Note: A raid has happened: the race of the people depends, it can be one of two. If you are aiding an Orderite town: the location is on the Serenia coast and the raiders are mostly Oblivionite (with hybrid/Dovaa backups) or a pack of Dragons or Khehora. If you are aiding an Oblivionite town: the location is on the Soudul coast and the raiders are mostly Orderite (with hybrid/Dovaa back up) or a pack of Dragons or Khehora. You may vary the location, but the Ord village cannot be on Soudul and the Obliv village may not be on Serenia.
Prompt: You have either wandered through the wilderness to stumble upon this village or you have been sent by your leader or the Guardians to help with relief. Either way you find yourself inside the remains of a Magescian town. A trail of smoke billows out from the remains of the houses. All around you can see trashed homes: the entry ways showing signs of forced entry and burning. Scattered about are tattered remains of items, doors, rubble from the nearby buildings and spots of dried blood. The raiders (or Dragons), you’ll discover, hit just before dawn. They came in with little warning and attacked the store houses first. They tried to fight, but the town is full of civilians mostly: they have little experience with real fighting. About half the town/clan is dead: no family survived unscathed. The wounded have mostly been tended to: but they only have very basic first aid done to them. The dead have mostly been buried or piled unto a pyre and burned.
You can do several things here: help them, pretend to help while you go about looting the place, or finish the job for the raiders and kill those remaining. Or maybe you help and steal from them as well, that’s up to you! Please, in 500 or more words, write a response to this prompt: incorporate the situation and what you do, how you deal with it, etc.
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 11:57 am
It was the blood moon, and Suluksati had taken one of her frequent trips from Samael's clan to patrol her homeland. Land of light though it was, it could still hide viciousness, and it was up to her to protect it's weakened dragons from bloodthirsty hunters emboldened by the moon's power.
She glided in her khehora form in the clear skies, savoring the crisp winds of Serenia's autumn thoughtcully. Suddenly, a loud roar found her ears. She banked quickly and headed towards its source. Was it a dragon hunt? If so, she had to stop them.
(96/500)
((Its a khehora attack on an Orderite Village. The khehora are Aedaun and of Sulu's original tribe. Their magic is weakened by the moon, but they were enraged by the blood moon's blood thirst))
Esmeralda had stopped in an Orderite village for the evening before she headed on to Ayr the next day. She’d just arrived cloaked and all in the village, there were quite a few people out in about so Esmeralda tried to blend in as much as possible. Granted it was a little hard even if she could pass as a Orderite without her Dovaa aspects. Though a few people did glance at her once in a while, she headed for the Inn and quickly ordered a room and food. Once settled in and the food before her, Esmeralda relaxed a bit until a chilling roar pierced the quietness and Esmeralda got up to go see through her window.
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:28 pm
Tasinei
It was not what Suluksati was expecting. Below her, unbelievable as it was, a pack of feral khehora, mostly Alikhora of white, green, and blue hues was tearing through an Orderite village, killing any who stood in their way.
This was not behavior that Suluksati expected of the khehora of Serenia – the blood moon had to be at work. The question remained, then, what to do? She could leave the villagers – and the khehora – to their fates. They likely hunted dragons, and mercy had long ago dried up in her heart towards all but the youngest, innocent, and khehoran of hunters. And sometimes not even then.
Then again, this had nothing to do with dragons: this was murder, as simple as that. They were attacking a settlement, destroying innocents and children. Suluksati would never do such a thing. It was brutal murder, and it was wrong, and she could not let it pass by.
With a frustrated roar at the violent and bloody world she lived in, she swooped down. A Villager – a farmer, perhaps, or a fisherman or a mere housewife – screamed and fell, a khehora rising before them to deal a final, fatal, gruesome blow.... only to be blocked by Suluksati's shield, and soon by her body as she hurtled into the feral khehora, tearing into them.
“Back off!” she snarled, feeling wrath rise within her as well. There was something eerily familiar about the khehora she had stopped, but there was also no time to think on that: battle was at hand, and there were innocents to protect.
If someone had told Esmeralda she would end up in the middle of a bloody battle between some feral Khehoran and the Orderites in a small village, she would have laughed you off as a loony. If that same person had told her she’d witness Sulu tackle a Khehorian to the ground right before her, she would have walked away clutching her side from laughter. At this point though, as she saw the Khehorian strike the villager down, Esmeralda untethered her magic and took a running start down the stairs from the inn where panic was ensuing and turning into complete chaos.
