Envoy finds herself lucky, there was a bakery that was relatively close to the Silent-One Embassy. One message and an hour or so of waiting later and Envoy finds herself in possession of an 'assorted dessert plate' that consists of several types of fruit-pies, donuts, and fresh fruit. The scent alone is so sweet that it might put a diabetic in shock if they got too close.
The delivery time gave Born-In-War the time he needed to fill out all the proper paperwork to take out one of the hover-transports. Judging from his mood when he came out of his office, it was probably at least a dozen forms in triplicate. No matter where you go, bureaucracy seems to run the world, alas. Envoy also learns that he's insisting on bringing a suit of combat armor, complete with its rail canon because Envoy has this knack for summoning a disaster. Still, as grouchy as the signing seems, the feel he gives in general body-language isn't one of dislike or real frustration. It might even be that he's slightly amused by the strange 'alien-thing' that is Envoy.
So, off they go! Daedalus, Walter, and Icarus decide to stay behind to help avoid any prying questions, so it's just Born-In-War, Violette, and stoney-McStiff that join her on her trek to the Caroban camp. The hover-transport interior is spartan; just padded bench seats with belts and shoulder straps; basically, a typical military vehicle. The ride, though, is actually quite nice. It's very smooth and quiet. The flooring must have a lot of sound-dampening padding in it to counter the whirr of the massive fans that float the machine on a cushion of air. Violette amuses herself on the journey by making a 'cat's cradle' with her feet.
A short horn sounds in the cabin, alerting the passengers that arrival is eminent.
Taking a deep breath, Envoy tries to fight down a sudden surge of panic. She's got her letter from the High Council though, proving that she technically isn't a wanted rogue. "Violette, is your mentor an easy-going person?" she asks the apprentice.
"Mage Alivestorus?" Violette asks, looking up from her now tangled up toes. "He's as easy-going as any rath'ani is, I guess? A little absent-minded at times and has stomach problems now and then. Some people like to call him Hiccup ... but that tends to make him grumpy. Also, don't suggest using his tail for a game of ring-toss. Last person who asked to do that had all their spells go in reverse during their rank final exam."
"I'm dealt with a Rath'ani Chaos Mage before," Envoy notes. "I'll make sure not to mention him. There aren't any.. uh.. armed guards at the camp are there?"
"Of course there are. Some people on this world see us as boogey men," Violette says as she makes a rather exaggerated grin and dangles her tongue out of the side of her mouth. Truth be told, an Eeee almost looks like a storybook gremlin doing that. "But don't worry, I can vouch for you! That should be enough, right? No mage is out to kill you are they?"
Envoy has to really think about that. "Well, none that are likely here," she says. "Shrikendune wasn't really a mage, just a sensitive."
"Ooo, you were on ol' Flat-feet Shrieker's bad side?" Violette asks, "Who did you annoy to get his attention? Not that it takes much. Anyone who comes from the desert tends to have sand in their fannies and annoy easily."
"It isn't clear yet who I annoyed," Envoy notes. "I'd really like to know who gave him the order - or just accepted his request - to have me killed."
"Nothing I would know anything about," Violette admits and swings her feet. "Nor would anyone outside of the Watch, probably."
"I can't really trust the Watch in general," Envoy notes, looking forward to see if they're about to stop.
It sure seems like the vehicle is slowing down and there is a tent laden camp just ahead. "I don't think any mage does," Violette notes, "Since they suspect everyone of breaking the rules and all. And ... have no sense of humor. And hate Eeee. I've been questioned three times to make sure I'm not part of some secret Goddess cult." she sticks out her tongue again.
"Some of the Watch mages were part of it too," Envoy points out, and tries to feel out any magic coming their way.
Envoy feels ... absolutely nothing. Maybe the camp is deliberately trying to suppress any outward signs of magic to avoid disturbing the locals?
"Right.. it's sky-island level magic or lower here," Envoy mutters. "They won't be wasting spells. Probably."
The vehicle lows even more ... and eventually comes to rest on the outskirts of the camp. Through the front windshield Envoy can make out a bunch of be-robed people of various races all peering out around tents at the military monstrosity. Only one seems brave enough to have come into full view; a Cervani doe. She looks all too familiar ... and so does the frown she wears.
