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Story Hour
A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
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<blockquote data-quote="Ilex" data-source="post: 5017259" data-attributes="member: 82687"><p><strong>8x02</strong></p><p></p><p>Twiggy winced in sympathetic pain as the zombies mobbed Kormick. And continued to mob Kormick. Nothing seemed to distract them, even when Mena reached into the throng, grabbed one of the creatures, and hurled it to the ground so that Tavi could pierce its gut with his sword, killing it. The zombies ignored their fallen comrade and continued to pummel the Justicar. Kormick was doing remarkably well at continuing to stay upright in the face of the zombie onslaught, but that’s all he could do—stay standing.</p><p></p><p><em>He was trying to help,</em> thought Twiggy, <em>and this is what he got.</em> </p><p></p><p>Twiggy cast <em>illusory ambush</em>, making one of the zombies see images of another Kormick, attacking from the other side. The creature flailed wildly at the air before grabbing its head in pain. Twiggy had never seen a zombie before, but she had read about them, and she understood why Kormick did what he did: they were abominations before Kettenek, God of the Dead, and they were not the sorts of creatures that one reasoned with. </p><p></p><p>Still, he had picked an odd time to remember the doctrines of his faith. Arden was staring at Kormick, astonished, and Twiggy knew why: Calling attention to <em>Kettenek</em> in a roomful of undead <em>Alirrians</em> who'd most likely been murdered by <em>Kettenites</em>? Not to put too fine a point on it. </p><p></p><p>She cast again, this time sending a zombie an image of a flood that would suffocate it. <em>I’m not sure that’s any better</em>, she thought, <em>but at least it’s an Alirrian image.</em> To her relief, the zombie dropped and didn't move, giving Savina a crucial opening to get close enough to Kormick for a quick healing prayer. </p><p></p><p>Then Savina stepped back, took a deep breath, and held up <em>her</em> holy symbol. She spoke loudly but did not shout: "Alirria is the goddess of peace and love. Not death."</p><p></p><p>And the zombies – paused.</p><p></p><p><em>Maybe they can be reasoned with, after all</em>, thought Twiggy.</p><p></p><p>In the sudden silence, Kormick's breathing was harsh and painful. But—finally—the zombies weren’t looking at him. They were looking at Savina. Responding to something that she saw in their eyes, Savina spoke again. "Yes, I truly worship the Mother. Please stop so we can talk about this."</p><p></p><p>The peace held for one more fragile instant … then a zombie growled and shoved Kormick hard, sending the Justicar careening into another zombie, who punched him. </p><p></p><p>Tavi called out, "We come seeking Alliria's aid and succor in a quest against Sedellus!"</p><p></p><p>The zombie leader launched a bolt of glowing black energy at Kormick, who nearly fell over. The leader roared, "We will <em>never</em> surrender the spring!"</p><p></p><p>Twiggy's ears perked up. <em>The spring?</em> She darted a glance at the trickle of water spilling over the Alirrian holy symbol—and Jalissi—on the wall. <em>I don't think <strong>that</strong> could be it—most Alirrian Temples have fountains like that. But this must be the monastery that Dona Giovanna went to! They must know where the Spring is!</em> </p><p></p><p>Kormick, perhaps having a similar thought, cast a solemn look at Savina and muttered, "You'd better be right." Then, very deliberately, he knelt down. He put both his hammers down on the ground before him. He held up his hands.</p><p></p><p>And again – the zombies paused.</p><p></p><p>"Don't stop!" Thurran's high voice pierced the chapel. "Fight them! Fight them, humans! Look what they did to my kin-mother!" He had gotten almost all of the chains holding Jalissi unlocked – only one of her wrists still held her to the wall. But Thurran was now brandishing his pick and sword dangerously, preparing to charge a zombie.</p><p></p><p>"Thurran, we must be brave enough to trust," declared Mena, staring down at the boy as her armor muttered echoes of her words. </p><p></p><p><em>Right – because that's Mena's specialty. Trust.</em> Twiggy squelched a grim chuckle. But who better than the embodiment of paranoia to convince Thurran? Thurran’s eyes darted from Mena to Kormick as both warriors stared him down. Though he didn't exactly look reassured, the boy turned back to Jalissi and his pick rang out again on the cuff around her wrist.