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Keionx gave Alifax a glance, but only a glance. He was a naysayer, speaking in reason, and Keionx had used up her reason quota for the day on musings about immortality. She wanted to be irrational. She wanted to be brave. She wanted to do the right thing, like she had always been told to do.

Keionx let the hand slip away from her. She would not have asked Vremea about whatever connection she – and her friends – had to the mysterious entity that they were being set against, but as Vremea began to speak, it became clearer and clearer where the right decision lay.

It was a good feeling to finally feel completely, unanimously clear on what the right thing was. So often, on Alternia, it was ambiguous, and Keionx would find she didn't know what to do. Not now. Not as the Jadeblood spoke again, and told them that time was running out.

There was no hesitation from Keionx. She took up a vial and strode, briskly, after the Jadeblood, her expression determined, focused on the path ahead. She was going – She might not have seen this villains deeds in person, but there was no question – she would go alone with Vrykol if she had to. Such was a hero's lot. She wouldn't have to, though she didn't see it as Odette took one as well. If she had, she would have been secretly relieved.

She would do it alone if she had to. But she didn't want to be alone.

Alifax narrowed his eyes first at Vrykol, and then the - the girls again. The yellowblood was being stupid again; they already knew the troll was male, so it stood to reason she was hiding something else and was just shitty at keeping track of just what it was. There was clearly something the group was hiding, and Alifax was glad that no one else was paying attention to this conversation, because it let him know that much. But at the same time, it didn't sound like he was actually any sort of dignitary. Duplicitous and self-serving as Vrykol seemed, Alifax trusted that she was trying to speak some truth; she wouldn't risk her own discovery for nothing. All of the trolls assembled knew of her existence now, and if she'd been watching Alifax as she claimed, then she knew he wouldn't keep a secret if it didn't benefit him any longer.

That meant it mattered to her for a reason bigger than sending some teenagers to their deaths. He looked over the rest of the group, narrowing his eyes at the girl who was preoccupied with writing instead of talking (what the hell? If it was an injury she'd better improve at hiding it.), and considering Odette's words weightily.

"I'll follow you, then," he said, taking a vial, but making no promises to do anything until he saw this other jadeblood himself. If the rest of the group was made of self-sacrificing idiots, they could stay and fight as he booked it. Plants were usually flammable, and this vial...if the group needed it, they could turn on Vrykol, too. That was Alifax's biggest consolation. "Frossa, Cerise..." he hesitated, looking at the girls. "Frossa knows the way to my hive, if light's approaching." It was the closest one. But he suspected they might not need it, because they were also idiots - of a very different variety.

He walked past the trolls still watching to follow Keionx. She was another matter entirely...but he wasn't going to risk himself to prevent some suicidal troll from death.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Odette watched her friends with a pained, but thankful smile. She knew it would be a tough fight, but she knew it would be worse without her friends backing her up.

With her free hand, she reached over and took hold of Mili's. Odette was so thankful she was there, and she felt awful that she hadn't been paying enough attention to her. She could only imagine the troll was scared, too. Vremea was her moirail yes, but Odette was sure that she'd understand if she was more defensive of the tealblood.

Tugging on Milieu's hand, Odette stepped into the tunnel after Vrykol. She held her breath, fearful of what she might see.

Many of Vrykol's heartfelt words fell to deaf ears on the lone purpleblood. Frossa didn't really care who their target was, nor was she particularly invested in the 'lives of many'. She didn't give a hoofbeast's a** about the many! The disillusioned girl did, however, have quite a strong interest in unfathomably mystical quests.

Still, Alifax had his points. And oh how boldly he spoke! Frossa had never witnessed such an outburst from the overly compliant lowblood. She couldn't help but clasp her hands at her chest joyously, beaming up at her friend. She liked Sassifax, she mused, as long as he didn't try any of that nonsense with her. Her hands dropped back to her sides along with her face as he softly addressed her and Cerise, but she remained still. He was right, and fun or not, she was not down with being someone's pawn. She liked her life very, very, very much. But hey, she wasn't invested, and Frossa doubted her companions were horribly torn, either. What was the harm in playing along until things looked out of hand, at least?

