[Eligor]

[Blue]

Blue didn't traverse to Thanalan too often but she figured it would be quite nice to make the weekly trip to the Gates of Nald for the Grindstone by foot and a moon ahead of the appointed time. She also wanted a bit of time to explore, having not spent any large amount of time outside of the city-state of Ul'dah itself. She'd been running unhindered on chocobo feet, but the sudden pulsing under her talons left the shapeshifter confused. Was something happening over at that site in the distance?

The Au Ri woman appeared over the edge of the site, staring down at the strange orbs with ready curiousity. She spies…was that…Eligor?“ Not certain what to make of this entire scene, Blue sets a wolven mask over her face, and stretches out her arms- wielding the razor sharp taloned claws she had taken a liking to in Grindstones past. “What..is all this then?” She asks out loud, looking around.

[Novine]

Novine was spending her time out in Southern Thanalan again, relaxing in the sun and sands of the Sagoli desert. A brand-new lyre was in her possession so she retreated to her favorite barren landscape to fill the dunes with her song. Rather pleasant music sounded from her, but her high, clear, bell-like voice was cut off suddenly as she felt a disturbance in the aether around her. The feeling was alarming and jarring, and it was clear who it belonged to. Her head turned toward it, the strong pulsing sensation a metronome she did not ask for. Without hesitation, she started running, disappearing into the aether as she did.

When at last she materializes at the aetheryte, she immediately rockets into motion, the Lalafell moving swiftly from Black Brush Station and tearing south west as fast as she could carry herself. She reaches the top of the cliff and sees her Father swirling in the middle of it all. Narrowing her eyes, having a feeling this would be a lot like the last time something like this occurred, she activates the ring on her finger and her black armor envelops her, visor covering expressive, almost pained eyes.

[A'erina]

A'erina wouldn't admit to it, but often, she heads out to Southern Thanalan to check on her family. No one really sees her, or is paying enough attention to notice her make the journey once a week. She would deny it a thousand times if she was asked, and she hasn't been caught by her family yet, save for A'uriel, her youngest sister, and the only reason that she knows is because A'erina reached out to her a few moons ago when she felt like she had no one left. Today was no different, hair very different, usual attire seemingly non-existant as she donned a more fitting attire to keep herself blended better with the rocks and sands of Thanalan. She was on her way home, from one such instance, leaving the Southern Thanalan Region, she headed through the Central area, heading by the staging area for Grindstone and Spellstone. It was always odd seeing it so quiet, but her weekly trips there were always entertaining at the very least.

“Think I'll stop by the Coffer before I head back today, I'd love a drink.” She said to herself.

Upon reaching the bridge at the Wash though, she felt uneasy, hearing some sort of noise, she figured it must have been coming from down river. She looked at the road ahead, still thinking about that drink for a moment, before jumping over the bridge railings and into the river below, moving a few fulms forward she could clearly see something was going on, but out of distance enough to be able to discern it. Normally in this situation she'd have the likes of Eorzea's Mightiest Shield™️ and her cousin to just go and have a look and then she could go about her life. Of course though, she was on her own, and proceeded to get within distance and got a good look at whatever was happening.

“What the F-” She looks at the scene, part of her in awe, part of her fear.

[Eligor]

“What indeed, what indeed? Have you come to take it as well?”

[Blue]

Blue observes the red-haired lala perhaps a little too carefully and way too curious for her own good. There he is alright, cracking like some ceramic doll. Was this the same Eligor she'd seen at the tea room with Vinalo only days before? The female slowly takes one step back away from the site, if only to jolt suddenly at the hand at her mask, bi-colored eyes staring at the embers-within-sockets. “Ahhh!” She swipes at the Lala on reflex, though not with the intent to harm, rather to keep away and keep a distance. “I- I know not what you speak of!” She shouts at him, a tremor in her voice.

[Eligor]

He turns his head to observe the hand that was slapped away, seemingly stunned by the action for a moment.

“Why do you slink away? Why do you not revel before glory?”

He exhales a large cloud of smoke that circles around his head, lighting crackles through it, appearing to be a miniature storm of sorts.

[Novine]

Novine moves closer to the pair, her step infused with purpose, the Lalafell clearly agitated. She makes to step in front of Blue and look up at her father's floating body, her hands on her hips. “Glory? Is that what you think you are? What this is? Pretty shit show if you ask me.”

[Eligor]

He turns and widens his arms, waving to the blood canvas still spreading even now into an ever more sinister painting.

“Typical of the blind. To be confronted with centuries upon centuries of history and likening it to naught but refuse. Is this how she felt, seeing the doors broken down, bloodied blades outstretched and still starved? Is it to be my fat dulling the blades!?”

He clutched at the sides of his head now, twitching from side to side at incredible speed, leaving small afterimages as he continued.

[Novine]

Novine shrugs. “Just 'cause things are old doesn't mean they're any good.”

[Eligor]

“What useless eyes.”

[Blue]

Blue takes note of Novine in her line of vision, recognition in her features- hidden behind her mask at least. Seeming, at least, to be somewhat spurred by the fearlessness of Novine, the Au Ri answers slowly, “Glory seems to be a bit too strong of a word for..whatever this is.”. She takes a breath - wouldn't be smart to show anxiety in the wake of the frightening lala, though she squeezes the weapons in her hands more firmly, feeling only the least bit more secure with them in grip.

[Novine]

“I like the version of you that just sits in the corner like a coward better, y'know? I mean, that's what you've spent most of your time doing, isn't it? Soooo glorious,” she teases scathingly.

[A'erina]

A'erina was still at a considerable distance up the river. just out of hearing range of what w as being said, but noticing Blue there, aswell as a Lalafell, she quickly deduced that it was probably Novine talking to her father, Eligor. She was content at observing what was going on though, equal parts curious and concerned. Curiosity at wanting to see Eli's power, the way everyone spoke about him the way they did, but A'erina finally seeing something about him for the first time had stopped her in her tracks. ” Nah, don't get involved. You don't know Blue that well, and Novine, Thats his problem. “ She tries to persuade herself to leave well enough alone.

[Eligor]

He suddenly stops his twitching, the smoke billowing from his mouth now suddenly shifting into a dark red hue.

“Coward? What would they know of us? The years we spent pushing back against ruin? How we dared to make them see. Struggled to give them eyes when they would remain blind? How battles have we fought? They still do not smell the metal in the air. They do not see that the sky burns! They would deny that we are all burning, yet still demand the crown. Pathetic!”

Slowly, frost begins to envelop the blood, freezing it into place until it is solid. The blood had loosely formed into a shelter of sorts, appearing almost like the inner part of some grander room. The blood had reformed the skeletons of pillars and some sparse furniture, but was brittle and seemed only to remain held in place by whatever strange magic was being performed.

[Novine]

Novine eyes the creature with suspicion, crossing her arms in a display of ambivalence as she speaks. “So in your whole grand scheme of the world, how're you gonna put out the fire then? Your definition of 'burning' is probably as skewed as your view of yourself, honestly. You're nothing but a disgusting parasite who's gotta use people better and smarter than you to accomplish anything.”

[Eligor]

The air around Novine seems to bend in on itself, followed by sudden and abrupt correction, like a tense rope suddenly being freed of a great weight. The ground beneath her began to crack and groan as a great force beared down on top of her.

[Novine]

Novine struggles against the pressure, trying to stand her ground as long as she can, an impressive amount of time as she stares stubbornly up at him before her knees buckle and she is brought low, her limbs shaking as she attempts to fight the compression, choking down as many noises of discomfort as she can.

[Eligor]

“I felled the castle. We burned in the snow when she chased us. I lost again.”

He hunches over in the air, suddenly sobbing. The pressure on Novine stops, and he proceeds to twitch back and forth for some time before just as suddenly fading away and reappearing behind Blue, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Do you think we can win with just us?”

[Blue]

Blue reaches out towards Novine, at a loss as the air contorts and drags the lala down, uncertain of what to do, having not dealt with anything of this magnitude before- not in this way. No, the woman had seen destruction and the maligned might of others with their own agendas but this felt…different. Eyes flicker upon the hand at her shoulder, daring herself not to flinch, and staring at the strange figure. Blue looks to Novine and answers, “There's always a chance.” strangely calm.

[Novine]

Novine lets out a gasp of relief as the pressure releases, her head whipping up at the sudden sobbing. She follows his progress helplessly, forehead creased with worry. She looks at Blue, regarding the pair carefully as she pushes herself to her feet, listening.

[Eligor]

He begins vibrating and releases her shoulder, floating towards one of the frozen blood pillars now and placing his hand against it.

“They said we were a family now. That we would be the shield for those in need. What Sentinels Ark? Why did Emiko sheathe her blade in my chest!?” He snapped the brittle pillar with his hand and watched as it crumbled into little ice shards on the ground.

“They all disappeared when the moon fell. I'm still here.”

He suddenly fades away again, reforming in front of A'erina quite suddenly.

