks and a pale brown vest. "Or barring that, we can make sure you don't hurt no one else if we can't. It's up to you, lovely. None of us are mad that you're strugglin' with something you can't control. We're just worried for you, that's all. Wolves aren't meant to be alone."
A walk in the market, he thought.
Just a walk. Something outside of routine, something to do for once. They'd be in port for the next few days, and he'd easily be able to make it back to the pub Larissa always sent him to so long as he kept track of time.
It'd just been an innocuous trinket, a simple, little thing. Perhaps it was wrong to try and take it but...
Well, maybe the gods were mad at him for this 'innocuous theft' after all.
There was a feeling of falling, fizzling out- churning, falling apart, coming back together again. A quiet.
Maximus sat up abruptly, finding himself in a boreal field. It was night. That wasn't right? It had been day. More importantly, it had been summer.
This had happened once before, loading cargo on the ship. Something in a box had reacted to the magic powering him and...
where WAS he?
He got up, snow quickly starting to melt off his carapace as his systems began working again and he began to warm up. He looked left, looked right. Some sort of forest? the hells?
Someone must've dragged him here while he was out. Maybe thieves taking an opportunity. But if that were the case, why was no one around?
Things felt... Weird. There was a sort of buzz all around. He attributed this to just reactivating, though. What else could it be?
He looked left, looked right. Well.
Time to get moving...
The sky overhead was alight with color, swirling- churning rivers of color. He couldn't help but admire it as he walked. Though there was a strange tone in the air, a sort of crackling sound he felt to his very core. Perhaps it should've been alarming, but...
He didn't have a very well developed sense for danger.
So he kept walking, even as the hum grew louder. Louder...
LOUDER....
Until finally he HAD to stop because the hum had gotten so strong it seemed like everything else was starting to fall away. It rattled his body and tore at his mind, Maximus only realizing this too late. Ah! Ah! What was going ON!?
That constant HUM grew louder and louder, his vision began to deteriorate, until... He was on a battlefield?
No, he was back at Hector's place.
....No, DEFINITELY WAR!
He quickly had to draw his swords as something came at him- it wasn't human, wasn't... Anything. It was like a shadow, but still felt very, VERY real. He was in a fight for his life! His squadron, where were they!? Not like it mattered. They didn't know. couldn't know.
Fight!
FIGHT!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside the shelter, amidst the noise of the storm, there began a different sort of clatter. A THUNK! THUNK! as of something metal impacting wood. A sharp, inorganic RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR--RR--RR--RRR like a train whistle and a pipe organ were screaming at each other.
The sound grew distant for a bit, then louder- closer, distant again, before finally it became overwhelmingly loud and there was suddenly a loud THWANG! from the far end of the room.
A sharp blade had pierced the door, followed by several loud THUNKs as the uninterrupted screeching was at its loudest. The blade withdrew a few seconds later, and the sound grew a bit fainter- but was still close.
EEEE--E-E-E-E-
Another THUNK!
Didn't seem like it was leaving.
Now, if anyone went to investigate, they'd immediately be met with the sight of a small metal man wielding a pair of swords and running around what seemed like aimlessly- swiping at the air, trees- Ope, coming back towards the shelter now. Couldn't have been more than three feet tall. Black smoke billowed from two pipes sticking out of its head. Its expression seemed fixed, but the eyes- they seemed manic, distant. Unresponsive.
"AAAAAA--A-A-A-A-AAAAA!"
Just a walk. Something outside of routine, something to do for once. They'd be in port for the next few days, and he'd easily be able to make it back to the pub Larissa always sent him to so long as he kept track of time.
It'd just been an innocuous trinket, a simple, little thing. Perhaps it was wrong to try and take it but...
Well, maybe the gods were mad at him for this 'innocuous theft' after all.
There was a feeling of falling, fizzling out- churning, falling apart, coming back together again. A quiet.
Maximus sat up abruptly, finding himself in a boreal field. It was night. That wasn't right? It had been day. More importantly, it had been summer.
This had happened once before, loading cargo on the ship. Something in a box had reacted to the magic powering him and...
where WAS he?
He got up, snow quickly starting to melt off his carapace as his systems began working again and he began to warm up. He looked left, looked right. Some sort of forest? the hells?
Someone must've dragged him here while he was out. Maybe thieves taking an opportunity. But if that were the case, why was no one around?
Things felt... Weird. There was a sort of buzz all around. He attributed this to just reactivating, though. What else could it be?
He looked left, looked right. Well.
