A Daeva’s Journal, Entry 22

Entry 22, 31/10/109

I have spent months since I last recorded down the events happening to me, though to be honest there hasn’t been much to tell. While there is a perpetual gloom over Bestler Village, I have helped as much as I can for now, and moved on to another area. I have spent time rooting out mischief in the Malek Mines, and decimated some of the ghosts around Kurngalfberg, to help my brother. Sometimes I have fallen asleep after day dreaming of the Halabana Hot Springs in Morheim. If only they weren’t controlled by the Lepharists. Damn mangy scum.

There is not much to say really; once again life has gotten mundane.

A Daeva’s Journal, Entry 21

Entry 21, 30/05/109

I have realised that the Black Cloud communicators can do more than just tap into channels and allow you to speak to others who are far away. They also have this strange ability to tap into your thoughts after you die and amplify them so they can be heard in the channels. It’s very useful, unless you are swearing because some idiot just killed you when you were distracted by hordes of other less concerning creatures.

We gathered in the blackened fields outside Beluslan fortress one cold morning three weeks ago. Taruskhan was there, along with his partner Shadian, my friend Trip’p, and oddly enough, my brother Zukkoe.

Zukkoe shrugged at my expression when I saw him talking with Taru. “Bestla thinks I need the exercise.” He said as an excuse.

“You know, I believe she’s right. You have been putting a bit on, haven’t you?” I questioned him lightly.

“Hey, you’re no delicate flower either. Your hips began growing before your chest did, if I remember correctly.” He grinned and skipped out of my reach before I had the chance to pinch his ear. “That won’t work on me little girl, I’ve learned many a thing working under Bestla.”

“I’m sure you have,” I murmured, before turning to Taru. “When do we head out?”

“Soon, we’re just waiting on our muscle. I couldn’t find us a Templar, so we had to settle for a well-seasoned Gladiator. He told me he carries spare Templar gear just in case, so we should be fine. Is that alright with you?”

“I don’t mind, so long as this doesn’t become an expensive trip to the soul healers. Spellbooks are getting more and more expensive these days so I’ve got to start saving.”

“Sorry I’m late,” A deep voice spoke from behind us. The voice was quiet, yet commanding at the same time. I turned around to see a fairly recognizable face.

“It’s you.” I blurted. Suddenly I felt quite awkward around this man who insisted on buying my drinks for me.

“I heard your friend Taruskhan was looking for an able-bodied Templar, but was having no luck.” The man replied, seemingly ignoring my statement completely. “Where are we headed?”

“Alquimia Stronghold.” I stated, regaining my composure somewhat.

“Tch, that place is too dangerous for the likes of you. You’ll be squashed flat before we even enter the place.”

“I have to go. The Lepharists are planning something big; I heard it from an insider. He’s in danger of being killed, and so are others.”

“Determination is not always a good thing, Lilkka. This man you talk of is most probably dead already.”

“I thank you for your vote of confidence,” my words were icy with anger, “however, you haven’t deterred me. If you don’t want to come with us, I’m sure we can find another with enough experience to lead us through.”

His responding look could cut through adamantium. “Suit yourself; I will take you to Alquimia. But I will not take blame for your visit to the soul healer when we are finished. If I hear of a complaint from you, I will have your name blacklisted for all legions to see.”

“I can pay for my own soul healing, thank you.” I muttered. The man’s attitude had started to rub my mane the wrong way. I looked at the other members of the party. “Are we ready?” I growled. “Let’s get going, then.”

We all spoke to Gylfi bought Daevic flights to Red Mane Cavern to shorten the time it would take us to run to the Stronghold. As we soared through the air, I heard Markena’s voice in my communicator. “I have been to Alquimia before, on a scouting mission. The men in here are tight packed, so be prepared for long, drawn out battles.”

The sun began to set once again as we made our way to Alquimia Stronghold. The temperature dipped, and I could feel the cold winds whipping against my skin.

“When we get in there, you all must listen to my every command,” Markena murmured quietly. “Otherwise they will tear us to pieces. Got that?” That last comment seemed to be aimed particularly at me. I ignored the urge to say something back at him.

We entered the stronghold stealthily, taking down two of the entrance guards as we went. Once again my communicator buzzed.