"She can't know I'm in here," Envoy squeaks when she spots Latania. "She's.. just frowning on principle, I'm sure," the erstwhile Earth Mage assures herself, as she unbuckles. "Maybe you should go out first though, Violette.."
"Did you do something to annoy her? Not that it's hard, but ... " Violette asks as she unbuckles herself from her seat. She hops off and heads towards the back gate.
"Yes," Envoy admits a bit despondently. "I became a Mage."
Violette yanks the release lever and the rear gate drops open with a hiss of hydraulics! "Hello, everyone!" she chips as she bounds down the ramp, "Don't shoot!"
Trying not to look chastised (which she usually ends up being when around Latania), Envoy steps of the carrier and.. stands there, to gauge the reactions of the lookee-loo mages. Also, she doesn't want to leave Born-in-War behind - she's supposed to introduce him and all.
"Lothryn," the Cervani life-mage remarks, her tone dry and terse and her fingers tapping on her forearms crossed in front of her chest.. "I thought I felt your unnatural presence. I was hoping it was just indigestion from a bad bit of squash. Oh, if I were only so lucky. What difficulty have you decided to inflict on us now? Besides from the obvious corrupting of the youth. Violette, you of all people know better than associating with the unnatural."
All the other mages are still peering around the tents ... or whispering to each other in hushed tones. Most look either shocked, or outright terrified, frankly.
"I.. uh.." Envoy says, feeling momentarily paralyzed. "I brought pie. And donuts and fresh fruit," she blurts out.
"And that is supposed to smooth over the complications I had to clean up regarding Shrikendune?" Latania asks as she slightly waves her right hand for emphasis. "He yelled at me for an hour when I relieved him of his duties here."
"Yes it should!" pipes up one of the voices from the camp, "We're tired of boiled potatoes!"
"I apologize for not letting him assassinate me, Mage Emeritus," Envoy says, bowing deeply. "Or for not killing him.. whichever you prefer. I also brought something that.. well, only you could really help me to understand. Oh, and the Silent-Ones Ambassador to New Zion, Born-in-War. You two have a lot in common." She then grabs the fruit basket, holding it like a shield as she approaches the doe.
"Mastering the art of the backhanded greeting, I see," Latania starts to say ... only to be cut off by the front of their vehicle opens and out steps ... a massive suit of powered combat armor. Its hydraulic and gear-powered frame hisses and clicks as it stands upright at an easy eight-feet tall. It strides towards Latania and Envoy with an odd grace for something so mechanical and massive. It's steel digitigrade legs folds down, bringing the helmeted head closer to eye level. The helmet splits and draws back, revealing Born-In-War's masked visage. The suit's right hand flicks and a mechanical voice intones, "Greetings."
It's a rare moment Envoy sees Latania at a loss for words as she stares up at the armored Silent-One.
"He also has to deal with troublemakers and bear the burden of responsibility and competence," Envoy whispers to Latania. "So.. you've got that in common."
"Born-in-War, Ambassador to New Zion, allow me to present to you Mage Emeritus Latania of the College Esoterica, former Dean of the School of Life on the Rephidim Campus, and possessed of infinite grace and patience in the face of.. uh.. me," Envoy introduces.
"In other words, he deals with you?" Latania asks.
"Yes," Envoy asides. "But I think he enjoys the excitement."
"If you have survived the company of this one, then you must be formidable, indeed," Born-In-War signs, his expression ever impassive. "I greet you on behalf of the Silent-One's of Abaddon. This strange being claims you can uncover the mysteries of an attacker who dared damage my consulate."
"Did she, now?" Latania asks as she gives Envoy a look. "What did you do this time?"
"It's not my fault," Envoy recites. "It's just some old madman has it in his head that I'm a threat or something to his evil schemes, and keeps attacking me with... well, sort of like remote-controlled humans. They don't have proper golems here, after all. Violette helped to subdue the last one, and I was able to put it into suspension." She gestures back to the open ramp of the transport. "It's next to the donuts.."
"That does not make the gift of food more appealing," Latania notes, "But ... I suppose I should allow you entrance to the camp since we do need to maintain diplomatic ties with the various factions of this world." Born-In-War's servos come back to life and the suit turns. It heads back to the transport and lifts out the be-stoned human that had attacked the consulate earlier.