Time to get moving...
The sky overhead was alight with color, swirling- churning rivers of color. He couldn't help but admire it as he walked. Though there was a strange tone in the air, a sort of crackling sound he felt to his very core. Perhaps it should've been alarming, but...
He didn't have a very well developed sense for danger.
So he kept walking, even as the hum grew louder. Louder...
LOUDER....
Until finally he HAD to stop because the hum had gotten so strong it seemed like everything else was starting to fall away. It rattled his body and tore at his mind, Maximus only realizing this too late. Ah! Ah! What was going ON!?
That constant HUM grew louder and louder, his vision began to deteriorate, until... He was on a battlefield?
No, he was back at Hector's place.
....No, DEFINITELY WAR!
He quickly had to draw his swords as something came at him- it wasn't human, wasn't... Anything. It was like a shadow, but still felt very, VERY real. He was in a fight for his life! His squadron, where were they!? Not like it mattered. They didn't know. couldn't know.
Fight!
FIGHT!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside the shelter, amidst the noise of the storm, there began a different sort of clatter. A THUNK! THUNK! as of something metal impacting wood. A sharp, inorganic RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR--RR--RR--RRR like a train whistle and a pipe organ were screaming at each other.
The sound grew distant for a bit, then louder- closer, distant again, before finally it became overwhelmingly loud and there was suddenly a loud THWANG! from the far end of the room.
A sharp blade had pierced the door, followed by several loud THUNKs as the uninterrupted screeching was at its loudest. The blade withdrew a few seconds later, and the sound grew a bit fainter- but was still close.
EEEE--E-E-E-E-
Another THUNK!
Didn't seem like it was leaving.
Now, if anyone went to investigate, they'd immediately be met with the sight of a small metal man wielding a pair of swords and running around what seemed like aimlessly- swiping at the air, trees- Ope, coming back towards the shelter now. Couldn't have been more than three feet tall. Black smoke billowed from two pipes sticking out of its head. Its expression seemed fixed, but the eyes- they seemed manic, distant. Unresponsive.
"AAAAAA--A-A-A-A-AAAAA!"
The energy in the lodge had grown tense enough to cut with a knife. First of all was the wolf's rebuttal to him. The mother (he assumed) glared Emmrich down from his chastising, and Emmrich met her gaze unflinching. He had dealt with his fair share of rowdy students and overbearing parents, so he wasn't intimidated, yet he also knew he was out of his depth and out of his area of expertise. He decided it would be best if he stayed silent and not press his host any further, considering it was only by her grace they found shelter from this terrible storm. So he dipped his head in deferment to her.
But of far more importance was Nera's reaction to the other wolves. The poor woman's heart pounded in her chest in fear as all those scrutinizing eyes fell on her, and even Emmrich was keen to the tension that rippled through the woman's body. He subconsciously gripped his staff tighter when he saw fur prickle on her arms--he had no desire to harm her, he had every intent to protect everyone should things go awry--but the woman was able to control herself and everything stilled once more. And Emmrich felt nothing but a deep sense of sorrow and compassion for Nera.
To be burdened with such an affliction . . . what a terrible fate, indeed. And it seemed that these strange wolf-creatures were Nera's best hope of getting her the help she needed--she certainly couldn't find it with Emmrich. Curses and afflictions were something well within Emmrich's purview, but lycanthropy had no cure--none he was familiar with, at least. But if these wolves could help Nera control herself . . . well, he'd see what Nera had to say. For the moment he remained silent, and would respond gauging on Nera's reaction. This conversation wasn't about him, after all. But he stood by her side, silently offering his presence in reassurance that whatever she was dealing with, she didn't have to face on her own.
But then a sudden noise caught his attention, a sound beyond the roar and crackle of the storm. It sounded far more mechanical, with the telltale whirl of gears and machinery. And then the unmistakable sound of a blade striking the door!
Something was breaking in!
Emmrich's eyes glowed green, the genteel expression wiped clean from his face as steel resolve filled him and he charged towards the entrance, staff clutched tightly in his hands.
"Everyone! Stay here and keep your heads down! I shall investigate," he commanded. It was not a request. There was imminent danger present beyond even the storm, and Emmrich was the best one suited to handle these hostile conditions. He raced up the stairs just in time to see a metal blade pierce the wooden door, and gritting his teeth, he charged forward, throwing open the door, staff raised and glowing with sickly green light, ready to blast whatever foe dared to intrude to this home--
To be met with a rather confounding sight.