Trip’p, please scout out ahead for hidden assassins. Taruskhan, be on your guard and ready to throw down traps. Lilkka, stay out the back with Shadian and be prepared to help her. Also, activate your Mantras. We need every bit of strength and power we can get.”

Alquimia was unpleasant, to say the least. The walls surrounding it were high and foreboding, and there was this uncertain reek which clung to the air. I did as I was told, and stuck to the rear. It wasn’t long before we were fighting a steady stream of Lepharists. I think five days passed while we were there, but I wasn’t really taking note. Most of the fighting was a bit of a blur, except for one part where we came close to losing our battle.

“Damn it!” I cried when I saw Shadian slump to the floor. I hastily unbuckled my shield for protection as I began to heal everyone.

“You can do it, Lil,” Shadian’s communicator picked up on her thoughts. “Just keep an eye on Markena’s health, and put up your shield and health mantras.”

I nodded as I did what she told me. My healing was pathetic in comparison to Shadian’s, but our attackers still took an unhealthy interest in my ability. It wasn’t long before one of them decided I was a hindrance.

Markena finally killed his target, and came to my assistance, but it was too late. I could feel my knees buckled as a sword dug its way through my left shoulder and down through my chest. I braced my fall with weak hands, and as the world around me dimmed, I thumped the floor with a fist. My communicator picked up on my thoughts as well, echoing a series of expletives my mind was processing through. Trip’p was also felled by the Lepharists, but Taruskhan survived. When the last trainer finally fell, Markena came back to stand over our bodies.

“Don’t even think about saying it.” My communicator crackled. Markena just dug through his box and pulled out a resurrection stone.

“Who am I using this on?” He asked.

“Give it to Shads. She has the better healing spells, and probably has a better res’ spell too.”

“Your soul healing indicator has jumped through the roof, hasn’t it Lil?” Shadian remarked lightly. I would have nodded glumly if my body could move. I watched as Markena activated the resurrection stone on Shadian’s body. She stood, and stretched her stiff muscles, before tucking her wings away again.

“I hate dying. It feels so uncomfortable.” She said. She sat on the ground and waited for her mana energy to return. When she had enough energy, she cast her spell on us. I stretched my wings back, and used my staff to lever my body off the ground.

“Are you ready to continue?” Markena asked me. I held out one finger, silently asking him to wait as I sat down to recoup my health.

Markena sighed. “Alright then, let’s take a ten minute break to recover.”

I slowly made my way over to Markena. I thought I saw what could be concern flicker in his eyes, but then he blinked and it was gone. “Is something wrong?” He questioned me again.

“Listen, I’m not going to blame you for my deaths. I have to finish what I set out to do here. You came along to help us, and I appreciate that. This is fairly important to me.” I looked up into his face. He reached out and gently placed a calloused hand on the side of my neck. His hand was warm, and his touch made my heart beat faster.

“Okay then, let’s finish this.” He said as he turned about and led us away to the next group of Lepharists.

That was our last death in battle. For some reason, after that we were able to work better as a team. It wasn’t long before I had completed what Freki had asked me to do.

“That’s it, I think.” I mentioned after our final battle. I looked at the building which reared overhead of us.

“Don’t you even think about it,” I heard Markena murmur.

“I wasn’t,” I replied automatically, in a hushed voice. The building was giving me the shivers. I shook myself out and looked around at everybody. “Thank you for helping me. I guess I better go turn in.”

“We’ll follow you. I’m sure I heard someone mention Elyos floating around here earlier.” Shadian grinned viciously.

I led the way out from the walls of Alquimia, heading west towards the lone cottage in Mahisha’s nest. We passed through the snowy lands of Kurngalfberg, where Zukkoe said his goodbye and headed up the path to Camp Kistenian.

When we got close to the cottage, I asked the others to wait by the bridge, and I crossed over to see Freki sitting in the shadows near the house.

“You took so long, I thought you hadn’t survived.” He commented as I approached him quietly.

“I’ve fulfilled the task you gave me, have you kept your part?” I replied.

“The old man and the Ribbit are fine. I will now take my leave. Safe journeys, Lilkka.” He disappeared around the back of the house.

I knocked on the front door. The old man popped his head out between the door and the frame. “Yes, Lilkka, Chanter of Asmodae?”