"As for you Violette ... cavorting with a known trouble-maker and getting involved in conflicts? That will be reported to your mentor. He will update your permanent record as he deems fit," Latania adds.
"Poor Violette's ears seem to wilt a bit at that.
Envoy helpfully.. fetches the baskets with the pastries. "Thank you, Latania!" she says with a smile. "These things only seem susceptible to magic and the limitations of the available technology.. Oh, Violette's actions saved dozens of civilians, and certainly helped improve the image of mages!"
"We'll need her and her mentor.. and any other spare Chaos mages you've got, probably.. in order to safely perform an examination," the Aeolun notes.
"That only might remove the stigma of your company," Latania remarks. The last comment causes the doe's brow to rise slightly. "And why would we need them? What exactly do you expect will happen?"
"It's more what I don't expect that I'm worried about," Envoy explains. "See, the weapons embedded in this human are like.. little Forbidden Zones. Vortexes of wild magic. If Violette hadn't stabilized them, we probably wouldn't have been able to defeat the creature."
"Portable vortex sources?" Latania asks, "Such things are not possible according to all known properties of magic itself. And this apprentice manahed to stabilize them?" The doe's eyes now flick to bore into Violette. The poor Eeee smiles and waves a bit sheepishly.
"My friend was in danger," Violette admits, "So I didn't think about what should be possible ... I just did what I was taught and it worked. Mostly."
"They're.. copies of Sifran crystal devices, probably," Envoy says with a sigh. "I need to study them, but I can't risk that without backup from Chaos Mages in case the things activate."
Latania rugs her forehead as if a headache is coming on. "You are now working on Sifrian crystal devices and copies of them? In the name of all that is sane, Lothryn, why? That material defies all magic. You may as well coat yourself in gunpowder and go dancing on Sinai's surface. You truly actively seek suicide."
"I.. didn't really have a choice," Envoy whispers. "Some of it.. fused.. with me. It's really complicated... but I've learned a lot."
"Fused ... with ... you?" Latania asks, drawing out each word, making it both a question and an accusation.
"It's complicated," Envoy whispers, "but the stuff thought I was a Sifran servitor creature. Do you really want to know the whole story, before I tell it to the High Council?"
"You should meet her son," Violette chimes in. "He's really cool. He can do things I've never seen a mage do and he makes it look easy."
"Son? What sane creature would find a way o mate with ... nevermind, I don't want to know. If I find out, somehow it will make my life more difficult," Latania sighs. "I'll help you analyse this ... thing if you promise you won't cause me any more trouble."
"Is that a trick offer?" Envoy asks, narrowing her eyes. "Like, I agree and then you say the only way I can keep that promise is to cease to exist or hibernate for 50 years or something?"
"If only you would do that. Can you promise to try and not cause me more headaches?" Latania asks. "Or if you get into more trouble, you do not try to implicate me in it somehow?"
"Oh, of course, Mage Latania," Envoy promises, and even holds the tent flap open for the Life Mage before she looks around, expecting there to be examination tables or similar available.
"I'll go find Hiccup," Violette promises and darts into the camp. "She's promising, so you better not corrupt her," Latania warns Envoy when the Eeee might be out of earshot.
"I let her go to a moving picture show and introduced her to ice-cream," Envoy admits.
There are tables inside the main life-mage tent, five to be exact, each positioned under an electric light. Apparently they are making use of some of the planet's technology to help out. They're all thankfully empty; though some still bear bloodstains that haven't been completely erased through magic or soap.
Envoy gestures to the closest available one, smiling to Born-in-War. "Any of them should be fine," she tells him.
"Just put it on the center one," Latania adds and waves for Born-In-War to carry the stone-stiff into the tent. He does so, and has to duck quite a bit to avoid tearing the tent down with his powered suit. The table creaks under the weight of the stone, but does not collapse. Satisfied, the armored suit leaves the tent to give the mages more room.
The Aeolun considers telling Latania how Born-in-War rescued her before... but somehow decides letting the Life Mage know that she can survive vivisection is not a good idea. "I strongly suspect the crystal implants draw energy from the host," she tells Latania instead. "The creator originally used.. children. Their bodies began to break down after using the weapons. I expect he is using suicide cyborgs - implanting an adult and just expecting it to die from use. Is there some way you can determine the state of cellular decay or damage in the suspended form?"
