❪ event ❫ khalo? can you hear me?

[natha]

In normal circumstances, this would have been near the time in which you're called upon to greet the newly awakened. Unfortunately, I speak to you to inform that we must postpone that — there is trouble on your horizon. What, I cannot see for sure. We shall continue to monitor the situation, however — we - ... we — [feed cuts off.] OLYMPIAN PRESERVATION     The city of Olympia is preparing the send-off of its most prized artifact: the heart of the ancient dragon, Ysverai. In doing this, they've transformed the palace court into an exhibition detailing the centuries-old war between Wyver and Olympia. Sculptures of Nithor the Exalted and his men and women in clean, white marble, while their armors are polished in perfect gold. Among Nithor are the sculptures of stallions in all shapes and sizes that also aided in the great war. Further in the exhibition, one may also find other artifacts of much older weaponry, rusted by its time in the earth, and items found from a time when humans feared the dragons. The Royal Guard has increased its numbers in wake of such a public event, particularly because the heart will be in display also. The heart is not what one might expect it to be: about the size of an average human, the heart's core is surrounded in stone, a red glow emitting from its still beating core. If that were not unsettling enough, one might also find that lingering around this particular exhibit will have undue affects on one's inhibitions. You'll notice your heart has fallen into sync with the organ, and your more selfish desires will come forth. Things that have long been buried will rise up and place you in a state of unease, encouraging paranoia about your companions intentions. Allow it to fester, and one will carry this feeling with them long after you've left the scene. It's probably a good thing this is leaving Olympia — perhaps it's a source of so much conflict you've endured. It's easy to become mesmerized by all the historical artifacts that are present in Olympia's exhibition. Some even seem mystical or, like Ysverai’s heart, to hold unspeakable powers. Others are just a little eerie. Either way, Olympia prides itself in its generosity and their grand displays, and so refugees are urged to learn more about their artifacts by spending the night in Palace Court. Though, someone should probably mention that there are rumors of strange, almost occult things happening around these relics at night. People speak of armored soldiers casting shadows that have the ability to walk on their own, or gemstones that catch the moonlight in a certain way and show you visions. But those are just silly ghost stories, right? TALL TALES OF KHALO VILLAGE     Because of Khalo's proximity to Wyver, it's no surprise that they would catch wind of the peace talks between Wyver and Olympia. In response, for the first time in centuries, Khalo Village has willingly granted passage to outsiders — but visitors will immediately find out that one cannot just simply walk into the village. Visitors will need to inhale the smoke of a fyrra herb in order to enter the premises without falling into slumber. Khalo is notably different than what refugees are used to. Visitors, specifically refugees, will find that they are exceedingly accommodating. The Khali are very intrigued by the outsiders, thus they're treated with much respect and given instant access to some of the best lounges and fyrra the village has to offer. In exchange, the village is interested in hearing about your journey thus far. Whether it be through a conversation with another individual or the Khali themselves, they'll very likely to have been eavesdropping and recording the tales of their exploits. Why, exactly? Perhaps it will not be immediately clear, but if you happened upon a venasou, a tamed Khali creature, it may have guided you to their Enchanted Library. Upon entering the library, visitors will notice that it is quite the happening place — but not because it's occupied by the Khali, but because there seems to be an assembly of magical quills seemingly writing on their own. The quills are mostly undisturbed by the intrusion and will not stop writing even if parchment is taken from it; it will simply produce another piece of paper and continue its tales. If you happen to read the parchment, you may notice that there is a daunting similarity between your story and the ones being written here. Tales of Thesa birthing new races and sending them from the sky, for example, are very popular in Khalo Village. They mark July 15th as the day in which the Moon Goddess, Thesa, created more people in her image and brought them to El Nysa as saviors. The coincidences don't end there: specifics about your home world might be found in the writings if you search deeply enough — but it's not without its exaggerations. These stories are given all sorts of poetic and literary forms, from short stories to limericks, biographies to something similar to haiku. If asked, the Khali will inform visitors that the enchanted library has access to vague parts of your memories, and thus it is duty-bound to record. The Khali have not seen stories as strange as the ones being made by refugees, which is largely why they are interested in them. NOTE: This is entirely optional! You may make up your own "stories" (fanfiction) and it could be as accurate or inaccurate, or as serious or silly as you'd like. While tales of the Thesa's descendants are still being written, visitors of the Enchanted Library might find intrigue in the more complete works — KING AND KIN. If one is willing to delve deep, they may also find parts of Wyver's past that have been removed from their own archives. These pages will recount the tales of Shanrian and Rasyc. Though a lot of the narrative seems to divide at certain points in the story, it becomes obvious with some quick reading that Rasyc is not only the son of Shanrian, but that he glorifies the Wyver of old, more bloodthirsty and brutal than it is today. Unlike his father, he does not take kindly to Olympia and the threat they will always pose for their people. He has not forgotten Olympia's past sins and he believes that, in his foolish quest for peace, the king has gone soft and no longer possesses the real will to fight. His present voice in affairs of state is not a loud one, as he chooses to speak in whispers and move in the dead of silence. In these quiet murmurings, he boasts of his unwavering belief in the power and dignity of his people. Of how they should all return to what they once were — the kingdom, its citizens, and naturally the father who he had once admired greatly. Though perhaps it can be argued that any estranged son would wish the same. It's difficult to pinpoint what becomes political and what is and always will be more personal for him. But, it hardly matters. It's clear that Rasyc will stop at nothing to achieve his objectives, even if it means never returning to place he calls home. Even if it means turning his back on his own father, Shanrian, King of Wyver... DRAGONFIRE. While tales of the Thesa's descendants are still being written, visitors to the Enchanted Library might find intrigue in the more complete works. In particular, tales of Ysverai, the last of Wyver's great high dragons. Ysverai is most commonly known for being slain by Olympia’s past king and legendary hero, Nithor, but here in Khalo he is depicted in another light. Ysverai is known to the Khali people as a wise being, old as the first inhabitants that walked El Nysa. The creature spoke in the common tongue to the early settlers, guiding them to refuge when his kin began to dominate the land at the cost of its own isolation. It ultimately becomes a tale of sacrifice, for its stand with Nithor became a testament against the Olympian Empire's long reaching influence. At the bottom, there is a quotation: Your hearts will fill with greed and malice the moment my own stops beating. Take care in the Eye of the Storm. Find strength in one another, before it is too late. It seems to end there. Refugees are naturally allowed to question the natives. However, keep in mind that many of their replies will seem more like speculation than fact. But maybe that can be fun too? If you have no interest in the library and the tales they've woven, feel free to explore any of the other areas of interest. Khalo Village is thrilled to be open for you all. THOSE THAT SEEK PEACE, AND THOSE THAT SEEK --     The morning of the 20th is marked by fairly dismal weather. The sky is overcast and a downpour seems imminent. Regardless of the poor forecast, those who signed up to assist in this mission will be required to come early in order to receive their briefing. Members of Group A: ▸ Jon Snow (song_of_ice) ▸ Daenerys Targaryen (dorzalta) ▸ Loras Tyrell (triplerose) ▸ Terra (earthy) ▸ Alisaie Leveilleur (adelphoi) ▸ Solider: 76 (personalwar) ▸ Ardyn Izunia (daemonized) ▸ Mai(maipokerface) ▸ Olivier Armstrong (wallsofbriggs) ▸ Atsushi Nakajima (gekkajuu) Members of Group B: ▸ Kale (kaleorbekaled) ▸ Diana Prince (wondie) ▸ Pheonix Wright (objectionattourney) ▸ Revolver Ocelot (shashka) ▸ Frederick (pebblestone) ▸ John Sheppard (impavid ▸ Ianto Jones (torchwoodteaboy) ▸ Lena Oxton (quevarly) ▸ Allura (quintessent) Due to the rain, members of Group A will have to immediately stop by the checkpoint at the East Watchtower. Additionally, the Royal Guard and Knightryders are