“Emiko? You changed your hair again?”

Just as suddenly, a wound appears on his chest and blood bursts from it directly in front of him.

[A'erina]

A'erina stumbles backwards at the sudden reformation of Eli right in her face. She placed a hand on a rock to steady herself before answering him. ” Emiko? You mean A'erina, Eli. You know me! Don't need to be zooming in right infront of me, y'know? Scared the shit outta me. “ She looks at the scene behind him for a second.” What's goin' on? “

Her eyes widen as she watches Eligor becomes a blood fountain. ” That ain't normal… “

[Blue]

Blue closes her eyes briefly, though there's relief on her face when whatever this thing was left her. She listens but doesn't understand or comprehend the meaning of it all, ear fins flicking when suddenly a name of someone is addressed. The Au Ra blinks, then follows where Eligor had reappeared this time. Was that..A'erina? Certainly still a distance away but it looked to be the red-haired miquo'te from the Hearth. She looks to Novine, giving a confused shake of her head, and bounds closer to the pair.

[Gair]

[Eligor]

“A'erina?”

His face scrunches up a bit and he clutches the sides of his head again, moaning in pain.

“She ate the food, and spoke well. I never expected her to listen. She will be hated because of me.”

He twitched in place again before fading away, reappearing again at the center of the blood structure as if he were asleep once again, the previous tapestry having crumbled away into floating globs of blood–with some bits still frozen.

[Novine]

Novine bites her lip as she watches him return to his restful state, slightly relieved that he is no longer rampaging around, but concerned at his bleeding. Swallowing largely she looks at the structure, trying to make some sense out of it as she stares at it, paralyzed with misunderstanding, with a glut of information she can't find a way to piece together, and the company of strange friends. She steps back, walking backward a few steps before she turns and jogs toward where Blue and A'erina were, not sure what to expect from the two of them exactly. She slows her progress as she nears them, keeping an eye on her father's body within the bloody structure, her gaze remaining steadfastly trained on him.

“Did…did any of what he said make any sense to either of you? Ring any bells?”

[A'erina]

A'erina takes a deep breath after witnessing who-knows-fucking-what and composes herself. Upon noticing she has Blue's attention, A'erina let's out a very quiet ” Oh no…“ as the Au'ra makes their approach.

” O-oh, Hello Blue…“ She says, As she now notices Novine making her way over. ” Oh for fuck's sake“ She tells herself.

” Ain't no bells to be ringing, I just get here, I see who knows what goin' on and then Eli comin' up in my face callin' me Em… iko? Somethin' like that. If anyone should know what's goin' on, surely it'd be his daughter. “

[Blue]

Blue reaches A'erina, deciding against the pretty kitty greeting this time and nodding to the miquo'te instead, taking off her mask briefly and managing a nervous smile. “A'erina!”

She too feels relief as the Eligor-thing goes back to the center of the structure for a time, and speaks up at last when Novine catches up to them both. “I'm not terrible certain anyone could make sense of what he's saying. Or what should be done. Is that really Eligor out there- or something else, N..Novine?” She tests the name carefully, them having only had the briefest of exchanges back in Gridania what feels like weeks past and not having a chance to speak too much at the tea room either.

[Novine]

“He's…there somewhere. Judging from the last time he floated around with a bunch of dead bodies and blood around though, it's not him now. Not anymore. There's…flashes of him though.” She says, her voice a bit soft there for a moment. “He's had that thing inside him for so long just… he's been pushing it back, keeping it from knowing things it shouldn't and refusing to let it take him over. It's why he's such a grump most of the time, 'cause it's a lot of work, but… well, it was only a matter of time before it took over. I dunno what all he was saying meant though. Maybe old memories or something?” she proposes with a sigh.

[Eligor]

The transparent orbs from earlier all popped at once, followed quickly by the blood globs also falling in unison onto the ground, splashing blood over the now slicked moistened earth. His appearance had changed, however. his hair which was previously hanging loose down to his waist was now suddenly tied with a small ribbon to make a ponytail, and he was now sporting a set of black and red robes, complete with a red facemask that obscured his face (although his eyes still burned behind the eyeholes). In his left hand, he held a plain looking shortsword, but the many nicks and scratches across its length told a story of repeated and trusty use.

A tattered black cloak sprouted from the collar of his robes as he suddenly reached out for Novine's shoulder with his right hand, still silent as death.

[Novine]

She stares at him, taking in his transformation. She steps aside pitching her shoulder back slightly to prolong the time he would need to reach for it. She seems conflicted, poised to back away or to spring backward, but remaining rooted to the spot. “So…who's this now?” she asks him a bit coldy.

[Eligor]

Eligor did not respond, instead turning his head slowly to look at everyone present.

[Gair]

Gair was following the massacre, crimson orbs and bodies. “What the fuck is going on here…THEFUCK!?” It takes a moment for him to keep Gust under control when all the orbs burst at once, the chocobo bolts, surprised and horrified by the change to this theater of war. He was on the peripheral, sticking out like a sore thumb atop the black chocobo. From his perch, he barely notices Blue and A'erina's presence out in the ruins. Deciding to first ride for his cousin, the more familiar of the two to him.

[Blue]

Something seems to click with Blue at Novine's explanation of Eligor's condition, a brief expression of understanding crosses her features but she shakes her head, silent, watching as the transformation proceeds to take place, offering more questions than answers to any of this. She doesn't yet recognize that Gair is on his way to join this bloody shindig, bracing however, wary as the red-masked lala looks upon them.

[Eligor]

With one smooth movement, he redirected the tip of his blade for Novine's throat and thrust forward, seemingly aiming for the underside of her jaw.

[Novine]

Novine was poised to do it and so she does- she jumps back at the slightest hint of the movement, the blade still perilously close to her even with her dodge, the girl thrusting her hands forward and low, two spears of ice materializing from her hands, rocketing toward Eligor's feet. She attempts to halt his movement by pinning him down, to still that blade or limit its range if she possibly could.

[Eligor]

He shifted to the side, taking the brunt of the attack on the armored greaves of his left leg. Having used that movement to mask his right arm, he jerks back into his former position, throwing a knife for Novine’s mouth while turning the sword over in his left hand, stabbing into the ice that would have hindered his movement to break himself free, jumping forward after his knife but a breath behind.

[Blue]

Blue interjects at this point in the clash, aiming to intercept the thrown knife with her claws and trying to snap it away from Novine, positioning herself between both lalas as a result- for better or worse, other clawed arm up and at the ready.

[Eligor]

Still mid jump, there is little he can do save grab for Blue’s clawed arm with his right hand, using it as an anchor of sorts to quickly place feet on ground and jump away, sword pointed at the group.

[Novine]

Novine steps to the side of Blue quickly so she can keep her eye on the hostile target. “Guess that answers that,” she says with gritted teeth, the air around her growing warmer. Anyone close to her would feel the heat on them, like being uncomfortably close to a small campfire. Those farther would simply see the air around her grow a bit hazy and shimmery, appearing like liquid. “Whatever he's told you about how weak he is, whatever victories you've had, most of it's lies. He's stronger than he seems so don't underestimate him,” she warns the gathered group. “Normally he can show restraint but like this? I dunno how much he'll hold back.”

[Gair]

Wait, Blue…and Novine? Gair is visibly confused by this crossover episode, worse yet? They were tussling with someone masked, robed and with red hair. He had missed the prior revelations as to their combative dance partner. From his saddle, he slides his sabre into his belt and bucks his chocobo on. “Get out of here, Gust, hyah!” And he leaps from the bird's back, rolling on the sand and stone hard, only a couple dozen or so paces from the melee now.

He draws out his sabre in his right, the left grasping at a mass of dark aether that forms a vaguely javelin-shaped bolt. Stepping up slowly, he's watching an opening.

[A'erina]

A'erina stood there watching. She felt like she should intervene. She grabs the handle of her sword fand takes a step or two forward, before shaking her head. ” No… Somethin' about this isn't right. This isn't my fight, this isn't anything to do with me. Besides, Gair's here now, him and Novine can take care of it. Yup.“ A'erina pulled her sword out and planted it in the ground before leaning on it, after all, she was the kind of person to turn tail and run at the first signs of something that could possibly hurt her. Except she didn't run, she just watched, she couldn't run, something was keeping her there.

” I-I'll do something in a minute.“ She blurted out, not quite sure what that something was, though.

[Blue]

Blue feels the warmth coming from Novine but firmly plants her feet on the ground, unwilling to lose track of Eligor, tail lashing out in aggravation. She listens to Novine's words but shakes her head. “He's told me nothing of his weakness- nor comes across as the sort, especially now.” The Au Ri is itching to change, to become, to adapt. Her skin throbs with her own inner heat - but bites her lip upon recognizing that others were still yet around. Can't. Bad. Blue looks down at her claws and brings them up again in a defensive posture, an ear flicking at the sounds of someone's approach. She dare not look however.

