HF Dev 4: An Air That Kills

[18:10] What emerges from the trees, in the aftermath of Eivor's question, does not look like anything that should need to eat.

Certainly it does not look human, or even demonic. Just like... a strange, amorphous shape of shadow. Heavy winds lash the area directly around it, sending snow scattering in every direction like a child's swatting down branches in a fit of pique.

There is no face to turn toward Eivor, or any of the others. No sign of recognition of the words, let alone a clue to reaction or emotion.

The voice that emerges is horribly distorted, crackling, a rasp roughened further by wind-static.

"How... did you know?"
(An Air That Kills)
[18:10] Melidoyla says, "Woah. He kind of looks like grandpa."
[18:13] Unsettled, yet still not alarmed. His head cants to the side- azure gaze upon the hooded figure throughout, only ever averting to briefly glance towards his wife. Eivor remained seated there, legs crossed, slightly leaning back.

Voice is heard- odd, to say the least, but he had seen and heard weirder.

"Was quite obvious. I saw the lightings when you moved in there. And... you are not that well concealed."

A moment of pause, then.

"Would you mind taking off the hood, friend?"
(Eivor)
[18:19] For a second, as it approached, her hold on the hammer became stronger, but... As she stared at it and tilted her head to the other side, confused, Arnet adjusted her posture and the blades ruffled on her back. The hammer was placed on her ground as she rested a hand on top of it, using as support, a calm posture.

So it was just hungry.

But what was that? Not like anything she knew.

"Do you eat anything?" She asked, no scorn in her voice, but she didn't seem too worried. Confused at best, as Eivor did the best questions.
(Arnet Dawnseeker)
[18:20] Is there a hood? Maybe. Maybe if one squints very hard, there might be something like a humanoid figure, there, at the heart of that chaotic cloud of darkness.

But it might just be a suggestion born of the moment's fancy, as those shadows are in constant, roiling motion, changing their shape with every blink of the eye.

This thing really looks more like a natural phenomenon than a person.

Which might explain why it replies, in that broken voice:

"That I was hungry."

Does something in that cloud seem to 'look' Arnet's way? It's so hard to tell, but there's perhaps a shift of its epicenter, the point from which the twisting shadows flow.

"...please, I won't... I won't stay long, but... something to eat. Anything..."
(An Air That Kills)
[18:24] Head tilts over to the side, arms crossing over his chest. He'd remain quiet for a moment or two, before walking over to the side- gripping at one of the lanterns by the apartment's edge and shining it towards the shadowy figure.

"Arnet, get them some food..."

A couple steps forward, other than that- wanting a clear look, a clear identity.
(Eivor)
[18:25] Asa asks, "No need to head inside if you've none on hand. Are you fond of ramen?"
[18:26] Well... Seems like everything that this person- creature? Wore, was the creature itself? Maybe, maybe not, Arent didn't try to overthink it, despite squinting to see better, only to see shadows moving more and more.

She saw many things many distorted voices, many terrifying things, but none seemed like that one. Something on its broken voice and its supplication for food made the woman move. The hammer was taken and placed on her back.

A step forward was given as she opened an arm, pulling the cape back, she moved to a more box-like back she had. Opening it, there was some still warm Stir fry, always carrying food with her as any good soldier, she took the bowl and a spoon, moving to handle it to the... 'person'. "Ay. I will."

"There you go. Enjoy." She reached an arm, close, but still, a safe distance so that they could just pick the bowl.
(Arnet Dawnseeker)
[18:31] Asa seeing the situation -or whatever this was- well handled would simply observe the mass of darkness from where he was, curious eyes gleaming in the gloom.
(Asa)
[18:31] "Don't come close!" the figure shouts, suddenly, voice cracking; it starts to backpedal-

But too late.

Eivor moves into lantern-range, and by its light is able to see the outline of a person dim within the shadows - terribly slender and rather tall, nearly six and a half feet.

Arnet comes in on a mission of mercy, bearing food-

Hina moves to her husband's side-

And all of them, as they get within twenty feet, are buffeted by the winds surrounding the creature.

They bring a horrible, glacial chill, even compared to the frigid surroundings. This is a cold that pierces to the bone, a cold inimical to life itself, unnatural and foul-

And when it is felt?

It brings with it a crushing weight. Regret, remorse, shame. The touch of that wind flays the soul bare beneath the burden of all the wrongdoing one has ever committed.

A nauseating rush of memory, reliving one's sins in sharp, crystallinedetail.

The power and weight behind this malevolence exceeds what a mortal magi could bring to bear - it is something truly, impossibly full of hatred that reaches out to wrench the cloak of self-justification and forgiveness away.

The cloud- no, the person within stumbles back, yanking the winds away, retreating to the trees.