“I must speak with you, may I come inside?” I asked politely.

The old man shook his head, before stepping outside into the evening air.

“I know why you are here, Lilkka of Asmodae. Your task is to silence me, but you cannot fulfil it. I will be waiting here when the Thirteenth Empyrean Lord comes.”

I cringed as he mentioned that number. “Please stop talking about this. There is no Thirteenth Empyrean Lord. If others hear you talking of this, they will surely kill you.”

“Child of Asmodae, I know my fate. Israphel and Siel protect me until the day on which I look upon his glorious face.”

I sighed at the old man’s mad words, before turning and walking away. He was a lost cause, but I’m no heartless killer. Perhaps Cynari would have been better suited for this job.

Markena met me at the start of the bridge. “What was that about?” He asked, though he seemed like he couldn’t care less.

“Nothing,” I grumbled. “Just an old man with a death wish. Where did the others go?”

“They heard someone calling for help over the communicators and decided to check it out. I have to go back to Pandaemonium and to all my unfinished reports, so I declined to join them.”

We travelled towards the fortress in the north in silence, with my Celerity mantra keeping our pace quicker than normal. Eventually my curiosity got the better of me.

“Why do you keep finding me?” I asked midway through our trip.

“Something about you intrigues me.” He replied quietly.

“That’s it? All that evasion just because I intrigue you?”

“You’re the one who asked.” He shrugged. I jumped in front of him and stopped in his way.

“I want to know why.” I said, folding my arms across my chest. I wanted to seem stern, but I just felt stupid.

Still, it seemed I had partially convinced my follower to talk.

“A while ago I heard an old friend speaking about the defiance a young daeva had shown her lusty legionnaire, and I thought that perhaps this woman just did not prefer the company of a man. And then you were at Apellbine, and you matched my friend’s description.” He shrugged. “I realised I had been wrong in assuming you were just like the others in that tavern. And I suppose today I was also wrong about you.” Markena stepped around me.

“Was that an apology?” I asked the now empty space in front of me. Then I realised that once again this man was walking away from me, while I still had unanswered questions. “Wait a minute!” I cried in frustration as I turned around, but he was gone. “Men!” I grumbled and kicked a rock in anger.

There was nothing I could do to track him down again, so I sighed and returned to the fortress alone. I reported back to my superiors, before heading back to Bestler Refugee Camp.

Intermission Dream 3

A Dream, 23/20/97

She threw herself off the edge of a cliff, spreading her brilliant wings to their fullest extent as she caught a draft and floated up into the air. The Elysean Sorcerer chasing her followed, pumping his demonic white wings to catch up.

She turned about, calling upon the protection of Marchutan to aid her fight. They clashed, the Asmodian raining blows down onto the Elyos as he cast magic at her. She was winning against the savage Elysean, until she saw him grin. He cast a spell in that odd language of theirs which bound her wings together with an invisible tie. She could feel herself plummeting to the ocean below. The Sorcerer did not follow.

She broke through the skin of the water with a thundering crash. The spell cast on her wings had now lifted, but it was too late, she was under the water. She struggled about, trying to find which direction the surface was, but to no avail. She could feel darkness creeping in as she slowly used the last of her oxygen. She would die under these waters, and not even her burnished gladiator could save her now…

Lilkka shook herself awake with a start. Her youngest sister Asmarya had rolled on top of Lilkka’s chest as she slept, causing her to feel like she was suffocating. Lilkka gently moved her sister until she was snugly resting against her. Across the room, the bed her brother slept in was empty. She sighed at being left behind by her two siblings, before nodding off back to sleep.

A Daeva’s Journal, Intermission Dream 3

A Dream, 23/20/97

She threw herself off the edge of a cliff, spreading her brilliant wings to their fullest extent as she caught a draft and floated up into the air. The Elysean Sorcerer chasing her followed, pumping his demonic white wings to catch up.

She turned about, calling upon the protection of Marchutan to aid her fight. They clashed, the Asmodian raining blows down onto the Elyos as he cast magic at her. She was winning against the savage Elysean, until she saw him grin. He cast a spell in that odd language of theirs which bound her wings together with an invisible tie. She could feel herself plummeting to the ocean below. The Sorcerer did not follow.