[Eligor]

He stares at the response calmly, still remaining silent after all this time. After several more moments, he lowers his sword arm and points his free hand towards Novine and Blue. Aether seems to gather in his palm, but is quickly compressed into two tiny little balls of wind that began to spin faster and faster until finally firing off at the two like a bullet.

[Novine]

Novine jumps forward in front of Blue and spreads out her hands, palms forward as if pushing against a wall. A gleaming shield radiates outward from her hands, the orbs smacking into it. Novine finds her feet skidding the dust even so, the Lalafell being pushed backward until she makes contact with Blue. She keeps up the shield long enough to absorb the blast, releasing it and staggering backward against the Au Ra.

[Blue]

Blue stares up at the balls of wind, briefly transfixed before they come shooting down. She readies herself to attempt to dodge the turbulent bullets but stops as this time it's Novine shielding them both instead. She crouches down and acts as a brace for the lala, digging her taloned feet into the ground - yet the impact of the blast pushes her back as well by ilms. Blue refocuses, places a hand on Novine's shoulder and murmurs to her, “Are you alright?” before she glares up at Eligor. “What even is the point of all this?”

[Novine]

“M'fine,” she replies, placing her left hand upon her right forearm, channeling aether into her arm. Three aetherial butterflies fly forth from her and form a tight triangular pattern in front of her body, fluttering idly as she watches him.

[Eligor]

He lowers his hand and reaches into his robe, pulling out a slip of paper and studying it.

“You’re in the way. If you leave so I can take my target, you will live. I will not chase you.”

[Gair]

Gair lunges forward and hurtles his volley as the robed figure sends his pair of condensed balls of wind out. Hurtling it to plunge into the sands between the battle line, the bolt pulsing there as it stick there. Why these two? “Just what the fuck're you doin' havin' a scuffle out this way?” He queries to the open air as he moves in formation with Blue and Novine.

[Eligor]

Eligor was apparently quite aware of his surroundings; he hardly turned his head to face Gair as he stepped out of the way of the volley, watching as the new arrival fell in with the others. He put the slip of paper away and began checking his right arm, flexing his hand quietly as he waited for a response.

[Blue]

Blue carefully rises to her feet dropping back to slightly behind Novine and her butterflies, tilting her head at Eligor's vague explanation. Tret would readily want her to leave but if the Shapeshifter was anything, she was quite stubborn and unwilling to stand down. It's then that Gair's volley goes towards the red-haired lala, if only to miss. She glances over to him, grateful looking smile on her face. “Was not my intention,” she answers to the highlander. “But here we are. Here I stay anyway.”

[Eligor]

“It’ll hurt.”

“There’s more of you than me. That means one of you will try to attack when I’m killing one of you. That means I won’t be able to finish. You’ll have to wait while I fight them. It’ll hurt a lot, so you should run instead.”

There was no malice or hate in his voice. If anything, he sounded as if he genuinely was trying to push the flee option.

[Novine]

“Tch, so glorious,” Novine says snidely. “Why put out a beacon if you want everyone to just run away? Just wanted to show off?”

[Eligor]

“Beacon?”

[Novine]

“What you think we all just showed up for fun? You led us here, intentionally or not. Some pulsing feeling coming from here. And I could feel you as if you were right next to me all the way in Southern Thanalan. Surely not acting like you wanna have alone time,” she points out, reaching out a sparking hand and touching each of her butterflies with the energy as if she were lighting candles with levin as they shift color to match the element and crackle with their own aura.

[Gair]

Gair raises his sabre in a high guard, the steel claw of his pointed toward Eligor. A scowl painted on his countenance as he lingers there, at the ready. “You wont take any of us, fool, now stand down!” He demands, clearly not amused with having to respond to this bloody and macabre display along with seeing at least one of his friends nearly get air-blasted.

[Blue]

Blue asks simply, “Who's the target you wish to take?” As if confirmation would permit her a proper response.

[Novine]

“You all should go,” Novine warns. “He is stronger than you imagine.”

[Eligor]

He brought a hand to his mask and hunched over, moaning in pain as the mask began to crack. As the mask completely crumbled, he stood upright again, sweeping a hand through his hair and smoothing back his bangs, revealing the large crystal housed there. Unlike before however, his eyes were a stark and dead white, with black veins connecting to the prior wounds that seem to be accumulating on his body now. He smiled, revealing a row of white sharp teeth.

“I’ll have to thank you all for that. It’s been terribly stressful breaking through this time.”

“Thankfully you’re all so warm and inviting. Well I’m here now and that’s all that matters. I realize you might be confused but you could always just….leave. I’ve gotten what I needed now.”

[Blue]

Blue is all but perplexed with this additional transformation and the words that followed. She measures her words carefully. “We will leave after you leave. Now that you've got what you needed, tis no reason for you to be here either. Then we can say our farewells proper.” She moves towards Gair.

[Eligor]

“I’ve business here you…oh, would you look at that? Clearly you’re not like me so…this is quite the tickle.” He brings a hand to his chin and leans forward, clearly very intrigued. “What is your mystery? Are you perhaps artificial life?”

“No that couldn’t be it there is far too much vitality….hmmm…”

[Novine]

Novine stares at the transformed person with utter contempt seething from her. “You don't belong here. No one wants you here.”

[Eligor]

“I’ve hardly stopped to converse with my shrubbery, let alone commune with its feelings. Return to your silent persistence.”

[Gair]

Gair stares daggers at Eligor, or whatever they've become amid their “transformation”. Standing his ground, he cautions a step forward and demands. “Leave, while you yet stand lone over this massacre? What is your name, creature, and why do you wear the skin of another?”

“Are you even him?”

[Eligor]

“The shrubs are still talking. Oh dear. I suppose I have not pruned enough of them.”

[Blue]

Eligor's words have most immediately struck a chord with the Au Ra, eyes widening briefly in realization, a steady shaky wariness. She is very much silent now, glancing down and near hiding behind Gair. ”…“

[Novine]

Novine narrows her expression to one of unbridled frustration, rage, and he knowledge of knowing one is not enough to change what needs changed. As she screams the butterflies streak toward him, and that pent up energy that made her become so heated is released at last, dozens of little tiny balls of levin shooting from her all at once without regard for her surroundings or control. It was raw, pure emotion. She turns around and starts to walk quickly off, the appearance of her aether matching that typically associated with teleportation.

“You all should go,” she says again with an urgency and edge born of her powerlessness. She meant to leave if she would be allowed it, or if no one stopped her.

[Gair]

Gair looks over either shoulder, nearly jumping up in fright as levin bolts around everywhere. Twelve, could she always do that?! His grip clamps down on the hilt of his sabre and he barks to Blue behind him. “With Novine, she knows somethin' we don't! I'll be right behind ya.” Not intent to retreat just yet, he maintains his guard. An inky black aether now dripping from his blade as he remains defiant, demanding. “Just who the hell are you, huh?!”

[A'erina]

A'erina finally snaps out of whatever trance she was in, realising the situation had taken a more troublesome turn. She forces herself to move, and sees the departing Novine as the lightning balls scatter around the area, having to move out of the way of a few of them. A'erina manages to get within a close proximity to Gair, but before saying anything to him, she notices the black aether and she knew what that meant.

“Can't let you have all the fun, can I?” A'erina was holding her sword in her hands, she didn't quite know what she'd gotten herself into but she too was intent on staying.

[Blue]

Blue flinches at Gair's direction, a tad bit distracted, though she manages to narrowly avoid the bolts bouncing upon the ground near her feet. ”..Okay!“ Temple burning, the Au Ri runs after Novine to stop or at least soften her retreat. She sees A'erina at the forefront with Gair. Good..he wouldn't be alone. With a leap and a bound, the shapeshifter jumps in front of Novine, her arms out- knowing full well she couldn't physically stop the lala from leaving. Instead she asks of her, “Is it wise to leave him as he is now?”

Blue's thoughts are raging and conflicted. She would not leave until she was certain -all- of her friends were safe and away. But staying gave greater likelihood of her mystery to be uncovered. Blue drops her arms and clenches her fists, a soft yet furious rage beginning to well up within the Au Ra.

[Novine]

Novine stops as Blue addresses her. “I'm not strong enough yet. And… he's got a plan. I'm not s'posed to get in the way. I'm s'posed to stay safe, to run if I get big ideas of sacrifice or whatever, and I'm not gonna hang around to try and play the hero and throw it all away. Father's been trying to get us to leave for awhile now.” She reaches out a hand. “The only way I can help is taking you with me. Take it or leave it.”

[Eligor]

There is a laugh as the butterflies launch towards him, accompanied by levin. There is an explosion as both make contact, but when the dust settles he is gone. He reappears just above Gair and A’erina with his arms behind his back, looking down with a slight smirk. “We remember you two now. We liked you. This will be even more special.” He falls to the ground now, waiting expectantly. “Very well then. Come for me.”