well-prepared with extra cloaks for those who may require it. They also will provide basic refreshments such as water and bread. People are encouraged to take what they need prior to their departure on this mission. The checkpoints are a bit far between, after all. Members of the envoy will also be encouraged to utilize this time to become familiar with one another. Maybe some introductions are in order? You never know who will end up having your back... For both groups, the paths will be relatively straightforward with evenly spaced checkpoints along the way. The only issue seems to be the downpour, really. The rain is unforgiving and the roads easily become unstable and increasingly difficult for the carriage to be drawn through. Hence, there may be more than one occasion where you will be expected to lend a hand in prying out its wheels from a particularly pesky (and muddy) pothole. Or perhaps you will be called upon by a fellow guard to assist in getting a particularly stubborn creature out of the path ahead of you. Seems like it may be a longer journey than you expected. Dirtier, too. While weathering the conditions may have been a bit tiring, this journey isn't too bad, right? Well, maybe not. GROUP A. Once the carriage gets through the worst of the terrain and finally manages to depart from the watchtower, it won't be long until the group is met with a physical roadblock. A large tree trunk will be set down the center of the road, acting as a blockade. But, before the group can react or begin crafting a plan around this obstruction, the carriage will be attacked without warning. At first, it's unclear where the attack comes from or from whom, but you don't have the leisure to deliberate this. You hear one of your fellow guards mention something about bandits frequenting these parts, but maybe there's more to it? Either way, your task is clear: protect the artifact, Nithor's skull, and fight the bandits off. You'll be encouraged to try and capture them so that they may later be turned and questioned by the authorities. GROUP B. With clear motives to restock and collect a few more materials for the carriage, it's evident that the envoy will appear restless to arrive at the second checkpoint. However, despite their unspoken delight at seeing the South Outpost from a distance, it's clear something has gone awry. There will be several hooded figures awaiting them right where the mud path meets the cobblestone of the Outpost's road. Soon, several more of these figures will come to flank them from both sides. While they seem like bandits, at least from their physical appearance, there is something far more polished in their movements. They will be attacking the envoy in concise, practiced formations. For those who are more perceptive, it becomes obvious that they are moving around and acting as decoy to one central figure. This member is likely the "leader" of their group, but no matter how one may try to close the distance between themselves and this mysterious leader, someone will constantly get in the way of that. The fighting also seems to act as a distraction since by the time everything is cleared up... only two things are missing. The leader of this group of bandits and more importantly — Ysverai's heart. NOTE: Those RNG'd to thread out the capture and questioning of the bandits will have starters below. For everyone else that signed up, you will still have the opportunity to capture the assailants even though they were not selected to thread the interrogation; you are free to make up your NPCs with the same basic guideline: they will not reveal their motive or their organization. You may turn them in to authorities (Wyver or Olympia or otherwise) or find creative ways to get rid of them. FINAL OOC NOTE     To reiterate: you may use this log as a general mingle for everything from the May Outline, including all Khalo Village activities. In other words, your top-levels don't necessarily have to be related to the prompts written here. An AC-eligible thread in which your character participates in anything mentioned in the May Outline and/or Khalo Village location page may be submitted for 2 REP POINT FOR EITHER OLYMPIA OR WYVER. SUBMIT THE THREAD FOR OLYMPIA OR WYVER HERE OR HERE RESPECTIVELY BY June 10th 11:59 PM EST. For those who participated in this month's plot-related portion, to receive IC recognition for it, a summary of the thread must be submitted HERE by June 8th 11:59 PM EST. Please direct all queries to the question thread below. Thank you, and have fun! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs ● bestiary taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp ● quest bulletin calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