She broke through the skin of the water with a thundering crash. The spell cast on her wings had now lifted, but it was too late, she was under the water. She struggled about, trying to find which direction the surface was, but to no avail. She could feel darkness creeping in as she slowly used the last of her oxygen. She would die under these waters, and not even her burnished gladiator could save her now…

Lilkka shook herself awake with a start. Her youngest sister Asmarya had rolled on top of Lilkka’s chest as she slept, causing her to feel like she was suffocating. Lilkka gently moved her sister until she was snugly resting against her. Across the room, the bed her brother slept in was empty. She sighed at being left behind by her two siblings, before nodding off back to sleep.

A Daeva’s Journal, Entry 20

Entry 20, 10/04/109

I had to go to Pandaemonium again this week, to pick up some fresh spellbooks I had been saving up for. They are starting to get quite expansive, at 100,000 kinah per book. I also stopped by the trade broker, to put some armour I had collected up for sale. As I browsed the wares for sale from the broker, I realised that it was a good thing none of my armour needed replacing just yet. Everything had gone up in price since I last checked.

There weren’t many people around this early in the morning. I presumed that they had all found their way to their beds, and so I headed to Apellbine. After all, it doesn’t seem like a visit to Pandaemonium if I don’t visit Apellbine.

As I entered the building, Haven paused her morning sweep to call out to me. “Welcome back, Lilkka! Please go inside and taste the Mosbear honey cookies we just baked.”

When I stepped inside, I saw that I was right. The tavern was near empty, save for a drunk crouched on the floor near the counter, and a few early risers having breakfast.

“What can I get you?” A sleepy scullery maid asked as she cleaned up dishes from a table. I sat in the chair and smiled at her. “Just some Raydam juice please. Haven mentioned Mosbear honey cookies?”

“Yes, fresh from the oven. Would you like to try some? The honey was just delivered yesterday.”

“Sounds like a good idea. I’ll take a few thank you.” The maid nodded her head, and took the plates out to the back room.

It didn’t take long for my order to be filled, and I was soon looking at a plate of steaming cookies delivered not by the maid, but by a man with dark skin and ruddy hair. He took the seat across from me, watching me with his hands clasped together in front of his face.

“Uh, can I help you?” I asked. His stare was making me awkward.

“You’re the girl from the other night.” His voice was deep, but quiet. I felt like I was straining to hear more.

“I beg your pardon?”

He didn’t explain further. He just watched me for a few more minutes. I drank a little of my juice, trying me hardest to match him stare-for-stare. I don’t think I pulled it off as well as he did. He stood, and turned towards the door. “It’s always refreshing to see you.” he revealed as he walked out.

“Wait!” I called as I tried to get up and follow him. But I was too late, he had already disappeared outside, and I couldn’t see him anywhere. “Men,” I grumbled as I walked back inside. I hate wild airon chases.

I finished of the delicious cookies, and tipped the bar attendant before heading out into the cool morning sun. My communicator buzzed at me.

“Hey Lilkka. A group of us have decided to go check out Alquimia Stronghold. Want to come along? We could use the extra power, and you know Taru just loves your mantras!

“Sure thing! When are we going, and where do you want to meet?” I replied into the communicator.

“Beluslan, a week from now. Come prepared, I’ve been there before and it’s a very difficult place to manoeuvre in.”

“Got it. I’ll get some gear off the brokers and make some food for us beforehand. Thanks a lot for this, guys! I really need to get something from this place.”

“Anytime, Lilkka. Well, figuratively.”

I smiled at that. I have very busy friends.

I guess I had better get onto making that food for this trip. It might take me a while.

ADJ News 9/05/10

woops, so i’m a year behind the Aion calendar. hopefully in the next couple weeks i can bring ADJ back up to date.

hit lvl 37! yay! :D

A Daeva’s Journal, Entry 19

Entry 19, 24/03/109

So after a few weeks’ worth of slogging it out in the Salintus Desert, I have finally returned to Beluslan. I really dislike sand. I much prefer the cold wet snow dripping onto my arms as I beat up zombies.

Let’s see now…

I had thought about knocking on the door to that strange cottage, but decided against it. Instead, I charged my celerity mantra, and ran back to the fortress.

