Void Emissary

IC: Irna | Kumu Peninsula Although she was unused to the jungle, to the swamp ... Irna was used to adapting to new environs. And so, while it was slow-going, the Zyglak made her way through the Kumu landbridge. Her thoughts, though, frequently returned to her friends waiting at the edge of the tree line. Leaving Tekmo to stay with Keitara and Skorm, leaving Kei and Skorm to track down Tekmo -- she felt torn between places. Strained. Like jam spread across too much bread. She wanted to return home -- to Metru-Koro ... to the Northern Continent. But Kei needed answers. And there was a chance ... a chance ... that something could be found in this shadowy land. Something that could save her people-- She ducked down, instinctively, before she even realized what she had seen. Movement through the underbrush. What was it? Who-- Was that Tekmo? Yes! The man, Tekmo -- alongside a Skakdi, and ... someone who was not a Skakdi. And was that a ... moving rock? Irna wanted to rush up and make sure that Tekmo was okay -- that he wasn't being held hostage -- but she was outnumbered. She would sneak in through the foliage, and observe the situation from afar, without being detected-- CRACK! --which was when she stepped on a single branch. Irna ... may have needed more time to adapt to the jungle. OOC: @Toru Nui @Kal the Guardian @~Xemnas~ @Eyru -Void

IC: Irna | Kumu Landbridge Irna leaned over, taking Keitara's face in her hands and planting a kiss on her forehead. "So shall you bot-- you all," she replied, giving a sidelong glance and a wry smirk over at Sko and Orm. She hauled herself out of the side window of the Muaka, hanging outside of the crawler by the window frame. "I won't be long." And with that, she dropped down, and was lost to the foliage below. OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Keeper of Kraata -Void

IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann "Nice mask," Parnassus commented to Krrenchk as they walked. "Is it ... what? A trophy of some kind?" OOC: @Kal the Guardian @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann "Then let's all go together," Parnassus said, opening their arms wide, their dark cloak billowing out invitingly -- or menacingly. "Four voices might be more compelling to Barius than any one." OOC: @Sparticus147 @Kal the Guardian -Void

IC: Irna | Kumu Landbridge Rolling her eyes at this display, Irna slid her legs out from underneath Orm and moved to the back of the Muaka. Much as she enjoyed Skorm's company -- he was a charming man, after all, and one of the few people who could understand her origins -- the way that he could ... split himself into two was still disconcerting for her. Was either one truly Skorm, after all? Were both of them? Irna found herself hoping not -- Sko was too grim and humourless to be around, and Orm was what her mother would have called a cad. "Hopefully, that won't be necessary," she said, looking out the window, watching the horizon. "We will be within sight of Kumu soon enough, and out of range of any such radiation. Besides, if what you-- what Skorm said is true, then these Aspects we're hunting for have the same control over the shadows as you do. I don't think that radiation will do as any good on the other side of this bridge." OOC: @Keeper of Kraata @TL01 NUVA IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann "Indeed we are, warskak Krrenchk," Parnassus said, taking a moment to place the approaching warskak. They had hardly ever seen this particular man before, but names were generally easy enough to skim off the surface of a creatures thoughts -- and it made the Aspect appear more personable, anyway. It had been Detsu who had told them that -- "A man's favourite word to hear is his own name" -- although Parnassus assumed that that was true of anyone. Still, this warskak was ... something else. They had seen many strange beings come through Fort Nektann, but few warskaks had ever worn masks, save perhaps for-- "Mind if I ask your business in seeing our friend, the high lord himself?" Parnassus added, their mouth twisting into a grin. This oddity of a Skakdi was already proving to be a lightener for the Aspect's spirits after their heated encounter with Drukarus. It had been a long time since they had gotten to speak with someone who did not already know the Aspect ... and know the Aspect too well for their liking.... Detsu noted the change in Parnassus' mood, but said nothing. He knew Krrenchk though -- and without needing to peer into his mind, thankyouverymuch. The elder warskak nodded to the approacher, in a way neither welcoming nor derogatory. OOC: @Sparticus147 @Kal the Guardian -Void

IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann That insufferable, condescending-- Parnassus reached for the hilt of their weapon once Drukarus had turned, only for their wrist to be caught by Detsu. The two figures did not even have to look at each other -- the past month had been enough to acquaint each with the other's tics and tendencies, for better or for worse. "Very well," the Aspect said, quietly. They followed behind Drukarus. OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Detsu | Fort Nektann Detsu nodded, just the slightest hint of a grin on his face. He stepped over to one side and, turning to face Parnassus, gestured for the Aspect to step up and say their piece. Parnassus, for their own part, looked to Detsu and then to Drukarus -- and although their expression was as impenetrable as ever underneath their shadowy hood, it could have almost been inferred that they were a touch offended. The elder warskak chuckled lightly. He had not spent much time with the demon since their arrival at the fortress, but he had studied them. They were a proud people, and unused to being ordered around. But he also knew the bind that the demon had found themself in, and knew that if the Aspect could not take advantage of the peace that Detsu had brokered between them and Drukarus.... So Detsu let his smile broaden as the Aspect shuffled forward -- metaphorical hat in hand. "What my compatriot here said is ... not inaccurate," Parnassus said. "I owe a boon to the man you may know as Stannis -- one of two. The first I managed to ... procure a month ago, after Grime and Korruhn vanished. It was ... simple. But I know my own capabilities. I doubt that the second will be as easy to acquire. I would prefer to gather it in a raid, if possible, with the host of Fort Nektann at my back. But I do not hold much sway over Barius, and even I have to admit that I don't think I would be able to convince to do so unless he had already come to that decision himself. "You, on the other hand," they continued, "are a warskak, a warlord. He would listen to you if you suggested we raid some ... oh, let's say a village or a warcamp out there in the desert. And I could fulfill my obligation to Ca-- Stannis." At that point, Parnassus raised their hands and pulled their hood back, the shadows melting away into the gloomy air. They looked at Drukarus full in the eye. Their face looked worn, rusting, and their eyes seemed but empty sockets in their head. "Barring this," they said, "I would need to go out into the world alone. And I would ... humbly ask for your assistance." OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Detsu | Fort Nektann Detsu's mind was a fortress, as sturdy and well-protected as the castle in which they all currently resided. He was a Skakdi of the Mind, after all -- and so his thoughts did not lend themselves to wanton reading by any two-bit scrying eye who had happened to make what must have been a deal with a demon. This was all the confirmation that the warskak needed to know that Drukarus had, indeed, allowed himself to be desecrated. The only question was -- by whom? Parnassus' mind, on the other, was a storm -- roiling and raging. Fear, confusion, anger. Images of Stannis -- Caedast -- looming over them, his cloak whipping around him like the limbs of a shadowy beast. Parnassus in combat against Drukarus, victorious. Parnassus in combat against Drukarus, crumpled to the ground, a husk of armour. Visions of Detsu, visions of Detsu dead, visions of Detsu with a child-- "Listen, Drukarus," Detsu said. "Let's cut to the chase. My ward over there reckons you and them have the same benefactor. And they've got a job they need to get done for him that they don't know they can accomplish alone. They're looking for some help -- and based on what you've been preaching these past weeks, seems like you've built yourself up as some sorta helper, no?" OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Detsu | Fort Nektann "Now see, that's interesting," Detsu said, nodding along sagely to what his fellow was saying. "A warmage, a mad fool, a soldier of great legend ... our friend Parnassus over there said a mighty few similar things about a cousin of theirs. By the name of Caedast." OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Detsu | Fort Nektann A shape in the water. A wish to the dark. An ax in battle. A child's cry for their-- "I don't wish for nothing," Detsu said. The warskak spoke quickly and glanced away briefly, a gesture that lasted all of a microsecond, before looking back to Drukarus. "I served this fortress under Nektann, and I served it under Boss, and I reckon I'll die for it under Barius -- unless some jumped-up Skaklet manages to drag him back over to the Pits before then. But a good death in that time, that's all I need, that's all I de-- well, regardless. "I'm no friend of that there demon," the warskak continued, jerking their head once again towards Parnassus, "but they are my charge for as long as Barius sees fit. Which means that I need to help them out with their business, shadowy as it may be. So I'm obligated to clarify for you that it's not you that the demon is scared of. It's that tall Matoran that wandered through here -- Stannis!" OOC: @Sparticus147 IC: Irna | Kumu Landbridge "Ever since Sorilax healed me," Irna called from the window, "my Zyglak constitution has returned to what it once was as a girl. Your ... what is it called? Radiation ... should no longer affect me while I'm out there, Kei. And would you even be able to reabsorb this radiation which hurting yourself in the process?" After all, Irna still remembered the state that Keitara had been left in the last time they had tried to cross the swamp. The image of her friend, dazed and dehydrated and delirious on the floor of Waveahk's hauler, had haunted the woman as their band had gotten further and further from Metru-Koro and a supply of trained healers. OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Keeper of Kraata -Void