When Esmeralda reached outside she spotted a very familiar Khehora tackled another to help the village. There was no time though for greetings, Esmeralda was unleashing some water to care for the injured villager as Sulu took care of the Khehora. What was going on? She knew though, she knew that the blood mood was at work here and if they didn’t chase the ferals away they were going to end up slaughtered as soon as Aevaeh learned of what was going on. When the village was all healed up, Esme helped them up and sent them on their way. “SULU!”
Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:40 pm
Tasinei
Sulu had gotten very strong over the years, and her ascension to Khehorian had given her a huge boost of power. She shoved the khehora she was fighting away, sending it through a building, stopping another in the middle of it's lunge with a slap of her tail. The villagers who did not stand and fight fled to the safety of the healer, children in tow, as Suluksati proceeded to hold her own – not caring, for the moment, about the presence of an intruder in their lands.
With a roar, she sent a bolt of light at one of the khehora. Though her magic was weakened and kin to their own – she could smell the light magic in their blood, marking them as Aedaun like herself – it was full of so much raw power that it hit them like a physical punch, flinging them back and away from the villagers.
Suluksati roared at them, turning briefly at the familiar voice calling her name.
Esmeralda? Here? What was a Dovaa doing in an Orderite town? Suluksati determined that she did not care much either way. The attackers were still around, and thus she had to pay attention to them. She was, though, now very glad that she had stepped in to protect the village, and her courage was renewed as she leapt into the fray once more.
She was used to fighting dragons and beasts, and the khehora were barely a match for her strength. Eventually, their sense overcame their bloodthirsty rage, and they quickly retreated, hissing at her.
They were so familiar, but it was not until one of them fixed her with a glare and hissed “Traitor.” that Suluksati understood. The eyes, the feathers, and the voice of that individual brought forth memories of a nest, lined with feathers, and of two sisters playing Dragon Hunter in the soft light of the Serenian day.
“Mahrani?!” she whispered, stunned.
The khehora were from her old tribe. She watched them go, still in her orakovan form, unsure whether to roar in victory, to scream in rage, or to cry in despair. She was betrayed.
She shifted into her khehorian form, naked save for her feathers and the sash she wore at her waist. She adjusted it, shuffling her wings as her magic glowed around her, healing her wounds.
“Esmeralda.” she said, walking over to her friend, “I did not expect to see you in such a place...”
There were many Khehora turning their attention on them now, one came at Esmeralda and she ducked out of the way. She started some training lessons after the Celestial Plane had been over taken and she’d been given the title of Healer Corporal for the Dovaa Army. She found it to be a rather unpleasant title to have; she would much rather Master Scholar but too late to dwell on it. The fighting lessons were proving to be quite useful here though as the Khehora came at her again and she used her water magic to push him back successfully unto the wall. Thankfully, they began to retreat and Esmeralda reigned in her magic.
“I am glad to see you Suluksati.” Esmeralda took one last deep breath to calm herself down. “I did not expect to see you here either if I were to be truthful.” You never really knew where one might find a familiar face though. “What’s happening? Why are the Khehora attacking this village?” With the Khehora retreating the shouting and dying screams had quieted leaving behind an odd silence. Many of the villagers had fled and were slowly returning to their village. Esmerald watched a few faces come out of their hiding place.
“We need to get you off the street.” Esmeralda commented, motioning to her with her head. “I have a room in this inn. You can stay with me until things have settled down if you wish.” She didn’t want the villagers thinking Sulu was with the Khehora that had just attacked them and do something stupid. They had a lot of burying to do with their dead but she doubted that would keep them occupied long enough. They would want to retaliate and a manhunt would surely ensue. Orderites were quite the little grudge holders.
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 9:14 am
Tasinei
“Then we are fortunate to have found each other, and to be in this place at this time...” Suluksati looked around her, dismayed at the carnage. “I... Don't know why they attacked.” she admitted, “I suspect it was because of the blood moon, but...” she looked behind her, though the khehora had retreated too far by then to be visible. “I honestly don't know.”