[A'erina]

A'erina's face becomes one of anger, staring down this monstrosity infront of her. Her heart racing and through seemingly laboured breaths she ask.” whaddya mean we? No enigmatic bullshit, Eli. Just what in the hells is going on?!“ She gripped the hilt of her sword tighter like she wanted to act, trying to remain calm instead of throwing herself at him.

[Eligor]

“I am entertaining my garden.”

He snaps his fingers, and black constructs appear behind them. He appears to have copied Novine’s trick somewhat, but instead of beautiful butterflies, they appeared as small and ugly blobs of ink that crackled with black static.

[Blue]

Blue looks at Novine's outstretched hand and takes note of her offer. For a moment she does consider…but shakes her head, looking back to where Gair and A'erina face off against the now much closer Eligor. “I can't leave my friends.”

Blue hesitates before turning away from Novine and slowly heading back to the pair, steeling her resolve, her eyes catching upon the inky blobs that have appeared behind them. “Watch out!”

[Novine]

Novine watches her go with annoyance, conflicted. She doesn't immediately go, opting to hang back and observe. She calls out to Blue as she runs off.

“Whatever you do, don't you dare kill my Father. I don't care if it's an accident, or if you meant well. If it happens, and you did something to make it happen, I'm not gonna forgive you!”

[Eligor]

One of the blobs flies towards Blue while the remaining two circle around Gair and A’erina.

[Gair]

Shake the sand from your ears, oaf, we are not to kill this man.

Gair wears a persistent scowl painted on his face as Eligor flits around and taunts them, the constructs, the orbs, everything was happening so fast. He inverted the grasp on his sabre and fell to his knees, plunging his sword a few fulms down into the sands. “We're just gonna beat some sense into him, Novine!”

Readying his own aetheric response to the blobs, intent on a barrage of jagged spikes to erupt from the ground to threaten and interpose.

[A'erina]

A'erina let Gair handle the orbs, Fighting aether with aether, magic on magic was better left to those capable of using it. She made herself scarce of the jagged protrusions as they crept up out of the ground. She looked quite shocked that this is the kind of thing that Gair could do, but asking about it would have to wait until later. A'erina looked at Novine, ” If you know a weakness, now might be a good time to share it. “

[Blue]

Blue takes note of Novine's words, biting her lip. The Au Ri, was in earnest, just wanting to make sure everyone made it out safe at this point.

She glares at the orb heading her way, which doesn't appear too intimidating, but Blue doesn't trust that, and would keep a wide berth from the inky thing if possible, waiting for it to do something.

[Novine]

Novine hangs back, watching them, re-summoning her own butterflies just in case. “I've never fought this guy. It's not my father anymore, so I dunno what he can do. All I know is he's really strong, and we probably can't beat 'im. But if he's using my technique, those things can cast their own spells and absorb aether and switch aspects.” She watches everything happening helplessly, holding out her hand, a flame erupting in her palm that each butterfly in turn flies through. The butterflies turn a fiery red hue, smoldering like ashes as they flutter around the Lalafell.

[Eligor]

As if in response to Novine’s words, the orb flying for Blue suddenly lashed out with blackened static, followed by the others quickly following suit. Eligor on the other hand seemed content to watch for now, smirking mockingly at everyone’s reactions.

[Novine]

“Mine can only attack in tandem! I do not know if this is true of his! If one attacks, the others must!”

[Blue]

Blue narrows her eyes at the static lashing at her, thinking her training at the Grindstone would be enough to allow her to dodge the dangerous aetherial blot. She tries to sidestep it, but just isn't fast enough. With no ways to deflect the bolt, the Au Ri takes a sharp blow to her side, knocking Blue right off her feet and onto the ground with a thud. She attempts to get back up again, grasping at where she was struck.

[Eligor]

Rather than simply attacking, the orb seems to have snatched something from Blue as well. The orb soon returns to Eligor and he takes it in hand, soon after biting into it as if it were an inky Apple. His almost abnormally white teeth were now stained over with slick black goo, and he turned away from the group, cackling to himself.

“How long since I’ve had any proper appetizers?” he chomps another bite from the orb, pleased as punch with the taste. A faint blush began to form on his cheeks. “So long that even scraps taste just divine…”

[Gair]

Gair opts to instead keep himself grounded with his blade plunged into the sands, taking a glancing brunt of the levin that passes through him and into the earth beneath. Just what the fuck is happening with this fool?! When he draws his sabre from the dry sands, it's drooling with a dark aura.

“You want somethin' to eat, huh?! OPEN WIDE!” He barks out and takes his sabre up in both hands, the weapon thrums as he sweeps it into the air in front of him. Projecting a shadowy blade that he hurtles Eligor's way.

[A'erina]

A'erina decides that it's now or never, with his back turned and seemingly distracted by whatever it is he was consuming, A'erina rushed towards Not-Eligor, getting up close enough that she would leap in the air, sword drawn and ready to bop this little bastard on the head with her sword.

[Eligor]

Eligor catches the orb that ‘sampled’ Gair’s aether as well before the blade makes contact with his body. Rather than dodging, he seemed completely enraptured by his meal. The blade pierced through his abdomen and quickly begins to bleed, having pierced just below his rib cage and run all the way through. He did not seem to register it beyond some a slight displacement a few fulms back.

A’erina however was a different story. Having moved close enough to his him, he suddenly twitched out of the way before launching what was left of Blue’s orb towards A’erina’s mouth with enough speed to stop her forward momentum, immediately chomping into Gair’s orb next.

[A'erina]

A'erina finds herself being smacked in the face by whatever the fuck these orbs are, halting any momentum she had jumping through the air at him, she managed to land and find her feet before wiping her face quickly after being hit, shaking her head. ” Fuckin' magic.“

[Novine]

Novine looks on in concern as Gair's blade sinks into his body. Any attack against him felt like it was an attempt to destroy her father, who existed somewhere in there, as far as she was concerned. She watches them both, growing more furious the more she watches. “If you're gonna fucking use his body, at least take care of it, you piece of shit!” she screams crudely at him.

[Blue]

Blue stares up at Eligor, confused expression on her face as she gets to her feet and watches the pair do their respective attacks at the maybe-not-Eligor. She grabs the claws she'd dropped upon getting hit, staring at the blade that had successfully been lodged in the abomination of a lala, uncertain if physical attacks were even the way to go. But alas, it's what the Au Ri had to work with, and she'd run at Eli next, bringing one set of claws up to slash at the lala across the hungry face.

[Eligor]

He was still chewing into Gair’s orb, but upon getting close enough he thrust a fist out towards her attack, red gauntlet clashing against claw.

He smiled at Novine’s words and pulled at the blade, yanking it from his body and laughing as more blood gushed from the now unplugged wound. Either from pain, the sudden massive bloodloss, or just losing to Blue’s strength, he soon buckled and crumpled from the attack, falling into a laughing and bleeding heap on the sand.

[Novine]

Novine screams at the others. “Stop! Just fucking leave! None of this has anything to do with you! You're only making things worse!”

She sends her butterflies up into the air to hover over the battlefield, swirling like vultures overhead, ready to react to anything - further attacks to her, or to her father's body.

[Eligor]

He keeps laughing, but out of nowhere suddenly freezes. He hops to his feet, ignoring his wound still and turning his head on a swivel, confusion clear on his face. That confusion slowly contorted into one of fear, and he thrashed an arm towards the group, sending a wave of aether towards them that pushed them back but a fulm. He was clearly panicked now, his previous demeanor completely replaced.

“This is impossible! Was this your trap!?”

He begins clawing at his throat but to no avail. The damage was done.

[Novine]

Novine only edges her butterflies lower, closer to him, unsure whether her aether was having an effect or if it was merely a coincidence of something else. She doesn't know whether to be relieved or anxious as he struggles there.

[A'erina]

A'erina was quick enough to react before being hit by the aether blast, and jabs her sword into the ground and grips onto it tightly, refusing to be moved too much by it.

[Gair]

Mercy was a rare hallmark of Gair's expertise, he was holding his sabre by the blade now, presenting only blunted steel. “This is our opening, control him!” He barks out, even if he'd apparently struck a horrendous blow. Scraping along the sands even as he is driven back by the aetheric blast, not wholly knowing that other's aether he is making a snack of would be a problem. “Whatever he took from me ain't agreein' with 'im!”

[Blue]

Blue drops down to the ground shortly before Eligor goes splat, taking a back step and then a hop backwards at the wave of aether that pushed her. She looks to Gair and A'erina before dropping her claws at her sides once more. “Maybe we've exhausted him?”

[A'erina]

A'erina nods at Gair and runs at Not-or-Might-be-Eligor and gets behind him, this stupid cat is gonna try and pin this Lalafell down the only way she knows how. She drops her sword temporarily and attempts to get this angry boi in a damn sleeper hold.

