The Griever: Elves Wizards and Wizard Elves (Part 14)

Seldan continues to blink slowly, clearly still digesting whatever it was that the Veil said to him, but he stands now, balanced between the balls and heels of his feet, a warrior's stance, but that hasn't changed since he got here. He reaches up and pushing a unruly lock of hair away from his eyes, clearly thinking even as he speaks.

When he speaks again, though, his demeanor and bearing straighten and settle, his gaze finding his companions and then coming to rest on the elven guards of the Veil. It holds no malice, but a warning. "The Veil was created to protect your secrets, but it is now to you as your mother, and you are more dependent upon her than you guess. She weakens now, for she is formed of the spirit of Animus who is no more, and soon shall she be no more. Gird yourselves, or fall without warning."

That is all he says before he lunges without warning, grabbing for the orb that his the Veil itself. What is he doing?

Stjepan's head snaps towards Seldan, and there's a sudden rush of adrenaline that expresses in flexed knees, dropped hips and his body raising up onto the balls of his feet. He's ready to fight, but his mouth says: "What the hells?!"

Mikilos is in his homeland, meeting with high Druids, to talk to an ancient spell, with non-elen Guild members. The concept of 'expectations' is far distant. And yet, even at that distance, Seldan manages to shatter those expectations. Seldan, making a smash and grab. "...w-w-wa...what?!!"

Unlike the others, Serene neither reaches out nor calls out. Her eyes narrow, certainly, and her body tenses.. her folded arms uncross and drop to her sides. Her gaze is fixed upon Seldan, but though she doesn't know what drives him to act as he does, there's obviously a level of trust that he's doing what needs to be done.

"No, what are you doing?" says the elf closest to the orb as Seldan lurches for it. There is a glow. One that spreads from the orb to Seldan, and then they're ... gone. Both of them.

The elves are crying out in horror, dismay, the guards are drawing their blades, the halberdiers readying them. Magical hackles are up. r

Seems things are about to go ... very poorly indeed. There is, however, a *lot* of confusion. "Where did... who ..."

"Stand down," Serene demands, spreading her hands wide and away from her weapons. "Stand down and wait. He is one of Eluna's champions. Have faith her Her, and in him."

GAME: Serene rolls diplomacy: (5)+40: 45

Stjepan's eyes glow blue, and he relaxes. "Wait, what's happening?" The light paints his cheeks, but his expression goes vague.

There are many possibilities. That's not really Seldan. Seldan has been possessed. Seldan is under some type of control or geas. Seldan is being misguided. Many possibilities, each with there own variations, each with their own probability. Mikilos may not have the fastest hands in the world, but his mind is one of the sharpest in existence. Weigh the known, consider the chances, account for the unknown, all far far faster that it takes to explain it.

Despite all the possibilities, chances are: Seldan knows what he's doing, means well, and the best course of action is to support his efforts. And if that effort is disappearing... with the Great Big Hide Spell, well, then that's a Thing That Happened.

And then... there's the... wait... we were... um... blue sky... lotta people... huh?

As the last words leave her mouth, Serene frowns. Displeased. Perhaps uneasy, though it's hard to tell with her. And she doesn't like being confused. Hands once outspread unconsciouly start to drift to her swordbelt.

"Mikilos, grab Serene." Seldan's voice comes from - nowhere. Serene will feel a hand on her shoulder, and a moment later, Sjepan feels the same on his opposite shoulder. "Quickly!" The instructions are consistent with someone preparing a teleport, and indeed, the arcane chanting audible from - somewhere - fits that. This means that Mikilos has about three seconds to do as instructed.

Mikilos blinks. Grabby hands. Clarity. Grab Serene as instructed. Quickly.

There is a flash of light.

...but it's not from Seldan. No. It's someone else arriving. Someone who has been observing. An elder elf, if his wisened face is anything to go by. Not wrinkled in the way a human's might be, no, but one who has seen the march of countless years and they weigh heavily upon him.

"It would appear," he begins, his voice as half in the grave as his advanced years must surely place him for an elf, "... that the unexpected possibility has made itself known. The veil has transposed itself into a new vessel out of misguided impulse."

"What?" The answer goes up from numerous elves, all in elven, but hard to miss the nature of the response even if you don't speak the language.

"The Veil has fallen. We lay exposed. Our enemies even now sense that this is so. Prepare, swiftly. I will find the Veil and restore it to its rightful place. Call our finest hunters." His eyes go towards Serene, Mikilos, and Stjepan.

