OTTERS.

[morthwyl]

[Let's backtrack a little. Maybe in the earlier timeline, a decade or two before Hadrian decided to just wander off with a smol child. See, Eiriol Maxwell was never a spirit. These days, it'd be hard to call her a demihuman or human or any kind of mortal, either. Maxwell is, in essence, a living anti-spirit weapon, impervious to most kinds of magic, able to grasp fire and lightning in her bare hands, with an even greater lung capacity than you'd expect from an average otter.

Of course, the Worldburner cell that experimented on her is very, very dead. And Eiriol, well...Eiriol vanished from where they were keeping her while they decided what to do with her.

She is currently halfway up a mountain several miles away, that seemed interesting to her. And given her body is covered with wards and she is honestly a giant beacon of magic, she's...probably standing out to anyone here, too.]

Comments

[morthwyl]

Um. Ma...ybe?

[Okay, yeah, she's gonna have to take a moment to process that. Because meeting your first spirit is always a little bit odd and when it's someone like Hadrian Fucking Gates...]

...No offense but this day just keeps getting more and more surreal.

[thefightisall]

Well, we're in for a walk. I'm scarcely more powerful than one of you flesh and blood beings, like this. I'm sure you have questions.

[He's heading back up the mountain, then.]

[morthwyl]

[Well. She'll get up and follow him, then. There comes a point where you just can't question following the spirit up the mountain side, or ask why his physical form is hot.]

I'm honestly not sure where to start...[She does huff a bit of a laugh.] I guess asking what this place really is will do? You called this a heartland, but I could have sworn I wasn't walking that long...

[thefightisall]

You think we'd label a nexus of power for you mortals to see? This has been my home since as long as I have existed. It has grown with me; I use it now to help other spirits of wind and storms learn and grow. It is a sanctuary to us.

[It's just best not to ask these things, really. Like why he went from hot dad to barely twenty-something when he suppressed his powers, that's also a good question.]

[morthwyl]

[Look, she's not sure she ages anymore herself. She can deal with hot dad being now hot single in her area.]

A sanctuary...is that why this part of the world gets thunderstorms all year?

[thefightisall]

Well, that and how badly the weather patterns were ruined when humanity had their little war with eachother, and had to find some way to fix things. My forefathers witnessed that one.

[He'll just lead her to a cliffside, leap about his height straight up, and then lean back over the ledge and offer her a hand up.]

If I may?

[morthwyl]

I'm not complaining...I like the rain. [She reaches out without thinking to grab his hand. You know, Eiriol. Girl covered in wards of old, forbidden tech and new magic designed by the fucking world-burners. We really hope this won't be too unpleasant for either of them, because she can't get up that cliff without the help.]

[thefightisall]

[Its weird, actually -- because it'd probably just fucking annihilate a weakened spirit, but for Hadrian it's just kind of an odd sensation and a bit of a thrum through her wards. Also he just hauled her up like a ragdoll, even standing up.]

Well, then. I suppose that's good, since I think you'll be here for some time.

[morthwyl]

Is that so?

[She sort of shakes her hand out, afterward...she felt something happen, but she's not sure what.]

I mean...I won't argue, but you seemed pretty keen on me leaving, before.

[thefightisall]

I was considering what you said. First, you're a Worldburner experiment -- it'd be better to keep you from population centers while trying to figure out what they did to you. Second, you mentioned both coalition forces and Oathkeepers are after you. I'd rather they not cause an incident in town, not after the bombing in Site One. It's safer here.

[He chuckles.]

And third, I assume you might enjoy some peace and quiet, if what you say is true.

[morthwyl]

...This place reminds me a little of home. [It's an answer, in a roundabout sort of way, at least.]

Honestly, I don't know...how long I was taken. The days blur together, and I haven't aged...I think everyone who knew me probably thinks I'm dead. In these circumstances, 'sprobably better they don't have reason to believe otherwise.

[Shrugging, a little.] Guess I should introduce myself, huh? I know who you are...m'name's Eiriol. Eiriol Maxwell.

