No shame in it.

[blessedwithlove]

Its omnipresence was still daunting.

Even as its grip slackened, the Greater Will still dominated the land. The golden light of the Erdtree illuminated Limgrave day and night. Turn your back to it, and you would see its children, mere seedlings that towered over all but their progenitor. Cast your eyes down, and you would see a Tree Sentinel patrolling astride his horse. Twice the size of a lowborn knight, clad all in gilt finery.

There was scarcely a tree in the Lands Between without a golden cast to its leaves. Blessed with Grace-given life, said the Golden Order. Autumnal, said others. The end of a millennial season.

It was little wonder that the Tarnished were still captivated. Without a more intimate knowledge of the Lands Between, they saw only the Erdtree's radiance, not the bare and dying branches. They flocked toward it like moths.

What fools they were. Intelligent, some of them, but fools all the same. Generations of hatred and scorn upheld by the Two Fingers, and now they answered the call to service? How could one be so delusional as to think the Golden Order would truly welcome them home with love?

No. They were being used, and he felt no shame in doing the same. Those who stayed loyal were fitting sacrifice, providing the materials he needed to guide the doubting toward truth.

And then there were the particularly hapless. That last girl and her companions, good heavens. He'd almost wanted to follow them, just to spectate. But he had his calling to attend to. Tarnished sailing from the west found the beaches of Limgrave the only place to row ashore, and they all passed by the statue-topped monument of the Fringefolk Hero's Grave. He had his pick of them all here, and sent them off toward the brooding walls of Stormveil Castle. Lords, vassals, rich and wretched alike. They came to take the measure of the hills beyond, and to rest at its Site of Grace.

The pallid little thing swirled and danced, leaving uncomfortably moving afterimages on the eyes if one stared too long. But it was warm enough at night to almost render a fire superfluous, and it warded off the beasts that stalked and soared over the lowlands to the south. Even the Tree Guardian kept a respectful distance, the brainlessly devout pillock.

After years of bloody toil in war, sleeping in the dirt beside a symbol of everything he rejected wasn't that much of a hardship. Though on nights when rain blew up from the Weeping Lands or the sea air took on a particular chill, he was forced to retreat into the entrance to the grave itself. There were the occasional noises deep below, the senile mutterings of deathless nobility trapped in the subterranean graveyard. None of them had yet figured out how to operate the lift, and he doubted any of them would.

He couldn't decide if they were the unlucky ones, or if that honor went to the desiccated starveling pinned to a martyr's bough outside on the hill. It barely ever lifted its head, and fortunately, it hadn't voiced an opinion about anything in days. He was no longer a merciful and compassionate war surgeon, but if that thing interrupted his speech to a Tarnished again, he'd find that old mercy within himself and tear it to pieces. Perhaps he'd do it anyway, save him the trouble later.

Ah, no. That would have to wait. He could hear something coming.

Comments

[orokid]

And Ayatan couldn't give any insight on the Lotus' survival either. Whether she wanted the womans survival or not was still a mystery to her as well, she just couldn't leave Ballas to kill her.

"Not sure how to describe the Void. It's a realm of extradimensional space where we Tenno were, technically, born. I have no Void scarring to give an example but my amp lets me channel my Void abilities."

To keep things fair, since he was being so generous with filling her in on this place, she rised her amp up to aim at the building behind them, firing off several pulses of void energy.

[blessedwithlove]

What a tale. Whether truth or figment, he had no way to tell. There were many gods and powers at work in the world. Perhaps this Void was one of them. The demonstration was certainly surprising, and put quite the dent in the old stone. He heard a little shard of it ping off his mask.

And yet, it still had a glint of familiarity to it. Her incantation was in the wan gold of the Fundamentalists, but lacking their stiff angularity of movement.

"Take care who sees such things," he advised. "The uneducated will imagine that to be an incantation of the Golden Order, but their ardent defenders might see heresy. Especially from a Tarnished."

It was a true statement. He would have lied if necessary to steer her from the Two Fingers, of course. But happily, the truth of the world aligned with the needs of the moment. "They may have called you here, but they are quick to find any fault they can imagine."

[orokid]

Take care? She didn't pout but there was a slight grimace at the thought. Aside from the knife she found inside, she only had her amp for defense. Everything else was with her warframe. Except, probably, her paracesis.

"Aside from slipping into the Void, it's all I really have. Without my warframe, my combat skills are limited."