</p><p></p><p>Savina had kept her eyes on the zombies the entire time. Now she spoke once more. "All of us honor Alirria," she said. "Perhaps we can help each other." </p><p></p><p>"If you allow us to pass, we can help rebuild your temple!" suggested Twiggy. Mena gave her a look, and she realized that she might be sounding a wee bit ambitious. <em>Still… wouldn't a map to the spring be worth it?</em> </p><p></p><p>Twiggy’s blood ran cold as the zombie leader stared at her. She could feel Acorn trembling in her pocket and could hear his frightened voice in her head: <span style="color: Sienna">Why did you have to draw attention to us?</span></p><p></p><p><em>Just trying to help, Acorn,</em> Twiggy thought.</p><p></p><p>Then the zombie turned to look at Kormick, and from him to Nyoko. <em>She called him “Honored Justicar,” didn’t she</em>, Twiggy thought, remembering the start of the battle. "If you wish to negotiate an agreement of peace," offered Nyoko, "I will witness it—“</p><p></p><p>"<em>They</em> will have no part in the temple!" thundered the zombie leader. Black energy shot from his hand as he pointed at Nyoko; she dodged the worst of it but was seared along her arm. "Just trying to help," she muttered.</p><p></p><p><em>Aren't we all</em>, agreed Twiggy grimly, readying another <em>illusory ambush</em>. </p><p></p><p>Four zombies remained: three who had resumed clawing at Kormick, and the leader, who now fired again at Nyoko. Twiggy sent him a gift of nightmares, staggering him and giving Nyoko time to retreat behind a pew. Kormick still knelt, one hand on the floor, absorbing the blows – whether by force of will or because he was too exhausted to fight back, Twiggy wasn't sure. Next to him, Tavi's flaming blade intercepted a zombie just as it struck out at the Justicar once more. The creature fell to a burning death, and Tavi told it, "I hope that serves to give you rest."</p><p></p><p>With a cry of triumph, Thurran finally freed Jalissi, who dropped to the ground. "Help me!" Thurran called, and Mena and Nyoko, who were closest, rushed to his assistance. Two zombies turned and barreled after them. </p><p></p><p>"Mena! Watch out!" Twiggy called, unleashing another <em>illusory ambush</em>. It missed. Mena wheeled and joined battle with both zombies at once as Nyoko knelt to assist Thurran with his shocked, shivering kin-mother. </p><p></p><p>Twiggy turned to Arden, who had joined her in the shadow of the doorframe. "Mena needs help," Twiggy pointed out. </p><p></p><p>Arden shook her head, a bruise darkening her cheek where a zombie had struck her. "The Blessed Daughter isn't fighting, Lady Chelesta," she answered. "I don't think I should, either." </p><p></p><p>It was true: Savina was walking boldly up to the big zombie, urging it to hear reason. It ignored her, stretching out its hand to send a blast of energy towards Kormick – and Savina still didn't raise a hand against it. She just stepped even closer and kept talking about Alirria. </p><p></p><p>With a sweep of her sword, Mena cleaved open the head of one of the remaining zombies and it fell with a crash to the floor. Her sword stuck in the creature's skull, and the other zombie closed in quickly. "Hurry, fight it! Fight it!" hollered Thurran.</p><p></p><p>And suddenly there was Kormick, leaping over a pew. "If you want something done right – " he hit the zombie with the first warhammer – "do it yourself." The second warhammer mashed its head to a pulp. It collapsed inches from Nyoko, Thurran, and Jalissi. Kormick slumped down, spent. Thurran’s eyes widened in awe as he stared at the Justicar and the dead zombie on the floor.</p><p></p><p>The last surviving creature – the leader – gave a wail of rage and anguish. It lumbered into a run and plowed toward Kormick, Nyoko, Mena, Thurran, and Jalissi. Its anger pulsed through the room like the breath of some hot, huge beast, making Twiggy's head spin. It raised its hands. Black energy crackled along its fingers. </p><p></p><p>Kormick was right in its path. </p><p></p><p>"I'll help you, human!" Thurran yelled, and hurled his pick. The small tool flew end-over-end and stuck, quivering, in the zombie leader's heart. The zombie's arms went limp, the sparks dying out on its fingertips, as it stared in astonishment at the boy standing defiant beneath the huge Alirrian symbol.