It didn’t take me long to reach the fortress, and when I got there, I headed straight for Gnalin.

“Lilkka! Where have you been? Did you find the lone cottage? Are the wild rumours true?” She exclaimed as I made my way to her.

“My apologies. I had some urgent business to attend to in Morheim. I have investigated the strange cottage, as you have asked.”

“And? What did you find?”

“Well, I was greeted at the door by a talking Ribbit. It said something about being cursed as a human into its form.”

“A human cursed into a Ribbit? That’s pretty hard to believe, Lilkka. People don’t like curses all too much.”

“I know, I was shocked myself when it started talking. But the old man inside the cottage distracted me, and I didn’t have a chance to query the Ribbit further. The man started babbling, something about a thirteenth Empyrean Lord, then slammed the door in my face.”

Her eyes became alert. “Did you say thirteenth Empyrean Lord? Tell me exactly what he said.”

I recounted the hermit’s words to Gnalin, watching as she carefully tried to seem indifferent.

“Ridiculous!” She scoffed when I had finished. “Thirteenth Empyrean Lord, there’s no such thing, Lilkka. Still, these rumours aren’t a good thing. I don’t think we can leave it like this, Lilkka. Will you go back and persuade the hermit to be silent? I will pay you greatly.”

So I did, I headed back to the cottage. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get the hermit to be quiet about this Empyrean Lord. It seemed he wouldn’t care for money, or food. I prayed to Aion that I wouldn’t have to kill the man.

When I got there, it was evening. I approached the cottage carefully; wary that the hermit might think I was here to harm him. As I stepped off the bridge across the canyon, I saw a different man crouching near the entrance of the cottage. It seemed he was listening to something inside.

I crept up behind him, looking for weapons. He had none. I grabbed his shoulder and pushed him into the ground. “What are you doing?” I demanded in a hushed voice.

“Shhh!” He pressed a finger to his lips. “I thought this cottage would be a good place to hide. I’ll tell you everything! Just don’t let them know I’m here!”

I let the man up, and we walked a ways from the cottage so as not to disturb Hild and the hermit.

“You’re a Lepharist.” I stated, still with a quiet voice.

“Yes. My name is Freki. I joined the Lepharists a while ago, thinking that we could help the humans. But things weren’t what I expected. At first, we were doing great things, but little things started to bother me. Those little things piled up over time. Then, one day, I got into an argument with my superior. I punched him, and now I don’t think he’ll give up the chase. A Lepharist Revolutionary doesn’t get to just walk away. You don’t know the things they’re capable of. Please, can’t you just pretend I’m not here?”

“As a matter of fact, I can’t. I’ve been sent from the Beluslan fortress to deal with the hermit and the talking Ribbit that live here. And now I have you to deal with as well. People will hear about you hiding out here; and what of your fellow Revolutionaries? They will find you here, and find the occupants of this cottage as well.”

Freki thought about it for a moment. “They will send their assassins. What of the fortress? They will probably attack me on sight, no?”

“I cannot say for sure what will happen if you surrender yourself to the fortress.” The man seemed genuinely worried about the Lepharists.

“I will go.” Freki decided. “But only if you promise me you will do something about the forces at Alquimia. Take friends with you, and destroy them for me. Until you return, I will protect the occupants of this cottage. And when you do return, I will leave.”

I have not yet been to Alquimia. I am waiting for my Legion to be able to come with me. Six of us should be able to manage this task.

A Daeva’s Journal, Entry 18

Entry 18, 03/03/109

Cynari left after a couple days of roaming Kurngalfberg. She told me she was going to go and find herself. The icy Assassin I had first met had turned into someone completely different.

A while back, I had been tasked with finding a lone cottage out in Mahisha’s Nest, a nasty little crevice in Beluslan which is littered with Drakes. I decided that it was about time I actually made the trek out to where this supposed cottage was. Of course, it just so happened that the cottage stood up on the cliff of a canyon, only accessible via a path that trekked through Drake nests and stalking Kirrins.

I dodged my way up the path, and crossed a natural rock bridge spanning the canyon, to stand in front of this strange cottage. It looked out of place, like it had been transported straight from Alsig Village. I quietly approached the front door and knocked.

