Log View

Source	Contents
Five-Fingers Frog	Frog and Divya have been maintaing correspondence for some time now - and the latest, concerned-as-usual letter from the Harbinger, included a short "PS. We have a pest targeting the route. Ran into it while organising a highland pass. Want to help solve that little issue?" And that was that. A day later, the two are standing on a crag, Frog astride a horse, Divya as well, quite possibly, and looking out into the skies - where something dozens of times larger than even the largest eagle circles the highest peak, flaunting its dominion over the territory. "So that's what we're dealing with." As the Chosen of Journeys says that, the beast swoops down into a valley, to rise moments later with a wagon dangling from its claws. Faint cries can be heard. Frog frowns and rubs his temple. "I told them all travel is to be put off for now. Idiots."
Mahendru Divya	Divya enjoys correspondence (anything to fill the long hours of the night while she Never Ceases Moving). An opportunity to actually visit the road that's consumed so much of her recent time and attention is very welcome and the Sidereal obligingly joins Five-Fingers Frog on a little trip out to inspect the source of the (latest) issue plaguing the chief conduct for her long term plans. Astride a horse as well, the Oracle sighs. "If every person who ignored our advice is an idiot, Creation would be full of them," she comments on his comment. Then she smirks and says "That isn't to say you're wrong, though." Sizing up the Sky Titan from here, Divya apparently feels no overwhelming impulse to rash heroism in charging in to save the wagon. Instead, she considers the best possible approach before saying, "Do you have any use for a Sky Titan, my friend? Because, while we could try fighting it or driving it off, I wonder if it would be useful for you. Not that I'm averse to a, ah, 'creative' choice of mount but such a creature would create more work for me than it would solve..."
Five-Fingers Frog	"Oh, it's actually Mercury smiling down upon me, I believe. I was looking for an airborne mount - and it'd be an excellent candidate for further ascension into godhood, as well." Frog smirks. "And for general ascension, of course. On account of the wings, you see." He shifts his head. "I wouldn't involve you just to drive it off. Well, I would, because we both know you should get out more, but that's beside the point. But - sky titans only answer to those who can best them. And friend - we're not beating it in a fight. Not with our human-sized fists and knives. We'll need to challenge it in some other way."
Mahendru Divya	Divya considers the possibility that Mercury's arranged this very atrocity. A wagon full of people, doomed to die, all for the sake of placing a Harbinger in the path of their eventual mount. Unlikely? Or exactly in character for one of the Maidens of Fate? Sighing, the Oracle says "I get out plenty." Realizing she sounds defensive, Divya adds "But I always welcome the opportunity to stretch my legs and see some countryside, on or off horseback." The challenge before them provides an interesting puzzle to solve at least. "A race," she says after some consideration. "Or another competition, I suppose. Hunting? Ambushing? Who can scare the most prey?" "I do know Adopting the Untamed Face as a technique, so what you're looking for is at least possible in terms of communication. But that beast is our better in most of the ways obvious to it. What we're good at, a Sky Titan may not even understand much less see as a legitimate challenge." "What do you think?"
Five-Fingers Frog	"Oh, you get out. Into what, the Ivy Manse's backyard? Or a grey realm of death and despair and oblivion to hang out with your walking talking security vulnerability?" Frog groans theatrically, then smiles. "Maybe I have a skewed perception. You know us Journeys." "Back to business. I can adopt the untamed face as well, which helps smooth this over, yes. Racing I personally *will* win, but I doubt it will be satisfied with just *one* challenge that isn't straight beating the scales out of it. I also doubt it will bow to both of us - but if you don't mind being a Five-Fingers Frog for a while, that shouldn't be an issue." He hops off his horse and starts pacing a bit, as the beast shrieks in the distance. "What else are we good at? Sneaking around - you, naturally, being much better, though with its sense of superiority I might give you a run for your obols. Steal its eggs and try to not make it mad while we do that? Scaring away prey sounds like a poor choice for us in a straight challenge. Hunting might work. Spirits?.. It wouldn't understand, unless they're elementals. There are a few around here." Frog trails off listing various potential challenges, then abruptly stops. "Three. We have to challenge it thrice - and it will submit, I am certain of that much. Don't ask me why, Oracle."
Mahendru Divya	Divya doesn't ask Frog why. She just accepts the statement of destiny for what it is. "I have no need for a Sky Titan to submit to me," Divya replies at last. "I just want it to stop preying upon the road. If it's following you instead of menacing trade here, that meets my needs perfectly." She smirks at the mention of being a Five-Fingers Frog and says, "Yes, that's certainly an option. Racing seems the most sure path to me. I keep thinking of increasingly esoteric tests and I keep having to remind myself that it won't even understand them, much less value them as important enough to give you respect for winning." "As for the three challenges, then, there's a fairly logical solution." "The first race to take place with you on land. The second race diving underwater. The third between you in the air. You tell me if you can confidently win the first two scenarios. As for the third, your remark about me being a Five-Fingers Frog suggests an immediate win right there. Is that what you had in mind?" "Or do you think we need more types of challenges?"