She looked down at herself, her feathers now dyed red with blood. Her tribe-mate's blood. “If you help me clean up, I can assist you with the healing...?” she frowned, looking around, “Do you truly think... that they would associate this form with the khehora that attacked them?” she didn't think that the Orderites would be familiar with a khehorian form. “You are a healer as well as a scholar... I didn't mistake that?”
Ugh.
She could feel the blood seeping through her down onto her skin. Seren's light... she exclaimed, I need to preen... She needed to be clean. She flapped her wings, briefly, before moving to go along with Esmeralda. “I don't mind staying with you.” she said, though the concept of an inn was still alien to her and comparable only to the small barn she stayed in when she visited Avani, all those years ago. “We have much to catch up on.”
“I would not risk it.” Esmeralda said thoughtfully, no they should not risk the villagers seeing a Khehora and going blood thirsty themselves after this kind of carnage. Esmeralda peeked into the inn before going in once the coast was clear. The inn keepers were probably still hidden down below in their cellar so she had time to sneak Sulu in. “Come,” she motioned with her head and headed for the stairs. “Yes I am a healer and a scholar. I was made a corporal for the Dovaa army when the Mara attacked the Celestial Plane. Though I am still on track to become master scholar.” She didn’t just want to be a healer for the army, if that was so she would have returned to her previous occupation after all.
Up the stairs and into her room, Esmeralda ushered Sulu in and then closed the door behind her. “Stay here, I will seek out the inn keeper and get you some hot water for a bath so you can clean up.” The Dovaa slipped out of her room and wound her way around the inn, the innkeeper and his wife had just come out of hiding and she ordered the hot water from them. Task completed she returned upstairs. “They’ll be up to start a fire and I will get the water in the tub. How have you been?” Esmeralda took at seat on one of the chairs.
Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 9:38 am
Tasinei
What was a corporal? Suluksati had no idea. She heard the sound of shouting and the clang of metal, and decided that that perhaps the scholar's recommendation was a sound one after all. “I suppose I'd better.” she murmured, allowing her friend to pull her inside the inn just before the soldiers arrived. She was grateful for her Khehorian form as she waited, comfortable even in the enclosed and slightly tiny room.
Start a fire? Heat the water? Hit water? Sulukati was somewhat floored by the luxury of it all. “I appreciate that.” she said, feeling her aches and pains and the filthy feeling of her dirtied feathers respond in kind.
“I've been... well.” she said, shrugging, “My life has not varied much from the last we spoke... Aside...” she looked over her arm, “Aside from this.”
~~~
The Guardians, and the Orderite Army patrols found their way into town, finding that they were just a few moments too late. They set about to rescue and damage control operations and began counting the dead and getting reports of what had happened.
The reports were mixed and garbled, exactly what they expected from civilians. Some said that Seren herself smote the rampaging beasts, others that a khehora turned against its own, others still that a magical dragon had stepped in. Some even said that a hybrid had saved them, or a valiant superheroic orderite knight. A few swore that a flock of Fekarats had come in and beaten back the attackers, but they were probably drunk.
What they did agree on was that it was khehora that had attacked, and that a Peisio Dovaa had been there to assist with the wounded.
That sounded promising, and they hoped to get a better, more reliable report from her. They got her current location and the captain of the Ashen City patrol went to the inn to meet her...
~~~~
Suluksati's keen ears caught the sound of heavy boots on the wooden stairs. “We can talk later.” she urged, Esmeralda's caution catching on easily, gesturing towards the door.
“I noticed that change, how does it feel to be walking on two legs?” Esmerlda gave her a one over; of she did so want to draw her again like last time. She certainly did not have a Khehorian humanoid form in her studies and it would be nice to include one. Plus, Sulu was an Aliora and that just added value to any sketches or drawings she got. Maybe after she’d cleaned up though she’d ask her. The warning issued from Sulu made her turn towards the door just a bit before the knocking came. “Who is it?” She called, walking her way towards the door but walking softly. She would let them in ocne they identified themselves.
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 10:44 am
Tasinei
Suluksati wanted to catch up with her friend, but there were other, urgent matters to deal with. Like the knocking at the door.
A male voice answered. “Ma'am? We are looking for the Dovaa who assisted in the defense of the town... Be this her room?”
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- Celestial Dragon Tear x 1 
