• HACK SPLUTTER COUGH • [ This is not the first time that Vex'ahlia has ever witnessed a city brought to ruin. But it was nothing quite like this. This was like a story from nightmare, tales of yor that were kept in sealed tomes by Vasselheim's horde of religious assholes, of magic best left forgotten to a bygone age.
But she has not forgotten the sharp CRACK of Allura's tower, how it had bent, crumpling in on itself, before cascading to the ground. The screams of the dying and the afeared, the crush of bodies as citizens fled the destruction wrought in the Cloudtop District and beyond across the city.
It is the frightened faces of the children that get to her most, a hand outstretched as she struggles against tidal suction from the tears in reality, before something else takes hold, plucking her from the watery cataclysm to deposit her on sandy ground, landing hard on her shoulder before she rolls aside. Close by, there's a sodden CLANK as Trinket is unceremoniously deposited beside her, and as one, both begin to hack and cough. They may be out of the water, but the water is not out of them. It leaves her dizzy, and it takes a few minutes for her to set herself upright.
Holy shit. ]
Anyone...else...alive? [sound off, if you please.]
• A Merfish Bowl • [ Once she's found her land legs, rather than sea ones, Vex isn't long in staggering along to better assess where she's landed: a field, specifically the one overlooking the path down to a certain lake's beach.
And there below, several dark shapes becomes immediately obvious, with one drawing her attention immediately: one of the mermaids from the Palace flops helplessly, moored ashore and barely crawling across grass and gravel towards the water. Even from here, Vex can almost make out their raspy gasps, and beyond them - others. Some big, some small, and all trying to make it to the water.
Almost immediately, she's moving to give aid - something it feels she's been doing endlessly for weeks. Her bear far slower to rise and gamble after her, but anyone near by may hear her voice - gravely, but loud: ]
HEY! Someone! Help me!
• Bonfire Vigil • [ Later. Much later.
It is the first night under actual stars rather than under water. Rather than retreat to her outdoor hammock and tent by the forest, Vex has returned to that field. Using the fishing spears she'd obtained in the now-lost world, she has cut into the turf, digging and setting aside the top layer until a wide pit has formed.
Trinket hauls in branches, some big, some small, all wood suitable for their needs, and soon enough a large fire is started, a bright orange light between temple and lake. And plenty of space around it for any company who might like to join a ranger and her bear. ]
Vex - OTA
[ This is not the first time that Vex'ahlia has ever witnessed a city brought to ruin. But it was nothing quite like this. This was like a story from nightmare, tales of yor that were kept in sealed tomes by Vasselheim's horde of religious assholes, of magic best left forgotten to a bygone age.
But she has not forgotten the sharp CRACK of Allura's tower, how it had bent, crumpling in on itself, before cascading to the ground. The screams of the dying and the afeared, the crush of bodies as citizens fled the destruction wrought in the Cloudtop District and beyond across the city.
It is the frightened faces of the children that get to her most, a hand outstretched as she struggles against tidal suction from the tears in reality, before something else takes hold, plucking her from the watery cataclysm to deposit her on sandy ground, landing hard on her shoulder before she rolls aside. Close by, there's a sodden CLANK as Trinket is unceremoniously deposited beside her, and as one, both begin to hack and cough. They may be out of the water, but the water is not out of them. It leaves her dizzy, and it takes a few minutes for her to set herself upright.
Holy shit. ]
Anyone...else...alive? [sound off, if you please.]
• A Merfish Bowl •
[ Once she's found her land legs, rather than sea ones, Vex isn't long in staggering along to better assess where she's landed: a field, specifically the one overlooking the path down to a certain lake's beach.
And there below, several dark shapes becomes immediately obvious, with one drawing her attention immediately: one of the mermaids from the Palace flops helplessly, moored ashore and barely crawling across grass and gravel towards the water. Even from here, Vex can almost make out their raspy gasps, and beyond them - others. Some big, some small, and all trying to make it to the water.
Almost immediately, she's moving to give aid - something it feels she's been doing endlessly for weeks. Her bear far slower to rise and gamble after her, but anyone near by may hear her voice - gravely, but loud: ]
HEY! Someone! Help me!
• Bonfire Vigil •
[ Later. Much later.
It is the first night under actual stars rather than under water. Rather than retreat to her outdoor hammock and tent by the forest, Vex has returned to that field. Using the fishing spears she'd obtained in the now-lost world, she has cut into the turf, digging and setting aside the top layer until a wide pit has formed.
Trinket hauls in branches, some big, some small, all wood suitable for their needs, and soon enough a large fire is started, a bright orange light between temple and lake. And plenty of space around it for any company who might like to join a ranger and her bear. ]
• WILDCARD •
[ dealer's choice ]