Close by was a small humanoid construct running in circles, its arms raised and swinging a pair of swords wildly through the air. The thing was billowing black smoke, and Emmrich immediately recognized it as a metal construct gone haywire--he fought his fair share of those on Arlathan.
But--
He squinted.
Oh, Maker above! This creature had a soul as well!
Emmrich closed the door behind him and cautiously stepped forward, keeping his staff raised. The crackle of the storm around him made his bones vibrate and it made his vision sear with a bright kaleidoscope of colors, and he tried to keep focused. And it dawned on him--perhaps the storm was causing the metallic construct to behave erratically. It would make sense--this much wild magic would cause any magical device, sentient or not, to go absolutely haywire!
Still, he couldn't let this construct compromise their safe haven. He reached out, casting a spell, and ghostly apparitions of skeletons exploded from the snowy ground, wrapping their arms around the construct's feet and holding it in place.
"If you can hear me, you need to calm down immediately!" Emmrich called out to it. Could it hear him? Oh, how he wished Bellara was here! She'd know exactly what to do with a frenzied construct! "There are children inside this building!"
But of far more importance was Nera's reaction to the other wolves. The poor woman's heart pounded in her chest in fear as all those scrutinizing eyes fell on her, and even Emmrich was keen to the tension that rippled through the woman's body. He subconsciously gripped his staff tighter when he saw fur prickle on her arms--he had no desire to harm her, he had every intent to protect everyone should things go awry--but the woman was able to control herself and everything stilled once more. And Emmrich felt nothing but a deep sense of sorrow and compassion for Nera.
To be burdened with such an affliction . . . what a terrible fate, indeed. And it seemed that these strange wolf-creatures were Nera's best hope of getting her the help she needed--she certainly couldn't find it with Emmrich. Curses and afflictions were something well within Emmrich's purview, but lycanthropy had no cure--none he was familiar with, at least. But if these wolves could help Nera control herself . . . well, he'd see what Nera had to say. For the moment he remained silent, and would respond gauging on Nera's reaction. This conversation wasn't about him, after all. But he stood by her side, silently offering his presence in reassurance that whatever she was dealing with, she didn't have to face on her own.
But then a sudden noise caught his attention, a sound beyond the roar and crackle of the storm. It sounded far more mechanical, with the telltale whirl of gears and machinery. And then the unmistakable sound of a blade striking the door!
Something was breaking in!
Emmrich's eyes glowed green, the genteel expression wiped clean from his face as steel resolve filled him and he charged towards the entrance, staff clutched tightly in his hands.
"Everyone! Stay here and keep your heads down! I shall investigate," he commanded. It was not a request. There was imminent danger present beyond even the storm, and Emmrich was the best one suited to handle these hostile conditions. He raced up the stairs just in time to see a metal blade pierce the wooden door, and gritting his teeth, he charged forward, throwing open the door, staff raised and glowing with sickly green light, ready to blast whatever foe dared to intrude to this home--
To be met with a rather confounding sight.
Close by was a small humanoid construct running in circles, its arms raised and swinging a pair of swords wildly through the air. The thing was billowing black smoke, and Emmrich immediately recognized it as a metal construct gone haywire--he fought his fair share of those on Arlathan.
But--
He squinted.
Oh, Maker above! This creature had a soul as well!
Emmrich closed the door behind him and cautiously stepped forward, keeping his staff raised. The crackle of the storm around him made his bones vibrate and it made his vision sear with a bright kaleidoscope of colors, and he tried to keep focused. And it dawned on him--perhaps the storm was causing the metallic construct to behave erratically. It would make sense--this much wild magic would cause any magical device, sentient or not, to go absolutely haywire!
Still, he couldn't let this construct compromise their safe haven. He reached out, casting a spell, and ghostly apparitions of skeletons exploded from the snowy ground, wrapping their arms around the construct's feet and holding it in place.
"If you can hear me, you need to calm down immediately!" Emmrich called out to it. Could it hear him? Oh, how he wished Bellara was here! She'd know exactly what to do with a frenzied construct! "There are children inside this building!"
Nera could feel the warmth and compassion the others had for her and she smiled a bit woefully at the psy-wolves offer. It was one she'd heard before and even though the results were usually the same, the sentiment made her heart full. The idea of staying with them made her wonder if this time would be different. Maybe they knew the key to inner peace. They all seemed so sure of themselves. Content. That was something that Nera hadn't felt since her affliction began, thousands of years ago.