IC: Detsu | Fort Nektann "My father's name was Retsu," Detsu said, smiling lightly. "Although I have been told by older warskaks 'round here that I look an awful lot like my old man. Same way he might've looked an awful lot like his old man, and he might have looked a lot like his old man.... "Point is," the warskak continued, "is you stick around a lot, you tend to see some patterns in folks. Now, some might put it real poetic, say something about certain kinds of eyes reappearing in different people. Others -- and I've read about this in books, you know? -- talk about arr-chee-types that people fall into. Y'know, the hero, the scoundrel, what have ya. Fact of the matter is, you and me have been around long enough to know that young'uns like them--" He jerked his head over to the demon. "--they tend to push at their elders, you know? 'Specially when they're scared." OOC: @Sparticus147 IC: Irna | Fau Swamp Borders Irna nodded, slipping Keitara's arrows into her quiver and leaning out of the window. The Zyglak, inured to the effects of the maskbearers' elemental abilities, did not feel the pinpricks of radiation that afflicted Skorm's shadow-self so. Instead, her eyes wandered across the dark horizons of the swamps, looking for any glimpse of their friend Tekmo in the wetlands. If they had any luck -- which seemed to be in short supply lately -- they would find him on the landbridge to Kumu. That was where the four of them had meant to traverse anyway. She could only hope that Tekmo had stuck to the plan. OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Keeper of Kraata -Void

IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann Shadow parted around Parnassus' form as one hand reached for the grey hilt that hung from their belt -- Corrivalis' multiweapon -- but they did not draw it. Before they could lay a single finger on the weapon, another hand was laid on the demon's shoulder. The hand of another old warskak, who knew the ways that his elders often thought, and the ways in which they must be handled. Detsu, son of Retsu, shook his head slowly at Parnassus -- and Parnassus, reluctantly, raised their hand in gesture towards the departing Drukarus. "Drukarus," Detsu said quietly, approaching the aged Skakdi with footfalls that seemed too quiet for anyone in the fortress. "If I may speak?" OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann "It wouldn't trouble Barius anymore than he already is," Parnassus said. They slowed their walking speed, turning their head to look at Drukarus for just a moment before they glanced back to the end of the hallway. "You should check in with a healer around here -- perhaps even Fury could help tend to you," the Aspect said blithely. "Heartlights should beat, after all." OOC: @Sparticus147 IC: Irna | Fau Swamp Border It had been a long time since someone had given Irna a weapon. Her bow and her glaive? She had recovered those in the exodus from Metru-Nui, stripped from a body whose face she couldn't bear to look at. Her spear before that, she had carved herself from a Volo tree on the eve of her departure with the League, all those months ago. And her dagger ... she had received that from her mother, Perror of the Northern Continent. It had been a blade of history, passed down from mother to daughter for generations. It was a history lost to the darkness between stars now. For Zyglak -- for a people shunned and hunted by the maskbearers -- weapons were often a part of a religion, rich in meaning and significance. To be given a weapon.... "Thank you, Kei," she said softly, taking the arrows and the satchel in hand. "I will wield these with pride." OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Keeper of Kraata -Void

IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann "Many titles, yes...," Parnassus said, their tone airy and distant. "Stannis told me of his status amongst the Matoran -- hero, prophet. Some might say a god, although he denied such things. Said that deification wasn't his goal ... which I find hard to believe, knowing what I do about his heritage...." OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann A Builder? Parnassus' mind whirled. If Korruhn had been travelling with Caedast, was it possible that he too had been.... "In comparison to your own homeland, I take it," the Aspect said. "Stannis told me a small amount about this Matoran Universe that you and he hail from, but not much. Had you ever met the man before his arrival at this fort?" OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann Parnassus thought that they could sense something -- the faintest flicker of weakness in Drukarus' ancient mind. Caedast's ... gift ... had proved troublesome at first, a bombardment of information the likes of which the young Aspect had never experienced before. Harried night and day by the thoughts and feelings of dozens of warskaks at any one time ... it might have been enough to drive even their disguised cousin mad. It had only been through long weeks of practice that Parnassus had gained any sense of stability, of self. Long weeks, and the tutelage of Detsu, son of Retsu. "I'm afraid that I can't confirm whether or not Korruhn was truly my kin," the Aspect said. "Miserix referred to him as a ... what was it? A poisoned yolk of void and malice, yes. If what he told me of a wellspring of shadow the likes of which even I don't know about is true, he may simply be a protoderm who was touched by ... something." OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann For a brief, blinding moment, Parnassus confused who Drukarus spoke of. A warskak? A demon? He couldn't mean Caedast, and he certainly couldn't have meant Corriv-- "Yes, it was unfortunate," the Aspect replied smoothly. Their gaze, as it often did around Drukarus, fell to the markings that adorned his skin, and the furs that he kept cinched around his neck, and the brief glimpses of a heartlight that Parnassus grasped from behind those garments. "Although I don't believe that my cousin Miserix could have ever truly been called a guest of this fortress. If she dwelled within these walls, it would be more apt to call all of us to be her guests." Detsu, meanwhile, said nothing. OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Irna | Fau Swamp Edges "We need to find Tekmo," Irna insisted. "I'm more adept at navigating places like this swamp than either of you. Perhaps I can go ahead and scout for our friend, while you two take another look at the Muaka beyond the swamp's borders." OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Keeper of Kraata IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann Parnassus nodded, locking step with Drukarus. Detsu followed behind. "It has been nearly a month since Grime vanished into the night," the Aspect idly said. "I sometimes wonder where the little thing got off to. And of the power which seemed to have compelled him forward. Do you ever give such things thought?" OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Irna | En Route to Kumu The speed at which the Muaka came to a halt send Irna tumbling back into her seat, and the force with which the machine stood up on its legs -- Irna could hardly believe that her friends had been able to manage that, despite everything she had seen in the past three months -- momentarily pinned her to the upholstery. She grimaced as she pulled herself into an upright sitting position. She was starting to wonder if she was ever going to get used to all these machines. OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Keeper of Kraata IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann Approaching a T-intersection in the fortress, Drukarus found his path crossed by two figures. "Ah, Drukarus," said the first, the will-o-wisp demon Parnassus, shadows clinging to them like a cloak. "It's good to see you. My companion here was regaling me with tales of your little melee earlier in the day." The demon gestured to their right, to the old warskak with the battle axe slung over their back. He simply nodded to the foreign Skakdi, and did not speak. "May we join you?" Parnassus continued. OOC: @Sparticus147 -Void