The more she heard about the Golden Order and their followers, the less she cared for them. Either they didn't care how their followers made them look or they liked the chaos the conflicting views caused. From the looks of this place though, she could believe the latter.

"Good thing I'm used to people finding faults in me."

[blessedwithlove]

Goodness, something had made her quite bitter. To be expected, perhaps, for a noble scion of some fallen empire. "Indeed, what a cruel world we find ourselves in." Oh, but that would change.

But at the moment, there were more immediate concerns. "And now you're without armor, and barely armed."

What to do with this one? She was a unique specimen, to be sure. And she claimed to be a warrior. But maidenless as she was, she could never become a knight.

It would be so easy to send her off to Godrick.

"You'll need more than that to survive."

Hmm. He'd rather not send this one away. But his own supplies were quite limited, and quite specialized.

"You'll have some runes from the denizens of the grave, I should think? There's a merchant camped in the Church of Elleh, just over there." He stood, gesturing to the north.

"He'll trade for runes. If you cannot bind their strength to yourself, then at least exchange them for something tangible. If you can avoid the sentinel."

Obligingly, the massive knight and charger trotted into view. Perhaps he'd seen the lights of Ayatan's incantation. "Regardless of the Golden Order's plans for you, he will kill all that cross his path. His oath's to the Erdtree, and its guardians deem none worthy of approach."

[orokid]

"These?" She had found some runes but she'd had no idea what they were good for. Now that she did, she was glad to have held onto the things. Then her eyes slipped over to the sentinel, considering.

With her amp, she still wasn't sure she could handle it. A warframe could, she was fast in her 'frame, and even if getting hit still hurt, the technocyte was sturdier than flesh. Slipping into the void though-

"I can sneak past him." The void still existed here, even if it wasn't called the same. At least she thought it a safe assumption that her amp and her abilities wouldn't work without the void's continued existence.

Just to be sure though, she slipped into the void for a moment and held herself there, testing her limit before slipping back into reality.

[blessedwithlove]

And out of the corner of his eye, she simply vanishes. "Oh!" He exclaims, watching her reappear on the spot. Like a Bloody Finger returning from the hunt, but instantaneous. "Heavens. How useful that would be." And something to study further. Did she still make sound when she disappeared like that? Did such energies leave behind a scent, or sense of power there? How did one manage such a feat?

Enough speculation for now. He'd have the chance to observe more. "That will certainly protect you on your way to the church." And from there? Hmm. He'd have to consider his own next moves as well.

"Buy something from the merchant, and I'm sure he'll be willing to share his fire." This could give him time to reach the others, mark her as his target, though the more enthusiastic among their ranks might not be deterred.

"His people have no love for the Golden Order, but they sell information as freely as anything else. Do be careful what you tell him."

[orokid]

Sometimes, and Teshin would give her a lecture if he could see her, it felt good to show off a bit. There was no honor in it, blah blah. At least she knew that it worked though, she'd be ale to get to the church with little to no trouble.

"I appreciate it." There's a brief, polite, bow. "Maybe if I'm lucky, he'll have seen my warframe." Then she could start seeing about dealing with the more difficult issues and enemies she'd find in this world.

And just resting by a fire for a bit didn't seem like too bad an idea. She never slept much anymore, not after waking up on Lua, but she did still need some proper rest.

[blessedwithlove]

How well-mannered. He bowed his head--though the slouch he'd settled into made it less dramatic than hers.

"I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with warframes as well." Perhaps it was that armor she'd mentioned before, but he couldn't be sure. The term brought to mind something like those ghastly puppets the Carians were so fond of.

"But if it's value is so great, then Godrick's soldiers might seek to present it to their lord. And you, I fear, are not strong enough to challenge a demigod. Even one so debased as he." That was more truth than he'd told most in quite a long time. Godrick was the weakest of the Shardbearers, and all knew it. But so very many overestimated their chances, and he was largely content to leave them deluded.

"The merchant may know more. But I have my own sources as well. Perhaps I'll quit my vigil here, for a while. If you set off while I'm gone, do tell the merchant that we're acquainted? If I find anything of note, I'll follow." He was still uncertain of whether this was worth his time. But when had a Tarnished last shown any promise at all? This strange Ayatan was something different, in a land crumbling without renewal. That in itself was special.

[orokid]

The thought of someone using her warframe as some kind of prize almost made her see red but she forced herself to take a breath. There was no guarantee that was the case. There was still a chance it could be recovered and she could transfer back into it as long as it wasn't irreparably damaged.