Latania runs her hand along the underside of her long face. "Mm. The difficulty here is that the cellular structure has been changed at elemental level," she notes. "So unless the decay was extensive it wouldn't be easily detectable because there are no metabolic abnormalities to look for." The doe paces a circle around the table as she continues to think. "And you say he used children? I assume because a child's cellular repair rate is higher than an adults. On average, anyway. There are a few freak exceptions I could name."
"He used children because.. he could grow them from scratch, with the weapons replacing their bones," Envoy says quietly, not wanting that to be overheard by any eavesdroppers. "He is a madman, and puts almost no value on the lives of others. These humans he's using now.. he's scooped out parts of the brains and put electronics in their place to control them. They're practically zombies."
"But if he can mass-produce these crystals now, then it doesn't cost him much to churn out disposable soldiers," Envoy points out. "That's what I need to know, really."
Latania pauses and the doe looks back over her shoulder as if seeing Envoy for the first time. "When did you start caring about what happens to other people you have never met?" she asks, "I remember you as a student who wanted to know everything and never worried about the consequences until later."
"Well.. I learned some things that altered my outlook a bit," Envoy notes. "Plus.. I did suffer massive brain damage at the hands of a Babelite goddess. I'm still recovering. It's just that along the way I've become part Sifran."
"So you're hoping to quit caring when your brain heals?" Latania asks.
"No, I'm hoping to not end up being a monster," Envoy admits. "I have a lot of people to care about now. I don't think that will ever go away, but I can't have these constant attacks threatening them."
"Maybe there is hope for you after all," Latania remarks. She drums her fingers on the table, then asks, "How do you wish to proceed with an examination? You know more about what this is than I do."
"Well, I could reverse the suspension so that he's flesh and blood again," Envoy says, looking unhappy at the prospect. "I think he'd still be alive. But that means there will be a danger of him 'waking' up as well, unless you can prepare something to assure that he remains unconscious?"
"Well, his motor functions could be suppressed, providing that they still work the way we understand them," Latania offers, "Which ... if Violette gets back soon with Hiccup, may be possible. If they can suppress the wild magic. Mmm. It's a risk with the unknowns but I am not sure of a better course of action. Realize, though, if you do reverse it and he has to be killed ... it could be considered murder."
Envoy swallows. "I don't know if he has a mind of his own left anymore," she says. "If I destroy the components that controlled him, that may disable the weapons as well. I'll try to keep the artificial parts fossilized, and just restore the biological if I can."
"And what do you hope to learn from that, the state of his cellular structure?" Latania asks.
Violette's head pops through the tent flaps. "Helloooo?" she calls out. "Master Alivestorus is on his way. He said less than five minutes!"
The Aeolun nods. "I have a rough idea of how much energy he had to have expended, so if his body shows signs of having that much life burned away, it will confirm what I suspect. I'll have the suspension spell ready again in case.. he's suffering." She looks to Violette and smiles. "Ah, thank you, Violette. Do you think he'll find the amplification trick interesting?"
"Master Alivestorus gets excited by new underwear ... so ... probably," Violette admits.
"Violette, do not speak poorly of your mentor," Latania admonishes the Eeee. Violette pulls her ears down in embarrassment and scurries the rest of the way into the tent.
"Where you always respectful of your mentor, Latania?" Envoy asks, genuinely curious.
"He was a moderately competent mage with an unpleasant body-odor problem," Latania remarks. "So ... usually."
Envoy smirks, but quickly hides it. "Have you had any difficulties in operating here?" she asks, switching to practical matters.
"He believed washing your robe took away some of your power," Violette whispers to Envoy. "From what the rumors say."
"Difficulty? With the rather meager level of magic available here and the dearth of wildlife and fauna that is intent on killing the people who live here?" Latania asks, "Why no, no problems at all." She rolls her eyes and looks at the tent ceiling. "Of course we have had difficulty here. It takes five times the effort for half of the effect."
"Well, maybe I can find a way to fix that," Envoy mutters. She doesn't think it would be impossible to create an amplifier crystal. She just doesn't know how to go about it yet.