Despite the tension in the air, she couldn't help but feel grateful for meeting such kindness. Though the youngster had been scolded, she appreciated her innocence. It was clear that outing her wasn't intentional. "Thank you, all of you," she said as she gazed around to the others, her attention falling upon Emmrich and Krepta just as there was a commotion at the entrance upstairs. She jumped at the sound of wood splintering. Was the storm trying to break down the door?!
Hanging back as Emmrich strode off up the stairs, Nera followed at a good distance behind, making sure the owners of the house could assess the damage first. She didn't want to be in the way. Seeing that the mage had shut the door, she peered out from one of the windows in relative safety, curious to see what was happening. Emmrich was speaking to someone. There was a little construct of some sort and ...
Nera ducked back behind the wall in terror. There were skeletons out there! Multiple!
Had the storm bid the nasty creatures to rise from their slumber in the earth? Could it do that?! She eyed the others warily, pressing against the wall as much as she was able. "Undead," was all she had the nerve to say if the others looked her way, unwilling to step outside and face her fears for the moment.
Despite the tension in the air, she couldn't help but feel grateful for meeting such kindness. Though the youngster had been scolded, she appreciated her innocence. It was clear that outing her wasn't intentional. "Thank you, all of you," she said as she gazed around to the others, her attention falling upon Emmrich and Krepta just as there was a commotion at the entrance upstairs. She jumped at the sound of wood splintering. Was the storm trying to break down the door?!
Hanging back as Emmrich strode off up the stairs, Nera followed at a good distance behind, making sure the owners of the house could assess the damage first. She didn't want to be in the way. Seeing that the mage had shut the door, she peered out from one of the windows in relative safety, curious to see what was happening. Emmrich was speaking to someone. There was a little construct of some sort and ...
Nera ducked back behind the wall in terror. There were skeletons out there! Multiple!
Had the storm bid the nasty creatures to rise from their slumber in the earth? Could it do that?! She eyed the others warily, pressing against the wall as much as she was able. "Undead," was all she had the nerve to say if the others looked her way, unwilling to step outside and face her fears for the moment.
"AAA-E-e-e-e-e-NNNAA-!!!" the construct's erratic head movements and frantic flailing gave the impression Emmrich's words had fallen on deaf... Uh, auditory processors.
The apparitions he was fighting mingled with the real world's visuals to produce a horrifying scene of downed soldiers dragging him to the ground, the enemy commander looming over him in the distance.
These were old memories, before his mind had woken up again. He couldn't hardly think, couldn't hardly process what was going on. Dreams didn't come naturally to him, even in a right state of mind he may not have been able to discern this as nothing but a vision.
He slashed at the things holding his feet, sat staunch upright- dropped his swords in the snow, and popped open the door in his chest. .. Evidently that was a door, anyways.
He reached inside and procured.... A decanter? It was very ornate, looked quite old. But Emmrich would be able to tell it was magical in nature. What that magic WAS became apparent in the next two seconds.
"GAAA-G-G-g-g-g-g-GEYSER!" with that one word getting through, the decanter activated and shot like a firehose across the snowy field and at Emmrich.
It wouldn't be powerful enough to hurt him, but if it did hit him it'd be strong enough to knock him to the ground, possibly breaking his concentration. If Emmrich got out of the way, there'd be a loud WOOOSHHH! against the door of the cabin as a bit of water shot through the hole where it'd been stabbed through.
The apparitions he was fighting mingled with the real world's visuals to produce a horrifying scene of downed soldiers dragging him to the ground, the enemy commander looming over him in the distance.
These were old memories, before his mind had woken up again. He couldn't hardly think, couldn't hardly process what was going on. Dreams didn't come naturally to him, even in a right state of mind he may not have been able to discern this as nothing but a vision.
He slashed at the things holding his feet, sat staunch upright- dropped his swords in the snow, and popped open the door in his chest. .. Evidently that was a door, anyways.
He reached inside and procured.... A decanter? It was very ornate, looked quite old. But Emmrich would be able to tell it was magical in nature. What that magic WAS became apparent in the next two seconds.
"GAAA-G-G-g-g-g-g-GEYSER!" with that one word getting through, the decanter activated and shot like a firehose across the snowy field and at Emmrich.
It wouldn't be powerful enough to hurt him, but if it did hit him it'd be strong enough to knock him to the ground, possibly breaking his concentration. If Emmrich got out of the way, there'd be a loud WOOOSHHH! against the door of the cabin as a bit of water shot through the hole where it'd been stabbed through.
