Break the Ice That Binds – Orianna Èirigh – 12.10.2023
Jan 21, 2024 1:31:18 GMT
Andy D and Lucky like this
Post by Orianna Èirigh on Jan 21, 2024 1:31:18 GMT
OBSERVATIONS & EXCERPTS from the JOURNAL of SECOND ASSISTANT ARCHIVIST ORIANNA ÈIRIGH of ASHKHA
Today is the day. It has to be. Abrax has had my Father for long enough.
I have become Stellarum’s Herald. I have her staff, the Starlight Cradle. It is now that I will go to the Frost Fell with Matches, Calla, Ilthuryn, and Anåbæl.
But first, in order to get there, we will make a visit to the City of Brass…
With Calla’s map we found Asteros’ jewellers quite quickly. They were surprised I chose to come to them but I had a feeling about them that perhaps they did not feel the same way as their cousins.
Interestingly, they knew right away about Calla’s patron, like they could sense one of their own. Arcavine. I was curious to know what had happened to him, why he was in the state he is in now.
In the long ago, Arcavine attempted to seize power for himself. He tried to consolidate the other Quasi-Elemental Incarnates into himself. He started with those closest to him — like Meza, the First Mineral — but before he could get too far his kin intervened. It took fifteen Primordial Incarnates to banish Arcavine from his own Plane of Earth. The rest, as they say, is history.
Except it’s not because now Magdara has picked up where Arcavine left off.
I wonder if Calla understands all of this…
The landscape of the Frost Fell is quite desolate, but Asteros managed to get us as close to where Abrax was keeping the crystal foci and my father. I am glad I was right about them, even if they were cautious about being spotted by their cousin.
I will never forget that cold. It was excruciating, I felt my nose hairs freezing with every inhale. Ilthuryn seemed to be the only other one who did not feel as bothered by the cold — though it is still not a place I will return to any time soon…
They had him in the open, kneeling and left in the cold for… too long.
The crystal foci was there too, laying in front of my Father. Tempting him to break, to just give in.
There was something around him, keeping him slightly warmer so he didn’t die from exposure. But it was barely anything. He was exhausted, unmoving, delirious.
It was clearly a trap and I didn’t care. I was not going to leave him or the Crystal Foci. Not when there was still a chance. Not when even the stars said today, for me, the Wheel was on my side…
“I am so glad you finally came, Herald of the Star Mother. I have been waiting for white some time.”
The voice was none other than Abrax’s. Orianna knew it before she turned around. Calla said she needed some time. She had no idea where Ilthuryn was, but hoped he was somewhere he could see them. She hoped the same for Anåbæl. Matches was looking at her, hands practically twitching, readying to cast a spell should she give the signal. She shook her head. They needed to buy Calla time, not start a fight they could not win.
Orianna stood, and turned, crystal foci in one hand, staff in the other. “Abrax, the First Frost. It is quite the distinction to finally meet you, face to face…”
I tried to stall, to grant Calla time to do her arcane magic. But during my conversation with Abrax the First Frost spoke about freezing the stars and I guess Ilthuryn panicked.
I do not blame him though. My worry was the same, I just hoped-
I could not act, I guess.
What happened afterwards was an intense fight and flight. We almost did not make it. But with the Crystal Foci in hand, and father safely tucked away in Arcavine’s heart, I was able to call upon Stellarum to help us fight Abrax’s frost titan. The moment she appeared Abrax ran away, scared. It was actually rather incredible.
But nothing so remarkable as what happened next…
Continued in ‘Come to the Table’ 💫
Today is the day. It has to be. Abrax has had my Father for long enough.
I have become Stellarum’s Herald. I have her staff, the Starlight Cradle. It is now that I will go to the Frost Fell with Matches, Calla, Ilthuryn, and Anåbæl.
But first, in order to get there, we will make a visit to the City of Brass…
With Calla’s map we found Asteros’ jewellers quite quickly. They were surprised I chose to come to them but I had a feeling about them that perhaps they did not feel the same way as their cousins.
Interestingly, they knew right away about Calla’s patron, like they could sense one of their own. Arcavine. I was curious to know what had happened to him, why he was in the state he is in now.
In the long ago, Arcavine attempted to seize power for himself. He tried to consolidate the other Quasi-Elemental Incarnates into himself. He started with those closest to him — like Meza, the First Mineral — but before he could get too far his kin intervened. It took fifteen Primordial Incarnates to banish Arcavine from his own Plane of Earth. The rest, as they say, is history.
Except it’s not because now Magdara has picked up where Arcavine left off.
I wonder if Calla understands all of this…
The landscape of the Frost Fell is quite desolate, but Asteros managed to get us as close to where Abrax was keeping the crystal foci and my father. I am glad I was right about them, even if they were cautious about being spotted by their cousin.
I will never forget that cold. It was excruciating, I felt my nose hairs freezing with every inhale. Ilthuryn seemed to be the only other one who did not feel as bothered by the cold — though it is still not a place I will return to any time soon…
They had him in the open, kneeling and left in the cold for… too long.
The crystal foci was there too, laying in front of my Father. Tempting him to break, to just give in.
There was something around him, keeping him slightly warmer so he didn’t die from exposure. But it was barely anything. He was exhausted, unmoving, delirious.
It was clearly a trap and I didn’t care. I was not going to leave him or the Crystal Foci. Not when there was still a chance. Not when even the stars said today, for me, the Wheel was on my side…
“I am so glad you finally came, Herald of the Star Mother. I have been waiting for white some time.”
The voice was none other than Abrax’s. Orianna knew it before she turned around. Calla said she needed some time. She had no idea where Ilthuryn was, but hoped he was somewhere he could see them. She hoped the same for Anåbæl. Matches was looking at her, hands practically twitching, readying to cast a spell should she give the signal. She shook her head. They needed to buy Calla time, not start a fight they could not win.
Orianna stood, and turned, crystal foci in one hand, staff in the other. “Abrax, the First Frost. It is quite the distinction to finally meet you, face to face…”
I tried to stall, to grant Calla time to do her arcane magic. But during my conversation with Abrax the First Frost spoke about freezing the stars and I guess Ilthuryn panicked.
I do not blame him though. My worry was the same, I just hoped-
I could not act, I guess.
What happened afterwards was an intense fight and flight. We almost did not make it. But with the Crystal Foci in hand, and father safely tucked away in Arcavine’s heart, I was able to call upon Stellarum to help us fight Abrax’s frost titan. The moment she appeared Abrax ran away, scared. It was actually rather incredible.
But nothing so remarkable as what happened next…
Continued in ‘Come to the Table’ 💫