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SOLDIER 76

[nysan]

[ Soldier 76 wouldn't be wrong to have targeted him - in terms of movement, his actions were notably suspicious. He had stayed behind as the others attacked the convoy, unmoving but watching. And he doesn't make a move until hears word that the heart has been seized from the other group.

That's when 76 might have caught a glimpse of him. With the mission complete, he whips his head free of the now drench hood of his cloak, revealing his piercing, fiery eyes and hair that seem to match in same blood red. He flashes a toothy grin, perhaps meeting eyes with 76, and proceeds cover himself again, turning tail to run while the others were still occupied - and, haha - killed, even. It becomes clear that his move is calculated, at least - sensing that 76 had been staring, it was his duty, too, to keep him distracted. Running away is a sure way of luring him away from the chaos of the skirmish, and he does so much better one-on-one. ]

Hey hey hey hey! [ He's shouting from from ahead, knowing very well the man is chasing him. ] C'mon, faster, faster! I might really escape, you know? — oh, shit!

[ He's already eating his words; the man catches up quickly. ]

All right, you're fast! I get it, I get it!! [ But he doesn't stop running; he continues to speed on ahead - even when it's become rather evident that this chase will end very soon. ]

[personalwar]

[ Given all of the commotion that's been kicked up by the sudden attack on their convoy, it had naturally stood out as strange to 76 when he spotted one figure remaining on the outskirts of all the action. There's a good group of refugees here, plenty of them proficient in combat, so when the figure he'd been eyeing makes a break for it, 76 doesn't hesitate to book it after him.

He's not one to be goaded too much by pointless taunting, but faster is something he can do. He doesn't know if this bandit has any tricks under his sleeve, but so far he seems to run at the pace of a normal human. This should go fine, assuming that 76 doesn't suddenly find himself without his enhancements again.

76 doesn't say anything, just growls as he lunges forward that last foot and reaches out to grab the bandit by the hood of his cloak and yank him backward. The pull might be enough to choke the guy for a second or two.

Having already gotten a good look at his face, 76 is pretty sure that this man wasn't part of the group that abducted him. He doesn't really strike him as a shaman at all, but that doesn't mean there's no connection here. ]

Where the hell do you think you're going?

[nysan]

None of your — gah! [ He finds himself choking when the tail of his cloak is seized; the cloth that once kept his hood secure now threatens his very life. At the very least he's able to the tug the fasteners free and discard the cloak completely. Once again, his face is in view, but his expression barely falters. ]

That hurt, you know!

[ But he knows it's over. The speed of the man is unlike any Wyver he's known - more like a creation from Evras' labs - and that's not even commenting on the strength he possesses. All he can do now is buy more time. ]

You're not human, huh? [ He gestures toward him, grinning wildly still. ] What are you?

[personalwar]

[ When the cloak comes free, 76 discards it, tossing it aside so that it can flutter to the ground. Now that he's got a better look at the man's face, he puts the details to memory. With the red hair, he isn't exactly subtle. If for some reason this guy gets away, he wants to be able to offer a detailed description of him to anyone who'll bother to listen.

Even better if he can take him into custody, though, so 76 closes the distance between them again, getting right up into the guy's face. ]

Not what you should be concerning yourself with right now. [ He isn't the one who has things to answer to, here. He grabs the bandit by the collar, yanking him even closer as the red slit of his visor stares him down. ] Why do you want the skull?

[nysan]

[ The glow of his visor is distracting; he can only focus on the stern tone of his voice to get any sense of his expression. Seems like a serious guy, not fun at all! Why was he stuck with such a stick in the mud?

His opinion of him changes only slightly when he approaches him. He doesn't recoil; keeps seeded in spot, and even straightens his neck for him to grab him. He grunts as he's tugged closer, unfazed and as compliant as a "bandit" could possibly be, all things considered. With their proximity, Nhays can't help but make out the details of the man's face — or what's exposed, anyway. ]

I'm a thief! That's what we do. [ He's not a very good liar, but it isn't as though he's making a great attempt at being convincing. ]

More importantly, that scar. Yikes!