"It would be a showpiece, if anything, for anyone who isn't a Tenno." She wasn't keen on explaining how the warframes were, technically, a living body and armor in one.

If only she had something to draw with besides a stick and dirt. At least then she'd be able to give him an idea of what to watch for. Maybe the merchant would be able to help there.

"I'll owe you one if you can help me find it."

[blessedwithlove]

Oh? How very protective that reaction was. Yet another thing to file away for later.

He brushed off the declaration. "It is my calling to guide you Tarnished. Those who seek to enact the Golden Order's designs are set on their path, where grace would guide them. But I have a fondness for those that come to these lands for their own reasons."

[orokid]

Protective indeed. The few times she'd been separated from her warframe had been enough. And it only added insult to injury to think of it being dragged around like so much refuse.

"You see a lot of people like that, I guess?"

Part of her wanted to say something about people trying to take advantage of someone so generous but something in her gut told her he knew. And could handle himself regardless of how he appeared. Then again, if everyone came out as bedraggled as she had been, it wouldn't be hard.

[blessedwithlove]

"Oh, some. They still come to these shores. But I'm afraid most are quite hopeless. I do what I can for them of course, but I am a surgeon by training. Some sorry cases are simply beyond the skill of man, or care of the gods. They must simply be sent on their way, to whatever fate awaits them." The devoted do seem to appreciate the chance to die upon lands stuck through with Erdtree roots.

"A young Tarnished and her entourage passed just the other day, in fact. You may meet them on the path, but they're some days gone now." He imagines they're quite gone to pieces now.

[orokid]

"A surgeon?" Unconsciously, she scratched lightly at her somatics. It was the last time she'd had any sort of major medical intervention, thanks to the void. Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that any time in the future. Between the Stalker and Ballas, she was tired of fatal and potentially fatal wounds.

"I'll try not to add any extra work for you. Wouldn't want the void to react and maim you or something." She didn't want to leave people with one less helpful soul in this world.

[blessedwithlove]

"Yes, I'd rather it didn't," he replies dryly. "I'd like to live to see a new and gracious Lord in Leyndell."

Was that brash of him to say out loud? Of course. And entirely deniable. "I can tell you more, of course. But you may not wish to tarry long. The wind and rain cuts down from Stormveil at night." He didn't have to worry overmuch. As soon as she was gone, he'd return to the seat of the new dynasty. But he'd rather not arrive wet all the same.

[orokid]

She couldn't blame him. And a glance up at the sky gave her a moment of pause before nodding. If she didn't get moving soon, her warframe, if it was here, would end up further out of her reach than she liked.

"I'll see if that merchant has a notebook or something. That way I can give you an idea of what my warframe looks like next time I run into you." However long that might be. She could always slip back this way and see if he was around but, again, that risked her gear slipping away.

She got to her feet with a stretch, adjusting her amp just in case. "I'll get out of your way. Thanks again."

[blessedwithlove]

"Indeed. I would be curious to see it." Everything about this girl made him far too inquisitive. He'd have to think more on this before he committed, though in his heart he already knew what he'd decided.

"One last thing." He returned to his tone of instruction, for this was a part of his duties he'd neglected to complete for Ayatan. "Should you see an arc of golden light extending from Grace such as this," he gestured to the little mote, "then you behold the Guidance of Grace. A path for a Tarnished to follow. If not? Then the Greater Will has already decided you do not serve its purpose."

His disdain was fairly evident, but only implied by tone and restrained words. "Few see it now, but all claim to, lest they be taken as fallen from favor."

[orokid]

She spared a glance back to the grace, simple little thing that it seemed, and then gave a shrug. Maybe it was because of the void or because she didn't belong, but nothing seemed to stand out enough. Certainly no arc of light.

"Even if I did, you told me enough to know that the Greater Will and I wouldn't see eye to eye. Not sure I'd want to serve their purpose."

They'd definitely get along with their shared disdain. How quickly could the Greater Will just abandon someone who stuck a toe out of line? Had they before?

[blessedwithlove]

How interesting. Grace had restored her, but that was as far as it would extend its favor.

And her response was so very heartening. "Then may that intuition serve you well," oh, this gave him more confidence in his decision. "We'll meet again soon enough."

[orokid]

A friendly face, of a sort, and the assurance of meeting again. At least she could learn more later and had some kind of support. She wasn't used to dealing with all of this on her own, always having Ordis or the Lotus' voices echoing in her ears.

