Vale Meeting

Into the Vale the High Lord lead them all; diplomats and leaders, Kings and Lords, enemies and allies of the worst and best kind. But today Finn didn't care for the broken borders of Esshar. He didn't care that less than a handful of years stood between this moment and a time when many gathered here had wronged the other side, where wounds that would never heal had been made.

Deeper into the dark woods they all went, and the fog that drifted along the treeline grew thicker with each step, until finally, a rise in the earth could be spotted. Carved into the side of the mound was a series of stone steps that lead to the top, and though half of the landmark had been consumed by a crater, a growing and potent aura filtered peacefully out of it.

Those attuned to best to the spirits, the stars, or the angels could sense some immaculate glow that waited now beneath the feet of those gathered, a kind of presence that calmed most of their bitter hearts asif theywere standing within some garden that began the road to Avalon.

Whatever the Teraphim had done to the Vale in mending it could be felt within the very souls of the gathered leaders and influential individuals, and with such a presence came a silence that was only broken once the High Lord reached the top.

"I will not pretend that this gathering is normal. But I will insist that it is necessary." The Crown atop his head held the gem that flashed once, then twice. "Some of you may have already felt that something is wrong. But I have seen it, a vision that I would share with everyone here."

Reverently Finn moved to the side to withdraw a wooden bowl from the pedestal there to place before him in the grass. His crystal hand soon manifested a glimmering gem blade that was pulled across Finn's left palm. A few drops of his blood fell into the basin, and as it did so, his eyes closed.

The clouds and mist grew thickr as they came to blanketthe space like some grey curtain that was being pulled before their faces.

It wasn't until many couldn't see more than a few inches in front of themselves that something actually changed...
(Finn Ghede)

The ritual of the High Lord comes to fruition within moments. The spilled blood is a tradition the Vale has known long before the arrival of the Teraphim, and even now and today, was respected among the new protectors of this land.
The mist seems to arise without warning.

No water is evaporated within these moments, but instead, helpful spirits lend a fragment of their magic for Finley to harness.

The land grows still.
The familiar skittering of rabbits and other animals that inhabited the Vale can no longer be heard. The rustling of leaves is no more - a moment frozen in time.

It almost appears as if something went wrong. A moment of stasis, yet nothing occurs. At first, that is. A ghastly image is projected within the mist, an ominous vision of the approaching, dark meteorite. It burns brightly - but the fire that eats at the meteorite seems not to consume it, but instead, only to cause it to grow further and further.
Dark, violet-shaded flames linger as a trail of sorts. Hel Fire.

And one thing becomes clear then.

Despite the many stars the meteorite passes nearby, none seem to reach it-- no, the rays of light that are shone by the stars are consumed entirely. Their magic is fed to it.

There's more to it, evidently, but it is far too obscured to learn of its nature from the vision or perhaps due to the lack of light.
Those who have the ability to witness spirits would notice that many of them have chosen to leave or hide in the deeper corners of the Vale. The mysterious veil that was kept around the meteorite persists.

And despite the fact it was far away from Esshar, and months would pass before it could reach this land...

Each and every one of the people the vision has been shared with can feel -some- force tugging at their hearts. Where it is most dark, where their own personal vice hides.
[Narrate]

It was to be expected, wasn't it?

Even now, amidst it all, his mind is pre-occupied with the fate of Tiernay; the man that once was called a brother to him- for while the witches were something that he could never truly find any fondness for, it is the fact that they've stolen something valuable from them which seems to make the Rhoynish King more and more irate at the thought.

But..

Where his gaze falls upon the vision found in the mists, his eyes narrow upon it all- for he isn't certain that the vision he experiences could be called anything else but blasphemy, something putrid and fuelled with the darkest magics sent from Helheim itself. There's no doubt about it all..

That whatever the witches have evoked would result in cataclysm of unseen strength.

"A familiar feeling.."

All too familiar; perhaps, the Rhoynur boasts the impressive health that allows him to persevere through this sickness, yet all the same he's not been the same- far less filled with vibrant energy and the strength of the Rhoynish that are expected of their King. Instead, it is almost as if something darker tugs at him.

The vision of the darker future, lost upon the acts of witches.

Yet, his gaze turns to Finn.

"I had a vision of a different kind."

"But I feel that I'd need aid of Myllenoris magi, as well as all Rhoynish magi I can muster on my own side, for it is both celestial and spiritual in nature."

"That is healing in nature, however. We'll have to deal with whatever consequences of not stopping the witches sooner as soon as the meteorite lands."

"And hope that we'll have enough strength to repair the damage afterward."
(Basil)

The dark sight of the meteorite is washed away, replaced by the place where most have discovered the black smog to originate from.
The ritualistic area that had been marked by blood not far from the Vale.