[personalwar]

[ The fact that this bandit isn't putting up more of a fight is definitely strange, and after only a moment of consideration, 76 has to assume that he did this all as a way to distract him from the rest of the action. He keeps his grip firm on the bandit's collar even as he looks back at the carriage; so far it looks like the rest of the refugees are putting up a good fight. ]

And who do you answer to?

[ Somehow 76 doubts that a regular group of thieves would take on a job as high-profile as this one, knowing the risk that would be involved. There has to be more to it, or at least that's what he wants to believe, if only because that might mean he's finally getting a chance at some real answers.

He begins to drag the bandit back toward the carriage. Once all of this is over with, he intends to make sure that at least one of them is taken into custody. There's no telling how much he can get out of him right now, but with time (and some pressure), that might change. ]

[nysan]

Maybe you should beat it out of me!

[ He grows bored of talking, after all, and if his mission is already complete, then he isn't technically going against Boss's orders if he fights, right? Which is why he isn't going to allow himself simply be get dragged back to carriage; after a few paces, he unsheathes his blade from his hip and takes a full swing at him, expecting the man to possess the reflexes to let go of him — lest he desires a severed arm. ]

C'mon, let's fight, show me your powers! [ He's excited, and his expression and tone reflects it perfectly. ] Defeat me, and I'll tell ya everything.

[ He creates some distance between him, assuming a battle stance. ]

It's all over anyway, hahaha!

[personalwar]

[ As soon as 76 hears the sound of a blade sliding out of its sheath, he releases the bandit and darts out of the way. For as irreverent as this guy has seemed so far, he apparently knows how to use a sword. Then again, he wouldn't be a very good criminal if he didn't have some sort of combat know-how.

Somehow 76 doubts that he'll actually stick to this supposed promise of telling him everything if he beats him in a fight, but if he needs to knock him out to get him in cuffs, then so be it.

For a split second he glances down at the gun at his hip. He could shoot him in the kneecap and call it a day, but he doesn't know if he wants to escalate it to that extent; the gunshot would attract a lot of attention. ]

It's all over? What do you mean?

[ Not that he expects to get a real answer. After letting out a breath, 76 charges at the bandit, running at him head-on; once close enough, he aims a punch at his face and then jabs his other elbow at his sword-arm, aiming to make him drop it. ]

[nysan]

[ And he's blessed for that very reason, that the man decides not (yet?) to shoot him. Nhays has never personally wielded projectile weaponry - it's a little too impersonal for his taste - but it's well-known that such a weapon could be disadvantageous for he who prefers close-combat. It's a blessing and... and insult, actually. Going easy, are ya? You might regret that, he's thinking. ]

You think the skull's the only thing we're after? I mean, it's a pretty skull, but what're we gonna do with that junk?!

[ He'll give him that, only because he's finally playing. The first strike of his is calculated, and Nhays is able to evade the impact by canting his neck - he makes the mistake of paying too much attention to that nearly misses the second attempt. He nearly drops his blade in the process, but backs away before he's able to show weakness. ]

C'mon, c'mon, let's play some more!

[personalwar]

[ Maybe what the kid says is actually true, and the skull isn't their real goal here. Or maybe he's just saying that to throw them off and distract them. Again, 76 doesn't think he'll get any real information out of him until they have him in a cell and can take more time to question him.

If nothing else, he finds it hard to believe that a criminal like him wouldn't cave and play some of his hand, if they threaten him or make a deal with him. ]

This isn't a game.

[ 76 pushes forward again, but then feints to the right to try and get around the bandit. Assuming that he can move quickly enough, his aim is to get behind him and pull him into a chokehold. Either way, he barks out another question. ]

Are you affiliated with the shamans?

[nysan]

Isn't it, though?!

[ It's a game to him and only him, and his loyalties are... questionable at best. It's true that he's working under someone, but if he feels like giving information will make things more interesting, then he wouldn't hesitate to. After all, they're long past the point of negotiations and deals - the more time passes, the better they're off.