There's an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds and then a din of commotion just outside the tent! The tent flap is thrown back and in walks one of the oddest rath-ani Envoy has seen in a long while! His robe is made of a mish-mash of patchwork panels cut from robes of all the other spheres. His head-hair is dyed like a rainbow ... and he's wearing a ceramic pot on his head. He opens his mouth to say something, then promptly has a bout of hiccups. "Right," he finally manages out, "I just knew there was someone new and weird here. I always get the winds when someone new arrives." He promptly eyes Envoy and adds, "And ahah! It is you." He even waves an accusatory finger at the Aeolun.
A smile creeps onto Envoy's muzzle. "I used to play hide and seek with the Chaos Mages on Caroban," she says. "You have no idea how much that accusation warms my heart, Master Alivestorus. I am Envoy of Lothrhyn, Master of the Sphere of Earth. Or maybe Adept now, I'm not sure. I'm very pleased to meet you." She then bows, feeling reassured that things will go smoothly now that she has an experienced Chaos Mage to count on!
The rath'ani lifts the pot off his head and promptly thrusts it into Latania's arms. "Here, hold my pot, it's hot in here. There's a good doe", he tells her. Hands now free, he rubs them together. "Now then, are you cursed? You look like someone who is cursed," he comments to Envoy. "Or is that curdled? Or, hm. Have we met? You seem familiar. Or maybe it's from one too many explosions. Or too much tea."
"You may have seen me on Caroban," Envoy says. "And.. well, I'm not the subject of interest here - he is," she points out by gesturing to the stone figure on the examination table. "He has some sources of extremely wild magic embedded in him, and we need to be able to study him while keeping them from going off."
Latania's left ear twitches. "Master Alivestorus," she says, tone terse, as she promptly drops the pot on an unused table. "We have a serious matter to deal with, as she says. This ... mage of questionable sanity has been dabbling with insane people that she claims have artificial Sifrian crystals that react to magic ... and has been using them to make suicide golems out of humans. We need you to make sure everything remains stable when he is removed from stasis."
"Oh! That's a real person? I thought it was just a really ugly statue. It wouldn't have been polite for me to comment on your choice in decor," Mage Alivestorus remarks as he shuffles over and peers as the petrified human. HE pokes it a few times, then says, "My expert opinion so far is ... this man is stiff."
"Fossilized, really," Envoy notes. "I'm sure you've dealt with a few fossils now and then during your career though, Master Alivestorus!" she says with a grin.
"Alas, many students are stoned these days. No respect for education," Alivestorus remarks as he rubs his chin and tries to appear serious. "So, you want me to keep the area stable for you and Dominatrix-Doe to do an in-depth examination of the fossil?"
"Yesssss," Envoy says. "Or at least be ready to suppress any chaotic spikes of magic."
"That was only a costume for the faculty party," Latania remarks and sighs. "Chaos mages. Yes, I need you to stabilize the area and keep it stable while Lothryn softens him and we can do a proper examination of his tissues."
"Oh, good. Well, that's easy. I won't have to change my underwear for such a simple ritual," Mage Alivestorus declares. He starts rummaging around in his robes, muttering, "Now where did I put them..."
"Was it leather or suede?" Envoy wonders aloud, then shakes her head. "If you want, I can try to amplify the available magic here to make casting easier," she offers.
Latania glares at Envoy for that question. "The goings-on at faculty parties are none of your concern," she says.
"You could? Really? How?" the rath-ani asks as he hops about now, still digging around in his pockets.
"I was the Avatar of Inala for awhile you know," Envoy notes with one eyebrow raised. "Not much can surprise me in that regard.." She turns her attention to the Chaos Mage, and says, "Well.. I don't know exactly how it works, but I can use Sifran crystals to manipulate energy fields - including the magic field. I've never done any tests to see how far it extends though.. or if it must create a lowered density region around it.. or anything else. I sort of need actual mages for that."
"Aha!" Alivestorus declares and produces a pouch of chalks. He goes over to the petrified human and promptly draws a smiley-face on his forehead. "Well, if you can do that, it might help. So, ah, go ahead?" he tells Envoy. The odd mage then goes about doing typical mage-type-things, like drawing a ritual circle around the table holding the 'statue'.
Envoy grins a bit nervously, then rolls up her sleeves and sings out in Aelfin, "Synchronize."
