Sleepening and Wakening

You see Carakhan, Sculptor of Waves shout, "Now, Nocht. The poor child is afraid no longer, and may at last return to her rest."

The soft, hollow voice of Nocht, the Silent resounds within your mind as His words echo through the aether, "Then resume the formation, as We have done before, My Cousins. This time, no one is foolish enough to stop Us in Our attempt."

Sweeping across the heavens on a gentle breeze, the serene voice of Maylea, Bloom of Serenity echoes, "It shall be done at last, then? The thousand year slumber..."

Streaks of flame discolour the sky, burning alien calligraphy into the heavens as the oddly-echoing voice of Mysrai declares, "Our power is Yours, Nocht. Direct Us that We might best assist the child."

Ripples of celestial light radiate across the firmament like water as the calm voice of Lantra, the Empyreal rings out, "My power is not what it was, Brother, but I too shall lend it nonetheless."

A musical laugh spills forth from the Enchantress' lips, Her radiant form rising above Magnagora to watch Her Cousins with a detached curiosity. The notes of Her haunting song linger in the air, mocking in their echo.

Ethereal violet suffuses the firmament as the lilting, smoky voice of Drocilla, the Enchantress croons, "I see You have learned nothing from Your prior attempts. Amuse Yourselves, then, and deprive a Mother of Her child. See how the Goddess responds to Your kindness, when She awakens. If the Empyreal ever allows Her to, of course."

The commanding voice of Terentia, the Even Bladed resounds across the firmament, "Focus upon the formation, everyone. There is no time to waste arguing with Her."

The soft, hollow voice of Nocht, the Silent resounds within your mind as His words echo through the aether, "Then let Us begin."
Cheliyi fidgets impatiently.

Though the formation is now briefly familiar, the awe that it evokes is no less inspiring in its second attempt. The Basin of Life itself appears to still as the Divine begin to collect Themselves in preparation for the Awakening, this time immediately aligning in place with a practised ease as They exude the raw, intrinsic power of Creation itself.

Nocht approaches Carakhan and the Sea Spirit slowly and purposefully, the tenuous filaments of His Night-spun cloak rippling as He lifts a hand. Tendrils of dark power gather in His hands, shifting to form woven threads of shadow.

Carakhan ascends to the Havens, becoming perfectly still as Nocht nears, the Sea Spirit rocked gently in Her arms as the Sculptor of Waves silently nods Her assent. Waves of cerulean power radiate from Her form for a moment, granting the Silent Lord Her strength even as Her eyes seem to mist over, if only briefly, with tears.

Rolling forth across the heavens, the voice of Carakhan, Sculptor of Waves resounds, "Do what you must, Nocht, while she is still calm. I will hold her close."

The Silent Lord gestures towards the Sea Spirit, and the strands of shadow leap forth like grasping hands towards the young, newly calmed being. While before, it had been a net tying the spirit down, this time the shadows gently enfold the young spirit like one might swaddle an infant in a blanket, engulfing the Sea Spirit in their tender embrace.

Maylea is the first of the others to step beside Nocht, blossoms of prismatic light shimmering forth from Her fingertips in as She lends Her power to His. The Awakener is wreathed anew in vibrant colour, appearing heightened and empowered by the life-giving essence.

Red and ivory petals scatter across the firmament as the Resin Child glides into place, beckoning as paradigms shift in answer to the Elder's alien, reverberating voice. In their haunting after-echo, their mystical power and strength channels to the Silent Lord in a current of discordant sound.

Faint, starlit mist drifts across the horizon as the Empyreal Goddess takes Her place behind Mysrai, allowing the Silent Lord to bask in the sidereal brilliance of Her immanidivinus etherea. There is a strain to the power, slightly halting as it flows to Nocht in a surge of white, though it nonetheless shines with fervent luminosity.

Terentia glides into position smoothly amidst forgesmoke, bearing Her blades in a cross. With a soldier's precision, these blades hum with pale light and swirling white energies to bolster Nocht's efforts. A steely determination marks Her gaze as She looks approvingly to the stance of Her Cousins, pausing as She looks upon Lantra with a slight frown.