For a few minutes, nothing happened. Then the door creaked. I stepped back. I couldn’t see anyone.

“Who is it, Hild?” An old man’s voice echoed out the door.

“Daeva,” squeaked a voice at my feet. I looked down to see a Ribbit at my feet.

“I’m sure I just heard you talk.” I murmured in awe.

“Human…. Hild… was Human. Cuh…cursed….Huh…hide in old mah….man’s house from… huh…hunters. Cah…can make human again?” It sounded hopeful.

“I’m sorry, little fellow,” I bent down pet its head, not knowing what else to do. “I don’t know much sorcery.”

“Hild what are you doing, talking to strangers. Get out of here, go on.” An old man walked to the door, shooing the Ribbit away with his cane. He squinted at me once the Ribbit was out of sight.

“Oh, my. Are you…? I sense unusual Aetheric energy around you, but, you couldn’t be… And yet… yes, you will be crucial to Pandaemonium.”

“What was that?” I asked. What a crazy old man. I had to know why he was up here in this isolated house. “What are you doing here?”

“Waiting…” He said shortly. He was quiet for long enough that I thought he wasn’t going to say anything else, but then he spoke up again.

“The thirteenth comes. I have foreseen it here, in this very canyon. The thirteenth comes here only once – upon a midnight – without warning. I am awaiting the thirteenth. Every midnight I am here to greet the eventual theophany of the thirteenth Empyrean Lord. You should wait, too.”

“Why are you saying this?” I asked; my curiosity had been piqued.

Suddenly the old man scowled at me. “If you don’t care for prophetic dreams then get out of here! Too many of your precious Daeva don’t believe in the words of truth anymore. Now leave!” He slammed the door in my face.

My Black Cloud communicator is shouting at me. Some Elyos are harassing young Daeva in Morheim. I believe I might go help them. I will finish this entry when I return.

A Daeva’s Journal, Entry 17

Entry 17, 24/02/109

I shouted Cynari a drink back at Apellbine. After the encounter with her father, we both needed a good strong drink to rid ourselves of the events of that day.

I saw Bix across the room with her friend Jaris. He seemed to be quite inebriated, as he stood next to the bar with his arm wrapped around a fine looking woman.

Bix looked over at me and nodded, raising her glass in recognition. I smiled and raised my own in reply, just as Jaris laughed loudly. “Kids!” His tenor voice was slightly slurred. “Who needs them? What with their whingin’, and cryin’, and smelly manes. But if you wan’, m’dear, I’m sure you could try to change my mind.” He nuzzled his prize, and she giggled in return.

I looked about the tavern. It was crowded, and the sounds of happy drinkers were loud.  We were the quietest people in Apellbine that night, save for a lonely man in the corner. He seemed to be studying the crowd as well, assessing their capabilities. His burnished copper breastplate glinted in the taverns dim light.

Realizing she was talking to me, I turned back to Cynari. “What was that?” I asked.

“I said it’s a busy night, considering that the Elyos are jumping through rifts into Beluslan.”

“They are? How did you know that? We’ve been in Beluslan for a couple days.”

“I have a Black Cloud Trader communicator. It taps into channels and allows you to communicate with others. I thought all Asmodians were supplied with one once they become a Daeva.”

“I’ll have to get my hands on one of those. At the very least it might stop me from getting bored out in that giant snow desert they call Beluslan.”

I looked back over at the table the lonely man had been sitting at, but he was gone. With a shrug, I turned back to the ruckus that was keeping the night alive.

“What should I do now?” Cynari asked with a sigh.

“What do you mean?” I replied.

“Well, the last forty years I’ve been hunting Elyos to avenge my father. In a way, I was also avenging my mother’s death. But now I know she’s not dead, and my father is no longer depressed about her, I’ve kind of lost my reason to fight them.”

“So you just need a new reason to fight, right? I’m sure you’ll come up with something pretty soon. There’s always a reason to fight them.”

“I know but, do we really need to?” Her words echoed something I had been thinking of the past year. I forced a smile to hide my inner feelings.

“Don’t be so depressing! Eliminating the Elyos is good for you. It’ll keep you fit.”

She returned a smile at me as we were interrupted by a new voice.