IC: Irna | En Route to Kumu Irna gave Kei's shoulder a squeeze. "All we have are each other. We would not abandon you," she said, before cracking a wry smile. "Besides -- you've certainly given me an excuse to finish what we started all those weeks ago." OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Keeper of Kraata -Void

IC: Irna | En Route to Kumu "Then let us make haste," Irna said, leaning forward into the gap between Skorm and Kei's seating arrangement. Tekmo was her friend, and the island had not gotten any safer over the past month -- if anything, it had perhaps become more dangerous than ever. Irna already lamented having to leave Metru-Koro for this expedition, with what paltry protection she may have been able to grant them, and she did not particularly wish to abandon a compatriot, as well. Still... she remembered the last time that they had attempted to make their way into these swamps.... "But let's be on the look-out," she added, one hand reaching back to grip her longbow. OOC: @TL01 NUVA @Keeper of Kraata -Void

Name: [ Irna, Sixth-Born of Perror of the Northern Continent ] Pronouns: [ She / Her ] Breed: [ Zyglak ] Faction: [ Metru-Koro ] Description: [ An average-enough looking Zyglak, standing about half a head above most Toa, with a long reptilian face, a powerful frame, and a tail. She wears a well-worn metal pendant around her neck depicting a broken hammer which has been welded back together — the Zyglaki symbol for Karzahni, patron of the unwanted. ] Background: [ Once a villager, then a soldier, then a refugee, Irna now wanders the strange island of Zakaz with a band of comrades, trying to uncover the secrets of her companion Keitara’s past and her connection with the Aspects of Makuta. ] Flaws: [ Physical Flaw: Although the injuries she sustained while in combat with Mata-Nui were healed after a chance encounter with the Aspect Sorilax, Irna is no longer as fast or as agile as she once was. Instead, she focuses on using distanced weaponry and her raw strength to keep opponents at bat. Psychological Flaw: Irna suffers from a severe lack of self-worth, stemming from a lifetime of discrimination, too often putting others before her own well-being and desperately trying to find external validation. ] Powers: [ Primary Power: Irna is immune to the effects of elemental energy of Toa strength or weaker. This only refers to elemental energy created by another individual, not the manipulation of existing elements — for instance, Irna would not be hurt by an elementally-created stone, but would be hurt by an existing stone which was hurled at her through elemental manipulation. Secondary Power: Irna is terrifyingly strong, nearly matching a Pakari-wielder in terms of sheer physical power. Breed Quirk: Irna is able to secrete an oil from her skin which can dissolve normal Protodermis upon contact — she is, however, able to control when this oil is secreted, and the effects of the dissolution depend on the duration of contact, wearing off gradually once contact has ended. This dissolution can also be halted by the application of Irna’s saliva to the affected area. ] Equipment: [ Over her travels on Zakaz, Irna has acquired a glaive, as well as a longbow with a quiver of twenty (20) arrows. She also owns a metal dagger which she inherited from her mother, Perror of the Northern Continent. The cutting edges of each of these weapons are coated with Zyglak oil, meaning that contact with them causes the breakdown on most normal protodermis — with the exception of Irna and other Zyglak. ] Name: [ Parnassus, Aspect of Boundless Horizons ] Pronouns: [ They / Them ] Breed: [ Aspect-Xa ] Faction [ Barius’ Warskaks ] Description: [ The weeks since their murder of Corrivalis have left Parnassus the worse for wear. They have given up on maintaining their armour while they live in the ravages of the Wasteland — the metal that had originally been vivid red and gold has now dulled and rusted away, leaving patches of weathered black and grey. In appearance, they broadly look like a Toa who had been crafted by someone who had never seen a Toa first-hand before. Shadows cling to them like a long ragged cloak, hiding the red-yellow Kraata that clings to their back — one of the last remnants of poor Corrivalis. ] Background: [ Once a carefree wanderer, Parnassus now finds themself bound to two masters — Barius, leader of Fort Nektann, for whom Parnassus serves as right hand; and Caedast, their cousin and desecrator, for whom the Aspect is pledged to find a sacrifice. ] Flaws: [ Physical Flaw: As an Aspect of Makuta, Parnassus is truly little more than a gaseous essence housed within a suit of armour. Were