Endgame: The Fish, The Crow, & The Dragon (Sess, Verus)

GEAR

Administrator
Staff member
Jun 15, 2018
1,165
1
18
#1
Beneath the Lunar Surface

<So... That young man has the Sphere.>

Ze'ev tapped his foot irritably on the platform overhanging the Crossgate. Before him, the massive form of Ganeden loomed in motionless repose. Occasionally, the chamber above shook, sending granules of moon-dust tumbling onto his shoulder, which he brushed off with the swipe of a gloved hand. Much as he wanted to join the festivities above... He had no dog in this fight.

<And you, then... Are the Reactor of the Dreaming Twin Fishes.>

"That's what I just said, yeah." He said hurriedly, folding his arms.

"And, as I was saying: your stupid plan won't work."

He cleared his throat. Possibly a moon dust allergy? Regardless, some things needed to be said. Ones he hadn't been able to utter in the company of Aberon, or Sedna for that matter.

"Or I should say, it doesn't work. Not where I came from, at least."

Ganeden regarded him in stunned silence. It had been a long time since someone had spoken to her with such arrogance. Fortunately, the wheels that were its mind turned slowly enough for Ze'ev to continue hurriedly, raising his voice in preparation for the psychic onslaught that was its "speech".

"Selene, the Masyaf - dies fighting that abomination from the dark. So do you. The Sphere's power isn't enough."

Another long silence. A little creative embellishment on his part, he had to admit - after all, he'd only witnessed those events in passing, much like from the passenger window of a car going a hundred miles per hour, but he'd been right on almost everything else so far. And, he wasn't lying per se, it really was stupid plan.

<Then... all is for naught.> - Blue hues filled his vision, words and emotions like a sombre piano filling his mind

<All that is left, is to await our demise.>

The Outsider shrugged his shoulders, as though the distress of the Godlike entity had nothing to do with him.

"Fine, you do that." He said, giving a grunt.

"You talk a big game about trusting the humans, but you know what? You're really not that different from him."

As Ganeden once again lapsed into shocked silence, Ze'ev jabbed an index finger skyward, as another rattle went through the Lunar soil from a distant explosion. His voice rang as clear as a clarion, echoing off the walls in the quiet.

"They're fighting and dying up there for what they believe. Fightin' to stay alive. And what are you doing? Cowering under here, saying you're not interfering, trying to be so above it all."

A new, uncertain emotion radiated from Ganeden: a palette of moods, colors shifting like a kaleidoscope as it turned the words of the small human (or whatever he was) over and over in its mind. As if to conclude his monologue, the young man shoved his hands in his pockets, and turned on his heel to leave. Whether he got vaporized or not from behind, he barely even cared anymore.

"Practice what you preach." He said, waving a hand behind him; "Don't make the same mistake as Geber."

<What is it that you want?>

The question was clear, and cutting, causing him to pause Before him, hunched over was the dark, bladed silhouette of the Shurouga, its masked countenance entirely at home as though it were a massive bat in an equally massive cave. A satisfied smirk crossed his features as he shrugged.

"Power, mostly." He said, airily.

"I'm the only one who can change the course of events."

<Alone?>

"Worked for that guy. Maybe destiny isn't set in stone after all."

And with that, he was gone - vanishing back into Luna's depths, to where Sedna was residing as a guest. Leaving the brooding Goddess behind him, Ze'ev watched his own reflection on the mirror... and gave a cold smile.

(Be grateful, punk.) He thought, feeling his teeth set on edge at the thought of that blue machine - the Gemini holder. Destiny had cheated him once.

It would not do so again.

(When we see each other next... I won't lose.)
 

Hitura Rael

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 29, 2018
326
1
18
36
Northeast Ohio
www.worldanvil.com
#2
The underground bunker Selene had provided Aberon's disciples was far too grandiose. The room was spacious, easily able to accommodate five people comfortably for a time. The beds rose up off the floor, providing ample space under for storage. The mattresses themselves were thick and soft, covered in layers of fabric neatly folded and pressed to be presentable in rich colors. There were several pillows, stacked at the head of each bed. It was cozy for lounging, she would admit. There wasn't much else to do but lounge down here either. She laid upon the bed she had claimed as her own, belly down with a pillow to her chest, her head perched at the foot of the bed.

Her dark eyes stared at the door, half lidded with a distant gaze as she stared off into space. She was bored enough for it to be exhausting. She had briefly pondered on the rest of the room, the tables and chairs of wood, the second most fancy one she had seen besides back home at the castle. Straight legged, flat surface, polished, slightly dusty. Yes it was a very nice table indeed, far more functional than what she would think the King's were back on Cresentia. No fancy carvings or over fancy decorative objects. Just sturdy and usable. The chairs were uncomfortable after a while, and cold, but neat things of metal that folded. Not much else populated the room. There was the knight that came with them of course, but she wasn't about to talk to them. She was far below station for that.