Envoy's forearms start to itch as the crystals hum to life! The tent around her seems to dim. Or ... maybe it's her own vision that's dimming. The air glows colder ... and she feels a breeze? The air smells ... dusty. No, sooty. All around her she hears the sound of buildings collapsing? It sure sounds like buildings collapsing, the creak of timbers and the crumbling of brick. Soon the very tent is gone and Envoy stands in a swirling mist of dust. A light appears above her, cutting through the haze, but only barely. She can make out only shapes now, outlines of buildings stretching skyward ... and the vague expanse of a gaping hole in the earth only a few feet in front of her. High-pitched voices call out all around her, screams, crying, names being cried out.
The Aeolun blinks, and looks around in dread. "The Wound, in Babel," she whispers to the wind. From the tumult.. it must have just happened. "Can I be in Violette's memory somehow?" she wonders, and begins to look at the buildings along the edge of the bowl, checking for fires!
It's hard to see anything; even the fires appear so dim in the dust. Footing is ... questionable as Envoy tries to make her way around the rim. The buildings she finds are ... unstable to say the least. Some cut completely in half and crumbling into the great pit at the center of the city. Even more grisly are some of the remains she ... has to step over. That one was cut in half; it looked like a young mother who had been rocking her child in a chair. Well, at least it looked that way from what she can make out. Whether she wants to look closer or not ... is up to the Aeolun.
Envoy decides not to investigate that one more closely. Violette is alive, after all.. but burned. And she can't call out to her because she doesn't know her original name! "Is anyone alive?" she calls instead, using her own version of Eeee that skips the ultrasonic parts.
With all the other cries and the collapsing of buildings, it's hard to hear if anyone actually replies to her question directly. She can just make out what sounds like something moving a dozen or so feet ahead. Something dragging over the ground in spurts.
Hurrying as much as she dares, Envoy calls ahead, "I'm coming! Hold on!" as she tries to reach to the source of the sound.
The scent of burned meat soon meets Envoy's nose. Just up ahead it looks like a pile of rags and leather is slowly moving across the ground. Spindly arms reach out from it, dig into the dirt, and pulls itself along. "Mom," she hears it sob in a cracking and pained voice, "Where are you? I can't see. Everything hurts so bad."
"Violette!" Envoy calls out, rushing to the figure's side. "Hold on, I'll get you to.. to.." Where? Envoy thinks. The Guild Hall.. is gone, swallowed by the Boomer. The new one clearly won't be occupied yet! And she doesn't know where the Yodhrinala have their hidden clinics either.
Up close the Eeee looks ... really bad. At least half of her body has been burned down to her skin and her skin has blistered and cracked; lymph fluid oozing out and giving her a sickly sheen. Her thin arm covered in blistered and cracked skin feels about until it touched Envoy's hand. "Who are you? Where is mom? What happened?" she asks. When her head rolls to the side to try and look at Envoy ... half of her face has been burned down to the skin, and the eye on that side is swollen shut. Her other eye is young ... but it is one Envoy recognizes as the strange Eeee mage she met on Abaddon. "Can't ... see you well. All white," she rasps. She coughs and chokes violently. "Are you ... have you ... am I going to the sea?"
"No, I can assure you that you will live," Envoy says, putting a hand on the unburned part of the girl's head. "You have a new life to look forward too, and lots of adventure. You just have to hold on." She looks around for water, or anything else salvageable that can be used to clean and wrap the wounds.
There isn't much left, save for the scraps of the girl's own torn and tattered tunic. She coughs again and Envoy's hand is pattered with fine red drops; blood. "Everything hurts," she whimpers. "Can't hear right. So tired. Just want to sleep, but must find mom. She has to be alive. She has to be."
"I'll look for her," Envoy offers, and starts removing her own robe to wrap around the girl. "What is her name?"
"Over here!" a voice calls out, "Survivors!" Two Eeee in robes are scrambling over the rubble and heading towards Envoy and the hurt child. As the get closer, it becomes obvious it is two female Eeee in simple brown robes. "Is she alive?" one of them asks of Envoy while the other crouches down to examine the burned girl. "Barely," her companion says and looks up. She doesn't say it, but her expression is clear enough to communicate 'and not for much longer.'
"You have to save her," Envoy tells them. "Even with the scarring. Promise you'll do everything you can!"