Well. This thing certainly didn't seem to be calming down anytime soon.
It raised its sword and slashed at the skeletons binding its feet, helping free it of its restraints. Emmrich readied another spell, and mentally braced himself that he might have to resort to more dire methods if his current powers proved ineffective.
Then the strange being opened up the door on its chest, revealing a compartment within. Clever. With no use for organs, the chest cavity had all sorts of room for items stowed in an easily accessible space--
Could you please focus, Volkarin?
The metal being grabbed at a . . . magical decanter? Emmrich noted the magical signature of the item, but with the storm it was difficult to ascertain exactly what it was--
"GAAA-G-G-g-g-g-g-GEYSER!"
And then a torrent of water shot straight at him.
Emmrich's eyes went wide. "Oh, bugger--!" he cursed, throwing up his arms and a protective shield.
The water slammed into his shield, hard enough to knock him backwards and slam him against the door of the house. Emmrich's vision swam at the impact but he quickly picked himself back up, shaking it off. His shield helped protect him from the worst of the blow, but the water still absolutely drenched him and he could feel the water start to freeze in these subzero conditions.
Not an immediate threat to him, of course, but frozen clothing would severely impede his movement, and no one, not even a lich, needed that.
"Alright then!" Emmrich snarled, starting to grow frustrated as he pounded his staff on the ground, green flames coiling around him. Part of him wondered if this was a lost cause. Every second out here in this storm was putting him in danger, but this creature needed help. It spoke! It was intelligent, and Emmrich was going to do everything he could to help it!
If the thing could not see reason, then it needed to be neutralized. Perhaps he could just knock it out? He thrust his staff forward, shooting at it a blast of necromantic magic and aiming to knock the decanter from its hand. He knew necrotic spells were ineffective against constructs, but he was counting on the impact of the spell rather than the energy to do the damage needed.
He once more desperately called out to it. "It's not safe out here! We need to get inside! Please, calm down! I mean you no harm, but you are forcing me to defend myself and my friends!" he yelled over the roar of the storm.
Lightning flashed, and he winced. It was getting worse, and he could feel the thrum of the wild magic begin to interfere with his own mana, and even his glamour crackled threateningly under the stress of the storm. He had to end this battle quickly if he wanted both of them to get out of this alive--erm, rather, un-exploded!
It raised its sword and slashed at the skeletons binding its feet, helping free it of its restraints. Emmrich readied another spell, and mentally braced himself that he might have to resort to more dire methods if his current powers proved ineffective.
Then the strange being opened up the door on its chest, revealing a compartment within. Clever. With no use for organs, the chest cavity had all sorts of room for items stowed in an easily accessible space--
Could you please focus, Volkarin?
The metal being grabbed at a . . . magical decanter? Emmrich noted the magical signature of the item, but with the storm it was difficult to ascertain exactly what it was--
"GAAA-G-G-g-g-g-g-GEYSER!"
And then a torrent of water shot straight at him.
Emmrich's eyes went wide. "Oh, bugger--!" he cursed, throwing up his arms and a protective shield.
The water slammed into his shield, hard enough to knock him backwards and slam him against the door of the house. Emmrich's vision swam at the impact but he quickly picked himself back up, shaking it off. His shield helped protect him from the worst of the blow, but the water still absolutely drenched him and he could feel the water start to freeze in these subzero conditions.
Not an immediate threat to him, of course, but frozen clothing would severely impede his movement, and no one, not even a lich, needed that.
"Alright then!" Emmrich snarled, starting to grow frustrated as he pounded his staff on the ground, green flames coiling around him. Part of him wondered if this was a lost cause. Every second out here in this storm was putting him in danger, but this creature needed help. It spoke! It was intelligent, and Emmrich was going to do everything he could to help it!
If the thing could not see reason, then it needed to be neutralized. Perhaps he could just knock it out? He thrust his staff forward, shooting at it a blast of necromantic magic and aiming to knock the decanter from its hand. He knew necrotic spells were ineffective against constructs, but he was counting on the impact of the spell rather than the energy to do the damage needed.
He once more desperately called out to it. "It's not safe out here! We need to get inside! Please, calm down! I mean you no harm, but you are forcing me to defend myself and my friends!" he yelled over the roar of the storm.
Lightning flashed, and he winced. It was getting worse, and he could feel the thrum of the wild magic begin to interfere with his own mana, and even his glamour crackled threateningly under the stress of the storm. He had to end this battle quickly if he wanted both of them to get out of this alive--erm, rather, un-exploded!
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