Five-Fingers Frog	"Naturally. The safety of the road is my desire, as well - and driving it off or slaying it would have taken longer preparations, in any case. Or perhaps some cumbersome favours to a local god." Frog scratches his chin. "No, I believe three races are an admirably elegant choice - and one the creature will understand in its own nature. I am confident in the first scenario. I wanted to say that I am *not* confident in the second - but that god option is probably more valuable than I'd first considered. Surely having free movement underwater for a while is worth less a favour than handling the titan directly? So, we will just have to locate suitable help." He hops back on the horse. "Let's not waste any time finding an ally, then."
Mahendru Divya	Divya looks around the region they're surveying with keen eyes. Then she sighs and says "If you're looking for help with water, an elemental seems like the best choice. So it's a matter of finding one. Icons, if you don't mind?" A moment later, there's a flash of emerald light and the immense muscular form of one of Yu Shan's Lion Dogs manifests themselves next to the party. He's also facing in the direction of the Sky Titan and he has a decidedly bored expression on his face. "What?" the Lion Dog asks. "We need you to find us an elemental." "Why?" "You were literally standing next to us the whole time, I know you could hear us, Icons, why are you giving me a hard time?" "Why should I care?" the Lion Dog amends helpfully. Divya makes a noise of frustration. "Can you find us a Water Elemental?" "Probably." "What do you want for it?" "What do -you- want for it?" the Oracle counters. "Someone violating the laws of heaven." Divya blinks in surprise and Inauspicious Icons hastily amends. "I'm -NOT- asking someone to break the laws. I just haven't eaten a human in ages and I can only eat lawbreakers. Find me a lawbreaker." "Rain check?" Divya asks. "Sure, your credit's good with me." Divya and the Lion Dog make eye contact for a moment longer and finally Icons hrumphs and turns, bending his head low to sniff the ground to pick up the scent of a likely water elemental. "Perhaps that stream near the Sky Titan attack?" Divya suggests helpfully. "Rumor has it there may be a useful type that can be found along the stream bed?"
Five-Fingers Frog	"Oh, hello. I don't believe we've met. Or, well, haven't talked yet - I've seen you once or twice around Divya. Pleasure to make the acquaintance." Frog bows to the lion dog respectfully. "Any particular flavour of outlaw you prefer? I feel like I need to help our dear Oracle with paying you back. Especially since she might be too busy slumming it around the parts and with people - allegedly - where heaven's laws don't reach in the first place." The Harbinger can't resist a dig at Divya - probing the soil, seeing if this Icons is pro- or contra-Envoy. One day he will find out it's not even her main disguise... It doesn't take long for them to locate a birthing ground for small translucent octopi-like creatures - quite unexpected in a freshwater highland stream, all in all, but Creation is full of wonders - with curious eyes intently watching the trio. "My first instinct is consumption, though I am not of the charcoal. Is that how I'd employ these?"
Mahendru Divya	Inauspicious Icons makes snuffling noises as he scents out a path, leading them towards the aforementioned stream. Along the way, he raises his head occasionally to glance at the Sidereals. Frog's comments in particular draw an amused chuckle from the heavenly law enforcement officer. "Inauspicious Icons. And no, Harbinger, no particular flavor. Some of my fellows claim blasphemers taste differently than murderers but, at most, it's the difference between tea served in a cup or tea served in a bowl. Tea is tea. Breaking the law is breaking the law." "How nice that things are so straightforward for you," Divya comments, her smile and focus ahead suggesting this is an old conversation between them. "Yes, it is." "Nothing complicated about the law at all," Divya continues. "Following the law is simple," Inauspicious Icons rumbles. "It's only complicated when people try to veer as far from it as they can without breaking it. People like your Envoy." "She's not -my- Envoy," Divya says with a sigh. By then, the party's reached the stream in question and, sure enough, octopi-like elementals. The Lion Dog dips his head in acknowledgement to the creatures, not a sign of respect but a spirit bestowing his awareness they exist upon them. It's almost regal. Divya on the other hand slides from the back of her horse and takes several steps forward. There's a smile on her face as she gives them a friendly little wave. "Mmmm, Neaquria," she comments to her two partners. "They're usually found in deep, heavy water. But I suppose the young ones find upstream more comfortable. Less competition." At frog's question, she tilts her head slightly. "That's a sensible first instinct. Sadly, these ones have to be breathed. The full grown variety can be worn but these ones are too small for that and they work better in the lungs anyway. It's a...potentially unpleasant experience. But thankfully not one too difficult to negotiate. They -like- being carried within people. Getting them out is usually harder than getting them in. First time in, you'll feel a bit like you're drowning yourself. First time out, you actually will be drowning yourself since they need water to make air with and once you're out of water, they'll finally be forced to leave your lungs to return to it." "If you smoke, now would be a good time. They're rather fond of tobacco-scented lungs."