"We would do no less for anyone. That is a promise made to all that find their way to us. But please understand sometimes the Goddesses will claim then no matter what effort we make. Our Mother is ... not as strong as they," the first Eeee tells Envoy apologetically.
"The more you save, the stronger She'll be," Envoy assures them. "Is there anything I can do to help? I'm an Earth Mage."
"What is your name?" the second asks of the burned child as she tries to carefully pick her up. It's not easy and pressure causes more of her blistered skin to crack and ooze. "Velanese Eszri," the burned girl cries and clenches her one working eye tight from the pain.
"Eszri? Adari Eszri's sister?" the priestess that holds the child asks.
"You know the family?" Envoy asks in surprise.
"Yes. Are they okay? Mom went to get him," the child asks, her burned hand clawing lightly at the priestess' rough robe.
"You should not be worrying about them; they would want you to just rest. Try not to move. Keep your strength," the priestess tells her. To her companion and Envoy she says, "I'll carry her to the hospice. Please, look for other survivors."
"Adari Eszri was an up and coming musician," the Priestess closest to Envoy explains in a quiet voice, "He was in concert earlier. Out ... there." She nods towards the now gaping hole in the center of the city.
Envoy nods and wipes at her eyes, then turns and tries to follow Velanese's path through the rubble. "There's nothing we can do for the people who are missing," she mutters. "Only the ones still here."
The Priestess just behind Envoy puts her hand on Envoy's shoulder, trying to keep her from following the one bearing the child away. "There is nothing you can do for her now," she says, "Her for this part of her life has already been written. But that does not mean you could not do something later, Envoy of Lothryn." There's something uncomfortably familiar about that voice.
Turning slowly, Envoy asks, "Is this just a vision?"
A younger face now looks up at Envoy, the sigil of Barada glowing softly in the center of her forehead. "Not exactly," the young Goddess says and taps her lips. "It is ... a retelling of a memory pushed away by a child who didn't deserve what happened to her. But ... that's life for mortals. Rarely do they get what they deserve, good or bad. Now, you were asking how you could help. Does that offer still stand? Or ... was that an offer made out of emotions for a mortal you know?"
"I'm asking about Violette," Envoy says, frowning slightly. "There isn't anything I can do to change the past. And I tend to focus on the people I care about most, yes. You want me to help in Babel's recovery though, I imagine?"
"No one can change the past, not even US," Barada notes as she tiptoes a circle around Envoy. Her head tilts as if hearing something, then nods, "The cry of my Sister as she tends to her duty." She waves her hand, then continues to say to Envoy, "I want you to help make Babel strong again. I know you have been finding answers to many ancient mysteries. Many secrets, some of those powerful. Perhaps these secrets would make Babel strong again, yes? Would you be willing to share them with me? I can be quite rewarding and in better ways than dear sister Inala and her gifts of pleasure."
"Define strong," Envoy requests. "Do you mean a state where nobody has to live on the garbage thrown down from the towers, or fear for their lives if they find themselves in some gang's territory? You ask for my help, and offer me rewards.. but what are you willing to sacrifice for Babel, Barada?"
"My existence as it is today," Barada claims as she tilts her head just so. "If my people die, we will fade. That's our little secret that you know, isn't it? And where would be the fun in just fading away? What kind of great mystery would that leave behind? Pah. I choose to continue on, same as any immortal. Even if that means ... being changed by the people into something ... new. It it is still better than fading into obscurity."
"You could give up the mystery, and become Revelation again," Envoy suggests. "Share your knowledge, educate the people so that they can lift themselves up. Is that not strength?"
"I could, yes. But in time would they not need me anymore? Would I not just fade away? There is strength in keeping mystery ... and a feeling of accomplishment by those who learn even a little. You must know that," Barada points out. "And even if I agreed ... who would be the one to put those chains back upon me, hmm?"
"Well.. I've learned a few things about star-stone," Envoy admits with a grin, which then fades. "But despite all of the things I've learned, there is nothing that can help Babel, only bring it to further ruin. There's no reason to repeat the horror of the Boomer, on any scale - it is not a power that can be wielded wisely by mortals."
"Which is why you could give it to us," Barada suggests. "The secret to me ... and I can permit dear sister Repath use of it when they are threatened..."
Envoy's face darkens, and she says, "Rephath will never again have my aid. I know how she thinks now, and Revenge should be toothless. She stands in the way of Babel's recovery."