</p><p></p><p>With an earth-shaking thud, the last zombie fell to its knees. </p><p></p><p>"Alirria—" it murmured. Then, finally, it collapsed onto its side, unmoving. </p><p></p><p>Savina made a holy gesture over it. "Be at peace," she whispered, tears in her eyes. “All of you,” she gestured over the whole room, “be at peace.”</p><p></p><p>Thurran broke the silence. "Whoopee!” he yelled, throwing his arms around Kormick’s leg. “That was <em>amazing</em>!"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ilex, post: 5017259, member: 82687"] [b]8x02[/b] Twiggy winced in sympathetic pain as the zombies mobbed Kormick. And continued to mob Kormick. Nothing seemed to distract them, even when Mena reached into the throng, grabbed one of the creatures, and hurled it to the ground so that Tavi could pierce its gut with his sword, killing it. The zombies ignored their fallen comrade and continued to pummel the Justicar. Kormick was doing remarkably well at continuing to stay upright in the face of the zombie onslaught, but that’s all he could do—stay standing. [i]He was trying to help,[/i] thought Twiggy, [i]and this is what he got.[/i] Twiggy cast [i]illusory ambush[/i], making one of the zombies see images of another Kormick, attacking from the other side. The creature flailed wildly at the air before grabbing its head in pain. Twiggy had never seen a zombie before, but she had read about them, and she understood why Kormick did what he did: they were abominations before Kettenek, God of the Dead, and they were not the sorts of creatures that one reasoned with. Still, he had picked an odd time to remember the doctrines of his faith. Arden was staring at Kormick, astonished, and Twiggy knew why: Calling attention to [i]Kettenek[/i] in a roomful of undead [i]Alirrians[/i] who'd most likely been murdered by [i]Kettenites[/i]? Not to put too fine a point on it. She cast again, this time sending a zombie an image of a flood that would suffocate it. [i]I’m not sure that’s any better[/i], she thought, [i]but at least it’s an Alirrian image.[/i] To her relief, the zombie dropped and didn't move, giving Savina a crucial opening to get close enough to Kormick for a quick healing prayer. Then Savina stepped back, took a deep breath, and held up [i]her[/i] holy symbol. She spoke loudly but did not shout: "Alirria is the goddess of peace and love. Not death." And the zombies – paused. [i]Maybe they can be reasoned with, after all[/i], thought Twiggy. In the sudden silence, Kormick's breathing was harsh and painful. But—finally—the zombies weren’t looking at him. They were looking at Savina. Responding to something that she saw in their eyes, Savina spoke again. "Yes, I truly worship the Mother. Please stop so we can talk about this." The peace held for one more fragile instant … then a zombie growled and shoved Kormick hard, sending the Justicar careening into another zombie, who punched him. Tavi called out, "We come seeking Alliria's aid and succor in a quest against Sedellus!" The zombie leader launched a bolt of glowing black energy at Kormick, who nearly fell over. The leader roared, "We will [i]never[/i] surrender the spring!" Twiggy's ears perked up. [i]The spring?[/i] She darted a glance at the trickle of water spilling over the Alirrian holy symbol—and Jalissi—on the wall. [i]I don't think [b]that[/b] could be it—most Alirrian Temples have fountains like that. But this must be the monastery that Dona Giovanna went to! They must know where the Spring is![/i] Kormick, perhaps having a similar thought, cast a solemn look at Savina and muttered, "You'd better be right." Then, very deliberately, he knelt down. He put both his hammers down on the ground before him. He held up his hands. And again – the zombies paused. "Don't stop!" Thurran's high voice pierced the chapel. "Fight them! Fight them, humans! Look what they did to my kin-mother!" He had gotten almost all of the chains holding Jalissi unlocked – only one of her wrists still held her to the wall. But Thurran was now brandishing his pick and sword dangerously, preparing to charge a zombie. "Thurran, we must be brave enough to trust," declared Mena, staring down at the boy as her armor muttered echoes of her words. [i]Right – because that's Mena's specialty. Trust.