As the older girls in the room fidgeted while Vrykol spoke about a second jadeblood, Frossa couldn't help but smirk at their discomfort. Well, what was going on here? She was confident she'd get all of the juicy details later during their confrontation. Still... the freckled girl began scanning the other trolls in the room, wondering to herself how and why a bunch of lowbloods knew about and were involved with their target while Hippodad chewed on his cud behind her.

Frossa snapped back to attention when Vrykol began drumming her fingers. Her eyes darted to the vials- so, this was it then? Time to make a decision? As the elderly jadeblood shuffled past the tapestry clutching her cane, Frossa couldn't help but raise a skeptical brow. Immortality and the ability to walk in the sun didn't look so hot when you needed a walking stick.

Hushed chatter arose within the small group with Vrykol's exit. Frossa's eyelids dropped in disbelief as she squinted at a sickly looking lowblood openly offering promises of protection. Really? Frossa rolled her eyes, glancing up at Alifax. Was he buying any of this? He looked overall unimpressed, albeit concerned... and, despite being a dirty lowblood, she did trust his instinct to some extent. It was that same instinct she had witnessed drive them to victory in their FLARP sessions, after all! Frossa wasn't remotely shocked when Alifax volunteered his services, nor did she question his resolve. She skipped behind him without question, following him to Vrykol's table.

"Alifax, darling, I wouldn't sleep in your hive if my life depended on it." Her teeth shone with a smile in the dim candle light, curls bouncing along with a small giggle. "Besides, this should prove interesting!" The deaged-youngster stood on tip toes, reaching for a vial of her own, following her two companions out. After everything they had been through the last sweep or so, she had faith in their abilities. Besides, what problem was some stupid guy with plantpower when you had firepower?

The path Vrykol had taken twisted and turned, leading the trolls who followed her farther and farther down. It was long, too, and dark, and narrow. If it wasn't for the faint glow of the adult ahead, and the faint echoing glow of the vials, they would be in pure darkness. Although using a cane, the rainbowdrinker wasn't lacking in stamina, and made use of her longer stride, keeping slightly ahead of the children, her eyes fixed on the tunnel ahead. "It does not make sense, do you think? How ve are born underground, but immediately seek the surface aftervards? I have alvays preferred to remain underground. It is easier to move unseen, and ven you are accustomed to the gloom, your eyes can become so much sharper. Although I suppose I am gifted vith my own personal light, and have a slight advantage there. Aha ha ha." Occasionally she would toss sentences like this back at the children without breaking stride, nodding or shaking her head at the response given back. She probed them, not on their lives or what they owned or where they lived, but on what they thought. Her questions were decidedly unpolitical, and if anyone would bring up the queen and her stance, she would again remind them that it was not 'in anyone's interest' to bring those subjects here now. Instead she asked about life, death, relationships, the universe. It was up to the children how they could reply back, or if they said anything at all. She never pressed farther than she sensed anyone was comfortable with, and smoothly moved over anything that dug too deep or brought up painful memories. It almost felt like polite banter, if not for the situation they were in.

Eventually, she came to a stop, turning to face the children for the first time in hours. "I do not think it vould be vise for me to go further. If I am spotted, I might be targeted as vell, vat with my ... condition being similar. Pay close attention now. I vill teach you how to use the vials. You must break it on him, ensure the liquid touches his exoskeleton. It vill be absorbed into the body, dimming his glow. If he rejects it, his light vill strengthen again, and you must use another dose. Do not give him multiple doses at once, or he might build up an immunity, or vorse, you might run out. Take it slow, one at a time. If the royal expeditions have encountered him already, I vould advise you to call on them for aid. I .... vould also appreciate it if I am not brought up in conversation. I am not asking you to lie if questioned -- though hopefully in the pitch of battle your activities vill go unnoticed. I am simply asking for discretion. I do not vish to be forced out of my shop, but rest assured." Turning her head slightly, she pinned her gaze to Alifax, giving him a calm but searching look. "I hear and see many things. It is how I survive. If someone vishes to curry favour vith the queen by drawing her attention to my existence and location, I vill be long gone by the time troops arrive."

With that, Vrykol shuffled to the side of the path, clearing the way for the children. Bowing her head in thanks, she would stand there and watch until they passed by and out of sight.

(Please wait for a quote to know when you arrive at your destination. Roleplays in this thread wrapping up the adventure are allowed, with no time limit.)