(An Air That Kills)
[18:36] Akecheta says, "By the way."
[18:36] Akecheta says, "Be nice to Ezra."
[18:36] Akecheta says, "He's a retard."
[18:36] Melidoyla exclaims, "Never!"
[18:36] Akecheta says, "YES."
[18:36] Melidoyla says, "He hurt my BOY"
[18:36] Melidoyla says, "MY BOY AKE.."
[18:36] Akecheta says, "Happens."
[18:37] Akecheta says, "It's a pain that I can grow up from and move on."
[18:37] Akecheta says, "Ain't like I'm dead."
[18:37] Melidoyla says, "You died. An undead fox."
[18:37] Akecheta says, "Then put me out my misery."
[18:38] Melidoyla says, "Sorry, Ake. You're the alphabet soup that nobody ate."
[18:38] Akecheta says, "Expected."
[18:38] Melidoyla puts a toy rifle to Akecheta's head.
(Melidoyla)
[18:38] Melidoyla asks, "Any last words?"
[18:39] Akecheta says, "No matter what they tell you..."
[18:39] Akecheta says, "I've always hated those monkeys."
[18:39] Melidoyla pulls the trigger.
(Melidoyla)
[18:42] Lantern lifts upward- and the illumination is there; light falling down upon their person, slender and tall, though no immediate reaction can be found.

Not with the way those winds hit him so- enveloping him entirely, and when the feelings finally seep in?

The nauseating regret is palpable. Memories rushing to mind- actions that he never once considered flawed; battles and kills that he never once regretted before in his life, and yet he could feel those pangs of guilt and shame now.

All the way from the mutilated corpse of Nerevar to the broken body of Lora'ene's.

Regrets not born out of his own consciousness, but tugged from deep within, forced from everything he had already convinced himself to be false. Ones he knew of as wrong, and-

ZIP!

The way Holy Lightning cloaks about his form, erupting outward and enveloping him whole is almost violent- and yet in a certain defense mechanism. His breaths were almost labored, heavier, eyes squeezing to a shut and head shaking from one side to the other briefly- almost as if to force away the sensations. It took some time to compose himself, to gather his bearings.

Perhaps a normal mage- a common warrior would simply and completely break down under the weight of it all. Though Eivor was neither.

And so the sparks burn just a bit brighter.

"Get out."

It is more of a command than anything. His voice getting louder with each moment to follow.

"What did you do?"


(Eivor)
[18:42] The Illuminated scrutinizes the darkened figure before them. An ambiance of intangible pyres permeates, surrounding her allies in its protective veil, persisting in opposition towards the newcomer there - guard on high, cautious in approach.

Gradual steps crunching in the snow come to halt at the whipping winds from the shadow encompassed figure as the Kitsune attempts to get a squint of glimpses through the enveloped gloomy prowess.

"Cold.." She speaks low, used to the frigid glacial wafting of the other's abilities. "I can handle it," she states as a hand raises to shield away her vision from the winds and sheer cold aiming to drift in around them.

Yet.. the closer Hina finds herself traversing closer, the more pressing the weight of regret, remorse, and shame surrounded her temple.

'Be strong, Hina.'

Eyes avert briefly to close, though an illumination of piercing azure brilliance shone through as they open, allowing a spectre of perception follow forth through unseen tendrils that shoot forward, attempting to penetrate the figure's mana circuits and partake in their basic elemental capabilities - perhaps not a perfect attempt at the talent, but.. were they familiar to Hina?

Either way, another step forward, racking her with tragic depictions of previous memories that ensnare her vision and temporarily incapacitate her - seconds pass by, and then a single minute as she's idle there before the figure, staring at them in a distant manner.

Finally, the light of her goddess, in unspoken prayer, emanates, as if to safeguard her mentality from its pinpricking strive.

A slow breath in, and with her incorporeal circuits casting forth towards the unfamiliar shadow of a figure, a spark of trio magics ignite - a glistening of celeste, the ether of gold-tinged sacred arts, and enlightening blazes that lick against the airs, further opposing this force.

"No more games," she begins, lifting a hand swiftly towards the atmospheric individual. A cast - an attempt, to attack it, and figure out just who they were.
(Hina Lam)
[18:44] Hina attempts to attack the figure, as per the above RP!
(Hina Lam)
[18:44] That... being is not sticking around, it seems. The first sight of hostility and it is trying to boil away in a frenzy of squirming shadow.
(An Air That Kills)
[18:50] The others may have been close enough to fall under the affliction of the figure's presence, but Asa was not. They were clearly not hostile, and even attempted to warn them. Leaving anyone to accost them may well end in blood regretfully spilled.

Asa's intercession was simple. He attempted to conjure a tree in the way, right in front of any attempts at violence the Illuminated would make. Hopefully it'd be enough for the figure skitter off.
(Asa)
[18:52] Too close.

They got too close to the danger it seemed, a danger that the creature was well aware of, for what other reason they would shout at them to don't get too close, only to run away?