"You think yourself just. You are just ... young. I will find you again."

GAME: Seldan casts Teleport. Caster Level: 16 DC: 23
GAME: Mikilos rolls knowledge/local: (1)+17: 18 (EPIC FAIL)

And then everything comes back. Disconcerted, and really with little time to process it and also take in what the elder elf is saying.. and what he's SAYING... there's not much Serene can do. And upon hearing Seldan's preparations for travel, she settles upon raising her chin, just a fraction, and saying, "May you walk in Her light."

Silence, then, and the familiar twist and untwist of the world as the teleport takes hold. The warmth of the Grove becomes the stillness and chill of an Alexandrian winter, the wind on your face and the snow beneath your boots, the stars above winking out one by one in the false dawn that is in this place on Ea.

"I may be young," comes Seldan's voice, once all has resolved, "but Her will knows no age, and ever shall Her wisdom be greater than yours, for there are forces at work beyond your ken. You use the Veil as a child does its mother's skirts, to hide when a stranger comes to the door." This is murmured, half to himself.

Then, it becomes louder, a quiet and calm explanation. "The Veil is formed of Eluna's will and Animus' spirit. With Animus no more, she weakens, and soon will fade entirely. The llyranesi will soon be defenseless, no matter what transpires, and the Veil desires to strike a blow for Eluna, ere she dies."

Mikilos is an Archmage. He has faced down demons and kings. Strode across the Planes of Reality. Bent the Universe to his will. Created great things from raw potential. And right now? He's wide eye'd and shivering. "...that was -Vai-... we are in -SO- much trouble..." The magus looks to Seldan. "...I didn't really think he was -real-! ...WHAT DID YOU DO!?" ...he's a little concerned.

Stjepan closes his blue-glowing eyes and opens regular ones again in Alexandros. "Oh, sweet fucking hells." He cracks his neck. "...that escalated quickly."

There is definitely something to be said about bliss and ignorance. After recentering herself from the sudden departure from the elven lands, and then taking another moment to ensure each member of the.. delegation.. made it safely out with Seldan's teleport.. and then another moment to make sure there was no arcane switcherydoo which may have taken any of her gear... Serene nods once in the direction of Seldan's voice. "I trust you will offer something of a fuller explanation when the chance permits," she tells him before shifting her attention to Mikilos. "And I trust you will educate us on what sort of repercussions we should expect."

"They may hide behind it for a time, but around them shall Ea be conquered by the forces of evil, a force that cannot be stopped, does someone not wrest the God's Eye from his grasp. When the Veil dies, what then? Shall they be defenseless as well as alone, with none left to aid them? Nay. Their only chance is to stop hiding and aid the races against the forces of evil."

"I would ask your forgiveness, all of you," the voice answers, a tinge of sadness and a touch of guilt in it. "This is all of the explanation that I have for you. The Veil instructed me to take her. She is formed of Eluna's will and Animus' spirit, and for millennia uncounted has been the shield that protects their secrets. But. being formed of Animus' spirit, she weakens now, and will pass away in time. The Veil desired to leave, and was being held against her will."

"It is in my mind, Mikilos, that your people hide behind it, in their arrogance, and refuse to aid the world or be part of its concerns. Who shall defend them, do they not act? For when the Veil dies, it shall be no different to them than it is, right at this moment. They shall be defenseless, and they would be alone as well against the forces that have conquered all the rest of the world."

Mikilos sighs. Takes a slow breath. Calm. "Frist, inaccurate to say the llyranesi will be defenseless. The mundane army alone can hold back most forces, and they are the least of many layers." National Pride. "But, of the numerous and objectively impressive magical layers, I think they will not be understanding. I agree with your assessment of the national leaders...arrogance. Part of why I don't reside there. Do you have a plan?"

He looks to Serene with a mild frown. "We just stole an iconic national treasure from one of the oldest nations, bringing the appearance of a BoogieMan told to little wizards to scare them into obedience. 'Expect the unexpected' is the most I can conclusively advise. If the clouds make a face, assume it's watching you."

Serene's expression is somewhat flat while Mikilos paints a... picture.. of what to expect. She gives a moment longer, then nods. "Very colourful. You sounded as though you recognized that elder.. I hope you will tell us what you know of him." On the run from elves. Joy.

-End