[Novine]

Novine strides forward toward Eligor. “No…” she says, giving a glance at Gair. “No, I do not think that's it,” she says in response to Blue. She looks down at him. “So… This was why then.” She cracks a grin. “Not happy to know you can't just do whatever you want without consequences?”

[Eligor]

He ducks out of the way of the attempted hold before half stumbling away, bringing a hand to his face.

“You don’t understand. I’m not in control of this. This is not a game anymore—I cannot stop it!”

He looks to the group one last time before the white in his eyes began to blacken.

“Listen, fools. Flee.”

He collapses again, and his body begins to shift and change once again. Unlike the prior shifts however, this change seemed far more forced and resisted. Aether burst from the unstable body on the ground, and more pulses began to burst from it. Only this time the ground beneath Eligor seemed to crack and indent, as if a great weight were being forced upon it.

[Novine]

“You heard him. We leave. All of us.” She makes to snatch for A'erina's wrist seeing as how she is the closest, already starting to try to dissolve them both into the aether.

[Gair]

“Fuck, we can't even help?!” Gair yells out. Go, you fool. He's telling us to go.

No-!

I wasn't asking.

“Gair” jolts to purpose, forced at first, to bring his fingers to his lips and whistle to the skies. “Hearken to me, bird!” He turns tail and sheathes his sabre, making ready to depart swiftly. His accent definitely foreign to Thanalan now as he demands of Blue and A'erina both. “We must needs go, cat, lizard!”

[A'erina]

A'erina is reluctant to agree with Novine at this point. She could feel herself losing herself the more this went on, her features slowly starting to become more hostile, She grabs her sword and looks at Eligor for a moment as if she wants to just run at it him and chop his head off. But before she sets this stupid plan in motion, Novine grabs her wrist, halting her. She growls at Novine before accepting the offer. ” Fine… Make it quick. “

[Blue]

Blue is the last to make a decision, observing her companions and whether they choose to leave. The Au Ri seems sated by 'said reactions ” Going..“ murmured out, and chancing a curious glance at Eligor once more before she too leaves. Not having a bird nor an aetherial teleport to use, Blue makes to skedaddle the old-fashioned way.

[Eligor]

Unfortunately, it was too late.

Eligor is on his knees in the same place he collapsed moments before, but his appearance has once again shifted completely. No longer was he sporting his black outfit and cape, but instead now a simple and ratty long shirt that stopped just short of reaching his knees. He seemed more like a beggar prepared for bed than some horror if going off his clothes alone, but that was not the only thing about him that had shifted. His hair had grown longer–now easily extending beyond his maximum height in a unkempt and comb desperate bush–and the red tattoos that adorned his cheeks had extended, meeting in the center of his face over his nose and extending long out of view on the sides of his face beneath his new mane of hair. His hands held no weapons now, but instead sported long black claws. But perhaps strangest of all about his appearance was that he was ever so slightly smaller. Assuming one could even dare to guess, they might even notice he appears quite a bit younger as well.

This new incarnation made no sound and only sat on the sand, staring at a pair of bloody ring earrings nested in his upturned palm.

Something about this place was strange; beyond the sudden and completely impossible shift in setting, there was a palpable sense of rage about the area. It was almost like a rising heat around them, but there was no mistaking that this was a FEELING, not a mistaken hunch. It was slowly spreading from Eligor, as if it threatened to corrupt everything around him.

[Novine]

Novine looks at the younger version of her father, wanting to go to him to check on him, but she stops upon noticing the differences, the unfamiliar scenery. She hesitates, watching him.

[Eligor]

Unlike before, his body does not seem to be fading away. He is no longer twitching or seemingly ephemeral. Something about this change was solid. Final.

[Blue]

Blue soon finds herself in this strange desert, glancing up at the strangeness of the sky before looking around for her companions who were just as unfortunate. The Au Ri murmurs under her breath, “Tret is going to keep me in a box for the next several moons if I get out of this..” Voice drifting off to take notice of the younger and sharp-clawed Eligor.

She feels that throbbing sense of rage coming from the man, and hesitates before taking a tentative step forward, not certain what to say or to do.

[Novine]

She steps forward slowly, hesitantly. “…Father?” She stops, tilting her head in curiosity.

[A'erina]

A'erina looks at the sky, and looks at her surroundings. So much for the aether helping her get away. Noticing that the rest of them have also been forced into this predicament aswell. She looks at what is probably Eligor but it might also not be him at this point, who fucking knows. She watches Novine approach him, if anyone should be sorting this out, it might as well be his kid.

[Eligor]

He moves to pierce his left ear with the earrings, eyes coming to a burning glow as they clasped into place. Blue was who he saw move first, and with clawed toes digging into the sand he lunged forward, screaming like a cornered animal. Upon hearing Novine however, he scrambled to a stop, slipping around Blue and dashing in to Novine Mouth open and teeth aimed for anything they could clench onto.

[Gair]

“Halone's tits…what fresh hell did you delve us in-” 'Gair' is still taking stock of the sudden shift in surroundings, Thanalan's desert was alien to him already, but now this? “Seven hells!” He yells out as what became of Eligor began to surge through the sand, screaming, furious and gnashing.

“Move, dunes girl!”

He was dashing across the sand, trying, hoping he gets to Novine first. Intent to intercede himself between the gnashing teeth.

[Blue]

Blue braces when she sees Eligor charging her way, her own claws up, defensive posture taken - but when he sidesteps her to get to Novine, the Au Ri twists herself around and lunges her taloned arms forward, trying to slow the raging lala by swiping for the backs of his legs

[Novine]

Novine widens her eyes as he darts toward her, thrashing about like a wild thing. She curses under her breath as she readies her body to accept some kind of impact, channeling electricity to her feet to assist in lunging off to her right to dodge his straight charge.

[Eligor]

Eligor’s legs are indeed injured by the claws, but they do little to stop his speed as he flies forwards anyway. Novine still manages to dodge him, but he quickly recovers in a sliding stop, now suddenly leaping for Gair who was rushing to stop him as well. There were no tricks or spells this time, but his body was clearly radiating aether at this point. His flesh was imbued with a terrifying strength.

[A'erina]

A'erina rushes towards Gair and Eligor. She jumped at the last moment to give her a height advantage, again she tries to attack Eligor from above.

[Gair]

Gair got exactly what he was asking for, having used himself to intervene and spare another wound. Except now he's the one being attacked, by the Fury! His left arm would be held up to ward from being savaged anywhere else. But that of course leaves his armored appendage at the mercy of the rushing Eligor. “Listen to your daughter, you crazed bastard!” There is some violent flailing and shaking, for good measure.

[Blue]

Blue drops down onto all fours when she struck Eligor, taking note of how little it did to sway him from his target- Course seemed Gair was a good enough distraction for that. Seeing that he was indeed struck by the Eligor, the lizard makes an attempt to 'scrape' the man off his arm with the ready swing of her claws.

[Eligor]

Eligor clutches onto Gair, using his body as a solid post to redirect his body into a handstand of sorts. With A'erina bearing down on him, he pushing himself off of Gair with force and smashed his feet against A'erina's descending form and clutched onto her midair before bending in to bite at her hands.

[Novine]

Novine keeps her distance, the aether at her feet extending up her body and into her hand, little balls of condensed levin rocketing toward him. “Calm the fuck down!” she says, hoping the shock might stun him.

[A'erina]

A'erina feels the impact of this little rat bastard's feet against her, Had she slowly not been losing control, she'd probably have a broken bone or two after it. the hit knocking the wind out of her though, and she barely has time to react as she feels his teeth bite down on her hand. She lets out a loud and bloodcurdling scream, she slips out of focus for a second, the pain almost unbearable. She pull out a small knife and prizes his mouth open to let go of her hand, now covered in, and practically pouring out blood. She pushes him in the direction of Novine's levin spell hoping to get him away from her

She clutches her hand, and finds her satchel on the ground, dropping to a knee, laboured breaths as she looks at the bite marks in her hand, she realises all her mixes have all but gone as shards of glass scratch and cut her hand as she fumbles with the bag. ” Oh no… “ A'erina is now on all fours, on the verge of collapsing, but all of a sudden just stops, it looks almost like she's gonna let her Inner Beast take over to save herself.

[Eligor]

He roars as he is thrown into the levin bolt and is effectively covered in the electric onslaught, falling back down into the sands in a smoking heap. This proved to be a mistake of its own however as he still did not stop, now rushing towards Novine again in a fit. What’s more, he was still covered in the levin bolts, as if his body were somehow channeling them through on a loop as he thrashed a claw for her legs.

[Blue]

Blue draws her arms away from Gair upon seeing Eligor-thing launch himself up and at A'erinna, wincing at the screams coming from the miquo'te. She crouches down over the cat, dropping her claws briefly to place a concerned hand on her shoulder, shaking. “Keep it together A'erina!” The Au Ri at a loss, choosing to defend the Miquo'te for a time, leaving Gair and Novine to try and slow down Eligor..somehow.