[/i] Twiggy squelched a grim chuckle. But who better than the embodiment of paranoia to convince Thurran? Thurran’s eyes darted from Mena to Kormick as both warriors stared him down. Though he didn't exactly look reassured, the boy turned back to Jalissi and his pick rang out again on the cuff around her wrist. Savina had kept her eyes on the zombies the entire time. Now she spoke once more. "All of us honor Alirria," she said. "Perhaps we can help each other." "If you allow us to pass, we can help rebuild your temple!" suggested Twiggy. Mena gave her a look, and she realized that she might be sounding a wee bit ambitious. [i]Still… wouldn't a map to the spring be worth it?[/i] Twiggy’s blood ran cold as the zombie leader stared at her. She could feel Acorn trembling in her pocket and could hear his frightened voice in her head: [COLOR="Sienna"]Why did you have to draw attention to us?[/COLOR] [i]Just trying to help, Acorn,[/i] Twiggy thought. Then the zombie turned to look at Kormick, and from him to Nyoko. [i]She called him “Honored Justicar,” didn’t she[/i], Twiggy thought, remembering the start of the battle. "If you wish to negotiate an agreement of peace," offered Nyoko, "I will witness it—“ "[i]They[/i] will have no part in the temple!" thundered the zombie leader. Black energy shot from his hand as he pointed at Nyoko; she dodged the worst of it but was seared along her arm. "Just trying to help," she muttered. [i]Aren't we all[/i], agreed Twiggy grimly, readying another [i]illusory ambush[/i]. Four zombies remained: three who had resumed clawing at Kormick, and the leader, who now fired again at Nyoko. Twiggy sent him a gift of nightmares, staggering him and giving Nyoko time to retreat behind a pew. Kormick still knelt, one hand on the floor, absorbing the blows – whether by force of will or because he was too exhausted to fight back, Twiggy wasn't sure. Next to him, Tavi's flaming blade intercepted a zombie just as it struck out at the Justicar once more. The creature fell to a burning death, and Tavi told it, "I hope that serves to give you rest." With a cry of triumph, Thurran finally freed Jalissi, who dropped to the ground. "Help me!" Thurran called, and Mena and Nyoko, who were closest, rushed to his assistance. Two zombies turned and barreled after them. "Mena! Watch out!" Twiggy called, unleashing another [i]illusory ambush[/i]. It missed. Mena wheeled and joined battle with both zombies at once as Nyoko knelt to assist Thurran with his shocked, shivering kin-mother. Twiggy turned to Arden, who had joined her in the shadow of the doorframe. "Mena needs help," Twiggy pointed out. Arden shook her head, a bruise darkening her cheek where a zombie had struck her. "The Blessed Daughter isn't fighting, Lady Chelesta," she answered. "I don't think I should, either." It was true: Savina was walking boldly up to the big zombie, urging it to hear reason. It ignored her, stretching out its hand to send a blast of energy towards Kormick – and Savina still didn't raise a hand against it. She just stepped even closer and kept talking about Alirria. With a sweep of her sword, Mena cleaved open the head of one of the remaining zombies and it fell with a crash to the floor. Her sword stuck in the creature's skull, and the other zombie closed in quickly. "Hurry, fight it! Fight it!" hollered Thurran. And suddenly there was Kormick, leaping over a pew. "If you want something done right – " he hit the zombie with the first warhammer – "do it yourself." The second warhammer mashed its head to a pulp. It collapsed inches from Nyoko, Thurran, and Jalissi. Kormick slumped down, spent. Thurran’s eyes widened in awe as he stared at the Justicar and the dead zombie on the floor. The last surviving creature – the leader – gave a wail of rage and anguish. It lumbered into a run and plowed toward Kormick, Nyoko, Mena, Thurran, and Jalissi. Its anger pulsed through the room like the breath of some hot, huge beast, making Twiggy's head spin. It raised its hands. Black energy crackled along its fingers. Kormick was right in its path. "I'll help you, human!" Thurran yelled, and hurled his pick. The small tool flew end-over-end and stuck, quivering, in the zombie leader's heart. The zombie's arms went limp, the sparks dying out on its fingertips, as it stared in astonishment at the boy standing defiant beneath the huge Alirrian symbol. With an earth-shaking thud, the last zombie fell to its knees. "Alirria—" it murmured. Then, finally, it collapsed onto its side, unmoving. Savina made a holy gesture over it. "Be at peace," she whispered, tears in her eyes. “All of you,” she gestured over the whole room, “be at peace.” Thurran broke the silence. "Whoopee!” he yelled, throwing his arms around Kormick’s leg. “That was [i]amazing[/i]!" [/QUOTE]
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