the armour breached, that essence would begin to leak out, leaving them unable to affect the physical world — and eventually causing them to dissipate. Psychological Flaw: Parnassus is a young Aspect, and is thus naive and inexperienced in the real world. They tend to trust those that they should not, and believe themself to be more powerful than they, perhaps, are. ] Powers: [ Primary Power: Parnassus wields elemental control over shadow, giving them the ability to create, manipulate, and absorb darkness. Secondary Power: As the Aspect of Fear, Parnassus is able to induce paranoia and suspicion in any nearby being. After having been desecrated by the Aspect Caedast, they are also able to read and understand the thoughts of nearby creatures, granted that the creature is not able to successfully resist them. Breed Quirk: Parnassus possesses a Grand Wish, and is able to perform the following rites and taboos — the Rite of Desecration, the Taboo of Infectious Kraata, the Taboo of Gluttonous Desecration, and the Taboo of Kraata Corruption. (Taboos provided by Unreliable Narrator) ] Equipment: [ Parnassus has given up their old scimitars in the month since their murder of Corrivalis, leaving them strapped to the side of The Horizon’s Call for the most part, now. Instead, they have taken to carrying the Mimic’s old multiform weapon, “which can change its shape at [their] mental command, and can regenerate from damage. There are some limitations, however, as the weapon cannot separate into multiple items (pieces broken off will become powerless metal), and cannot form complicated shapes with individual parts and components (eg. Bows, launchers).” (Taken from Nato the Traveler’s profile for Corrivalis) ] Grand Wish: [ To ascend to the level of mythic figure. (Approved by Unreliable Narrator) ] Name of ACR: [ The Horizon’s Call ] ACR’s Faction/Homebase: [ Fort Nektann ] Pilot of ACR: [ Parnassus ] Type of heartlight: [ Skakdi ] Physical Description: [ Similar in design to a motorcycle, but somewhat boxier in shape, the Horizon’s Call speeds across the Zakazian landscape by hovering, rather than wheels. A sidecar has been grafted onto the right side. ] Onboard Weapons Systems Options: [ Primary: A Fireworks Revolver Cannon built into the front of the Call, which can fire shells which explode into multi-coloured fireballs. Unfortunately, due to the size of the shells, the Call can only fire two of them before the cannon needs to be manually reloaded. Secondary: An Energy Siphon Harpoon, a harpoon attached by a cable to the Call which is fired into the hull of an opposing ACR and which progressively drains the ACR of power and siphons it into the Call. However, the Harpoon only functions so long as it is attached to the Call — if the connecting cable is severed, the Harpoon is useless. Afterwards, the Harpoon will need to be replaced and repaired. ] Name: [ Detsu, Son of Retsu of Fort Nektann ] Pronouns: [ He / Him ] Breed: [ Skakdi-Xa of Psionics ] Faction: [ Barius’ Warskaks ] Description: [ Detsu is a lean and rangy figure, a touch shorter than your average warskak and far less bulky. He wears armour that might have once been vivid blue and bright gold, but which have seen become weathered and stained after years amongst the warskaks of Fort Nektann. He is prone to wearing a grey poncho and a pair of goggles when the sandstorms get bad. ] Role: [ Guard ] Flaw: [ Physical Flaw: Detsu is a fast fighter, but he relies on his speed and abilities to keep his opponents on the backheel. In terms of raw physical power, he is older and weaker than most of his peers. Psychological Flaw: Detsu is a reckless fighter, throwing himself into combat with rash abandon, sometimes without consideration of the plan at hand. ] Powers: [ Primary Power: Detsu wields Spellbinder Vision — through concentration, he can cause one creature within line-of-sight to become disoriented, with the results being as severe as the victim being unable to stay on their feet. Secondary Power: Having been desecrated, Detsu also possesses powers of teleportation, causing him to instinctively teleport a short distance in a random direction when his Kraata senses it will be captured or killed. Breed Quirk: As a Skakdi of Psionics, while in conjunction with Skakdi, Detsu is able to wield psychic energy. He is also able to absorb energy from materials through mastication. ] Equipment: [ Detsu was once rewarded with a fine weapon by Boss, before the previous warband leader’s unfortunate death — a Rhotuka Battle Axe. Not only can it be used as a melee weapon, it can fire Rhotuka spinners with the ability to halve the speed of their targets. ] -Void