Nhays isn't quick enough to avoid this movements; 76 is a formidable opponent, well-rounded enough to overpower him, but he's still holding back even after he manages to get him in a chokehold. Nhays barely struggles, but he keeps his blade close by — the blunt of it presses against 76's side, but perhaps he would sense that there is no ill-intent with the gesture. ]

Th-the shamans — [ The works are choked out through the hold on his neck - ] You mean the ones - the ones that roughed you up? Guess you could... say that!

[ He's laughing as he manages to grunt out: ] Hey, you want in on secret, because I like ya? I wasn't playing when I said it's over — th-they, they already got the heart. You know what it does?

[personalwar]

[ This bandit seems to view everything as fun, or interesting, or part of some "game," but maybe 76 can use that to his advantage. If it means that the guy will also be loose-lipped about things, then he'll put up with his attitude.

Only to an extent, though. 76 does feel the flat of the blade press up against his side. He knows how easily it could become more than just a threat, but he doesn't expect the bandit can do much when he's cutting off at least part of his oxygen supply.

Besides, he doesn't feel that interested in being altruistic when the bandit reveals his knowledge that 76 had been among those abducted and tortured. Maybe he wasn't directly involved, but being in the know is almost just as bad.

Then the kid teases him with a "secret," and 76 reaches the end of his rope. With a growl (and one arm still pressing tight into the bandit's windpipe), he kicks at the back of his knees and pushes downward, forcing him to the ground. He shifts his grip around to grab him at the back of his neck and shoves his face into the muddy ground (which is very muddy, with how it's been raining). ]

I don't know, but you're gonna tell me.

[ The group from Olympia had been transporting the heart. They'd already been attacked? ]

[nysan]

[ Nhays falls to his knees with a disgruntled oof - the sudden move causes him to drop the blade at last before he's shoved face-first into the muddy ground. It's met with resistance; he accidentally inhales the dirt through his nose out of surprise, causing him to cough violently against the ground. He's struggling to lift his head. ]

Y'want me to tell you or the ground...?!

[ He's breathless, absolutely in no position to tease and taunt 76 as he has been. In all fairness, if the man wants information, he's gonna have to keep him alive -- ]

Haha— you refugees never know anything! ...But you still stick your noses everywhere. Boss doesn't like that, y'know? All this — peace treaty bullshit, it's fucking lame!

[ Suspecting he's due for another shove against the mud, he cheerfully exclaims: ]

Hey, hey, you're gonna kill me after I've told you everything, right?! Do you have it in ya, big bro?

[personalwar]

[ Once the sword falls free, 76 adjusts his position to kick at it, shoving it further away from them in case the bandit gets any funny ideas. All things considered, he hasn't put up that much of a fight. This is meant as a distraction, 76 is sure, but that doesn't mean that he can't get something out of it. Besides, apparently the heart is what had been more important to the bandits, and that's something their caravan had little control over.

It's hard for them as refugees to know all that much when they're not told anything, but 76 holds back on that retort. The bandit speaks of a boss, which means he does answer to someone, which is unsurprising. It's hard to imagine this kid hatching any sort of plan on his own. ]

Depends on how much you cooperate.

[ 76 seizes the bandit by the shoulders and then flips him over so that they're face-to-face, with 76 crouching over him. In actuality, he doesn't have any intentions of killing him, but he doesn't need to say that. He doesn't know what this "big bro" crap is about, but it's easy enough to ignore. ]

So taking the heart — it's about getting in the way of the treaty, is that it?

[nysan]

If we wanted to prevent it, we'd have done other shit - or, actually, we - kinda did already, huh?

[ Nhays keeps his eyes focused on the glowing red slit of his visor, grinning but it falters in attempt to catch his breath. There's mud all over his face and hair, slowly washed away from the continual downpour of rain - and he clears away the urge to cough the water that's found its way into his lungs. Now disarmed, he assumes compliance... well, not that he's shown any sign of hostility to begin with. ]

But nah — s'not about getting in the way...! Think about it big bro, think! [ "Big bro" being a tease here - he knows for a fact that this man hates his guts from personality alone, but how better to play that up by feigning a sense of familiarity? ] Ysverai's heart is the last of its kind! Pure dragon and still beating. If someone were to harness that power, it'd be the end of everything! Olympia, Wyver — Ysverai would decimate them all!