[thefightisall]

Eiriol Maxwell... welcome, then.

[There's a ripple, and hey, looks like he was cloaking a whole little village as those woods on top of his mountain?]

[morthwyl]

Wha--Oh!

[She's shocked, but she's also really obviously fascinated by that.] How did you--I didn't think illusions stayed without warping under this kind of mana, and I could touch those trees, how long did it take, are there physical fasteners, does it--

[She's going to keep babbling. This might be of interest to her.]

[thefightisall]

This place has been a source of power for thousands of years, even before the terrforming and reclamation. The rules as understood by us living mean little too it.

Do explore. I will be checking on one of my students in the meantime. When you have had your fill, I will be inside.

[He hopes she takes note of which building is his.]

[morthwyl]

[She does watch him for a moment, but she wanders off. And starts poking at things. It's going to be a few hours before she comes back, and in that time, apparently a few of the spirits took offense to what she was wearing and dressed her in...something. it probably shows off way more of the wards than she's comfortable with, but it does suit her. They also gave her gloves after she accidentally gave a nasty shock to one of them.]

Hadrian?

[She's just walking right on in like she belongs there, because she still doesn't understand how fear works.]

[thefightisall]

[Hadrian is sitting inside what was probably a den once upon a time when this had more living people; beautifully lacquered wooden floors, lit central firepit type thing, and so on. He's actually reading a newspaper, though it's a question of how he gets them up here.]

Yes? Ah. I see they rather took a liking to you. Good.

[morthwyl]

...How do you even get newspa--you know what, not important, nevermind.

[She does come over to find a chair closer to him, because why not.]

This is cozy...I'm a little surprised, given the way people talk about you.

[thefightisall]

To be fair, I killed no small number of their forefathers. Even now, as a politician, and in a guise I am told humans find pleasing, I imagine I terrify no small number of them.

[He continues thumbing through the paper.]

But truthfully having tasted the fruits of war personally I am rather tired of it. I believe this is why I was chosen to lead.

[morthwyl]

It is very pleasing, yes...I don't really find it frightening but, I may not be able to feel that, anymore.

[She looks down at her hands, fiddling a little with the gloves.]

I guess I can understand, though. It's the same for a lot of us...those who have fought in wars don't usually want anymore wars. Or they want them all the time forever...there doesn't seem to be much in between.

[thefightisall]

I suppose Crow balanced me in that regard -- aggressive when I would be cautious, yielding where I would be relentless. But they are gone now; what remains of them is a new life, with their own choices ahead. How few of us remain...

[morthwyl]

Crow...Crowfeathers?

[She goes kind of...quiet. She doesn't really understand how spirits die--she was a girl from the sticks, how spirits work is a set of particulars lost to her.

But she's heard of Crowfeathers. Most people have.]

[thefightisall]

Yes. One of the spirits from my time. I suppose that reaction is to be expected; I've heard crows are an ill omen in some parts of the world.

But they're gone now. What remains of them now live on as I... I believe the term is my daughter?

[morthwyl]

...You're gonna have to walk that one back because I'm confused.

[she does pause though, and considers it.] Or...well. I guess I was surprised. I didn't...know they were dead. My condolences.

[...That uh. Puts a number on just how long she was isolated, doesn't it.]

[thefightisall]

When a spirit is old enough and strong enough, they go into hibernation, dispersing their energy and either returning it to nature or making more spirits; in a sense, children.

Or, if they are hurt badly enough, they may fall into this same state, where they will fade away if not assisted. I found Crow in such a manner -- they had absorbed ambiance from around them, but needed a great deal of power to heal. The trauma seems to have largely wiped many of the details of their past life, changed their appearance; she's a new person, for all intents and purposes, one who is almost more of my storm than the original Crowfeather's shadows.

[morthwyl]

I see...

[She wants to ask a lot of things. How Crowfeathers got so injured. What could possibly do so much damage to a spirit. She has a sinking feeling she is now very, intimately familiar with something that could.]

What's her name? Your daughter, that is.