When that wave of wind came, Arnet shuddered slightly, scales coming to the skin in its whitish and metallic colors, wings moving around her as she tensed for a moment, with a sigh that made able to see her breath, the bowl was dropped, falling on the snow spilling part of the food she offered and that same hand moved to her face as her eyes burned.

Anger, regret. Emotions forced into her, something unnatural that woke that old curse, her mana flickering in her eyes, making the putrid green color on her eyes shine brighter. But that was not the first or second time an unbearable amount of magic fell over her, trying to mess with her mind, to loose the recently fixed screws.

"What the... Hel is that?"

Turning the angered eyes to the creature, the woman took a step back and once again the hammer was taken in a hand, this time not only for safety but was more of a warning.

"You better listen. Leave. If you can't control that thing."

There were shivers, with few magics that could protect her from curses or cold. She kept standing, stable between cold and anger. She dealt with hate before... She could do it again...

(Arnet Dawnseeker)
[18:52] slams his staff into the chill, and nature bends to the magi's will, hopefully not in vain.
(Asa)
[18:56] After one gets a good direct look at the dark cloud, the figure within is clear enough that it can still be discerned even despite the retreat.

The person hunches in a flight-ready crouch, not shivering despite the aura of supernal cold that envelopes them. Every line of their knife-thin, almost emaciated posture suggests tension.

They do not resist Hina's initial probe, though the layers of shadow occlude it, clinging to her magic like a greasy scum on the surface of the water. They bear the stench of the occult, obviously enough, a massive seeping wound of negativity.

But beneath that, piercing through to the person within? Metaphysical talent comes through most strongly, a powerful vein of it. But there is also an affinity with air, a bright and crisp note. One that might just ring with a subtle chime of music. And...

Not a hint of occult talent in that person whatsoever.

"I didn't mean-"

The split second the additional magics are rising?

The cloud is boiling upward, a bubbling plume, attempting to retreat in a hurry. It won't be swift enough, Hina's magic crackling across the space between them-

Except now there's a tree to take the blow instead.

And for a second, a split second. Just long enough to cry: "Tell Kaya I'm sorry!" Then it's off, taking advantage of the precious time Asa has bought for it.


(An Air That Kills)
[18:57] Melidoyla says, "Woah. Fox fight."
[18:57] Asa says, "There'll be no fight. Stop this, please."
[18:59] Arnet Dawnseeker would shake her head.
(Arnet Dawnseeker)
[19:00] Arnet Dawnseeker says, "I hate this..."
[19:00] Asa asks, "Not like you to accost someone. Are you okay?"
[19:00] Melidoyla says, "It's okay, Arnet.. You can hug your auntie."
[19:02] Arnet Dawnseeker would close her eyes for a moment, rubbing her eyelids as if to calmdown the mana that was pulled to them, blinking a few times, tapped her cape and moved her wings, taking any ice and snow out of her.
(Arnet Dawnseeker)
[19:02] Arnet Dawnseeker says, "I'll be fine."
[19:07] Turns around some, shifting all the while. There is a moment or two to compose himself, eyes drifting to a shut, and then-

Thud.

Those slow, yet audible steps over to the side- his strides long, Arcanium boots digging and burying into the snow underneath with each of them.

"Are you straight up dense?"

It's a blunt question- not any ounce of respect, spoken towards the blue haired beastkin.

"That could have been an enemy. And even if not one?"

A brief gesture made over to the side.

"They were unstable, inflicting some insane curse. The feelings they brought? A normal magi would crumble down. A regular folk without magic might just die under the pressure.

And they sure wouldn't willingly come, would they?"

A pause, then, Holy Lightning still flickering.

"Learn the difference between pacifism and idiocy. Are you going to have fun knowing that you are solely responsible for how awful whoever that thing runs into next is going to feel? Or are you going to pretend it is not your problem as long as there is not a fight?

And actions do not have consequences?"
(Eivor)
[19:17] "Get out."

The fox said, his natural demure tone couldn't quite match Eivor's edge, but the mimicry was plain.

"Given what you said, I assumed your intent was to drive them off rather than capture them." The lack of respect didn't seem to bother him. His gaze wasn't on Eivor, but somewhere behind his eyes, as if he was trying to appraise him for any scraps of the affliction left within him. Pure academic interest. It was one of the only things more powerful than his anxiety, without it he may very well have withered beneath this man's imposing form.

"Their instability is also cause to not attack them. If they were injured, or chance forbid, killed by an assault made in haste, under the influence of unknown magics, the curse may have dispersed, covering your settlement, or transferring to Hina. Neither of us knows what would have happened. Actions indeed have consequences, it's why I was compelled to prevent yours."

He plants a palm against his cheek thinking for a moment.

"They warned you not to get close, so they're likely to avoid contact with anyone, magi or not. They also have to adhere to the same trappings as us. They get hungry. Leaving letters and food for them in isolated areas and setting up some way to communicate with them via golem or another remotes means may be prudent."
(Asa)