Five-Fingers Frog	"For her to be Divya's Envoy the ghoul would need to not be... Whoever her current liege is. 's." The mystery of speaking an apostrophe is one of many secrets and skills only Chosen of the Stars are privy to. "And I will choose to take offence to that comment and let the offence take its journey through me. Tea from a bowl is absolutely different from tea from a cup - if made properly, both. Perhaps you've been served by poor masters? I will have to give you an opportunity to enjoy the company of better ones when we next meet in Yu-Shan." Frog listens to the explanation intently, cringing at the mention of smoking. "I had the mistake of being an addict back in my youth, but I know better than that, now. In any case, nothing to it. Come here, you." The Harbinger dips a hand into the water, letting one of the curious Neaquira youths swim near it - before gently grabbing the creature and carefully bringing it up to his face to... do whatever it is supposed to do with said face.
Mahendru Divya	Divya rolls her eyes at the remarks on her lover. The observation on the tea causes her to chuckle and for Inauspicious Icons to stare at Frog with the expression of someone who doesn't quite know what the other person is talking about. Perhaps a tea education is in order! As he retrieves one of the Neaquria, Divya quickly reaches into the leather bag she wears at her side and produces a flask. "Pour them in here first. And then 'drink' it just when it's time to actually dive underwater." She promptly passes over the small silver-capped leathery bag and looks back towards the road, in response to the shrill shriek of the Sky Titan. Looks like it's definitely eating something over there... "Remind me not to invite you to Burning Feather's next party then," Divya comments idly. "She has her moments but addiction is a virtue to her, not a vice."
Five-Fingers Frog	Frog stores the elemental safely. "Unless she wants an intellectual debate on the merits and pitfalls of it - which I personally would welcome at any party. Got me kicked out of a few of them, however. The bores couldn't appreciate the clash of daiklaive wit, for shame." The Harbinger scoffs. "I believe we're all set, then, and ready to act. Do you want to play with the beast some, confuse it right away with being in two places at the same time?"
Mahendru Divya	Divya chuckles again. "Burning Feather has her virtues, at least by my standards. But 'standards' aren't one of them. Oh, she'll indulge in intellectual debate. She enjoys that sort of thing, it's one of the things we have in common. But only if both parties are intoxicated." The Oracle shrugs and actually looks a touch embarrassed. "We've been a little more than friends for several decades now. But she's strictly a Yu Shan...hobby, let's call it that. When I'm in the field, I'm here to work. When I'm in Heaven, I'm also there to work but it's also the only downtime I really get and I don't mind making the most of it. Although I'll admit I'm a little less inclined to overlook Burning Feather's real nature given recent developments. Just...doesn't seem as fun as it used to be." She looks grateful when the conversation turns to dealing with the Sky Titan once more. "I -can-," she says in a cautious tone. "But I think it's best we save that surprise reveal for the end. One thing we should decide, though. How we'll handle the conclusion. If you challenge them to a race in the air and I'm already at the destination, disguised as you, you'll still ideally need a way to get to me quickly. I can certainly hold the Titan's attention on my own, I'm just not certain how far you want me to go in exerting my will over it in your place or if you'd prefer to arrive and we switch ourselves out, perhaps by me ducking behind a tree and letting you come out or something." "What would you prefer?"
Five-Fingers Frog	Frog doesn't push the matter further - though he glances at Icons and makes a mental note to inquire into this Burning Feather at some later date. Divya seems to keep dangerous lovers. He idly wonders if it's a *type* and if she admits it to herself. "I can get to you quickly by air, donning the feathered cloak, and... I am not vain at the worst of times," - now the Harbinger is lying to himself - "and especially when dealing with a mindless - for now - beast. I do not mind you exerting your own will over it, if it comes to that. Besides, it is *your* project, *your* great trail. It would be certainly be fitting - and I don't believe the disguise would lessen that." There is genuine warmth in Frog's smile. "You're doing good work here, Divya. Bringing life into Creation, letting its blood flow. With efforts like yours, perhaps the aging husk can once again breathe."