[Novine]

Novine attempts to redirect the flow of her aether back to her feet but simply is not fast enough, the claw snagging the back of her leg. The armor about her prevents the claw from digging into her flesh, but he trips her up nonetheless, the girl falling to the ground with a Yelp as she rolls onto her back. She attempts to channel first aether to her feet, bringing her knees to her chest only to aim a desperate, firey kick at Eligor before he could overwhelm her completely.

[Gair]

I can't fuckin' believe we're thinkin' about doin' what that skinless fuck tried on the airship. One voice begins to reign in Gair's mind once more and it's the more vulgar of the two. Recovering from his roll in the sand from being used as a springboard, he releases his sabre to the ground and clenches his fists tight. A change of strategy, born of desperation and mercy. You always say you're the weapon, damnit, focus! His teeth grit and from his grasp, inky black liquid begins to seep from his hands like blood. “Think we can drain and vent out whatever in the fuck has gripped him?!” When he releases, his hands are wreathed in a fell glow. He rushes into mythical melee Eligor and Novine are engaged, thrusting an open palm out to both strike and grab for the potentially filicidal father.

[Eligor]

The combo of kick into strike had worked splendidly, but grabbing and draining from Eligor proved to be a massive mistake. The crystal on his forehead began to shine before tendrils of light burst from them. Physically harmless, but everyone’s mind would flood with images almost too fast to process. The pain of being cut and smacked around. Fear as you fail to move in time and your comrade is throne into a wall.

The vision fades, but the feeling does not. Eligor's years of pent up rage burst from his body in a gutteral scream, and he began tearing and jerking violently until he was free of Gair's grasp.

Eligor continues to scream, and two more crystals extend out of his forehead, bending upward and forming horns. His body radiated heat, but whatever was happening was too much for him to contain. Bloody wounds began opening over his arms and legs to compliment the ones Blue gave him earlier, and the claws on his hands seemed to be burning red hot, turning his fingertips into a withered black that seemed to be slowly spreading up his hand.

The tendrils of light were still firmly attached to everyone, mixing his vision with theirs. He did not see Novine, Gair, A'erina, and Blue. He saw the lalafell with an axe, another one with a thick lance, a duskwight elezen man, and a snake woman that appeared to be half tree–all malformed to fit and match the bodies of each of them. He swung his claws for the snake–or Blue rather–and a large red gash formed in the air. The air screamed and crackled as it was forced to bend outward, flying for the woman.

[Novine]

Novine looked at Eligor with as pained of an expression as she was capable of, her eyes still obscured by her mask. He was suffering, actively suffering and she hated it. She wanted to stop it, stop whatever this was. Memories? Likely judging from the appearance of the people around her in the visions, all of the beautiful crystals upon their heads, these were old memories. She wanted to stop the loop, to cause him to see reason, to no longer be trapped in them. But…how does one even do that?

She enlists the help of her butterfly constructs again, the fluttering geometries sinking low to the ground as Novine places her hands near to the sands, ice leaping and bounding in a shallow sheet that builds and builds as it nears her father, growing thicker. The butterflies switch aspects and aim blasts of ice toward him, hoping to limit his movement, encase his hands, immobilize his legs - whatever opening she could find to make his rampage stop, to open up the opportunity for clarity of logic, of truth, that trait he always seemed to value highest above all.

[A'erina]

A'erina snaps herself out of it, not succumbing just yet. She clutches her head as she is flooded with Eligor's presumable memories and events that he must have witnessed. She manages to get halfway up, on a knee as Novine did her magic to try and immobilize him. Blue was seemingly Eli's target yet again as he had aimed some form of attack straight for her. Something clicked in A'erina though, a characteristic that didn't exist for her. She grabbed her weapon and moved in front of Blue, holding her sword out to block the oncoming attack

[Blue]

Blue squeezed her eyes shut, trying to force away the visions in her head pulsating from Eligor- but it was impossible not to watch the sheer carnage of unfamiliar strangers. Still recovering from the vision and the powerful hatred flooding the room, the Au Ri is slow to awaken, glancing up at the now-horned Eligor, bloody and brutal, as he slices a red gash and sends it hurtling for her seconds too late to properly dodge away.

Blue braces for the inevitable, covering her face in her arms before sensing movement nearby and recognizing the miquo'te as she steps out in front of her. “A'erina?!?” She barks out in surprise, not expecting aid from the woman who Blue had figured detested her.

[Eligor]

The burning gash was ultimately without weight and was literally a gust of burning air. Although it could easily be blocked with a body, the effects were not unlike using your hands to block a red hot slab of metal.

Novine's ice covered his hands and legs. Looking down in confusion at the sudden loss of mobility, another vision assaulted the group, quick and fast.

He reared back and inhaled before screaming at the ice holding him, a stream of blackened flames gushing from his mouth in a torrent. He yanked himself free of the melting ice and began thrashing at what remained, intent to completely destroy that which bound him.

[Novine]

Novine calls out to him as he struggles. “Stop! You're gonna kill yourself! That stuff, it's in the past! You don't have to keep looking at it!”

[Eligor]

He simply screams and claws at the ice and sand in response. Another heat wave radiates from his body, sending hot sand flying towards everyone in gusts. It was getting worse.

[A'erina]

After blocking the attack, swinging her sword to dissipate it and realising it was naught more than hot air. She doesn't acknowledge Blue at all, defending her for no obvious or particular reason, or maybe doing something justified or 'right' would mean she could get herself out of this hellhole before it was too late.

“Listen to her! Whatever this is, whoever did this, it wasn't us! ”

She plants her sword in the ground as the heated sand is forced upon her, using it to keep herself in a stationary position refusing to move, She was showing this uncharacteristic nature again and was shielding Blue as best she could as she looks at her.

“If you've got… An idea… Better come out with it. ”

[Gair]

Gair got the worst of the initial barrage of memories that invaded their minds, he was the means by which their floodgates were released, after all. For a moment he writhed pathetically in the sand, clutching his head and fucking screaming bloody murder. What is this pain, this rage? When he could finally look up at the man, a gust of sand howled and he covered his eyes just in time. Heat, after all, bothered him little, even as the grains of sand battered his flesh and armor.

“What if…we break the cycle?! Defy his memory somehow, any ideas?”

[Blue]

Blue didn't understand it but she was grateful to A'erina nonetheless, grabbing her claws up again and tilts her head thinking. A crazy violent Eligor, induced into some raging mess because of memories. What was there to do? “I don't think reason will get to him right now. But I wonder…if we could do something about the crystal. Seems to me that's where the visions are coming from..maybe..” She glances at Novine, certainly not sure of what can be done, only offering suggestions at best. The slightest spark of an idea formulates in Blue's head, but she'd need to see more visions, for better or for worse.

[Novine]

Novine is pushed back by the gusting stand, feeling the specks stinging on her cheeks as they rocket toward her like miniscule comets. She grits her teeth and lets out a grunt of frustration as she channels aether to her feet again, this time forming the bolts in her hand as well. She launches herself forward, her speed increased by the levin as she seeks to thrust her hand at the back of his head, hoping to push his writhing form into the sand and stun him if possible. She keeps the aether flowing as constantly as possible, forcibly attempting to cause his body to calm itself.

[Eligor]

Novine’s hit strikes true, but along with the brief stun cams yet another vision.

Eligor desperately scrambled around, grabbing a handful of sand (which immediately began to burn in his hands) before swinging his sandy palm for the spear woman’s (Novine’s) face.

[A'erina]

A'erina weathers the sand on her long enough for it to stop, she leans against her sword and gets to her feet, her skin charred and sore from the heated sand. She clenches her fist as she tells Blue to formulate some kind of plan. She throws her weapon towards Novine, hoping it plants itself in the ground right infront of her face to halt Eligor in his tracks.

“Keep talking to him, Novine! Try and get through to him!”

[Novine]

Novine leans back as A'erina's weapon plants itself in front of her, the girl yelping in surprise as she had not expected the projectile. Nevertheless, some of the sand lands upon her face beneath her mask, and she lets out a pained cry, gritting her teeth and holding on for dear life to his body. She reaches her other hand forward to try and pin his other hand down, switching her aspect to ice again as she tries to limit the amount of burning sand he throws around.

“I know, your memories fucking suck, which is all the more reason to ignore them! We're not the pieces of shit who did this to you! See some fucking reason!”

[Eligor]

It was brief, but for a moment the world seemed to flicker. It was but a moment, but the group had returned to the Sil’Dihn ruins. He thrashes against Novine’s attempted pinning, breathing more fire as a large gash bursts open up his arm, accompanied by yet another vision.

In a sickening cacophony, Eligor’s right arm, both of his legs, and presumably from the rapid contortion his ribs all loudly began to snap like twigs. He couldn’t even continue to scream as he crumpled onto the sand, wincing in pain.