Thinking of it all, she missed the simplicities of home. She missed her underwater room, her shelf, her head rest... The comfort in a small room fit for one person comfortably, the serene feel of water over her skin, not feeling dried out... Boy did she miss not feeling dried out. She fought back a sigh, drawing it out to a slow release of her breath. Perhaps focusing elsewhere would be better. But what else was there to distract her? Ze'ev had stormed in looking like he had been dragged out and tossed around a bit by a whale- something she'd pay to see honestly- then stormed right back out once he was presentable while muttering about revenge. Weird little antagonistic creature. She didn't like him. He gave off a bad feeling that rankled every last inch of her lateral line.

She closed her eyes, her head swimming lightly with the threat of sleep. Ze'ev wasn't the only thing causing her discomfort of late. Odd dreams plagued her, leaving her feel as if she hadn't rested at all. They weren't constant, only when they were near thin boundaries. Maybe she should talk to Aberon about them? No... She could not bother him with trivial matters such as this. He was a god and she a lowly acolyte, not even a full priestess. The rituals to pass that duty were never completed thanks to Aberon's return. It was just as well, Amka could continue her duties as the priestess and council their people better than she could at the moment. That left the Dragon- above her station and hardly fitting to even be in the same room-- and.. Ze'ev. She shuddered at the mere thought. She'd rather bite off her own tongue and replace it with a parasite than consult with the spindly pale man. ... Where WAS that seagull splatter anyway?
 

VeraC

Member
Staff member
Jun 18, 2018
314
1
18
#3
Val’Sentaph had been rather restless in the bunker along with Sedna. She was ordered to go along with Aberon and the other two and watch over them all, but save for their scuffle with the Ganeden, it was overall a rather uneventful journey. Even more so, Ze’ev and Aberon had gone off somewhere in the Chaos of everything with little word of where they were going. Just what exactly was her purpose in coming along? She would’ve been much better serving as guard for the sanctuary back in Perindor.

“Hah…”

She gave a sigh and slouched into the couch, her spear resting on her shoulder with her right arm wrapped around its shaft.

“I hope you all weren’t too bored while I was away.”

A rather aloof voice came into the room as Aberon nonchalantly entered out of thin air, emerging next to a chair and leaning onto the arm of it.

“There was a pesky bug that needed to be swatted outside. Luckily pest control was on the job and managed to help handle it.”

He gave a grin and a shrug and took a seat in the chair, shifting his weight to one side and placing the side of his face on his hand as he made a somewhat contemplative face, perhaps unusual for him.

Gragios was already dead and now Volkruss has been taken out of the picture as well, which just leaves Lasfitot for taking care of the abomination byproducts. Once they are done I can focus my attention on the Giants. With the power I gain from them I should be well on my way back to my prior form. Or so I should be.

The future was shaping up for the Deity who had been imprisoned for millenia, his goal quite possibly graspable, if but with a few more steps.

Though that man in the other machine is possibly an issue, whatever he seemed to do may not shape well for things to come. Perhaps ‘twould be best to return to Crescentia and see just what happened. Perhaps Ze’ev may prove useful in tracking down the last God. He does seem to be out for the Spheres as well anyhow.

Aberon crossed his legs and leaned back into the chair, taking a breath and looking at his hand, raising it above his head.

This body certainly is limiting.
 

GEAR

Administrator
Staff member
Jun 15, 2018
1,165
1
18
#4
Whunch.

Something skimmed through the open doorway, landing neatly between the other two on a table, where it skidded to a halt. Instantly, the smell of baking bread would fill the room, along with the tantalizing scent of rich, savory filling. Were the former lord of the realm so inclined to open it, he would have found within a pink cardboard box containing a pile of steaming buns.

"Would you believe there was a restaurant open during all this?"

Ze'ev spoke conversationally as he stepped across the threshold, giving a lazy salute to Aberon and a nod in the direction of Sedna. He'd accomplished what he wanted for the day - now it was just a case of finding out what their "glorious leader" had in mind next. As if possessed by an afterthought, he looked back at Sedna, adding with a sly grin:

"They're chicken. Don't worry."
 

Hitura Rael

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 29, 2018
326
1
18
36
Northeast Ohio
www.worldanvil.com
#5
Sedna stared at the box as it came to a halt, perplexed. It certainly smelled interesting. Nothing she had ever smelled before. It almost smelled good in a stomach churning way. It reminded her of when her father brought home fried Nomura from a nearby village. She had liked it and her stomach got over it's unsure flip flops once she actually tried it.