The three figures standing near the witchcraft runes are obscured as well, likely by the veil that had kept the meteorite's true nature hidden. However, such cannot be said for the crown that laid upon the head of the woman who stood at the center. Roses intertwined along with one another. Petals that bear the deep shade of blood, and vines that held the structure of it.

The face of the woman - Nebula Lockwood - is finally revealed when the shadow of the dark meteorite is cast upon the same area.
Everything grows dark once more.

And the mist stills, the vision coming to an end. Despite the blood sacrifice, the spirits were not willing to reveal more.
[Narrate]

At the close of the vision, Finn's eyes opened once more, though only half way as he gazed down to the grass, distant from all of them and yet still here.

"The star will fall." he said, confirming many of their worst fears. As Mars had said; it was already too late, and while the Dragonlord asked her questions and Basil already prepared some plans, the High Lord spoke again.

"Its impact is imminent.. for we ignored Lockwood for too long. With what sisters and demons she holds beside her, she's had her eyes set on this night for years..."

"What we can do-" Finn looked around now, more grounded in his spot than before as the mist dissipated. "-is meet them where it strikes. The grove is one that I recognize; it's not far outside of the borders of my own kingdom. The trees grow in a ring and in the center is where it'll happen. It won't matter how many guards we post there, Nebula will bring the heavens down."

"It will only be by our joint efforts that we might manage to put an end to the era of darkness she is attempting to begin."

The High Lord took in a long breath and crossed his arms. "Our personal conflicts, our wars that have laid rows of blood between us, can all resume after this night. I make no promise of unity or peace, nor ask any of you to do so either. All I ask is that for this single evening when the stars themselves will rain down upon Esshar once more we fight together."

"Or else we'll surely die apart."
(Finn Ghede)

He knew of them, didn't he?

He knew all along.. and it is by his inaction that this was possible, because he didn't heed the warnings of those that served him back then- where he held hope that the ones he could call friends before would not follow this path to the darkness, by now, it has become abundantly clear..

It is far, far too late for that.

Is it guilt that he feels? For not acting sooner, for not investigating further, before the reveal of Nebula inside Osrona? Perhaps, had he acted sooner, then none of this would be happening, but..

You can't change the past.

What he can do, however, is make sure that the mistake he's done would not result in as much damage as possible; it isn't about his spiritual duty as Rhoynish anymore, but personal responsibility that he feels for it- one that mostly remains unspoken, save for the few that heard of the plights of the Rhoynish King.

So instead..

"After the meteorite.."

"I believe there is something we can do yet. Something that could secure Esshar from such thing to ever happen again."

That is the least he can do; that is the least he feels that he has to do. For even now, he can tell that this won't be easy at all, and it won't be something that goes by without any damage.

"We will strike out against Nebula and those at her side."

"Lest we allow ourselves to die to this cataclysm, we have to unite against this common threat, and put aside the differences we have."

"At least for now."
(Basil)

Finn gave a nod to each who pledged their help, and again to those who offered some advice. The High Lord peered down from the steps at the Elder Task, one who he'd spoken to long ago on some curious subjects that might have now become obvious as to their purpose.

"The meteor is meant to draw us to her position, but there is little other choice. Nebula has played her gambit knowing full well we outnumber her, if this was meant to be a secret, we wouldn't have had such time to prepare..."

He frowned. It was obvious the High Lord didn't like their options anymore than the old man did.

"We can expect the worst, and pray that we stop her. Leaving it alone has proven to only turn into a newer, larger nightmare."

A quiet fell across him before things began to take a turn for the political and insulting, and with a sigh Finn held his hand out to cut Kofe off.

"I invited you all here to see what I have seen. To call us together as one. We've done so, and our gathering is finished."

Already the wind moved in a southbound direction, one that while not forceful did mean to usher those regularly kept out of the Vale toward the exit.

"We'll convene once more when we've put our numbers together and once we've made ready to fight Nebula over that grove."

A few steps were taken as the High Lord descended himself, for he made ready to depart as well.
(Finn Ghede)

For all intents and purposes..

He seems rather deep in thought in regards of their situation- for while the others could be arguing about who's with witches and who isn't, and otherwise speak on different matters, he can't help but ponder..

What it is exactly he would feel when meteorite actually lands?

Perhaps, it would be the end of him- or perhaps, it would be yet another tale to be told, yet another scar upon his body that would add to many other gathered throughout the years. For now, however..

"Leave it aside."

The voice of the Rhoynish King booms loud enough for the rest to hear, despite the fact that his health has been getting worse- there's still enough spirit left in him to produce the powerful voice such as this.

"It matters little."

"The night when it happens, all roles will be revealed. Those that stand with witches are endangered and hunted, and considering our numbers, it would be easy to overpower whatever traitor comes up."

"If any at all."

And he descends- from the stairs, leading the queen of Alabastre alongside with him, soon to add.

"Your priorities should be meteorite and all that will follow it."

"Be sure to keep that in mind."
(Basil)