{"id":1722,"date":"2016-06-08T08:14:04","date_gmt":"2016-06-08T12:14:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jeezjosie.com\/blog\/?p=1722"},"modified":"2016-03-09T21:21:58","modified_gmt":"2016-03-10T01:21:58","slug":"rhiallis-a-battle-yet-remains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jeezjosie.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/rhiallis-a-battle-yet-remains\/","title":{"rendered":"Rhiallis: A Battle Yet Remains"},"content":{"rendered":"

      Today\u2019s snippet, titled \u201cA Battle Yet Remains\u201d, is a piece I wrote about my PC in Mark’s new (Good) Pathfinder Campaign.
\n      Be forewarned, there may be mature themes and naughty language below.
\n– \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 –
\n      \t\u201cApproaching,\u201d Ezekiel whispered, nodding with his chin. \u201cThere.\u201d
\n      \tRhiallis and Sadie looked. \u201cNot Korael or Cole,\u201d the hin said. \u201cBut from Vilareth Ford, or that direction at least.\u201d
\n      \tShe bit her lower lip in thought. A woman, it seemed, with a lithe figure and a graceful step, was moving toward them. How queer<\/em>, Rhiallis thought, her hand gripping Radiance\u2019s hilt, to see a lone figure in the \u2018Wound, approaching a group the size of ours, intimidating as we are, with no trepidation. No fear. She must be quite powerful in her own right. But\u2026 who are you, dear girl, and are you friend or foe?<\/em>
\n      \tShe wore dark clothes, well-cut and tailored, with a deep hood. Her eyes were concealed, and most of her face, making it difficult for Rhiallis to read her expression. When she was close enough, Rhiallis lifted her shield-arm and presented her palm. Nothing. Thank Iomedae for that much, at least. She is not tainted with evil.<\/em>
\n      \t\u201cHail.\u201d
\n      \t\u201cGreetings. This is an unusual place to meet a new face.\u201d
\n      \tHer voice was nearly lost in the evening breeze, harsh and whistling. \u201cIt is, yes. My name is Miranda and I have been looking for you. I was sent to lend you aid.\u201d
\n      \t\u201cSent?\u201d Aimsley peered around Rhiallis\u2019 shoulder. \u201cSent by who?\u201d
\n      \t\u201cKamilo Dann.\u201d
\n      \tThe name of the Commander at Vilareth Ford instantly relaxed her and she gave what she hoped was a welcoming smile. \u201cWell met, then, Miranda. Kamilo Dann is a friend of the Valorous Order.
\n      \t\u201cI am Rhiallis Ondrash Corweir. This is Aimsley Keevy. There, Ezekiel Soltolano, Tomn Parris, and-\u201d Rhiallis paused, glancing about. \u201cSadie Millbridge.\u201d
\n      \tMiranda nodded at each name, then frowned, unable to see a fifth person. From her thighs came a small, brash voice. \u201cI love your boots!\u201d
\n      \t\u201cWell met, everyone.\u201d
\n      \tTom Parris gave the newcomer a long, critical look. Rhiallis noted that she woman did not wear much by way of armor or protective gear and unlike most of those one might meet in the \u2018Wound, she did not bristle with weapons. \u201cWhat sort of help might you offer us, my good lady?\u201d
\n      \t\u201cI have a great deal of relevant knowledge. And a rather powerful affinity for things of an arcane nature.\u201d
\n      \t\u201cOh, excellent. Perhaps you and Aimsley-\u201d
\n      \t\u201cAs I was saying,\u201d Aimsley began again, her voice a bit haughtier than normal. \u201cIf we cut back toward the Ford slightly, we can intercept Jesker at the tomb before proceeding through the Weeping Hills to the area the dragon- er, dragonesque beast was last seen.\u201d
\n      \tEzekiel cracked his knuckles, tossing his glorious mane of golden hair. \u201cA bad priest or a dragon. Which is more pressing?\u201d
\n      \t\u201cThe problem is that they\u2019re both pressing,\u201d Tom Parris said.
\n      \t\u201cAnd time is of the essence. Or so Kamilo lead me to believe.\u201d Miranda rubbed her chin in thought. \u201cSo, which way?\u201d
\n      \t\u201cThe dragon?\u201d
\n      \tSadie made a face. \u201cNo, Jesker. That pervy prophet needs a spanking.\u201d
\n      \tRhiallis looked down at the map Sadie had carefully labeled. \u201cJesker first. Rather than double back. Agreed?\u201d
\n      \tThere was a moment of silence, then the six of them nodded in unison and the decision was made. Rhiallis smiled inwardly as her friend rolled up the map and tucked it away. They broke their make-shift camp quickly and got back to the drudgery of a long march.
\n      \tWith only five – no, we\u2019re back to six now<\/em>, she reminded herself – bodies in their ranks, the road seemed somehow lonelier.
\n      \tShe would miss the cheerful bickering from Korael and Sadie, their weird-but-affectionate friendship was reassuring to her, and Cole\u2019s quiet calm. But the two had chosen to take on an important mission of their own; one way or another, come Hells or high water, they were going to find a priest who was capable of performing the resurrection ritual to restore Mira – and Graves, Mytra, Celeste, Seraphina, and perhaps even Viggo – to life. Their absence was profoundly felt.<\/p>\n

* * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

      \t\u201cShh!\u201d
\n      \tSadie froze, gesturing for all those behind her to stop.
\n      \tThe entire line stopped, ears straining to hear whatever had caught their scout\u2019s attention. Rhiallis heard it then, a terrible, howling scream of agony. It chilled her blood and she clenched her hand, sending a silent prayer to Iomedae for mercy.
\n      \t\u201cWhat is that?\u201d one of her friends whispered. \u201cHow far?\u201d
\n      \tSadie motioned to indicate that she was going to move ahead and see what awaited them. She withdrew a wand and tapped Rhiallis with it. Inside her skull, as her friend crept ahead, she heard Sadie\u2019s voice.
\n      \tOkay Rhi – I\u2019m going up there. You guys stay back here<\/em>. There was a long pause. Sadie had wrapped herself in shadow and was invisible to Rhiallis\u2019 keen eyes. Suddenly, the halfling\u2019s voice returned. Oh, by Desna\u2019s Wing, what the fuck are they doing to her? Rhi\u2026 Rhi there are demons here, big ones, with vulture heads and molting feathers and big hooks on their feet and – and.. they\u2019re ripping her apart. Describe them to Aimsley and Tom. Maybe they can tell us what kind they are. Oh sick\u2026 I\u2019m gonna hurk, Rhi. Even a hag doesn\u2019t deserve that.<\/em>
\n      \t\u201cDemons,\u201d she whispered to her friends. \u201cWith vulture heads, she says, and wings with molting feathers. They\u2019re torturing hags. Sadie\u2019s coming back – but she wants to know, do you know what we\u2019re dealing with here?\u201d
\n      \tAimsley frowned, Tom Parris scratched his cheek, Miranda closed her eyes. The three of them thought for a moment, then each shook their head in turn. She glanced to Ezekiel who merely shrugged.
\n      \tI feel like I should know, but no – Sadie, no one is sure. Maybe once we see them\u2026 but they sound familiar. <\/em>
\n      \tSadie popped up at Rhiallis\u2019 side and spoke aloud. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to cast any protective spells guys, do it now. We want as much surprise as possible with these things. There\u2019s three of them – and one hag – that I could see. Oh, and one of them has lots of mirror images of himself floating around him.\u201d
\n      \t\u201cDamn.\u201d
\n      \tRhiallis and Ezekial shared the same thought and both called upon Iomedae\u2019s holy blessing to enchant their blades. Radiance, the golden longsword that had once belonged to the legendary paladin Yaniel, and the gleaming two-hander that normally rested across Ezekiel\u2019s back, began to shimmer with a silvery haze.
\n      \t\u201cBodiis tiid, wuappede med masek. Faal Rah do Lu bolaav mii nelom, ko daar un tiid do praag<\/em>,\u201d Aimsley\u2019s incantation changed the weave of time itself; each of the party seemed to be moving at an advanced rate though the world continued on normally.
\n      \tSo enchanted, the Valorous Order charged over the crest, racing toward the hut at the bottom of the valley where three monstrous bird-headed demons engaged in horrific acts of brutality. They had finished with one; a pile of meticulously dismembered body parts had been arranged nearby. The second was limp, barely even conscious. Her saggy body had been systematically pricked, poked, sliced, and slit; even at a glance, Rhiallis was certain she had nearly exsanguinated right there in the dirt.
\n      \tVrocks, she knew it, immediately upon seeing them. They had seen one in the mauve flames beneath the swarm cavern before reaching Drezen. And then again, inside Drezen, protecting the entrance. They had emitted terrible disease-ridden spores. She shuddered violently, recalling how those purple vines had begun sprouting from Mira\u2019s flesh and prayed that they would not infect her friends again today.
\n      \t\u201cEEEEEeeeEEEE-YAAAAAH!\u201d Sadie\u2019s battlecry as she rode Ezekiel\u2019s shoulders into battle was infectious. The acrobatic hin leapt from his shoulders, somersaulting over the beast\u2019s molting head to land at its feet. Ezekiel\u2019s blade tore into the demon a heartbeat before Sadie stabbed him one, two, three in quick succession.
\n      \tTom Parris let loose a barrage of arrows an instant later; the first of the Vrocks dropped to the ground in a gory puddle. All three arrows had buried themselves in the demon\u2019s head; one shaft quivered in each of his eye sockets, the third was planted deep in his throat. Rhiallis barely had time to register the skill behind those shots as she reached her own enemy and swung. Radiance sang through the air, a golden blur. A glass-like crash rang out as her enchanted blade smashed one of the illusory mirrors to pieces.
\n      \tThe two remaining Vrocks, apparently shocked to see how easily their cohort had been cut down, began to hulk up. Their muscles grew, their eyes seethed with hate. And then, with an eerie cry, they shot into the air.
\n      \tA ruckus within the hut caught her attention and Rhiallis glanced over just in time to see the thatched roof explode. Another Vrock hurled himself into the air, meeting his friends. They began to slam into each other, grunting rhythmically. It was half-mating dance, half-psych up. Rhiallis began to flap her wings, leaping into the air to meet them in airborne combat.