The countless energies wreathing the Silent Lord are almost blinding to look upon as He remains the centreing point of the Divine formation. Moving with a fluid grace, He continues to weave the shimmering immandivinus energies into the shadowy tendrils that cloak the Great Spirit in a dark mantle, while the Fourth Circle Goddess holds her still and soothes her. Then the Awakener pauses, as if aware of a single discordant note in a vast symphony of sound.

The soft, hollow voice of Nocht, the Silent resounds within your mind as His words echo through the aether, "Lantra, You must give Your full attention to this task, else it shall falter. Relinquish all else that distracts You. We are few, Sister, and Our power must be at its peak. Or have You forgotten why the Sea Spirit failed to awaken, the first time?"

Ripples of celestial light radiate across the firmament like water as the calm voice of Lantra, the Empyreal rings out, "...Very well, Brother. If it is as You say, I have little choice."

With a soft exhale similar to a soothing wind, the Empyreal Goddess lifts up Her hands skyward, and this time, a renewed radiance surges forth from Her hands, overpowering in its immaculate haze of white as it veils Nocht with sidereal splendour. In mere moments the Goddess appears far more hale and whole, as if She had prior been merely at half of Her capacity.

With this final piece now locked into place, the formation is complete. Arcing in strands of pure light, countless strands of immanidivinus power, surging with indescribable colours and energy, issue from one Elder to the next in the ring surrouding Nocht, the Silent. While before they collected like a maelstrom of gathering storms, this time there is a softness to their cloudy energies, low like the rumbling of distant thunder.

Rolling forth across the heavens, the voice of Carakhan, Sculptor of Waves resounds, "Hush, my child. Rest. You will be back to dreaming sweet dreams, soon."

Woven from shadow, starlight, blossoms, and countless colours, the cocoon of energies that engulf the Sea Spirit glow with a hushed healing light, pulsing with an unknowable array of Divine energies. Rather than restricting the Sea Spirit, its gentle presence meets no resistance as she close her eyes, leaning into the comfort of the slumber being offered. The entire world appears to calm with the spirit as she falls to slumber, weeping no longer as the skies begin to clear and the clouds part, allowing light to filter through anew.

Rolling forth across the heavens, the voice of Carakhan, Sculptor of Waves resounds, "Rest well, My little one."

As the formation completes its intended task, the Sea Spirit evaporates like rain droplets in Carakhan's arms, returning once more to inanimate water that falls in one last rain from the heavens. The storms cease in their rage and roiling, the seas calm, the winds go silent. It is as if the world mourns, for but a moment, as even the wearied Elders witness the finality of Their action with grave solemnity.

The soft, hollow voice of Nocht, the Silent resounds within your mind as His words echo through the aether, "It is done. The Sea Spirit slumbers."

Ethereal violet suffuses the firmament as the lilting, smoky voice of Drocilla, the Enchantress croons, "Thus You all seal Your fate as Li-varili's enemies. And You call Me cruel, when You have done Her the greatest unkindness imaginable in taking away Her only child."

Rolling forth across the heavens, the voice of Carakhan, Sculptor of Waves resounds, "The Sea Spirit was never solely Hers to claim. Nor has She shouldered that responsibility as the child deserves."

Ethereal violet suffuses the firmament as the lilting, smoky voice of Drocilla, the Enchantress croons, "I wonder if She will agree with You."

Like a comet through the heavens, the form of the Resin Child slips and blurs between perception as She is ushered away with the fanfare of a marching song, Her attention pressed elsewhere with utmost urgency.

Maylea, Bloom of Serenity fades from mortal perception, utterly spent with Her role in the formation, a thousand flower petals following Her.

Ripples of celestial light radiate across the firmament like water as the calm voice of Lantra, the Empyreal rings out, "I thought You weren't planning to interfere, Drocilla. I see You merely have chosen another side to align with."

Ethereal violet suffuses the firmament as the lilting, smoky voice of Drocilla, the Enchantress croons, "Oh, am I interfering? How terrible of Me not to appraise You of My plans."

As the intoxicating fragrance of bromeliads perfumes the air, you sense that Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons has returned to mortal perception.

Ripples of celestial light radiate across the firmament like water as the calm voice of Lantra, the Empyreal rings out, "Are You so eager to injure Yourself anew, that You will not allow Yourself the respite necessary for Your healing?"

Upon a wave of wind bitter as the salted seas, the striking voice of Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons cries, "You insufferable creature. You fools! What have You done?! What have You done to My child?!"