[ That was perhaps the information 76 was looking for, and feeling confident with the intel he possesses, he dares to rise to his elbows, glaring right up to the older man. ]

Do you know who my boss is? Where he's going? What he's going to do when the ritual is complete?! Would it make you feel better if you knew what I'm about to tell you isn't going to change anything?!

[personalwar]

[ Is that another admittance than this group of bandits has some connection with the shamans? It's getting harder and harder not to just beat this kid's head in, but 76 knows that this is one situation where he can't let his anger get the best of him. There's a line he still isn't so ready to cross, even now.

A pure dragon heart, still beating. Apparently this heart is far more valuable than they could have guessed, if it's true that it has the power to put an end to entire nations. How it's capable of that remains unclear, but 76 is getting a lot out of the bandit. He can confer with others later to try and piece together what of it is actually true.

When the bandit gets a little bolder, 76 frowns and seizes him by the throat, shoving him back down. Maybe the kid's right and they're already screwed, but 76 has faced tough odds before. He isn't going to assume they've lost until he knows it with certainty. ]

If none of it matters, then why not just tell me everything? What's this ritual?

[ If the stakes are as high as they sound, then this is something they need to act on immediately. ]

[nysan]

[ The slam back to the ground feels like the final nail on his coffin. 76 has no intention of killing him here, he doesn't seem to have it in him at all, but he considers how boring it's going to be spending the rest of his life inside a cell... hah! If there'd still be a cell left to speak of when Ysverai's done with this world! ]

You're right... you're right!

[ Nhays relaxes his form, attempting to get as comfortable as he's able, given his current predicament. ]

I can't give you the exact details of the ritual, but — [ He shifts, his voice rough from the pressure against his throat. His tone takes a shift as he resigns to speak of Ysverai. ] B-but, I can tell you where. At the peak of Namarak Mountain, as long as his heart remains beating... he will rise again!

[personalwar]

[ The resigned nature of the kid's body language speaks volumes. He really believes that there's no stopping the plan that's already been set into motion, and maybe he's right, but maybe he isn't. 76 slowly pulls his hands back, not wanting to suffocate him into unconsciousness when he still has more to say. He is straddling his thighs, though, putting most of his weight on the bandit so that he can't easily wriggle away.

Why does it seem like everything ends up tying back to that mountain? First the experiments in the labyrinth, then 76's own abduction into the network of caves up there, and now this. To say nothing of the pact he formed with Ana, at the summit. ]

You want to revive this dragon, is that the idea? [ It sounds impossible, but 76 has reached a point where he'll believe just about anything. He can't afford to doubt, not here. ] And who's your boss? I need a name.

[nysan]

[ His legs have started to lose feeling from the weight upon them, but better that having that grip around his neck. He breathes as though he's never taken a breath in his life, his chest rising and falling.

He flashes a smirk - yes, that is the plan, and it's already in motion. His expression alone should answer that. As for a name — ]

Guess it doesn't matter anymore, does it...? The guy you're looking for — it's Rasyc. Shanrian's son. He'll be there, at the Summit. Say hi to him when you see him, will ya?

[personalwar]

[ Rasyc. Of course. That more or less confirms that this group of supposed bandits is actually the same group that had been behind the kidnappings, if everything that Cain had learned is to be trusted. 76 sees no reason why he would lie, and all of the pieces have fallen into place way too neatly. ]

Who knows, maybe you'll get the chance to say hi to him too.

[ Because 76 isn't just going to let this kid get away. Who knows why he decided to join up with a such a radical group, but if he played any part in those abductions, then there's no way that 76 is going to just let him go.

He beings to stand, grabbing the bandit by the shoulders to haul him up as well. ]