"Take care." Did he need to hear that? Probably not but she wasn't going to risk her only ally here.

With that though, she took a moment to stretch again before heading towards the church, cautious of the Sentinel and slipping seamlessly into the Void once she was close enough.

[blessedwithlove]

He watched her go, observing her passage until she simply vanished. The grass barely even seemed to move.

And now he was left alone, with the shimmering Grace. Did it know anything of them, he wondered. Of what he did. The little sprites were everywhere, even within the holy mausoleum. One couldn't be rid of them.

Not yet, at least. Oh, he longed for the day when the lands would be renewed. It would be soon.

And every knight that spilled blood in service to the Mohgwyn Dynasty might hasten its arrival.

He turned to the east and knelt, the brand upon his forehead flaring with burning heat. His course was set. Oh, it would be agony. But it was required of him now. And that made any pain a sweetness, to be joyfully accepted.

[orokid]

Spilling blood wasn't going to be a problem with her, she wasn't squeamish and she'd done enough killing recently and during the Old War to grow numb to it all. Or most of it.

So reaching the church and trading with Kalé, making sure she got a notebook to sketch out what her warframe looked like, and a back to carry her things in. The more she worked her way around, it became easier to remember how her body worked compared to a warframe. So sneaking and killing some of the knights, taking a sword, became much easier as well. Quick stabs to major arteries or slitting throats were her preferred methods for the moment.

If Varré had any trouble finding her, following the calculated carnage would help. AT least until nightfall, when he had a much better chance of finding her bloodied and hiding out instead.

[blessedwithlove]

The flame of the True Mother burned like no other. An endless vitality, so rich and vibrant and scouring. A catalyst by which the world could change. Even something so small as him.

The flame was still within him now. Every heartbeat was cowed by it, every vein scoured and raw. He'd voice to scream again now, but he would not. The pain mixed now with blessed surety of purpose, with a wide-eyed certainty, his faith was rewarded.

And the gifts he'd been granted must be shared.

He followed the death she'd left among Godrick's soldiers, their blood providing an easy trail to follow. The cuts on their bodies were as clean and calculated as a surgeon's mercy. Oh, he'd had a good feeling about this one, and it was always so gratifying to be right.

[orokid]

Anything less calculated was a waste of energy, outside of heavy combat. And she usually had a rifle or pistol then. It was a thought she tried to avoid now since it only made her miss her armoury.

After running into the Night's Cavalry though, she missed her weapons more than ever. Even just one of her swords would make a difference, she thought. And she couldn't help but stay on edge, hoping for a quick sunrise and that it left well enough alone like an eidolon on Cetus.

Her back was still bleeding from the flail and she was sure a couple ribs were broken, but the sound of someone approaching had her on her feet anyway, brandishing her knife.

[blessedwithlove]

The weak and stale blood of the soldiers was a poor trail to follow. Silly thing had followed the road, and that made tracking all the harder, for he wouldn't--he moved in parallel to the road, following animal trails and avoiding the cavalry come out to terrorize the land. The old blood faded to nothing soon enough.

But then, the bouquet he could smell on the wind, oh! It was like nothing he had ever known before. That must be her.

The trail left the road, and he followed it, kneeling to examine the stains upon the dirt, to discern the subtleties of its scent, to pluck a bloodstained leaf from the ground and tilt his mask up just enough to taste it.

It seemed almost to glimmer upon the tongue. Oh, he had made the right choice. Her blood already held a spark of something special within it. It could only be improved by the gift of nobility.

The scent of it grew ever thicker as he continued on, and a little twist of worry wormed its way into his flesh. There wasn't enough spilled to be fatal, but what else had been done to her? How hurt was she?

Not so hurt that she couldn't respond to his approach, with the wary stance of a feral, cornered thing. And yet-- "Your wounds! Poor thing, let me see to them. Quickly now."

[orokid]

At first, she suspected another of Godrick's soldiers but the familiar voice cut through the caution and she slowly lowered the knife, letting out a soft breath. Immediately followed by a hiss of pain.

"And here I said I'd avoid making work for you." There was a soft chuckle that she immediately regretted, letting herself flop back for a moment and wonder how he'd found her. She'd left some bodies along her path but she hadn't realized the trail was so discernible. Something to work on in the future.

Her shirt was already torn up so it wouldn't have been hard to poke and see though, at that point, she might as well scrap it and find someone who could craft leather.

"Think I cracked a rib or two."