[Blue]

Blue gets out from behind A'erina and makes her way towards the downed Eligor, not wanting Novine to be alone in trying to hold down her father. She's wary upon drawing near, claws at the ready, only to briefly witness the ruins from before. She winces as another vision fills her head, crouching down and away from the burning portions of sand in front of Eligor just as bones proceed to snap inside his body.

She looks to Novine with concern, but reaches out tentatively towards the red-haired lala, either to help hold him down as well or to brace herself should he uncrumple himself suddenly.

[Novine]

As Eligor's bones begin snap and crack, Novine lets out a panicked noise, trying to hold him as steady as possible, lowering herself to cover his body to try and flatten him down and get him to stop struggling. “No! You're in Eorzea! You're not there anymore!” She yells at him, voice thick with distress , not sure what else to do. Her hands clasp at him in a desperate sort of way as she tries to calm his thrashing, her small body not very effective. She stops channeling the aether, unable to quite focus on it with all of this happening.

[Eligor]

the world suddenly cracks like glass and shatters. The group is back at the ruins now, in the same position they each were in before, poised to run away. Eligor was back to normal(?) now and lying on the ground face down. Was it all an illusion? The pain of what happened was not there physically, but it could all still be felt as if perfectly fresh and new.

[Novine]

Novine feels his body calm and she carefully, slowly, and cautiously pushes herself off of him to kneel next to him. She places a hand cautiously at his shoulder and makes to shake him a bit.

”….Father?“ Her voice sounds rather soft and vulnerable, full of some cynical hope, some pessimistic optimism.

[Eligor]

He stirs quietly, before turning his head to cough up some dark red and long dead blood.

“….You’re loud.”

[Gair]

Gair steps up on labored footfalls, drained in a different way for the moment. He is a few fulms away, wary, though the fell aura around his hands has all but dissipated. The black droplets of aether being the only proof of it's existence on the sands beneath him. Eager to quip back, his grin is lopsided.

“You're one to talk.”

[Eligor]

“Annnd there’s more than one of you. This some strange kidnapping?”

[Blue]

Blue breathes a sigh of relief and pulls away briefly, tilting her head at the red-haired lala. “Do you need any help?” Getting up, she means to add, but the female is worn and wary still at this point, looking at at the normal Thanalan sky. At least everything else felt normal. This experience surely hadn't been.

[Novine]

Novine adjusts her sitting position to be a more relaxed one, relief washing over her as her body loosens up and her posture slackens. “You're stupid,” she says in a pouty sort of voice, sighing. A little grin turns the corners of her mouth upward as the sound escapes her.

[A'erina]

A'erina feels the familiar atmosphere of Thanalan once again. She had felt herself losing control of herself amidst whatever was happening, still having laboured breaths, she finally snaps out of her descent and composes herself. remembering that Eligor had bit her hand hard, and the pain was excruciating, she checked her hand, but like some phantom pain, no blood or marks, but for some reason the pain of her hand being bitten, aswell as heated sand touching exposed flesh was something she couldn't get out of her head. She looks up to see that they were indeed back in Thanalan again and she sees Eligor looking like his self again. she drags herself and her sword over to the rest of them. She speaks up despite not getting her breath back yet.

“Lemme guess… You're gonna say… You don't remember anything. ”

[Eligor]

“If I did, id probably be less wet.”He sighs now, turning over and lying on his back. “Doesn’t look like anyone is dead.”He turns his head to see the mummified bodies. “Well, no one I don’t remember killing anyway.”

[Novine]

Novine scoots to the side a bit to give him room to turn over easier, her vigil over him not quite done yet. “Nope, but those idiots probably should be,” she says with a bit of annoyance, pushing up her visor underneath her bangs, lavender eyes finally visible to everyone as she looks down to him. “You're…. you're good now, right?” Her eyes were much softer than typical, wider, more concerned.

[Eligor]

“…You’re wearing your armor. Surely nothing that serious happened.”

[Novine]

“Well… It was… kinda rough, not gonna lie. That thing broke through. I put it on when I saw what was happening over here 'cause it looked kinda like it did last time I spoke with it. So… more precaution than necessity at first. But, it did its job.”

[Eligor]

“And the guests?”

[Novine]

“There was this pulsing feeling that kinda led people here. I felt it all the way in Sagoli. Dunno where they all were. I tried to get them to leave like you wanted. Kinda glad we stayed though.”

[Gair]

“You're welcome,” Gair chimes in at the mention of lingerers and falls to his ass on the sands. Disarmed now by the conversation between father and daughter. He stares on at Eligor, a mixture of bemusement and tired frustration on his features.

“I think your benevolent interlopers're due for an explanation.”

[Eligor]

“You think a lot of things.”

[A'erina]

A'erina pokes Gair with the tip of her blade, checking to see if it is actually Gair or whether it might still be something else.

“Oi, You feelin' okay?” She would ask, just to be sure.

[Gair]

“And a broken Gair chronometer is right twice a day, so out with- ow, hey!”

Gair practically jumps, or rather, hops away from his seated spot in the sands. A sword is still a sword to get poked with, and it stung just enough to surprise him. A hand held up as his cousin levels her own inquiry. Merciful Twelve I've had enough of this already.

“I'm fine, I'm fine! You?”

[A'erina]

Her hand still feels like its dripping with blood, and the pain seems to still be there and despite it causing her a considerable amount of discomfort as she keeps looking at it. She gives Gair a nod though.

“Not really, no. I think I'm gonna avoid any strange noises and goings on from here on out. ”

[Eligor]

“Might be helpful. Far as I know a bunch of thieves tried to rob me. Next thing I know it’s apparently a party here.”

[Novine]

“Not exactly my idea of a party. You should try to throw less shitty ones.” Her voice doesn't have the self-assured bite in it that is typically present as she speaks. She looks him over again. “How bad is it? Your body. It went through a lot.”

[Eligor]

“Feels like someone threw a sword through my body.”

[Blue]

Blue stirs from her reverie and allows father and daughter their space, heading over to Gair and A'erina. Once she reaches them, she plops on the ground too. “Could have been much worse for us.” She acknowledges under her breath in response to Eligor's comment.

[Novine]

Novine can't help but let out a small laugh at his frank description. “Well, you're not exactly wrong. I don't really heal other people ever, but I could try if it hurts too badly.” Ever eager to help, she leans forward to take a curious look at his more greivous wound. She doesn't use her hands, only examining it with her eyes first.

[Eligor]

His wound had mostly already closed, but it was seeping black smoke and seemed to be radiating with heat.

“I’ll probably have to stay here. I don’t have any assets in Thanalan that are useful for resting, and I don’t think I can teleport any time soon.”

“You should care for your friends instead, I can clean up my own mistakes.”

[Novine]

She lifts her gaze to peer at the others, her eyes full of some begrudging judgment as she surveys their injuries. She sighs and asks in a manner that almost sounds as if she were a child being told to apologize to a another child when they feel they shouldn't have to apologize for anything, “Do any of you need healing or anything?”

[Blue]

Blue looks over at Novine in response and shakes her head. She places a hand on the side that had been aether-blasted though there doesn't seem to be any open wound. “Feels sore…feels painful. But that'll pass on its own. Thank you though.” She manages to smile, though in truth the Au Ri is still feeling the weight of what just occurred.

[Gair]

Gair appears to be more fatigued than anything with the odd cut and bruise on him from the whipping of the sands on his flash and being used as a springboard. He holds up a staying hand toward Novine and shakes his head. “The flesh will mend on it's own, but the wounds of the mind and heart are a different matter.” He feels around the ground for his sword, scooping up the abandoned sabre to stuff back into it's scabbard. “I will drink those away come twilight.”

[A'erina]

” Physically, it looks like I'm fine, thanks for the offer though. Don't think you got a spell orh something in your arsenal that can make me forget what the hells I just saw…“ She almost finished before pointing out. ” That's also not an invitation to kill me, despite it clearly being an option. “ A'erina was feeling her normal self again, save for a pains in her hand and no wound there, aswell as seeing things that have nothing to do with her and hoping that they would pass sooner or later.

[Novine]

Novine looks back to Eligor. “See? They're fine.”

[Eligor]

“Mhm. Well short of hiring a carriage I think I’m going to stay here for now, so by all means carry on and all that.”

[Blue]

“We have a chocobo!” Blue offers quite helpfully, scouring about and hoping the bird Gair had been riding on previously hadn't up and fled. The very bird that got to be privy to all the visions and violence that the others had…hmm. Regardless of the poor bird's current state, the Au Ri continues. “Or we can go out and fetch a carriage for you. Wouldn't be right to leave you alone like this.”

[Eligor]

“Don’t see why it would be wrong. Besides, carriages attract attention.”

[Novine]

Novine grins and gets settled on the ground next to him on her stomach, supporting her head in her hands, elbows in the dirt.

“You can go! I'll make sure he's okay.”