She moved to the table to procure herself a bun. She poked at one for a moment, slightly amused, maybe offput by the soft semi sticky glob before taking it out and examining it further. She turned her head back to Ze'ev with a confused blink, "Chicken... as opposed to.... what? Why would I worry?" She narrowed her dark eyes at him, "Is this another fish joke? You know my people near exclusively eat fish, right? We live IN the water, not on land." Her growling stomach reminded her that she had not eaten since... When? Before the migration for the ritual? That sounded about right. She tapped her fingers on the bun. Should she be concerned about the date and observe the ritualistic fast still? Or should she ignore it now that she was in the actual presence of her god.

Well. Might as well eat. No reason to observe a ritual fast of the ritual was too damn late. She took a bite and returned to her seat. "Thank you, Ze'ev." She sighed, almost grudgingly, "I appreciate your hard work to bring us food. I apologize for snapping, I am sure my mood will level out after I am not dry and uncomfortable."
 

VeraC

Member
Staff member
Jun 18, 2018
314
1
18
#6
Aberon looked at the contents of the box with some curiosity, perhaps the idea of ‘meat buns’ simply not within his database of knowledge. He reached into the box and grabbed one, taking a swift bite of the food and chewing leisurely, taking in the taste of the bun in its fullness.

“Hmm… Quite the delicacy this is.”

He gave a smile and took another bite.

“Compared to the overall sorry state this world is in, at least the cuisine has improved greatly over the past 2,000 years.”

It was something of a half-joke/half-truth in his tone. Perhaps to one who needed not food or other sustenance to remain living in this world, the idea of ‘gourmet cuisine’ was something foreign to Aberon, as it was hardly something necessary to him. Nonetheless, it was enjoyable, even if seemingly pointless. Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t eaten anything since re-entering this world, so perhaps ‘eating’ was an entirely new experience to him.

“Yes, a restaurant open amidst a civil war, quite the peculiarity.”

He mused along with Ze’ev’s words.

“I can assume you’ve taken care of your business, yes?”

It was doubtful that Ze’ev simply went out to buy food; he likely had something more important to do whilst he was out and about, especially during the mild revolution that was occurring in the Capitol. At the same time though, he cared little about the details of what he did or where he went, and was rather simply making small talk with his compatriot.

“And has your relaxation been pleasurable?”

He turned to Sedna, whom he guessed scant left the residence they were given, quite literally a fish out of water, that girl.

“Once we’re done eating, I’d like to discuss our next plan of action.”

Aberon grabbed another meat bun and took a bite out of it. It seemed he was gaining a liking to that kind of food.
 

GEAR

Administrator
Staff member
Jun 15, 2018
1,165
1
18
#7
"You're wel... come?" Said Ze'ev uncertainly as Sedna unexpectedly veered off course. Perhaps the crow-man was simply thrown off by her attitude, even he lifted a bun to his own face to tuck in. He nodded to Aberon at his questions, yet elaborated little. There was no need for the big guy to know he'd been dealing with James, let alone Ganeden. Part of him wondered just what kind of ripple effects his actions would have on the timeline this instance... but part of him had long given up trying to plan out ever single detail.

Yes.

So long as he had the Sphere of the Dreaming Twin Fishes, nothing would be out of his reach. None in this war were as capable as him - and he intended to prove it. The first thing to do would be to liberate the Scales... and for that, he was going to need a little assistance.

"Lay it on us, my liege." He said idly, kicking back in a chair to balance it haphazardly on two legs as he regarded Aberon.
 

Hitura Rael

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 29, 2018
326
1
18
36
Northeast Ohio
www.worldanvil.com
#8
Sedna turned her dark eyes to Aberon. She chewed on the bun in her hand for a few moments, debating how best to answer him. It would do no good to lie, but not lying might hurt his feelings. Was it appropriate to assuage your god about your comfort? Was it appropriate to answer anything other than positive? What if he took offense to either answer? What if he'd be offended if she answered at all? He could well abandon her here on dry land, far from home. She was shocked he hadn't after the incident in Ganeden's chamber, though she couldn't remember half of what went on down there.

She thought far too long. She swallowed the bite she had over chewed and quietly answered, "It has been... um... an experience?" There. A neutral answer. No way that would upset him, right? She focused on Ze'ev instead. It was far easier to deal with him than Aberon. It helped she liked him just a bit more than she liked Aberon. "It is a sincere thank you. My people will eat our own if necessary. On occasion we have eaten humans as well. Ones we killed in combat or died in the water of course... So don't die. I'd hate to have to eat you. You're too scrawny."
 