Quick desecration question: with Parnassus' desecration at the end of Rebirth, do I need to remove one of their three powers (shadow, fear, ability to use Rites and Taboos) and replace it with their new Kraata power? Thanks!

IC: Irna | Metru-Koro "Yes," Irna said. "It has been a hard day for all of us but ... for her especially." She pressed a hand against the wooden door and pushed it open, already taking a step inside. "I will prepare her for the journey," she said. "If you will ready the Muaka and inform the proper authorities of our departure, we'll meet together at the village entrance soon." She turned back, letting go of the door so that she could grasp both Skorm and Tekmo by the shoulder. Was it only yesterday that the four of them had set off for another quest to the south? Had it only been a week ago that she and Skorm had set out to uncover a mystery of death and rebirth? Had it only been a month ago that she had set out to protect her family? And now, here she was, on another quest. Another quest, to protect another family. "Once more, then," she said, a small smile on her face. "Once more unto the breach, dear friends." OOC: @Keeper of Kraata @Toru Nui -Void

IC: Parnassus | Fort Nektann The stars spun overhead or perhaps it was Parnassus who was spinning underneath them, but one moment they were standing and the next they were on their knees, but it had been a moment that had lasted for a lifetime, and in that lifetime Parnassus had watched a Mimic half-buried in sand drag himself back to life and find a family with a castle full of warskaks, a Mimic who roared and raided but who never wished to lead who only wanted to follow, and look at me Corrivalis look at me and know that you will follow me forever now, you will always be subservient to me, don't you regret not taking my offer when you first had the chance, look at me Corrivalis look at me look at me please don't look at me-- --it was the pain that brought Parnassus down, the pain of flesh bonded to not-flesh, to Antidermis, to the remnants of Parnassus' progenitors, the Aspects whose names were lost to time and who were nothing but will recycled into another, like everything from the Islets, mere scrap built from other scrap, nothing new and beautiful and so Parnassus had left because they were new and beautiful and they would not be recycled into something else, they would progenitor to nothing but legend because they were Parnassus the Aspect of Unbounded Horizons they would not be bounded, they would not die and be replaced and be forgotten by their family like their family had tried to do with Miserix and with Caedast, the people of Xa would remember them, the people of Xa would love them-- --he stars spoke to Parnassus, or perhaps it was someone else, something else that spoke words like sleep sleep gotta sleep or I'm gonna crash trying to ride tomorrow or think Barius cheated he had to have cheated no way he could've been ol' Boss like that straight into their mind, and they looked at Caedast, Caedast the cousin, Caedast the lost boy, Caedast the hero, Caedast who loved them, Caedast who loved them so much that he had asked them to killed Corrivalis, except Corrivalis had had it coming it had to be one of them and Parnassus chose to save themself, save themself from the coming storm, the storm that was called Miserix, the storm that was called disappearance, the storm that was called I don't want to be alone, I don't want to die alone, I don't want to be forgotten, I don't want to die without being loved-- --and shadows raged and writhed around Parnassus deep into the night, biting at the stars that spun like the gears of a watch or the synapses in one vast mind, and Parnassus lay huddled at Caedast's feet, paralyzed with pain, paralyzed with many things, staring up at their cousin with rusting eyes, and all that could be heard was their voice like wind on glass the words Cor I'm sorry Cor say something Cor is this what love feels like, is this what it is to be loved? -Void