[A'erina]

” Don't have to tell me twice, I think I've seen enough weirdness for today, and this whole incident could have messed me up more than I'd like.“ A'erina grabs her satchel, emptying the contents of broken vials and other things and just kind of leaves it in a small pile of litter on the ground. She didn't even say goodbye to any of them as she half-arsed dragged her sword along the ground heading towards Western Thanalan and ultimately to her home in the Goblet.

[Eligor]

“…..What was she wearing? Actually, was that really the flower girl?”

[Novine]

“A'erina? Yep, should be her. Wonder what the occasion is.”

[Eligor]

“Hmm….any reason you want to stick around? Isn’t this a perfect time to get closer to your friends?”

[Novine]

She lowers a hand to doodle in the dust, gloved hand tracing idle imagined patterns.

“I didn't know if you'd be back so soon. Thought you'd be away longer,” she says cautiously, guarded.

[Eligor]

He reaches up to rub at his chin, but the wounds he suffered were not insignificant either. His body was wracked with the pain of countless phantom wounds, something that made his body reject even the slightest movement. Eager to play it off, he instead moved his hand to massage his chest instead.

“I don’t even know what that means. I didn’t think the spell stone champion had time to miss others anyway. What happened to that little bodyguard that wishes to court you? I don’t feel him anywhere near.”

[Blue]

Blue shrugs her shoulders softly, looking after A'erina's retreating form before bouncing up onto her feet. She gives a wave to Gair and a curtsy over to the two Lalas.

“Was ah…nice to see everyone!” She swings around and begins the long trek back to Ul'dah.

It could have been much worse than it was, she thinks, hand still at her side. Don't think I'll attend the Grindstone after all. Sleep is better.

[Novine]

Novine gives Blue a casual wave as if she were leaving from having tea.

“He's off wandering around in Coethas I think, trying to see aether in the environment or whatever. He's sorta going all over Eorzea I guess so who knows where he is today?” She was content with the deflection of the subject, never one to lie, and therefore finding relief in not having to speak to the truth.

[Eligor]

“….You’d think he wanted to be a fist.”

[Novine]

“He's doing what I did without me telling him to, so I'm not mad. It's a good way to learn stuff, just doing it and seeing it.” She turns and lays on her side, long hair coiling over her body artfully. “So how long do you think you'll have to lay here for?”

[Eligor]

“….Dunno. Just a rest should be fine.”

[Novine]

“Well, unless you actually just want me to leave you alone and you're not saying it, I've gotta rest anyway so I can just stay here and do it. Used up quite a bit of aether and all.” She settles her head on a pillow made of her arm, getting comfortable.

[Eligor]

“I just think socializing would be in your best interest. Especially considering the opinion of a certain someone nearby in regards to you.”

“Helps open paths, so to speak.”

[Novine]

“They're not gonna wanna have a nice chat after all that happened.”

“I'll talk to 'em some other time.”

[Eligor]

“Sounds like an excuse but whatever.”

He sits up a bit, his eyes coming to a glow again.

[Novine]

“Well it's not.” She keeps a vigilant eye on him. “You should keep resting.”

[Eligor]

He looks directly into her eyes, he doesn’t respond.

[Novine]

Novine sits up now as well, tilting her head. Her expression looks slightly confused. ”…What?“

[Eligor]

In a flash, a light bursts from the crystal in his forehead, colliding with Novine. Nothing else happens, sand his eyes quickly go back to normal.

“…Just thinking I haven’t eaten.”

[Novine]

Novine flinches and puts an arm up as the light washes over her, bracing herself for something but uncoiling from her tense position when she realizes it hasn't come.

”….What was that?“ she asks, looking behind herself.

[Eligor]

“What was what?”

[Novine]

“That light from your crystal. It was really bright!” She continues to look around her, above her, looking for a change somewhere. She looks at herself as well.

[Eligor]

“I think you’re seeing things. You must be tired.”

[Novine]

Novine looks a bit scandalized. “Oh, I'm the one seeing things?” She pushes herself to her feet. “You already fought us thinking we were some people from your past! You've been possessed by that thing for bells already! You're in no position to be telling me I'm seeing things.” She huffs.

[Eligor]

“Says the girl seeing bright things. Wouldn’t you having experienced this grand episode lend credit to further hallucination?”

[Novine]

“N-no! Well.. yes, but you were having it first! We only got glimpses of what you were seeing!”

“Why else would you attack me?”

[Eligor]

He doesn’t respond at first, clearly frustrated with the subject.

“What do you want to do then?”

[Novine]

“I want you to keep an open mind and not just wave it off as me being crazy. And I want you to rest. And I want you to tell me what you wanna eat so I can bring it here while you rest.” Her grumpiness fades with each desire listed.

[Eligor]

“I’m not waving anything off, I did not see what you did, I am resting, and I don’t care just something edible.”

[Novine]

“Kay. Be safe. I'll be back,” she says taking a moment to place her hand on the top of his head in a rather gentle way before walking over to Gair. “Don't do anything dumb while I'm gone.” She steps back and closes her eyes as she disappears into the aether.

[Gair]

Gair was off his ass for a little, having since hailed down his scared and confused chocobo. He bristles at the sight of Eligor, but a firm hand is kept on his reigns. Reminding her ere she portals away. “You're the one who wanted to retreat.”

He looks down at Eligor and offers. “You, uhh…want a lift? I can at least drag you into some shade.”

[Eligor]

He stays in place, and manages a tired shrug.

“I’m used to Thanalan heat, I’ll be fine.”

[Gair]

Gair plucks a parasol out from his chocobo's saddlebags. “Azeyma burns us all the same, you fool…here.” The umbrella itself is baby blue and quite dainty looking, with a flowery design detailed upon it. He comes to stand over Eligor and poke it into the ground beside the lalafelin man, offering improvised shade. “I'll need that back next we meet.” Clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth he rouses the chocobo to attention before he takes to the saddle once more.

He lingers there for a moment awkwardly, thinking of something to say, be it clever, or in solidarity with the man whose memories he had just had some intimate visions of. “Uhh…uhh…fuck, see you around.” Smooth, he rides off for Ul'dah post-haste.

[Eligor]

Eligor raises a brow but does not say anything in response, opting instead to simply roll onto his side. Had he successfully fooled them all?

[Novine]

It didn't take long for Novine to return, arms full of a parcel of food wrapped up in a cloth, the bundle full of flat bread, grilled carp, and a heavily spiced marmot steak. She also made sure to bring a skin of water, the well-meaning girl navigating her way back down to the excavation site. Her armor was no longer on since she was dealing with things in the city and believed her troubles to be over at this point, delivering the food being the more important mission. She approaches him and makes to kneel down on the ground.

“I dunno if this stuff is any good, but you said you weren't picky so… Your loss if you don't like it.”

[Eligor]

“Yeah, thanks.” He reaches out towards her to accept the food.

“Anything happen while you were away?”

[Novine]

She passes over the bundle to him and stays seated on the ground, feeling almost as if they were having a strange scenic picnic.

“Nope. Just got in the city and got out, no fuss or anything. How bout you? Still feeling uh… As normal as you can given everything?”

[Eligor]

“Pretty much yes. How’s your training been going?”

[Novine]

“Fine, I guess. The aliases thing though… That's been hard. Had to take a bit of a break from that 'cause I was losing myself a bit. Hard to know what parts are me when I'm trying to change so much. Finding where to go back to when I wanna be me after being something else, it's been hard.”

[Eligor]

“If you’re having trouble with that, perhaps you should postpone it until you have a better grip on just who you are.” He furrows his brow, frowning now at something.

“Or I can give you a class. It’ll probably make you feel worse though.”

[Novine]

“Yeah… Lami said I should take a break, so I've been doing that. If it's something I need to be good at quickly though, the class night be good just 'cause… Well, it seems time's running out, I guess. I just don't wanna mess it all up. I wanna do it right.”

[Eligor]

“Time is running out for what exactly?”

[Novine]

“You said you're disappearing, so learning from you would get pretty difficult, wouldn't it?”

[Eligor]

“…Ah. Well it’s not really something you need to rush. What happens to me will not have a significant impact.”

[Novine]

“Okay, if you say so. I'll just… Try and relax I guess,” she says with a determined sort of smile.

[Eligor]

“…Is that a lie?”

[Novine]

“It's not a lie that I'll try. But the success of my attempt isn't guaranteed or anything.”

[Eligor]

“If you’re trying to relax you’re doing it wrong.”

He manages a laugh and lies back down, placing the bundle on his arm.

“I’m going to take a nap. If you don’t mind the weather you should join me.”

[Novine]

She grins and nods, moving closer to him, careful to keep herself from touching him in case she found an injury as she lies beside him. “I like the sun. Besides, seems Gair brought you a cute umbrella and everything,” she teases.

[Eligor]

“…Yeah…”

[Novine]

She lets out another laugh at his non-reaction, getting comfortable next to him. “Rest well,” she says, closing her own eyes and focusing on the aether around her to recharge her own stores.

---

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