“Excuse me my ladies, but Officer Ryoshi asked me to deliver this drink to you before he left. He said ‘It’s refreshing to see a quick thinker amidst this crowd of drunken louts.’”

I stared at the glass for a moment, as the condensation from the cool liquid ran down the side. The bar maid was still standing next to me. She leaned down to murmur something to me.

“He’s a lovely lad, that Ryoshi. He’s seems taken by you, but if you ain’t interested, I might see what he’s offering.” She winked, before walking away.

Cynari’s grin mocked me without her even speaking.

“What?” I grumbled at her, taking a mouthful of the gifted drink.

“Well aren’t you the popular one.” She tried to hold back a laugh.

I poked my tongue at her, and she lost her control. We both laughed at each other for a while, before clinking our glasses together in a toast and finishing them off.

“Let’s go kill some stuff.” I decided. We both stood and left the building.

We’re now out in the frozen over Kurngalfberg, eliminating the hordes of ghosts. Mother’s birth home, its silence haunts us both. I have taken a quick break to jot this down, as Cynari warms up for our next run through.

A Daeva’s Journal, Intermission Dream 2

A Dream, 24/11/093

She ran through the upper level of Primum Landing, the main Asmodian fortress in Reshanta.  They were under attack by Elysean forces, and the capable Chanter was doing all she could to help her comrades fight back the enemy.

It had been a horrible ploy by the Elyos, many of their expert fighters had been lured out to fight for control of a fortress in the upper layer of the Abyss, while Elyos stormed the lower.

An Elysean Ranger attacked the Chanter, she dodged his trap, leaping high into the air and slamming her mace down onto his head. In the same fluid movement, she rammed her shield into a second person, and prepared herself to heal a fallen comrade. A third attacked, grabbing hold of her mane; she screeched, and cast a spell onto her mace as she bowled the third fighter over with a blast of energy.

A booming crash sounded overhead. People began to cry out as Balaur drop-ships came into view. They were headed towards Primum.

The Asmodians who were still able to think clearly prayed to Aion for salvation, but it was not going to be the case. The Balaur stormed the fortress, decimating the ranks of both Elysean and Asmodian fighters alike. The fight became no longer about controlling the fortress, it was about survival.

She stopped in horror as she saw a hulking Balaur  shock troop do the unthinkable; he was destroying their Obelisk. She watched as all around her Asmodians began to disappear as they died, turning into the Aether that was the lifeblood of all things.

She knew she had to escape. She unfurled her wings and prepared herself to jump into the sky, but someone cut her down. She could feel the dark blood from her wings soaking into her back.

She spun to view the fighters that had advanced on her as she gaped at the horror of her destroyed obelisk. They must have heard word of the Elysean raid, and decided to take it all for themselves. The Balaur were nothing but thieves, always manipulating situations to benefit them.

They backed her up against the wall. The silence around her dictated that she was one of the last remaining Daeva. She tried to cast a spell at one of the Balaur soldiers, but her voice broke. She had been silenced. She shrank back against the wall, hunting with her eyes for a means of escape.

Without warning, her vision was impeded by a large body, dressed in armour the colour of burnished copper. He slew the Balaur shock troops down, as she could hear more Daeva coming to their rescue. Once the troops were dead, the man turned to face her. She saw something in his eyes that she had been waiting all these years to see.

He picked her up, and jumped high into the air with her cradled in his arms. “You shouldn’t go out trying to save everyone without being bound to an obelisk.” He said seriously, as he searched for a safe place to land.

“They destroyed our obelisk, while I was watching; the dirty parasites.” She was tired, her eyes fluttered shut.

“Lil? Lilkka…”

“…Wake up, stupid!” A young Zukkoe nudged her shoulder.

Lilkka opened one eye slowly. “Wha? Go away, Sprigglet, I’m dreaming.” She tried to close her eyes again but the sound of her baby sister wailing brought her completely awake.

“What did you do this time, boy?” She growled, grabbing Zukkoe’s fleshy ear with the blunt claws of her thumb and forefinger.

“Ow! Nothin’, I swear, sis! Ow, ow!”

She gave his ear one last pinch before letting go. “How many times does father have to scold you for talking like that, Zuk? We’re the children of Daeva, so speak properly or don’t speak at all.” She collected up the howling Asmayra and tickled her until she began to giggle.

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