Rolling forth across the heavens, the voice of Carakhan, Sculptor of Waves resounds, "What You were too selfish to do. She slumbers, as is the greatest kindness to her."

Upon a wave of wind bitter as the salted seas, the striking voice of Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons cries, "I ought to destroy each and every one of You for what You have done to Me! My child... She was so powerful. And You stole her from Me!"

Surging with turbulent waters shimmering with moody shades of bluish-grey, Li-varili recklessly charges towards the Elders in the Havens, only to be held back by Terentia and Nocht, the two Elders standing side by side.

The soft, hollow voice of Nocht, the Silent resounds within your mind as His words echo through the aether, "We could have been allies, Li-varili, but You insist on otherwise. Will You not give up this game?"

The commanding voice of Terentia, the Even Bladed resounds across the firmament, "You are stronger than You were, but not enough to defeat Us all. Reconsider Your tactics, else meet My blades."

An overpoweringly strong female voice shouts, "The She'nasim rise!"

The tension darkening in the firmament seems to calm as the sultry voice of the Enchantress weaves through the silence, Her golden voice lulling all who hear it into a sense of drowsy acquiescence. Even the Elders above seem to pause at its unexpected sound, shaking Their heads to refuse its overwhelming influence.

Ethereal violet suffuses the firmament as the lilting, smoky voice of Drocilla, the Enchantress croons, "Not all of Us betrayed You, dear Li. It was a promise long unkept, but I freed You at last, did I not? Your nereids Oinone and Iaira were most grateful for My assistance in Your awakening."

Upon a wave of wind bitter as the salted seas, the striking voice of Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons cries, "You think I would forgive Your abandonment of Me in the Morokeche Seat, for something so insignificant as that?"

An overpoweringly strong female voice shouts, "Basala'oren She'nasim!"

Ethereal violet suffuses the firmament as the lilting, smoky voice of Drocilla, the Enchantress croons, "Is Your freedom such an insignificant thing, then?"

The exotic scents of bromeliads intertwine with that of the musk and perfume as the Enchantress approaches the Lady of the Lagoons with a beguiling smile, extending a single hand in offering. The Awakener eyes it warily, then turns to view the Elders that have barred Her from approaching closer. A sense of reluctance grips Her as She returns to face Drocilla, uncertainty in Her eyes.

Upon a wave of wind bitter as the salted seas, the striking voice of Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons cries, "No one offers anything freely, betrayer. What is the meaning of Your kindness?"

Ethereal violet suffuses the firmament as the lilting, smoky voice of Drocilla, the Enchantress croons, "You act in haste, when such ends You seek are to be gained in more subtle means. Come. Let Us speak for a time. For I would not have You rush headfirst into another disaster. Or have You other plans?"

Upon a wave of wind bitter as the salted seas, the striking voice of Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons cries, "You sang to Me when I fell, did You not?"

Ethereal violet suffuses the firmament as the lilting, smoky voice of Drocilla, the Enchantress croons, "And when You awakened. Come, Li. I am not the cruel foe You think Me. Allow Me to finally prove it to You."

A viciously mocking, feminine laugh cuts through the aether as the Lady of the Lagoons considers Drocilla's entreaty, before a strange thing happens -- the Goddess smiles. She walks towards the Enchantress with eyebrow lifted, curious despite Herself, as She breezily ignores the Traitor's hand even as She chooses to step by Her side.

Upon a wave of wind bitter as the salted seas, the striking voice of Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons cries, "I am not an easy Elder to impress, Drocilla. But You have managed to intrigue Me, once again. Let Us hope it is not the path to My undoing once more for ALL know at Whose side I am walking now. There will be no hiding Your deeds this time."

Bandit Steingrim La'Saet, the Shadow Ranger intones, "Yeah, go ahead and let Her fool you again!"
An ominous red light glints from a series of water droplets as they streak across the sky, leaving the scent of bromeliads lingering in their wake.
Steingrim has been battered, drowned, and swept away by the weight of Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons's rage.
You see the death occur at a steep rise in the trail.

The two Goddesses vanish in a haze of violet mist and salty spray, cruel laughter heralding Their departure as They shroud Themselves from the prying eyes of the Basin of Life.