"She would be so hurt if I told Her you felt that way about Her," Barada notes, "But do not worry, that will be our little secret!" She once again taps her lips with her index finger. "But, alas, I must now conclude you do not wish to share what you have learned with us. Are we really so horrible in your eyes? Such a feeling would be very mortal of you."
"When I find something useful, like a way to restore the Wound, I will tell you," Envoy says. "Or simply use it myself. And.. maybe I'm feeling mortal emotions. It would be best for us all if that is the case, because otherwise they'd be immortal emotions. I am the creation of both Justice and Necessity - both of which are very, very ruthless."
"Tsk. You think so little of us ... and know little of us in turn," Barada claims, smiling the whole time. "A little secret for you: Velanese, the girl you know as Violette ... was marked to be taken as one of my Daughters before the Boomer cut the Wound. Now she is just another mage and Eeee, that hurts me." The Goddess even pouts, her lower lip sticking out slightly and trembling.
"And oh ... don't tell her that it was her own brother that offered her to me in trade for the secrets of the musical arts," Barada adds and taps her lips again. "She adored him; it would break her heart."
"She will live longer as a Mage, and do much to help others," Envoy counters. "I will not hurt her. And I may know you least among your Sisters, for I never ventured into your realm. Tell me though: if the High Princess had succeeded in becoming the new Goddess of Babel, would you have bowed down and served her?"
"Of course. For it would give me access to her and her secrets ... and once I took them she would be at my feet. That is obvious," Barada claims.
"Is that why you let this happen?" Envoy asks, gesturing out towards the Wound. "You knew it was all to aid the Princess by removing her enemies. But you could have stopped it if you'd wanted to, couldn't you?"
"Ah, but I did not know, as much as you may not believe that. We were ... distracted by her little ritual. She blinded us to the extend of her plans. Quite devious for a mortal," Barada notes as she even shrugs. "Even sister Sunala would not have wished it even though it put many in her realm. She only desires to claim those who pass naturally and appropriately; not before they should have."
"So.. you have some mortal failings as well," Envoy notes, crossing her arms. "You aren't infallible - so I won't consider you a serious threat at this time. Right now, that is all I can offer you; I have a lot of distractions of my own to deal with."
"And it has come time that I must leave you. I have to go change sister Gorphat out of her current bandages. Another small secret ... if dear Gorphat isn't changed regularly, boy does she start to stink. My other sisters and I have a game to see who will tend to her when she gets overly ripe. This is my turn. But ... do not fret, I was the winner. Dear Zakaro has to wash the bandages," Barada says with an impish giggle.
"Well.. as long as you make the best of it.." Envoy notes. She has disturbing memories of Gorphat, after all.
"Oh, I will. Dear Gorphat can still be fun with ... properly motivated," Barada adds and wiggles her ears suggestively. "It is always enjoyable to see you, Envoy of Lothryn. You do ever so much feel like another Sister to me."
"That.. is very worrisome, to tell you the truth," Envoy admits. "Try to stay out of trouble, will you?"
"Trouble, me?" Barada asks and even puts her hand over her heart. She blows a kiss to Envoy ... then fades away. The landscape around her has also begun to fade, the sounds are gone ... and everything is just a swirl of dust.
Envoy closes her eyes and wonders what she'll see when she reopens them again. Mages staring at her like she's insane? Friends yelling for her attention? Or.. maybe it all happened in an instant. Finally, she finishes her blink and opens her eyes again.
"Hey, how did you amplify everything so fast? I don't need it yet!" the Rath-ani mage says. He's only half-done with his ritual circle sketch. It seems like her eyes were only closed for maybe ten seconds, tops. Out of the corner of her eyes she catches the tent-flap open and a familiar-splotchy-colored Eeee comes in carrying an assortment of things towards the elder chaos mage. "I brought everything because, well .. you never know?" she tells him.
"Well, I have a few rituals to prepare of my own," Envoy manages to say, then smiles at Violette. "I.. uh.. have a new way of casting them, also, so don't be alarmed if you see a swarm of glowing runes flying around me." Secrets, she thinks. For years, nobody really wanted to listen to anything she said, and now she can't avoid those who actually want to. "Life is certainly funny," she mutters, and starts to work on her rituals..