VeraC

Member
Staff member
Jun 18, 2018
314
1
18
#9
“The first priority of business, we are returning to Crescentia. I had a run in with a rather rickety, old sack of bones who seemed to be interested in lighting a fire, one way or another. I’d like to check on the situation there and drop off Ms. Val’sentaph as well; I’m sure she’d like to return to her liege after this ever-so eventful journey.”

He spoke quite sarcastically, shifting his gaze between the three others present. His eyes fell last on the half-dragon woman who gave a somewhat bored, yet disappointed look, eating one of the meat buns.

“From there, I’d like to turn out attention to some pesky rats who seem bent on trying to invade this planet from some foreign corner of this universe. Or maybe another.”

While it was only a vague sense, in some way the planet was crying out in response to the growing influence of the Ruina and the Negative energy polluting the world.

Saving this planet will be a long and arduous journey, but frankly this is my duty, and perhaps a punishment of some sort, for not doing things properly the first time.”

It was unlike him to speak in such an honest tone, but perhaps in his mind it was only halfly so. While he saw the tools he made as defective, perhaps some fault laid in him that he was the one who made them as such. He failed to put in the proper precautions so that they would turn and betray him. Nonetheless, it was very much a case that if someone else doesn’t do it right, it's just better to do it yourself. And to be able to do that, he first must regain his strength. Perhaps there is some method to doing that in the Ruina.

It would be a new experience for sure.
 

GEAR

Administrator
Staff member
Jun 15, 2018
1,165
1
18
#10
Ze'ev's expression turned in... interesting ways as Sedna spoke casually about her species cannibalism, as though he were attempting to keep a neutral face whilst chewing an old boot. The stranger listened as Aberon spoke, nodding along, offering little in the way of commenatary as usual - but when he opened his mouth at last, it was not to deliver the usual stream of bootlicking platitudes.

"Sure, we'll take her back." He said, rummaging around in the box almost absent mindedly before selecting a round, puffy white specimen. The ceiling rattled again, and he took a moment to dust its surface off from the chunks of debris and dust that alighted on its surface.

"However, Lord Aberon... I'd like to borrow Sedna for something first." He added, "There's... a small matter that needs my attention out by the Colonies. It won't take too long."

To be fair, it wasn't as if he had any choice but to agree. Without Shurouga, the trek back would be... arduous, to say the least, and the man's eyes met Aberon's own as he chewed his bun, thoughtfully. There wasn't any trace of malice in his expression, it seemed, only... determination, as though a spark had been lit within him that was causing Ze'ev to take the situation before them that much more seriously.

"Following that, I'd prefer to remain... at large, shall we say. With all due respect, I am more useful to you a free man than a jailbird."

Not, he thought again to himself, that he had an intention of letting the Aquarius Reactor imprison him. Nothing could hold him for any measure of time, so long as he had the Shurouga at his back - he would return to her side when the moment was ripe, and not a second sooner.

To reap what had long ago been sown.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Hitura Rael

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 29, 2018
326
1
18
36
Northeast Ohio
www.worldanvil.com
#11
Sedna flashed Ze'ev a toothy smile, "Come now, it's not like we eat each other daily. You just eat what you kill and we do unfortunately have warring tribes. The sea is not kind and is full of fish, which we eat. It is like you eating birds or those four legged things with the dangling pink bits..." His reactions to simple truths of her kind were always amusing. Humans didn't have much of a stomach for the bestial and barbaric nature of living underwater. Not that she had much of a stomach for their ways either. Their sexual characteristics still confused her. Land dwellers... She shook her head and focused on listening to Aberon and chewing on her food.

Sedna's eyes lit up at the mention of returning. "Perhaps we could visit my tribe as well, so I may put on different, non ritual clothing and rehydrate a bit..." The ceremonial garb she was stuck in was quite uncomfortable. Everything the priesthood did when it came to rituals was borderline torture as far as she was concerned. It was too restricting in her movement and too small on her.

Her eyes widened in surprise with the admission of not doing things right. A god admitting to being wrong. NOW she could die a happy being. It would be a fine thing to revel in for... all of three seconds. There it was, dashed against the rocks like a wave... Ze'ev the party pooper pooping all over the party. Her shoulders drooped at the request to borrow her, as if she were a possession of Aberon's. Even if she technically was she was RIGHT HERE!

"Could we not do Aberon's thing first? Or at least find something similar to my people's materials to make something a little more comfortable and freeing?" She chewed on the last of her bun a moment, "Though I suppose I could always just go naked..." It wasn't like her people had anything vaguely resembling sexual traits like humans and she assumed dragons. They really only wore the coverings as means of protecting themselves and keeping others comfortable. She was sure it'd get a rise out of Ze'ev and likely some form of agreement.