\n      \tSuddenly, a new group of Vrocks appeared, summoned into existence by the cavorting demons in the air. All of them flying, each of them wreathed in glimmering duplicates that would make it incredibly difficult to hit them.
\n      \t\u201cHold still so I can hit you!\u201d Rhiallis growled, surging forward. She was forced to change targets repeatedly, flying at acute angles to maintain control. Flight was a difficult skill to master and Rhiallis knew that she must look like a broken marionette, hurking about in her beautiful silvered armor.
\n      \tSix Vrocks threw their heads back in unison and let out a mighty howl. It split the air and she whirled around involuntarily, trying to block the sound from her ears. Beneath her, she could see all of her allies suffering the effects as well. From the corner of her eye, she noticed one who had been rocked harder than the rest- Aimsley was staggering. Twin rivulets of blood dribbled from her ears, leaving crimson streaks down her cheeks.
\n      \tThere\u2019s nothing I can do from up here<\/em>, Rhiallis told herself, and forced her focus back into the battle. She swung Radiance again and again, feeling stronger with each mirror image she shattered, each drop of demon blood she spilled. Like Graves, like Celeste, like Ezekiel – Rhiallis fought like a lion. Although most of her strikes managed only to dispel the illusions, she flew across the sky, her confidence growing by the second.
\n      \t\u201cHRUUUNGA-hruuuuuungaaaaaAAAaAAAH!\u201d There were only five demons remaining, yet their combined might was equally as strong. Rhiallis could only watch in horror as they ignored her swings and let forth a communal blast of wicked, lurid violet energy. It shot through the air, zapping the clouds, the earth and everything in between.
\n      \tShe heard a single, heavy thud.
\n      \tThere was a long, keening wail and it took a dozen heartbeats before she realized it had come from her own throat. Aimsley crumpled to the ground once more and this time, went absolutely still. Her face was frozen in a rictus of agony, her hands were as claws, her body twisted.
\n      \tRhiallis turned, preparing to dive – away from the battle, but toward her friend, to do her duty and fulfill her true calling. If I had been down there, with her, healing my allies instead of battling\u2026 I am no warrior\u2026 damn it\u2026 Iomedae forgive me\u2026 I have failed them again.<\/em>
\n      \tThough her thoughts turned dark and melancholy, Rhiallis was not given time to mentally pummel herself. The remaining Vrocks burst forth with another sonic blast and she whirled, pain blazing in her golden eyes.
\n      \tSomeone had cast a spell upon Ezekiel and now the two of them, righteous paladins in service of the Inheritor, buzzed through the skies slashing at the demons with everything they had.
\n      \t\u201cCurse you, beast!\u201d Rhiallis screamed, driving Radiance through the soft flesh of his unprotected belly. \u201cBack to the Hells and BURN!\u201d
\n      \tThe last Vrock slid from her blade, leaving its crimson blood hissing upon the holy sword. It tumbled to the dirt and landed with a sickening crunch.
\n      \tRhiallis flew to Aimsley\u2019s side.
\n      \t\u201cI can\u2019t perform the ritual,\u201d Tom Parris said, kneeling beside the fallen elf. \u201cI don\u2019t have a diamond large enough to use as a focus.\u201d
\n      \t\u201cThere\u2019s naught I can do, either.\u201d Ezekiel tossed his head, his golden hair gleaming like green-tarnished bronze in the eerie Worldwound moonlight. \u201cPoor girl.\u201d
\n      \tSadie called out from the doorway of the hut. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, Rhi can wake the dead!\u201d
\n      \tThe hin disappeared into the hut with Miranda and Tom Parris on her heels. Ezekiel hesitated, watching as Rhiallis dropped to her knees beside her friend. She bowed her head, sweat beading on her face, still out of breath from the frenzied flying and fighting, and spoke a soft prayer over Aimsley. White light, limned with a rose-gold shimmer, emanated from her hands and spread across the elven corpse.
\n      \tIt could have been a single minute or an hour – Rhiallis lost herself in the wonderful glow of Iomedae\u2019s grace – but when Aimsley\u2019s eyes began to flutter, she smiled.
\n      \t\u201cWelcome back,\u201d she whispered.
\n      \tThere were shadows behind her eyes as she met Rhiallis\u2019 gaze, but Aimsley nodded. \u201cThank you, Rhiallis\u2026 there\u2019s still a battle to be won, right?\u201d
\n      \t\u201cAlways.\u201d<\/p>\n

– \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 –
\n\"Signed,
\nNote: Image is “King Jagiello Statue Central” by (Mulligand) from SXC.hu; edited by me<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Today\u2019s snippet, titled \u201cA Battle Yet Remains\u201d, is a piece I wrote about my PC in Mark’s new (Good) Pathfinder Campaign.       Be forewarned, there may be mature themes and naughty language below. – \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 –       \u201cApproaching,\u201d Ezekiel whispered,… <\/p>\n

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